Spirit Baptism and Fullness
A Sermon on Romans 8:15
Originally preached Dec. 16, 1960
Scripture
15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Sermon Description
Since Christians do not actively “take” the Spirit, but passively receive the sovereign Spirit, what are they to do? As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones pursues this question in this sermon on Romans 8:15 titled “Spirit Baptism and Fullness,” he sets the context of the passage. He notes that Spirit baptism is an extra – a plus. It is an additional assurance children of God experience. In other words, it is not something every believer who has the Spirit of adoption experiences. Nevertheless, it is something all should desire. In Romans 8:15, the apostle Paul elaborates on Spirit baptism, or being filled with the Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages all Christians to genuinely seek the fullness of the Spirit, but not by trying to “seize” the Spirit. Furthermore, Christians cannot pretend they can take it by someone laying hands on them. How does one get it then? Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that it is through obedience and prayer. In the end, however, Christians rest knowing the Holy Spirit is sovereign. If indeed the Spirit does grant this assurance, the Christian will surely know it. Let them not, however, pretend to have it, warns Dr. Lloyd-Jones, unless they actually do. Listen as he teaches on the joys, and potential pitfalls, of Spirit baptism.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is expounding Romans 8:15 which provides assurance of salvation. This assurance is not essential for salvation but provides comfort.
- The sermon is not giving an overview of the Holy Spirit's operations but focused on this one verse.
- Verse 15 refers to receiving the Spirit of adoption which allows us to cry "Abba, Father". This is a profound experience that provides deep assurance.
- This experience is given by God, not something we can claim or take. We receive it passively.
- The sermon warns against the teaching that we can "take it by faith" or claim this experience. This teaching relies on psychology, not Scripture, and can provide a false sense of peace or experience.
- Many Christians are unhappy because they have tried to take this experience by faith but know they lack it. This teaching hinders truly receiving this experience.
- To receive this experience, recognize its profound nature. Realize it is given by God, not taken by us. Do not agonize or attend "tarrying meetings". Do not expect it through the laying on of hands.
- Live in obedience and pray, expressing your longing for this experience. Read hymns expressing this longing like "O Love Divine, How Sweet Thou Art". Pray for God to send His Spirit to rest upon you.
- Do not claim to have this experience until you truly know you have received the Spirit of adoption. When you receive it, you will know with deep joy and cry "Abba, Father".
- The sermon closes with a prayer for listeners to receive the Spirit of adoption and know God deeply.
Sermon Q&A
What Does It Mean to Have the Spirit of Adoption According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the "spirit of adoption" that Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses in Romans 8:15?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the "spirit of adoption" in Romans 8:15 refers to a special form and type of assurance that God gives to believers, enabling them to cry "Abba, Father" from the depths of their being. It's a profound, deep experience where the Holy Spirit gives a Christian an overwhelming sense of God's fatherhood and their sonship. This is not the basic indwelling of the Spirit that all Christians have, but rather a higher level of assurance that produces an intimate experience of God as Father.
Is the spirit of adoption essential for salvation according to Lloyd-Jones?
No, Dr. Lloyd-Jones clearly teaches that the spirit of adoption is not essential for salvation. He states: "This is not something that is essential before we can be Christian." He distinguishes between the basic indwelling of the Holy Spirit (which every Christian must have) and this special assurance through the spirit of adoption. Lloyd-Jones says, "Without the spirit, we cannot be Christian at all," but "you can be a Christian without having obtained or attained unto the type of assurance that is described here in this verse."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differ from the Protestant Reformers on assurance?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that "the protestant reformers tended to say that there was no difference between belief and assurance of faith," but he disagrees with this position. He takes "the position of the Westminster Confession, that you can have faith without assurance." He believes a person can genuinely be a Christian without having the full experience of assurance that comes through the spirit of adoption. He considers this special assurance to be an additional blessing beyond basic salvation.
How does one receive the spirit of adoption according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the spirit of adoption is received passively, not actively taken or claimed. He emphasizes that:
- It is something "given by God, and he gives it in his own time and in his own way"
- We cannot "take it by faith" as some teach
- It is not received through agonizing or "tarrying meetings"
- It does not come through someone laying hands on you (except in specific apostolic cases)
Instead, he teaches that we should: 1. Live a life of obedience to show we truly desire it 2. Pray and seek it, expressing our longing for it 3. Ask God for it as Jesus taught in Luke 11:13 4. Wait for God to give it in His sovereign timing
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject the "take it by faith" teaching about spiritual experiences?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives multiple reasons for rejecting the teaching that one can simply "take" spiritual blessings by faith:
- It "does violence to the whole doctrine of the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit"
- It contradicts biblical examples where receivers and observers knew immediately that something had happened
- It introduces psychology (specifically "Coueism") into spiritual experience
- It leads to false peace, false release, and false sense of power
- It results in having "nothing at all" while thinking you have something
- It creates unhappy Christians who know they don't have what they claim
- It discourages self-examination and seeking the genuine experience
- It keeps believers at a superficial level spiritually
He calls this teaching "the single greatest hindrance to a true and deep experience of the spirit of adoption."
What does it feel like to have the spirit of adoption according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes it as a profound, unmistakable experience. He quotes Charles Spurgeon who said believers with this spirit have "been embraced of him no more at a distance." Lloyd-Jones uses Thomas Goodwin's illustration of a father not just holding his son's hand but lifting him up, embracing and kissing him. It's like moving from knowing you are a child of God intellectually to experiencing His fatherly love emotionally and spiritually.
The experience produces "a joy unspeakable and full of glory" and "an irresistible desire within you to cry out like a child, 'Abba, Father.'" Lloyd-Jones says, "Your heart will be melted" and that when you have this spirit, "you will know that you've got it" - it's not something you can doubt or need to convince yourself about.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.