MLJ Trust Logo Image
Search
Sermon #3314

Spiritual Gifts (3)

A Sermon on Romans 12:6

Originally preached Feb. 25, 1966

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Play Sermon
btn-play
Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

Romans 12:6 ESV KJV
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (ESV)

Sermon Description

The gift of prophecy is one of the most unusual spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. It has been dismissed, over-emphasized, and abused throughout church history. In a sermon on Romans 12:6 titled “Spiritual Gifts (3),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones illustrates both the dismissal and abuse of this teaching in the church. He does not just give a history lesson on the misuse of the gift of prophecy; he expounds the biblical teaching on it. Walking carefully through each interpretation, he explains various understandings of the apostle Paul’s teaching on prophecy and faith. In the end, Dr. Lloyd-Jones sides with the teaching that says Paul is calling the church to prophesy in proportion to the faith – the objective body of doctrine. He makes a strong and compelling case for the importance of systematic theology in the Christian life. Furthermore, by outlining general principles for discerning prophetic utterances, he assists Christians in applying biblical teaching on testing the spirits. The Holy Spirit will always be consistent with what He has given in Scripture. Finally, Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes the mysterious nature of the Scripture’s teaching on the topic of miraculous gifts. The Spirit is always sovereign of the gift, yet according to Scripture, the Christian can quench the Spirit.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Paul is addressing the exercising of spiritual gifts in the church according to Romans 12:6.
  2. Spiritual gifts must be thought of in terms of the church as the body of Christ. They are for the good and edification of the body.
  3. There is a danger of overvaluing particular gifts which can cause confusion, unhappiness and sin.
  4. Gifts differ according to the grace given to each person by God. Each person has a gift and should seek to discover and use it.
  5. The first gift addressed is prophecy. Prophecy is speaking for God by special illumination and inspiration. It can be done by men or women.
  6. Prophecy involves an immediacy and directness in speaking a word from God to the church.
  7. Prophecy edifies, exhorts and comforts. It has a specific purpose and object.
  8. There are two main views on "the proportion of faith" in verse 6. The first is that it refers to the prophet's own personal faith and sincerity. The second is that it refers to the established doctrines of faith. Both views are likely correct.
  9. Prophecy should be tested against the established doctrines of faith as given in Scripture. Truth will not contradict itself.
  10. Examples of testing prophecy can be seen in 1 Corinthians 14:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 and 1 John 4.
  11. The basis of systematic theology is found in testing prophecy against the established doctrines of faith. Systematic theology organizes the doctrines found throughout Scripture.
  12. Prophecy should be tested especially carefully when it involves directing the actions of others or the whole church. There are examples of errors and near tragedies when prophecy was not properly tested.
  13. There is no new truth given since the time of the apostles. The faith was once and for all delivered to the saints. Nothing can be added to the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets.
  14. We should be careful not to base teaching or preaching solely on prophetic utterances. Prophecy illuminates established truth but does not lay down new doctrine.
  15. Spiritual gifts like prophecy are always given by the Spirit, though we maintain control over their exercise. There should be no confusion or disorder.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Spiritual Gifts and Prophecy: Understanding Romans 12:6

What does Romans 12:6 teach about spiritual gifts?

Romans 12:6 teaches that we have "gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us." Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that these gifts must always be thought of in terms of the church as the body of Christ. We must never think of gifts in and of themselves or as possessing them in ourselves, but rather in terms of the good of the body, the edification of the body, and the well-being of the church. The verse highlights that gifts vary as members of the body vary, but all are essential and important.

What is the difference between prophecy and teaching/preaching according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, prophecy differs from teaching and preaching in that there is an immediacy and directness about it. He describes prophecy as "a man speaking for God, giving a word from God to the church." It involves a special illumination and is a kind of direct inspiration. Unlike teaching and preaching (which women are prohibited from doing in Lloyd-Jones' view), prophecy is something that women can do as well as men, as seen in Acts 21 and 1 Corinthians 11. It is not about fundamental revelation but about a particular truth laid upon a believer's mind by the Holy Spirit for communicating to church members.

What does "according to the proportion of faith" mean in Romans 12:6?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents two main interpretations of this crucial phrase:

  1. Subjective interpretation: It means prophesying according to the proportion of one's own faith - being sincere and never going beyond what has been revealed or holding back what has been given. This interpretation emphasizes honesty and integrity in sharing exactly what God has revealed.

  2. Objective interpretation: It means prophesying according to "the proportion of the faith" or "according to the analogy of the faith" - referring to the body of truth delivered to God's people. This interpretation means that prophetic utterances must always conform to the established body of teaching and doctrine given through the apostles and prophets, never adding to or subtracting from revealed truth.

Lloyd-Jones accepts both interpretations as valid but places particular emphasis on the objective interpretation.

How should prophetic utterances be tested according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that all prophetic utterances must be tested by "the faith" - the whole body of truth given to the church. He cites 1 Corinthians 14:29 which states, "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge," and 1 Thessalonians 5:21, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." He explains that all truth comes from the Holy Spirit and is therefore self-consistent, never contradicting itself. Believers must test every utterance by the truth already given through apostles and prophets. This testing is essential because there are false prophets and spirits that can appear as angels of light to deceive believers.

What concerns does Dr. Lloyd-Jones express about modern spiritual movements?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones expresses several concerns about modern spiritual movements:

  1. He warns against those who deride doctrine or theology while embracing direct inspiration, comparing this to the error of the Quakers.

  2. He challenges the notion that people can be baptized with the Holy Spirit without it affecting their doctrinal beliefs, particularly mentioning Roman Catholic bishops and cardinals who reportedly experienced spiritual gifts without renouncing unbiblical doctrines.

  3. He cautions against accepting new doctrines based solely on prophetic utterances, using the example of the "secret rapture" teaching that emerged from prophetic utterances in Edward Irving's church around 1830.

  4. He warns about prophetic utterances that direct people's actions, citing instances where people were led to make harmful decisions based on what they believed were divine messages.

What principle does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer regarding the operation of spiritual gifts?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that with all spiritual gifts, there is a blending of the supernatural and natural, the divine and human. He outlines two key principles:

  1. Gifts are always given, not initiated by humans: Spiritual gifts cannot be exercised at will but are given by the Holy Spirit for specific occasions. He cites examples from Acts where apostles were "filled with the Spirit" for particular tasks despite already being Spirit-filled believers.

  2. Recipients can control but not initiate: While a person cannot initiate the gift's operation, they can control its expression. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets (1 Corinthians 14:32). There should never be confusion or disorder, as "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).

This divine-human paradox means there is no loss of self-control in genuine spiritual gift operation, which distinguishes it from hysteria or emotional excess.

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.