Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

What is the difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and regeneration according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the baptism of the Holy Spirit cannot simply be equated with regeneration. He explains: "If I were to believe that, I should have to believe that the disciples and the apostles were not regenerate until the day of Pentecost, a supposition which seems to me to be quite untenable." He also points to examples in Acts 8 where the Samaritans who had believed the gospel preached by Philip were clearly regenerate but "had not received the Holy Spirit until the advent of Peter and John." These biblical examples show that baptism of the Holy Spirit is something distinct from and often subsequent to regeneration.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines the baptism of the Holy Spirit as "the initial experience" of "a sense of the glory of God, the reality of the Lord, this love towards him, this indescribable experience of these things." He explains that it gives the believer "a consciousness of the glory of God which they'd never known before. The Lord Jesus Christ became real to them in a manner that he had never been before." Quoting John Fletcher of Madeley, he says "every Christian should have his Pentecost," meaning every believer should experience this spiritual reality and consciousness of God's presence.

What biblical terms are used to describe the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several terms used interchangeably in Scripture to describe this experience: - Baptism with/of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit being "poured out" (from Joel's prophecy quoted in Acts) - The Holy Spirit "falling upon" believers (as in the case of Cornelius) - "Receiving" the Holy Spirit (as Paul asked the Ephesian disciples) - Being "baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13) - "The promise of the Father" (Acts 2)

These various phrases all point to the same spiritual reality, though described from different angles.

What is the difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between these experiences: "The baptism I suggested was the initial experience. The filling is an experience that can often be repeated." The baptism is a once-for-all incorporation into Christ's body with a consciousness of God's reality, while filling is something that can and should happen many times. He notes that the apostles were "filled on the day of Pentecost. They were filled just a few days later in exactly the same way" (referring to Acts 2:4 and 4:31). Filling is essential for effective service, witness, worship, and developing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit?

According to Lloyd-Jones, the filling of the Holy Spirit has two primary purposes:

1. For service and witness: "It's clear that it is something which happens which gives authority and power and ability for service and for witness." He notes that Jesus told His disciples not to begin their ministry until they received this power, making it "absolutely essential to service, vital to our witness."

2. For Christian character: "The infilling of the Spirit is essential to a true Christian quality in our life." It enables the fruit of the Spirit to develop and be evident, helps us worship properly, and fills us with thankfulness and praise. Lloyd-Jones says you can test whether you're filled with the Spirit by asking: "Are we full of thankfulness? Are we full of praise? Do we sing to ourselves and to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?"

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe understanding the Holy Spirit's work is crucial for the church today?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes his sermon by emphasizing that "there is no subject that is more important for us all at this present time than just this." He links this teaching directly to revival, which he defines as "God pouring out his spirit... this tremendous filling that happens to numbers of people at the same time." He argues that understanding these doctrines is essential because "it is only as we understand the teaching of the scriptures with regard to these blessed matters that we truly enter into these things and become intercessors and pleaders with God to revive his work." The church's greatest need, he insists, is to experience the reality and power of the Holy Spirit's work.