Baptism in the Spirit (4)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Originally preached Dec. 6, 1964
Scripture
26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where …
Sermon Description
How is the baptism of the Holy Ghost defined? In this sermon on John 1:26–33 titled “Baptism of the Spirit (4),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this question and addresses both the direct and indirect work of the Spirit. Great caution is given toward the tendency of Christians today to reduce everything to the ordinary but there is nothing ordinary about such an amazing divine work. The outworking of the Spirit is seen through the prophecy of Joel and the examples from the New Testament to be clear, immediate, and direct in nature, far from being rooted in the reflection of humanity. The Spirit of God bears witness to confirm the regenerated cry of a believer to God as “Abba, Father.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones greatly cautions his listeners not to confuse such extraordinary work with that of the ordinary as this is the danger of quenching the Spirit. Such clear, unmistakable, and phenomenal work of the Spirit is the third principle in this series of “The Baptism of the Spirit” from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He addresses how the problem of restraint and the Lord’s sovereignty are connected to baptism and clearly defines the outworking of such a baptism.
Sermon Breakdown
- It is possible to be a Christian without being baptized with the Spirit. Evidence is seen in disciples before Pentecost, Jesus before baptism.
- The baptism of the Spirit is something that happens to us, not something we do. It is a sovereign act of God, not under our control.
- The baptism of the Spirit is always clear and unmistakable, an experimental and phenomenal experience. The recipient knows it, and it leads to visible results.
- The baptism of the Spirit should not be confused with being filled with the Spirit, which refers to sanctification and Christian living. The terms are used differently in Scripture.
- The baptism of the Spirit is associated with an outpouring, a drenching, an overflowing of the Spirit. It is not a gradual process but a sudden, overwhelming experience.
- The baptism of the Spirit is a direct act of the Spirit, not working through means. It is an inner witness and assurance given by the Spirit himself.
- The baptism of the Spirit is primarily associated with empowerment for witness and service, not directly with moral transformation or character.
- Examples of experiences of the baptism of the Spirit from John Flavel, Jonathan Edwards, and D.L. Moody. Overwhelming experiences of the love and glory of Christ.
The Book of John
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.