Seeking Baptism in the Spirit (1)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Originally preached May 9, 1965
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
What does it mean to thirst after righteousness? Does one achieve righteousness on their own or does God help them? In this sermon titled “Seeking Baptism in the Spirit (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches from John 1:26–33 to tell of the free gift of God: His Spirit. When the Christian repents of their sins and trusts in Christ, they instantly qualify to share in the inheritance of the saints. Christ has accomplished this good for His people. What then must the Christian do once they are saved? Dr. Lloyd-Jones helpfully explains that they should seek to please God. If the Christian loves God, they will seek to please Him by obeying Him. The Christian’s righteousness is not achieved by them, but by the Spirit’s work. They are not to grieve the Spirit by persisting in something if they feel conviction regarding it. Additionally, God’s children are not to quench the Spirit by not following the general direction God is giving their lives. God is willing to bestow Himself upon anyone who asks, and this is truly the greatest gift in the universe. Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches that the Christian must let God know the desires of their heart. If the desires are right and God is sought in them, He will graciously give all things.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on the baptism of the Holy Spirit based on John 1:26 and 33. Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes this is an urgent matter for Christians today.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that Christians today do not match the New Testament pattern of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Revivals in church history were a result of the Spirit being poured out.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Christians should seek to be baptized in the Holy Spirit based on Luke 11:13 and the pattern of the early church.
- In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit often fell upon people suddenly. The apostles could also impart the Spirit through the laying on of hands. The conversion of Paul shows even non-apostles could do this at times. However, this gift seems mainly limited to apostles and those with a special commission.
- Throughout church history, the Holy Spirit has usually fallen upon people suddenly rather than through the laying on of hands. There are some exceptions, but people should be very careful about claiming the ability to impart the Spirit through laying on of hands.
- The word “receive” is often misinterpreted as implying people can actively take the baptism of the Holy Spirit by faith whenever they want. However, in the New Testament, people were passive recipients of the Spirit, not active takers. The Spirit is given by God, not taken by people.
- Teachings that imply people can mechanically take the Spirit, e.g. by breathing in deeply, are unbiblical and dangerous. The baptism of the Spirit is given by God's sovereign will, not human activity.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by asking if people have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by a deep love for God, intimacy with God, and unspeakable joy in 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.