Last week, MLJ addressed the first of three passages that are sometimes cited to refute the idea that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is distinct from conversion.
This week the Doctor will address Acts 2:37-39. In this passage, Peter tells his hearers what they must do to be saved. It is the basis for my description of the normal Christian birth in a post I wrote on “the simple gospel“. I also address it in the second post of my recent debate with Dan Phillips.
In the following quote, Lloyd-Jones answers these questions.
Many people have been in trouble about this. I imagine that if I had kept a record, I would find that I had had to answer people’s questions concerning this matter more frequently than any other single question. They say, ‘The promise is plain, Ask and ye shall receive . . .’ They do not realize that all the promises of God are always conditional—invariably.
Let me put it to you like this. The promise does not mean that it will be given automatically to everybody. No, the promise is a general one accompanied by conditions. Take some of these great statements which are made to us in the Scriptures. The apostle Peter, for example, in 2 Peter 1:1 says ‘Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.’ Now notice this! ‘According as his divine power hath given’ — ‘hath given!’ — ‘unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature . . . .’ But the question that immediately arises is this: are we all, every one of us, ready at this moment to testify that we have received these exceeding great and precious promises in all their fullness?
Now on this other argument we all should be able to do so, but the apostle Peter in that very chapter goes on to base an argument on this. He says in effect: that is what is promised and offered you, but you people do not realize this, you know, you have not approached this truth in the right way. He then says, ‘Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.’
You can be a Christian and aware, theoretically, of all these exceeding great and precious promises, but be barren and unfruitful. Why? Well, because you have not given this diligence, you have not ‘added’, ‘furnished out’, your faith with virtue, etc. Peter goes on, ‘But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’
This is a perfect illustration of this great principle. We must get rid of this automatic notion and stop saying, ‘The promise is—therefore I must have or else there is something wrong. No. All Peter is saying is this: if you repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are a CANDIDATE for these promises; these are the promises that will then confront you. You are then in a position to receive the gift that we the apostles have already received.” Next week, Lloyd-Jones will deal with the third and last passage often used by those who want to argue that the baptism with the Spirit is automatically received at conversion – 1 Corinthians 12:13.
This week the Doctor will address Acts 2:37-39. In this passage, Peter tells his hearers what they must do to be saved. It is the basis for my description of the normal Christian birth in a post I wrote on “the simple gospel“. I also address it in the second post of my recent debate with Dan Phillips.
This verse, it is argued by some, can only be interpreted one way. It seems to state quite clearly that if you repent and believe, you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and furthermore, that it’s promised “to all.” How can it be said, then, that you can be a Christian without it? And furthermore, how is it possible for some Christians to not have this gift when this verse seems to promise it universally to all?“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
In the following quote, Lloyd-Jones answers these questions.
“Here again we are faced, of course, with a great principle with regard to biblical teaching: ‘The promise!’ they say. “The promise is unto you, and to your children.” Very well, a promise is a promise and therefore it must happen to all.
Many people have been in trouble about this. I imagine that if I had kept a record, I would find that I had had to answer people’s questions concerning this matter more frequently than any other single question. They say, ‘The promise is plain, Ask and ye shall receive . . .’ They do not realize that all the promises of God are always conditional—invariably.
Let me put it to you like this. The promise does not mean that it will be given automatically to everybody. No, the promise is a general one accompanied by conditions. Take some of these great statements which are made to us in the Scriptures. The apostle Peter, for example, in 2 Peter 1:1 says ‘Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.’ Now notice this! ‘According as his divine power hath given’ — ‘hath given!’ — ‘unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature . . . .’ But the question that immediately arises is this: are we all, every one of us, ready at this moment to testify that we have received these exceeding great and precious promises in all their fullness?
Now on this other argument we all should be able to do so, but the apostle Peter in that very chapter goes on to base an argument on this. He says in effect: that is what is promised and offered you, but you people do not realize this, you know, you have not approached this truth in the right way. He then says, ‘Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.’
You can be a Christian and aware, theoretically, of all these exceeding great and precious promises, but be barren and unfruitful. Why? Well, because you have not given this diligence, you have not ‘added’, ‘furnished out’, your faith with virtue, etc. Peter goes on, ‘But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’
This is a perfect illustration of this great principle. We must get rid of this automatic notion and stop saying, ‘The promise is—therefore I must have or else there is something wrong. No. All Peter is saying is this: if you repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are a CANDIDATE for these promises; these are the promises that will then confront you. You are then in a position to receive the gift that we the apostles have already received.” Next week, Lloyd-Jones will deal with the third and last passage often used by those who want to argue that the baptism with the Spirit is automatically received at conversion – 1 Corinthians 12:13.
All emphasis mine.
Excerpts from this past were taken from:
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Joy Unspeakable – The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Christopher Catherwood, Ed., Combined edition of Joy Unspeakable (1984) and Prove All Things (1985), Kingsway Publications, Eastbourne, England, 1995, “Something Worth Striving For”, chapter 18, pp. 326-328.
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