The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a controversial teaching which has barely survived almost a century of negative or confused commentary. This site’s objective is to state the biblical position as clearly and carefully as possible, answer common questions, and give examples of Christians who have asserted the vital necessity of this doctrine. But this site is especially dedicated to the particular phrase of its title which has been much contested in reformed circles. It is asserted by many who wish to avert further damage by ‘Charismatics’, that there is ‘Only one baptism of the Holy Spirit’, meaning ‘regeneration’, when the Holy Spirit plants life into the governing disposition of a person, making them ‘alive in Christ’. The quotes in this website demonstrate that this position does not sit well with the expressed opinions of our forefathers. They have unashamedly used the phrase, ‘Baptism of the Holy Spirit’ to mean a another work of the Holy Spirit at or after regeneration.
The position the author takes is that of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, most clearly enunciated in his book ‘God the Holy Spirit‘. This position is much maligned and neglected. One key feature of this website will be to demonstrate that Lloyd-Jones ‘merely’ codified a docrine that had previously been left more-or-less unchallenged. Controversy and challenge has played a key role in the way that the Church has formulated docrine, e.g. the doctrine of the Person of Christ in the early church. In the case of this teaching, controversy has all-but cut the modern church off from it’s primary source of power and influence, the Lord himself.
If you are in possession of any quotes from Christians, especially those pre-dating Dr Lloyd-Jones, please share them with us here. Simply add as a comment initially and I will incorporate the suggestion as soon as possible.
Of course, the Dr himself quoted many of those who pre-dated him (e.g. Thomas Goodwin, Charles Simeon, Jonathan Edwards, John Flavel, Dwight Moody) in support of his arguement, and these can be found scattered throughout ‘Joy Unspeakable’, amongst other books.
