If you feel that you are empty, if you feel you are nothing, if you feel you are poor and wretched and blind, if you hate your inclination to sin and have any suspicion of a feeling of self-loathing and hatred, you can take it from me that you have eternal life, for no one ever experiences such things until the life of God comes into his or her soul.--Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Life in God: Studies in 1 John (Crossway 1995), 109; quoted in Tony Sargent, Gems from Martyn Lloyd-Jones: An Anthology of Quotations from 'the Doctor' (Paternoster 2007), 113
22 September 2011
Upside-Down Comfort
Lloyd-Jones--
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2 comments:
I normally like Dr. Lloyd-Jones, but I'm not sure I agree with this quote entirely. I believe that there are better evidences of the presence of the Holy Spirit, such as the fruit of the spirit.
I am not sure we should be encouraging people to feel empty, nothing, poor, wretched, blind, to loathe or hate the self. We need to remind ourselves of who we really are: sons and daughters of God, and to spend more time looking at Jesus.
Thanks Gary.
It should go without saying that this is not the only thing Lloyd-Jones has to say on this subject. He would agree entirely with the other realities such as the ones you mention. You can't expect him to say everything every time he says something.
Blessings.
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