Living in Christs Fullness
A Sermon on John 1:16
Originally preached July 12, 1964
Scripture
16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Sermon Description
The Christian must ask themselves if they are happy with what they have and if they experience deep contentment. These are indicators that they have tasted of the fullness of Christ. The Christian is able to be content in success or in suffering. Christians are able to actually possess contentment regardless of their circumstances, even in the loss of possessions, health, or loved ones. In this sermon titled “Living in Christ’s Fullness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out that the disciples of Christ possess contentment despite thorns in the flesh, imprisonment, and persecution through living in His fullness. The Christian will find that when their affections are in Christ, they are secure and so is their joy. When suffering comes, it should push affections closer to Christ. In this discourse, Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses how the Christian can possess contentment in all circumstances. Moreover, he shows that prosperity can, like suffering, drive one away from true contentment and toward self-sufficiency. It can move one away from the Savior who is the only secure hope. Come, listen and learn how to find real and satisfying contentment in prosperity and in suffering and press into the fullness that is found in Christ alone.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul calls attention to two portions of scripture: John 1:16 and Philippians 4:11-13.
- A Christian is someone who has received the fullness of Christ. We must accept no lesser definition.
- It is vital that we examine ourselves to see if this is true of us. There is nothing more tragic than imagining you are a Christian but finding out you are not.
- The way Paul examines himself is by:
- The explicit teaching of the New Testament
- Examples of people in the New Testament who manifested the fullness of Christ
- Reading church history and biographies of saints
- Paul gives insights into himself and what it means to receive the fullness of Christ in Philippians.
- The last picture is in Philippians 4:11-13. This follows Paul saying to be anxious for nothing but pray about everything.
- The man who has received Christ's fullness has peace that transcends understanding. But there is something even beyond that: contentment.
- Contentment is highly valued. Godliness with contentment is great gain. The world seeks contentment in many ways but cannot find it.
- Paul tells us he has learned contentment in any circumstance. He knows how to live in need and in prosperity. He has learned the secret of being content in any situation.
- This contentment is possible for all Christians and we should all seek to attain it.
- The reason it's possible is because it's not based on us but on receiving Christ's fullness. Temperament is irrelevant.
- Paul helps us see how to attain contentment. First, it persists in all circumstances without exception. The test of contentment is always having it.
- Second, it makes us independent of circumstances. Most lack of contentment comes from dependence on circumstances, people, success, wealth, etc.
- Third, contentment must be learned. It does not come automatically with salvation. There is an element of discipline.
- Paul says he has learned contentment through experience. But he has also been initiated into the secret of contentment by the Holy Spirit.
- The secret is being able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Christ infuses strength into us.
- Receiving Christ's fullness decreases our desire for other things. The knowledge of Christ gives complete satisfaction so we need nothing else.
- In adversity, we are driven to Christ and find contentment in him. In prosperity, we see worldly things for what they are and cling to Christ.
- We get contentment by learning, by being shown the secret, and by Christ infusing strength into us.
Sermon Q&A
What Does the Bible Teach About Christian Contentment According to Lloyd-Jones?
What is the basic definition of a Christian according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the basic definition of a Christian is someone who has "received of the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ." He emphasizes that belief and knowledge are essential but not enough, since "the devils believe and tremble." What makes someone truly Christian is that they have received Christ, been born again, and become "partakers of the divine nature." As Lloyd-Jones puts it, "We have received of his fullness and grace upon grace."
What is Christian contentment according to Philippians 4:11-13?
Christian contentment, as explained through Philippians 4:11-13, is a state where believers are satisfied regardless of their circumstances. Paul writes that he has "learned to be content whatever the state" he is in - whether abased or abounding, full or hungry, in plenty or in need. This contentment is not dependent on external conditions but comes from Christ's strength within. It's a state of mind and spirit that persists in all circumstances and renders believers independent of their external situations.
How is contentment different from peace according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between peace and contentment. He explains that peace (as mentioned in Philippians 4:7) is the absence of nervous anxiety and worry. However, contentment goes beyond peace. He states, "It is one thing to be in a state of perfect peace in spite of your circumstances and surroundings, but that doesn't mean that of necessity you are enjoying contentment." Contentment is a deeper satisfaction that Paul describes as "godliness with contentment" being "great gain."
Why can't wealth and pleasure provide true contentment?
Lloyd-Jones points out that wealth alone cannot provide contentment because there are "people who are very wealthy, but are very disturbed, ill at ease, restless." He notes that even "the wealthiest man in the world confesses that he hasn't found contentment." Similarly, those who "look for it by plunging into pleasure" fail to find it. Contentment cannot be bought or commanded - it's something that comes from receiving Christ's fullness, not from external possessions or experiences.
How does one learn contentment according to Paul in Philippians?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that contentment is "something that one has to learn." Paul says, "I have learned" and "I am instructed." It doesn't happen automatically when one becomes a Christian. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul was "initiated into the secret" of contentment through: 1. Experience and learning from trials 2. The Holy Spirit's guidance 3. Drawing strength directly from Christ 4. Recognizing that Christ is sufficient regardless of circumstances 5. Understanding the true value of worldly things
What does it mean to be "initiated into the secret" of contentment?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul uses unique language when he says "I am instructed" (or more accurately translated as "I am initiated into the secret"). This means the Holy Spirit has led Paul to discover the spiritual secret of contentment. Lloyd-Jones describes it as one of those "turning points" or "moments of illumination" in the Christian life where a believer suddenly sees "that there is that place of rest and of contentment." Once discovered, the Christian "knows the method" and can return to this state regardless of circumstances.
How does Christ strengthen believers to be content in all circumstances?
Paul reveals the ultimate secret in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Lloyd-Jones explains this works in several ways: 1. Christ "infuses strength" into believers like "a blood transfusion" 2. When abased or in adversity, the believer is driven to seek Christ more 3. Christ gives a new perspective that helps believers see worldly prizes at their true value 4. The fullness of Christ provides complete satisfaction that makes other things unnecessary 5. Christ remains unchanging and ever-present regardless of circumstances
How does adversity actually help develop contentment in Christians?
Lloyd-Jones explains that adversity can actually strengthen contentment because "the saint, when he is abased, is driven the more to seek the face of Christ." He references 2 Corinthians 4, where Paul says "our light affliction...worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Adversity drives believers back to Christ and His fullness. Lloyd-Jones notes that many Christians testified that "they had a period of joy and contentment and happiness in prison that they'd never known before."
Why is knowing how to "abound" more difficult than knowing how to be "abased"?
Lloyd-Jones makes the surprising observation that knowing how to handle prosperity ("how to abound") is "infinitely more difficult" than handling adversity. He says, "I think most of us are better people when we are suffering and when we are in trouble." He references Deuteronomy 32:15, "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked," noting how prosperity often leads people to forget God. The challenge is that success can inflate the ego and turn one's head, while the Christian filled with Christ's fullness can see worldly success for its "true worth and value."
How does Lloyd-Jones suggest we test whether we have received Christ's fullness?
Lloyd-Jones repeatedly urges his listeners to examine themselves to see if they have truly received Christ's fullness. He suggests testing ourselves by: 1. Our reaction to both adversity and prosperity 2. Whether we experience contentment in all circumstances 3. Our independence from external conditions for our happiness 4. Whether we can say with Paul "I can do all things through Christ" 5. Our evaluation of worldly success and possessions 6. Whether our desires for other things have decreased as Christ has increased
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.