Gain to Me ...
A Sermon on Philippians 3:7
Originally preached Oct. 10, 1954
Scripture
7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Sermon Description
Becoming a Christian always involves change. There can be no new life without a putting to death of the old life. There can be no new way of living without a stopping of the old way of living. In this sermon on Philippians 3:7 titled “Gain to Me…,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses the conversion of Paul and particular hindrances that were present for Paul, and can still hinder people from coming to the Lord. He shows that Paul could have boasted in his birth as a Jew, his ability and knowledge as a Pharisee, and his zeal and sincerity as a persecutor of the church. However, none of these things are sufficient to save anyone. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that many think that to be Christian is to be sincere, knowledgeable, and zealous about God and good things. However, none of these address their relationship with God or their sin. In fact, Paul counts all of these things as trash in comparison with knowing Christ. Furthermore, no one can seek out God by the strength of their own mind. If anyone is to know God it will be through God’s self-revelation through His word. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also discusses true fruit of a converted Christian and implores his listeners to examine themselves.
Sermon Breakdown
- Paul relied upon his birth and background as a Jew which blinded him to the truth of the gospel. Many today rely upon their nation, family or upbringing and assume they are Christians.
- Paul relied upon his own ability and intellect which can prove a stumbling block. Many today rely upon their own understanding and philosophy of life.
- Paul was extremely sincere in persecuting Christians but sincerity alone is not enough. One can be sincerely wrong. Truth matters more than sincerity.
- Paul was very religious but his religion blinded him to the truth. Religion can be a hindrance and substitute for true Christianity.
- All these things Paul relied upon depend upon ourselves - our birth, intellect, actions etc. But Christianity depends upon God's action and grace.
- If Christianity depended upon ourselves, it would be unequal and unfair. But the message is that all are lost and need to be born again by God's grace.
- If the things Paul relied upon were enough, Christ would be unnecessary. But Christ is essential - his incarnation and death are vital.
- Those who rely upon themselves and their religion often have nothing to offer others. But Christians can offer hope and grace to all.
Sermon Q&A
What Did the Apostle Paul Consider Loss for Christ's Sake?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Philippians 3:7, here are questions and answers that explore Paul's conversion and what it means for Christians today.
What were the things that Paul counted as "loss for Christ"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several things that Paul previously valued but later considered worthless compared to knowing Christ:
- His religious heritage and birth (being "circumcised the 8th day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews")
- His intellectual ability and reasoning power
- His sincerity and zeal in his former religious life
- His religious practices, ceremonies and law-keeping
As Paul himself declared, "What things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ." He came to see these former advantages as "loss, dung, manure, refuse, hateful, ugly, foul" because they had blinded him to the righteousness that comes through Christ.
Why does relying on religious background prevent people from becoming Christians?
According to Lloyd-Jones, many people assume they're Christians simply because of their background, upbringing, or nationality. He explains:
"There are still large numbers of people who are still acting on the assumption that everybody born in this country is a Christian. They still talk about Christian nations... They rely, as Paul did, upon nation. Or perhaps upon family or perhaps upon upbringing, always taking it for granted."
This prevents genuine conversion because "we are not saved in nations. We are not saved in families. We are not saved in groups." Christianity requires personal, individual dealings with God—"you can't go into heaven on the back of your parents, on the back of your nation."
How can sincerity actually become a hindrance to becoming a Christian?
Lloyd-Jones addresses the common idea that "it doesn't really matter what a man believes as long as he's sincere." Paul was utterly sincere in persecuting Christians—"in all good conscience"—yet completely wrong. The preacher explains:
"You can be sincerely wrong. You can be genuinely mistaken. This man was as sincere as a man could be. But it isn't sincerity that matters... It's truth that matters. You see, he was sincere about the wrong thing."
Many people measure their spiritual lives by their sincerity rather than by truth, which keeps them from truly encountering Christ.
Why is religious practice often the greatest barrier to true Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones states that "there is nothing still, even in the world as it is today, that stops so many people becoming Christian as religion." He explains that religion often involves:
- Substituting our idea of what pleases God for God's actual requirements
- Relying on "forms, ritual, ceremony, chapel or church going, good deeds, sacrifices"
- Trusting in our own efforts rather than God's grace
The result is people who are religious but don't possess the quality of life Paul had after conversion—"the joy and peace he speaks about." They haven't experienced God dealing with them personally.
How does conversion differ from religious improvement?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christianity isn't about human improvement but divine transformation:
"The Christian message, my friend, is to say this, that every man must be born again... God must come and take your soul and fashion it afresh."
True conversion involves recognizing that "we are all lost, every one of us," regardless of background or behavior. It requires acknowledging that self-improvement, religious activity, and intellectual understanding cannot make us Christians. Instead, we need the new birth that comes through faith in Christ's death for our sins.
What happens when we rely on our own efforts rather than Christ?
When we trust in our religious background, intellect, sincerity, or religious practices, we're essentially saying that "Jesus Christ is not essential. He is not vital. You can get on without him."
Lloyd-Jones states: "If you trust to your being religious, you're saying that [Christ's death] was quite unnecessary, a waste of energy, something quite unessential, and thereby you prove, however good and righteous you may be, that you are not a Christian."
The result is a self-contained life without "peace of heart and peace with God" and without the ability to truly help others who are struggling.
Face to Face with Christ
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.