The Loss of All Things
A Sermon on Philippians 3:7-8
Originally preached Dec. 12, 1954
Scripture
7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but …
Sermon Description
How can Christians say that all loss is gain in Christ? This seems like an odd statement. Why is it good to lose things? In this sermon from Philippians 3:7–8 titled “The Loss of All Things,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches about the new life that comes by believing in Jesus Christ. He says that Christians must count all worldly greatness as nothing because now they have Christ who is infinitely better than everything else. All those who are now in Christ undergo a radical change that reorients their whole life. Believers have new desires and motives; they now love God and His ways. Christianity is not a mere addition to a person’s natural life, but it totally transforms them. It is a new way of living that calls Christians to new standards and values. It is a life of peace because all believers can truly know that they have been saved and are at peace with God in Jesus Christ. This is the most important message that any can hear because it tells that they can be saved and made new. It tells that Jesus offers new life to all who believe in Him. There is peace in the blood of Jesus.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is making a review of his life and the profound change that took place in him.
- Becoming a Christian changes everything - it's not an addition but a complete transformation.
- To evaluate a view of life, look at the past, present and future. For Paul, becoming a Christian revolutionized his view of all three.
- Past: Paul used to boast in his birth, ancestry, achievements and law-keeping. Now he counts it all as loss and rubbish compared to knowing Christ.
- Present: For the non-Christian, life is boring and dependent on circumstances. For Paul, the present is an opportunity to know Christ through the Word, prayer and service.
- Future: The non-Christian dislikes considering the future and death. For Paul, his citizenship is in heaven - he looks forward to Christ's return, the resurrection of the body and eternity with God.
- We can test ourselves by how we view the past (what we glory in), the present (how we spend our time) and the future (what we look forward to). The difference between the non-Christian and Christian view is profound.
- If we are still living for the things of this world, we have not truly understood the gospel. We must turn to Christ, acknowledge our sin and folly, and put our trust in Him alone for salvation and an eternal future.
Sermon Q&A
What Are the Key Indicators of True Conversion According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the profound transformation that accompanies genuine Christian conversion through Paul's testimony in Philippians 3:7-8. Here are the key indicators of true conversion:
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the importance of Christian conversion?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, becoming a Christian is "the most important and momentous thing that can ever happen to anybody." He emphasizes that it's not merely something that changes one's life experience or brings happiness, but fundamentally determines one's eternal destiny. As he states, "The fundamental reason for becoming a Christian, according to the scriptures, is that one's whole eternal future depends upon this thing, nothing less than that."
What changes in a person's view of their past when they become a Christian?
When someone becomes a Christian, they experience a complete reversal in how they view their past. Like Paul who once prided himself on his birth, ancestry, and religious achievements but later counted them as "loss for Christ," a convert undergoes a radical change in their value system. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains: "When a man becomes a Christian, like this man, Saul of Tarsus, he looks back across his life and at the things that he used to think were so wonderful, and he sees now that they're useless and they're utterly and absolutely worthless."
How does a Christian's view of the present differ from a non-Christian's?
The non-Christian views the present as "a simple continuation of the past" and often experiences life as boring and empty, dependent on external entertainment. In contrast, the Christian views the present as "a great and a glorious opportunity of enjoying the Lord Jesus Christ." Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that for the Christian, "the difficulty is not how to pass his time away. It's to make time, to have enough time" to know Christ more through Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.
What is the difference in how Christians and non-Christians view the future?
The non-Christian typically dislikes contemplating the future, particularly death and eternity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes this as "afraid of it and uncertain about it. He doesn't know what's going to happen." In contrast, Christians view themselves as "a colony of heaven" with their citizenship in heaven. They look forward to Christ's return, knowing that "even this body of mine shall be changed" to be like Christ's glorious body. This gives them peace and equanimity about the future.
What new standards does a Christian use to evaluate life after conversion?
After conversion, a Christian develops entirely new standards for evaluating everything: 1. "What is the value of this to my soul?" 2. "What is the value of this thing as regards my knowledge of God?" 3. How does it affect "my soul in terms of sin" 4. What is its "lasting value" in terms of eternity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes that these tests reveal whether one is truly converted: "Answer those three questions honestly in the light of this chapter, and you will know exactly whether you are a Christian or whether you're not."
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.