An Experience of Christ
A Sermon on Christian Experience from Philippians 3:8
Originally preached May 27, 1962
Scripture
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 dung, that I may win Christ,
Sermon Description
Christianity is to be central to one’s life and completely captivate thoughts, actions, and the way one lives. Unlike many other worldviews and religions, it is very experiential. Christians are called not only to know more about Christ, but they are called to experience the fullness of life that He provides. The gospel was intended to be woven into every aspect of the Christian’s being. In this sermon on Philippians 3:8 titled “An Experience of Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points to the Apostle Paul, reminding of what this looks like when played out in reality. He gave up everything and suffered persecution because of the gospel. When one becomes a Christian, the whole person is involved. Christ takes over all of one’s being when they submit to Him. Another way that salvation changes the Christian is that it is always increasing in value. How is this seen in Scripture? Paul was very honest in saying that Christ had made everything else in the world seem like trash in comparison. When the treasures of this world are compared to the excellencies of Christ, they are shown to be ultimately worthless. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by providing examples of these excellencies of Christ and what they mean for the life of believers.
Sermon Breakdown
- Christianity captivates a person completely - mind, heart, and will. It is not a philosophy or theory but an experience that takes hold of a person.
- Paul writes with passion and conviction about his experience becoming a Christian. His life was completely ruined in worldly terms but he considers it worth it for Christ.
- Becoming a Christian meant Paul lost his family, position as a Pharisee, citizenship, and wealth. He suffered persecution and imprisonment. But he counts it all as loss for Christ.
- Paul says "yea doubtless" to emphasize how completely he considers worldly things as loss now that he has Christ. His conviction about this has only grown over time.
- A true Christian's devotion to Christ only increases over time. Emotional experiences are not the same as truly knowing Christ.
- Everything else seems worthless in comparison to knowing Christ. Worldly pleasures, possessions, qualities, gifts, positions, success, and applause are all loss.
- These worldly things cannot save, help one truly live, or help one die. They only provide superficial and temporary satisfaction.
- Worldly things are not just worthless but hindrances to salvation. They occupy time and attention, distract from God, and provide a false sense of security.
- Paul considers worldly things as "dung" and "refuse" because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This knowledge is what gives value and meaning to everything else.
- The excellence of knowing Christ is seen in Christ's person, work, and what He gives. He is the Son of God, Lord of glory who gave up heaven to die on the cross for sinners.
- Christ gives knowledge of God, new birth, righteousness, hope of glory, and an eternal inheritance. He is everything.
- Do you consider all else as loss compared to knowing Christ? If not, you likely do not know yourself or Christ as you ought. Knowing Christ makes all else seem like refuse.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Philippians 3:8 Teach About Counting All Things as Loss for Christ?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Philippians 3:8, here are key questions and answers about this profound verse.
What is the main verse that Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines Philippians 3:8: "Yea, 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 dung, that I may win Christ."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the progression of Paul's thinking from verse 7 to verse 8?
In verse 7, Paul was primarily negative, saying "what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ," referring specifically to his religious background and achievements. In verse 8, Paul becomes more positive and expansive, moving beyond religious credentials to count "all things" as loss, showing progression and intensification in his commitment to Christ.
What does the phrase "Yea, doubtless" in Philippians 3:8 reveal about Paul's state of mind?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this phrase (better translated as "but indeed, therefore, at least, even") reveals Paul's passionate conviction. It shows he was so carried away by his subject that he forgot about proper style. This demonstrates that Christianity is not theoretical but experiential - something that completely captivates a person.
What literal losses did Paul experience after becoming a Christian?
Paul lost his family connections (Jews would ostracize converts), his position as a Pharisee, his privileges as a citizen of Tarsus, his financial security (having to work as a tentmaker), and his physical comfort (enduring beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment). These were real, tangible losses that Paul willingly accepted for Christ.
Why does Paul use the word "dung" to describe what he once valued?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul uses this strong word (meaning "refuse" or "manure") because these things are not merely worthless but actively harmful to salvation. They: 1. Occupy time and thought that should be given to spiritual matters 2. Distract attention from God and the soul 3. Discourage spiritual thinking 4. Give a false sense of satisfaction and contentment 5. Stand between people and belief in Christ
What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus"?
The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus includes: 1. Knowing Christ's person - the Lord of glory, the Son of God 2. Understanding what Christ has done - leaving heaven's glory, becoming human, dying on the cross 3. Receiving what Christ gives - knowledge of God, righteousness by faith, new birth, adoption into God's family, and eternal inheritance 4. Realizing to whom it's given - to sinners and rebels who deserve nothing
What test does Lloyd-Jones suggest for determining if someone is truly a Christian?
A true Christian, according to Lloyd-Jones, will demonstrate: 1. Being completely captivated by Christ with mind, heart, and will 2. An increasing appreciation of Christ over time ("I counted" in past tense, "I count" in present tense) 3. A growing assessment that worldly things are worthless compared to Christ 4. A willingness to forsake everything for Christ's sake
How does Christianity differ from other philosophies or religions according to the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christianity is not something you "take up" as a philosophy or interest. Rather, Christianity "takes you up" - it apprehends and captivates a person completely. It's not theoretical but experiential, involving the entire person (mind, heart, and will), and it progressively increases in its hold on the believer's life.
What practical application does Lloyd-Jones make from this passage?
Lloyd-Jones urges his listeners to examine whether they truly count all things as loss for Christ. He challenges them to: 1. Assess whether their Christianity is increasing or decreasing 2. Consider whether they find Christianity more wonderful over time 3. Evaluate if they've made the same calculation as Paul about worldly values 4. Turn to Christ and ask Him to manifest Himself to them until they glimpse His excellency
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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.