I Count All Things to be Loss

Driving home: In other words, if each statement is a link, it is the point at which the links come together that we properly understand the chain of the revelation of the mind and the will of God.

A quote from a preacher of another generation is used to emphasize that the logical connections in Scripture are as inspired as the statements themselves, setting up the sermon's methodology.

we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. A certain preacher of another generation, in giving advice to his younger brethren in the ministry, stated that the logical connections of scriptural thought are the ones that are most important to us. Are no less the product of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit than are the statements of scripture themselves.

3:46 - 4:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin uses an extended analogy of a confirmed bachelor who, upon marrying Mary Ellen, counts all former advantages of bachelorhood as loss, to illustrate the logical connection…

An extended analogy of a man, John, who was a confirmed bachelor but then married Mary Ellen, is used to parallel Paul's spiritual journey from counting fleshly advantages as gains to counting them as loss for Christ.

the logical links in this passage. Imagine with me, if you will, please, a man who is happily married. In fact, he's been happily married for 30 years. But he never married until he was 35.

12:49 - 13:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That the one thing we retain, whether of inherited advantages or of acquired advantages, the one thing we retain upon which to rest any of our hopes is the one thing that will sink our souls to hell.

John Stone's analogy of a ship captain casting overboard valuable items to pursue a prize of highest value illustrates the 'sound calculation' of losing all things to win Christ.

Feeling what I was wont to deem my gains to be in truth, loss, in that they kept me back from the Savior, hearing God declare that all other trust must be put away by those who would be saved through his Son, I was constrained by sound calculation to lose everything. Sound calculation it was. True wisdom, as when the captain of a ship of war in hot pursuit of a prize of the highest value does not hesitate to lighten his vessel and thus secure the capture by casting overboard much that is valuable in itself. For observe how he goes on,

27:45 - 28:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The ultimate purpose of this radical loss is the acquisition of Christ and incorporation into Christ, which constitutes a saving knowledge of Him, emphasizing both the objective…

A quote from Bishop Hall is used to exquisitely describe what it means 'to win Christ' – to lay fast hold upon Him, receive Him inwardly, and be joined to Him in various intimate ways.

An acquisition of Christ. And when a man as perceptive as John Stone quotes another servant of God, you better believe it's a choice quote. And so I want to quote his quote. To win Christ is in the exquisite language of good old Bishop Hall.

37:49 - 38:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Honestly assess if Paul's words, 'I count all things to be loss for the surpassingness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,' are a transcript of your own spiritual reality.

The metaphor of a 'stethoscope of honesty and self-inquiry' is used to challenge listeners to examine their own hearts and honestly assess if Paul's words reflect their spiritual reality.

Are they a transcript of where you are spiritually this morning? It's one thing to come as it were with the stethoscope of inspiration and listen to the heartbeat of the apostle. My friend, put the stethoscope of honesty and self-inquiry upon your own breast, and can you say this morning with judgment day honesty, yes, truly in addition to this, I here this morning with calm, sober, honest reflection regard everything but loss

45:45 - 46:27 Read in full sermon