Philippians 3:8 Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… I. IT IS THE CHRISTIAN'S GRAND OBJECT, AND SHOULD BE THE DESIGN OF EVERY ONE TO WIN OR GAIN CHRIST. 1. What it is to win Him and how. It is to get Him to be ours and enjoy Him. It imports that we are naturally without Him (Ephesians 2:12). (1) We must work and win as labourers do (Philippians 2:12). (2) We must fight and win as soldiers — "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence," etc. Whenever a soul is on its way to Christ, the alarm is sounded in hell, and if the soul would bare Him it must be in opposition to flesh and blood, and principalities and powers. (3) We must wrestle and win as those do who strive for the mastery (Ephesians 6:12-14). (4) We must run and win as racers do. (5) We must trade and win as merchants do (Mark 10:22). 2. Some reasons. (1) If we win Christ we gain all (Matthew 13:45-46). (2) If we win not Christ we gain nothing and lose all (Matthew 16:26). II. THOSE WHOSE GRAND OBJECT IS TO WIN CHRIST, WILL COUNT ALL BUT DUNG THAT COMES IN COMPETITION WITH THIS BARGAIN. They will count — 1. Nothing too much for Him, but be content to have Him on any terms. 2. Cost what it will they will not think they are even hands but gainers. 3. Have what they will they will count they have nothing while they have not Christ. 4. Be about them what they will, if Christ be not in them they will count them loathsome. 5. Be in their way what will, to hinder them from Christ, they will shovel it out of the way rather than be kept back from Christ. III. THEY ARE TRULY WINNERS, LOSE WHAT THEY WILL, WHO GAIN CHRIST. Winning Christ — 1. We gain a ransom for our souls. 2. A treasure. Solomon counted all that was in the world as two great cyphers — "vanity and vexation." But in Christ all is precious; grace, pardon, peace. They were purchased with precious blood (1 Peter 1:19); they are wrapped up in precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). 3. That which will turn everything to our advantage — "All things work together for good." This is the stone that turns all to gold. 4. A heirship. (T. Boston, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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