The Fulness of the Blessing of the Gospel of Christ
The sermon emphasizes the importance of experiencing the blessing of Christ Himself, rather than just His blessings or benefits.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes that many Christians miss the true essence of the blessings found in Christ, often seeking salvation, grace, or answered prayers without truly knowing Him. He warns against being attached to doctrines, churches, or even friendships, which can lead to a lifeless faith. The true blessing comes from a personal relationship with Jesus, who is the source of all blessings and the one who sustains us when everything else fails. Simpson encourages believers to seek Christ Himself rather than merely the benefits He offers.
Text
Many Christians fail to see all the blessings that are centered in Christ. They want to get the blessing of salvation, but that is not the Christ. They want to get the blessing of His grace to help, but that is not Him. They want to get answered prayer from Him in order to work for Him. You might have all that and not have the blessing of Christ Himself. A great many people are attached to the system of doctrine. They say, "Yes, I have the truth; I am orthodox." That is not the Christ. It may be like the cold statue in the fountain with the water pressing from the cold hands and lips, but having no life.
A great many other people want to get the blessing of joy, but this is not the blessing of Christ personally.
Many people become attached to their church and pastor, or to dear Christian friends, but that is not the Christ. The blessing that alone will fill our hearts when all else fails is the loving heart of Jesus united to us, the fountain of all our blessings and the unfailing One when all others wither and are exhausted-Jesus Christ Himself.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Blessing of Christ
- A. Not just salvation, but Christ Himself
- B. Not just answered prayer, but Christ's loving heart
- II. The Dangers of Attachment
- A. Attachment to doctrine, not Christ
- B. Attachment to church and pastor, not Christ
- C. Attachment to friends, not Christ
- III. The Fulness of the Blessing
- A. Christ as the fountain of all blessings
- B. Christ as the unfailing One
Key Quotes
“You might have all that and not have the blessing of Christ Himself.” — A.B. Simpson
“The blessing that alone will fill our hearts when all else fails is the loving heart of Jesus united to us, the fountain of all our blessings and the unfailing One when all others wither and are exhausted-Jesus Christ Himself.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Make Christ your focus and priority in your life, rather than attachment to things that are not Him.
- When all else fails, turn to the loving heart of Jesus for comfort and strength.
- Experience the fullness of the blessing of Christ by uniting with His loving heart and making Him your fountain of all blessings.