Philippians 3 Notes of Addresses
The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith, judgment of self, and conformity to Christ in overcoming failure and achieving perfection and glory.
John Nelson Darby emphasizes the importance of focusing on the glorified Christ as the source of true power and energy in our work. He encourages believers to let go of worldly attachments, viewing them as insignificant compared to the glory of Christ. The sermon highlights the necessity of self-judgment and conformity to Christ, reminding us that despite humanity's failures, faith remains unbroken in the power of God. Darby illustrates that Christ's humility and sacrificial path should inspire us to live in a way that reflects His grace and love, ultimately leading us to choose Christ's place over worldly recognition.
Text
Dublin, July, 1868.
(Words in Season, Vol. 3, 1889, page 80.)
Here we get the glorified Man gone up. He fills the eye of the apostle. Therein is the true power and energy of work.
When faith is working no circumstances ever dim the heart.
It is no sacrifice giving up things which you esteem as dross and dung, especially if you have the eye fixed on Christ.
If I am thinking only of the race, I throw off the cloak as a hindrance.
What we should look to continually is the judgment of self, and complete conformity to Christ desired.
The exhortations here are simply to what Christ was.
The failure of man is uniform and immediate, however something better is brought in.
Man fell in Eden.
Man made the golden calf.
Man crucified Christ.
And all men seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
But if I get man in ruins, I get the Second Man in perfection and glory. If I get the law broken, I get the law written in the heart. If I get the Church in ruins, the Church will yet be glorious.
No failure can break the link of faith in the power of God.
The candle shines brightest in the darkest night, so should our faith shine when all is dark around.
Christ's path from glory was all a descent, humbling Himself even to the death of the cross. Where was self to be found in that path? Nowhere. And now the Holy Ghost says by Paul, "Let this mind be in you."
In Christ, self found no place; in us, it is to be reckoned dead. Where there is not the judgment of self in the power of the Holy Ghost, there is sure to be the working of self in the energy of the flesh.
Christ's path was a divine path, going through this world in the grace and love of God, and we have a divine path through this world - viz., to be like Christ.
Nothing can ever stop the sufficiency of Christ, no matter what the circumstances may be.
Christ could not take a place in this world.
Which would you like best? a place in this world, or Christ's place?
Sermon Outline
- The Glorified Man
- The Judgment of Self
- The Failure of Man
- The Power of Faith
- Christ's Path and Ours
- Christ's path was a divine path
- Our path should be like Christ's
Key Quotes
“It is no sacrifice giving up things which you esteem as dross and dung, especially if you have the eye fixed on Christ.” — John Nelson Darby
“The candle shines brightest in the darkest night, so should our faith shine when all is dark around.” — John Nelson Darby
“Christ's path from glory was all a descent, humbling Himself even to the death of the cross.” — John Nelson Darby
Application Points
- We should desire complete conformity to Christ and follow His example.
- Faith shines brightest in darkest times, and no failure can break the link of faith in the power of God.
- Our path should be like Christ's, a divine path through this world.