The Final Cure

The text

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13 KJV

At a glance

Summary of the sermon

The last sermon lifts the postscript of Philippians into a summary of everything that has gone before. Lloyd-Jones renders the verse: I am strong for all things in the One who is constantly infusing strength into me. Paul's sufficiency is not self-generated; it is supplied, moment by moment, by the indwelling Christ. The Christian life is not a philosophy to be practised or a code to be kept but a life and a power actually at work in the believer — the doctrine of Philippians 2:13, of Ephesians 1:19 and of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'.

He guards the doctrine on two sides. Stoicism, Buddhism and every form of 'mind culture' put all the weight on the 'I', achieving a detachment from circumstances by will-power alone; they are pessimistic, they give Christ no glory, and — as Chesterton said of the simple life — they are only available to people with the leisure and temperament to cultivate them. The opposite error obliterates the 'I' altogether, as if the Christian were merely a passive instrument through which Christ thinks and acts. Paul does not say that: 'I' am still there, and 'not I, but Christ' does not mean that I have ceased to exist. An old preacher put it best when, having questioned Paul's boldness, he heard 'through Christ' and apologised — 'I did not realise there were two of you.'

How then is the power obtained? Not by the direct approach — agonising in prayer for power as a thing in itself — but indirectly, as health is obtained: by living the healthy life. Do what Christ has told you to do; pray; meditate on Him; spend time with Him and ask Him to manifest Himself. Abide in Him, which is a tremendously active thing. And as you live that life He will infuse strength as a physician gives a transfusion to an anaemic patient, exactly according to the need — 'as thy days, so shall thy strength be.' That, Lloyd-Jones concludes, is the final cure for spiritual depression.

Key points

• Paul's strength is continuously infused by Christ, not generated by himself.
• The Christian life is a real divine power at work in us, not merely a teaching to follow.
• Stoic and Eastern self-culture over-emphasise the 'I' and give Christ no glory.
• Mysticism that obliterates the 'I' misreads Paul: 'there are two of you'.
• Power is obtained indirectly, as health is — by living the life Christ commands.
• Abide in Him, obey, pray, meditate; He supplies strength according to the day.

Illustrations the preacher uses

• G. K. Chesterton's objection that you have to be a millionaire to live the simple life.
• The old preacher's pulpit dialogue with Paul: 'I did not realise there were two of you.'
• The blood transfusion given to an anaemic patient for whom no drug would help.

Related Scripture

• Philippians 1:6
• Philippians 2:12–13
• Ephesians 1:19–20
• Ephesians 3:16–20
• Colossians 1:27
• Galatians 2:20
• John 15:4–5
• Deuteronomy 33:25

For reflection and discussion

1. How does understanding Christian strength as infused by Christ, rather than self-produced, change the way you approach a present struggle?
2. Where are you tempted toward a stoic self-discipline on the one hand, or a passive 'let go and let God' on the other?
3. What does the 'indirect approach' — obeying, praying, meditating, abiding — look like in your ordinary week?