Christ All in All: Christ is our Ensign

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.                                                          —ISAIAH 11:10

[Christ] is a military flag or ensign—a banner of war. This teaches us that Christianity is a warfare, and that Christ and Christians are warriors. But who are the enemies, and what is the quarrel? The enemies are the devil and the world and the flesh. The cause we are in is the glory of God.

It is by the flag that belongs to the company, as much as by anything, that all the soldiers in that company, being gathered together, are knit together into one. That is their center of unity—not only their having but one captain and being engaged in one cause and their taking one and the same oath, but having the same flag. So our great center of unity is our Lord Jesus Christ, not only as our one captain, but as our ensign.

The great work of ministers is to lift up Christ to people, to set Him forth as the most eligible and desirable, both on the account of what He is in Himself, and what He is to poor sinners. They are the friends of the bridegroom, wooing for Him, not for themselves.

Now here is an ensign that lives forever, a flag that cannot be taken. He always has been, is, and will be Jesus the conqueror.

Christ All in All: Christ is our Way

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

                                                                                                                            —JOHN 14:6

To say Christ is the way to the Father is as much as to say He is the way to heaven. Heaven is a place, a city, a city that has foundations. Now every city has a way to it, and so has this city—and that way is Christ. There our Father dwells and keeps court. When we come thither, we will see Him and enjoy Him, only by Jesus Christ.

Adoption is that that makes us the children of God. We are by nature the Devil's children, branches in the wild olive, and our fruit is accordingly. Adoption cuts us off from that stock and grafts us into a better stock, a good olive, puts us into God's family. Now how is this done? Only by Jesus Christ. He is the way, and on us receiving of Him, it is done immediately.

Christ is both a broad way and a narrow way.
A narrow way—we cannot walk in it and have elbow room for out lusts. The strictness of the divine precepts is the hedge compassing this way about, both on the right hand and on the left, which must not be transgressed and leaped over by those that intend Christ for their way to the Father.
A broad way—in respect of the true spiritual Christian liberty which they have that walk in it.

[Christ is] a beaten way, and yet but few walking in it. But few at one time and in one place, here and there a traveller. But beaten by the multitudes that have been in all ages, and are and will be, as will appear, when they will all come together.

Christ All in All: Christ is our Wisdom

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom. 

                                                                        —1 CORINTHIANS 1:30

If Christ be made unto us wisdom, we have chosen God for our chief good and highest end and the Lord Jesus Christ as our alone way to Him.

If we prosper and thrive in the world, there is need of wisdom to manage it so that we be not ensnared, not destroyed by it. If in affliction, it is necessary that we may keep the mean between fainting and despising. If reproached, reviled persecuted, to carry it as we ought toward our persecutors, with meekness and yet with courage.

If we pray, we need wisdom that we do not ask amiss. If we hear the word, we need wisdom that we may discern between wheat and chaff, that we may take our own portion. If we wish to reprove, we need wisdom to know when, how. If to reconcile differences, if to manage good discourse, to attend our particular calling, so as not to entrench one our general calling, to keep the world in its due place—we require wisdom in all.

How is it to be supplied? I told you: by having recourse to the blessed Jesus in a humble sense of our need. We must pray, as Paul. We must study the Word...when that speaks, Christ speaks. 

We must then believe, put on Christ, learn Christ, walk in Christ, which is the certain way to be made wise.

Here is a matter of unspeakable comfort to all true believers, that Jesus Christ is made wisdom, that is, as some interpret it, that all that infinite wisdom that is in Him as God, and all that infused wisdom which He had as God-man wherein He grew, is all made over to us to be employed for our good.