Embracing Christ's Supremacy: Decreasing Self for Growth

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 30, we find a profound statement: "He must increase, but I must decrease." This principle is crucial for our spiritual growth and development. It emphasizes the necessity of Christ's preeminence in our lives and the diminishing of self. The essence of Christianity is to receive from the fullness of Christ, experiencing grace upon grace. Our greatest hindrance is often our own self, which seeks to elevate itself above Christ. The solution is not to focus on diminishing self directly but to focus on knowing Christ more deeply. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, self naturally decreases.

The New Testament consistently points us back to Christ, reminding us of His supremacy over all things. The Epistle to the Hebrews, for example, encourages believers to remember who Christ is, emphasizing His superiority over prophets, angels, and all others. Our comfort and needs are met in Him, and as we seek Him first, everything else falls into place.

Christ's greatness is seen in His offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. As the ultimate Prophet, He reveals God to us perfectly, teaching us the true meaning of God's law and the way of salvation. As our High Priest, He offers Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once and for all, and continually intercedes for us. As King, He reigns with all authority, and His kingdom is eternal and unshakeable.

In contemplating these truths, we are called to meditate on His person and work, allowing Him to increase in our hearts and minds. This is the secret to Christian living: to look to Him, consider Him, and let His greatness fill our vision, leading us to a life of worship and service.

Key Takeaways:

- The essence of Christian life is to receive from Christ's fullness, experiencing grace upon grace. Our greatest hindrance is self, which seeks to elevate itself above Christ. The solution is to focus on knowing Christ more deeply, allowing self to naturally decrease. [01:59]

- The New Testament consistently points us back to Christ, emphasizing His supremacy over all things. Our comfort and needs are met in Him, and as we seek Him first, everything else falls into place. [06:32]

- Christ's greatness is seen in His offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. As the ultimate Prophet, He reveals God to us perfectly, teaching us the true meaning of God's law and the way of salvation. [12:24]

- As our High Priest, Christ offers Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once and for all, and continually intercedes for us. This unique and complete offering is the foundation of our salvation. [34:17]

- As King, Christ reigns with all authority, and His kingdom is eternal and unshakeable. Remembering His kingship empowers us to live confidently and victoriously, knowing that all power is in His hands. [42:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to John 3:30
- [01:05] - The Fullness of Christ
- [01:59] - The Hindrance of Self
- [03:21] - Knowing Christ
- [04:33] - The Reminder of Christ's Supremacy
- [06:04] - The Superiority of Christ
- [07:16] - Meditating on Christ's Person
- [09:11] - The Journey of Christ
- [10:19] - Christ's Offices: Prophet, Priest, King
- [12:24] - Christ as Prophet
- [27:48] - Christ as Priest
- [39:38] - Christ as King
- [46:02] - The Eternal Kingdom
- [47:01] - Conclusion and Hymn

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."
2. Hebrews 1:1-3 - "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Observation Questions:
1. What does John 3:30 suggest about the relationship between self and Christ in a believer's life? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on spiritual growth? [00:29]
2. According to the sermon, what is the primary hindrance to experiencing the fullness of Christ? [01:59]
3. How does the Epistle to the Hebrews describe the superiority of Christ over prophets and angels? [06:04]
4. What roles does Christ fulfill according to the sermon, and how are these roles significant to our understanding of His greatness? [12:24]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "He must increase, but I must decrease" challenge common cultural values of self-promotion and self-importance? [00:29]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that knowing Christ more deeply naturally leads to a decrease in self? [03:01]
3. How does the sermon explain the significance of Christ's roles as Prophet, Priest, and King in the context of Christian living? [12:24]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of meditating on Christ’s person and work for spiritual growth? [09:46]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life: Are there areas where you find yourself elevating self above Christ? How can you shift your focus to knowing Christ more deeply this week? [01:59]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of remembering Christ’s supremacy. What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of His greatness daily? [06:32]
3. Consider Christ’s role as Prophet, Priest, and King. How can these aspects of His identity influence the way you approach prayer and worship? [12:24]
4. The sermon suggests that our comfort and needs are met in Christ. How can you practice seeking Him first in times of need or uncertainty? [06:47]
5. How can you incorporate meditation on Christ’s journey and His work of salvation into your spiritual practices? What impact might this have on your faith? [09:11]
6. In what ways can you actively participate in allowing Christ to increase in your heart and mind, leading to a life of worship and service? [09:46]
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you can apply the principle of "He must increase, but I must decrease." What steps will you take to make this change? [00:29]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Christ's Fullness Over Self

The essence of the Christian life is to receive from the fullness of Christ, experiencing grace upon grace. Our greatest hindrance is often our own self, which seeks to elevate itself above Christ. The solution is not to focus on diminishing self directly but to focus on knowing Christ more deeply. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, self naturally decreases. This principle is crucial for our spiritual growth and development, as it emphasizes the necessity of Christ's preeminence in our lives. By allowing Christ to increase in our hearts and minds, we align ourselves with the true essence of Christianity. [01:59]



Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."



Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself striving for control? How can you intentionally seek to know Christ more deeply in that area today?





Day 2: Christ's Supremacy in All Things

The New Testament consistently points us back to Christ, reminding us of His supremacy over all things. Our comfort and needs are met in Him, and as we seek Him first, everything else falls into place. This truth encourages believers to remember who Christ is, emphasizing His superiority over prophets, angels, and all others. By focusing on Christ's supremacy, we find that our lives are ordered and our needs are met in ways we could not have orchestrated ourselves. [06:32]



Hebrews 1:3-4 (ESV): "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."



Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking comfort or fulfillment outside of Christ? How can you realign your focus to seek Him first in your daily life?





Day 3: Christ as the Ultimate Prophet

Christ's greatness is seen in His offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. As the ultimate Prophet, He reveals God to us perfectly, teaching us the true meaning of God's law and the way of salvation. By meditating on His teachings and allowing them to shape our understanding, we gain insight into the heart of God and His desires for us. This revelation is not just informational but transformational, leading us to a deeper relationship with God. [12:24]



Deuteronomy 18:18-19 (ESV): "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him."



Reflection: How can you intentionally listen to Christ's teachings today? What steps can you take to allow His words to transform your understanding and actions?





Day 4: Christ's Sacrifice as Our High Priest

As our High Priest, Christ offers Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once and for all, and continually intercedes for us. This unique and complete offering is the foundation of our salvation. By understanding the depth of His sacrifice, we are reminded of the immense love and grace that has been extended to us. This knowledge should lead us to a place of gratitude and worship, recognizing that our salvation is secure in Him. [34:17]



Hebrews 7:26-27 (ESV): "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself."



Reflection: Reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice for you personally. How does this understanding impact your daily walk with Him?





Day 5: Living Under Christ's Eternal Kingship

As King, Christ reigns with all authority, and His kingdom is eternal and unshakeable. Remembering His kingship empowers us to live confidently and victoriously, knowing that all power is in His hands. This assurance allows us to face life's challenges with courage, trusting that our King is sovereign and His plans are perfect. By submitting to His rule, we find true freedom and purpose in our lives. [42:06]



Revelation 11:15 (ESV): "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.'"



Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to acknowledge Christ's authority? How can you begin to submit to His kingship in that area today?

Quotes


In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 30, we find a profound statement: "He must increase, but I must decrease." This principle is crucial for our spiritual growth and development. It emphasizes the necessity of Christ's preeminence in our lives and the diminishing of self. [00:00:10]

Christianity really means to be receiving of his fullness and Grace added to upon Grace. It is this vital Union with the Lord Jesus Christ who has been made head to the church and from whom we all receive. [00:01:32]

Ultimately, the greatest enemy is self, this self that was asserting itself in the Disciples of John the Baptist but which John was so ready to recognize and to quell this tendency to exalt and Elevate self and to put self even before him and in his place and to conceal him. [00:02:05]

The New Testament Epistles are just a setting forth of him again and reminding people of who he is and what he is. I've suggested that a very good way of doing this thing which we are anxious to do namely that he may increase in Us in every respect. [00:04:32]

The New Testament of course is constantly praising him in this way he is the all and in all. He is the El alha yes but he doesn't stop at being the alpha he's the Omega as well he's the beginning of course but he's also the end he's the author and the finisher of our faith. [00:13:18]

He is the prophet and the priest and the King he's everything he combines everything in himself now the New Testament of course is constantly praising him in this way he is the all and in all. [00:13:07]

He is the Supreme prophet he reveals he manifests God he teaches us about him he shows us God in his eternal glory but not only does he teach us like that and act as Prophet with regard to God he does the same with regard to the law of God. [00:21:39]

He is the victim and the priest the offerer and the thing offered he offered himself he had carried in his own blood he presented his own blood where did he do so well this man makes this great contrast again almost all things are by the law purged with blood. [00:34:57]

He has done it once and forever this man keeps on making this point he says here in the ninth chapter again nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others. [00:36:13]

He is the all in all let me say just a word under the last heading Jesus Christ as king the promise made to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel remember was before his birth that he was going to occupy the Throne of his father David he shall be great. [00:39:38]

All power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth all power and he means what he says and it has been given to him all power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth this Jesus the Lord the Christ is seated at the right hand of God and all power is in his hand. [00:42:06]

His kingdom cannot fail he rules on Earth and Heaven the keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given lift up your hearts lift up your voice Rejoice again I say rejoice Christian people is he increasing is he getting bigger and bigger in your sight. [00:46:02]

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