Gain Through Loss — E.A. Johnston

Gain Through Loss as a Biblical Principle

There is a principle in scripture, friends, that goes against the common reasoning of man, and that is gain through loss. We live in a world that says the one who wins the game of life is the one who ends up with the most toys at the end.

We ought to grab as much of this world as we can, but life is an empty bubble, friend, if it's not lived for Christ. The title of my message today is Gain Through Loss, and I will prove to you this truth found in my Bible by using text from the Word of God and real-life examples.

Christ Jesus and the Grain of Wheat

Gain Through Loss can be seen in the following. Number one, Christ Jesus. In John 12, 24, Jesus explains his principle to his disciples. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.

But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Christ himself proved this principle of gain through loss by giving himself as a sacrifice for sin. Christ gave his all on Calvary. He held nothing back at all.

Paul Counts All Things Loss to Win Christ

Number two, the Apostle Paul. We see in Philippians 3, 8 how the Apostle Paul proved this principle as well of gain through loss. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but dung that I may win Christ.

Jim Elliot's Sacrificial Mission

The Apostle Paul gave up all and won Christ as his all in all. Number three, Jim Elliot, the missionary mortar. Jim Elliot proved this principle with his very life as he gave it willingly to reach the Alka-Indians with the gospel.

I actually met one of the men who killed him years ago. He was going around churches with Steve Saint, the son of Nain Saint, who was also slain for the gospel. This Alka-Indian who killed Jim Elliot had become a Christian, and when I met him he was as gentle as a lamb.

A Personal Vow to Lose Life for Christ

Jim Elliot knew this principle of gain through loss, for he wrote in the flyleaf of his Bible, He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. Number four, this poor preacher. My own personal experience.

I was reading Mark 835 several years ago friends. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels, the same shall save it. I contemplated the principle of gain through loss, and I made a vow to God that day to gamble my life away on Christ and the gospel.

I wrote the following words in the flyleaf of my Bible that day, which I'm looking at right right now friends. What is my life that I should keep it Selfishly for me. I choose to lose it so completely and have it found in thee.

I can assure you friends from my own experience this principle of gain through loss is true, for it rings true in my life as I know from personal experience that the pearl of great price is worth losing all for and selling all for so he may be gained.

The Listener's Decision to Surrender All

And lastly, what about you friend? Do you know this principle in your own life? How is it with you?