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I. WHY DO WE, IN THE FACE OF UNBELIEF AND ADVERSE CRITICISM, ENDORSE THE ASSERTION THAT CHRIST MUST INCREASE?

1. Because this is the design of God the Father. He has commissioned His Son to destroy the works of the devil, and to fill the world with His glory (Isaiah 9:7; Psalm 2:7, 8; Philippians 2:10). Failure in this is impossible. For what Divine design has failed?

(1) When our first parents sinned, He promised a Deliverer. Let the manger, the cross, and the open tomb say whether He failed.

(2) Did He fail when He threatened the Flood?

(3) Did He fail to give Canaan to Abraham's seed, although Egypt and five centuries lay between the promise and the fulfilment?

2. Because the forces employed are adequate.

(1) Love. To what is not human love, imperfect as it is not equal? But this force is the love of God, making, redeeming, and preparing heaven for man.

(2) The Holy Spirit, who has power to convert every sinner upon earth.

3. The Holy Scriptures. Ask Mohammedanism why it fears the Bible? Because the Koran, when it comes in contact with it, loses its power. Ask Romanism. Because the power of priestcraft dies in its presence, and the chains of superstition are sundered. Is the Bible a power? Ask the fires in which its enemies have endeavored to burn it. While the writings of Porphyry, Julian, Hume, Voltaire, are lost or forgotten, where is the Bible? Wherever there is light. These, with their adjuncts, are adequate to the consummation of the text.

II. WHAT DOES THIS INCREASE MEAN?

1. Individual felicity. Examine the experience of all who have fully embraced Christ. With this increase the circle of those enjoying happiness will extend.

2. Social elevation. The increase of Christ subdues the savage in man's breast, make marriage honourable, child-life happy, elevates woman, liberates the slave, provides refuges for the homeless, etc.

3. National advancement. Look at once famous empires, and compare them with the condition of countries in which Christ has increase.

III. HOW IS THIS INCREASE TO BE SECURED?

1. By individual effort and influence (John 1:40-51). One of the conditions of Christ's increase in the heart is to contribute to His increase in the world.

2. By organised advance upon the strongholds of darkness.

(A. B. Chambers, LL. B.)John was one of God's nobility. Christ was deeply impressed with his intellectual, moral, and even professional greatness. The commanding proof of this is his state of heart and his conduct relative to the Messiah. The popularity of Jesus perplexed and annoyed John's disciples, but it made him profoundly glad. As a friend of the Bridegroom, the Bridegroom's voice was to him the sweetest music.

I. "I MUST DECREASE." John was not thinking of himself —

1. As subject to the law of decay and death. We are all subject to that, good and bad; and in the article of temporal death there was no difference between John and Jesus.

2. As an immortal being. His path shone more and more unto the perfect day. We can put no limit to the growth of holy intelligencies.

3. As being held in lesser esteem in the future. He is thought as highly of now as he was then; and the Master passed upon him the highest eulogium, and this Christians accept.

4. But that his authority and influence as the forerunner, or a religious reformer, would of necessity be taken up and absorbed by the higher authority and influence of the Messiah. After Christ's entrance, there was nothing for John but to point to him. "Behold the Lamb of God" now took the place of "Repent." Christ's rise was unavoidably John's fall; and to no one was it clearer or more welcome than John. It would have been a serious thing for John as a sinner and as a forerunner had this not been the case. But his influence was only relatively lost as a river flowing into the sea.

II. "HE MUST INCREASE." About this there is a glorious indefiniteness. John did not go into details as to the amount and manner. All he says is that it was a moral necessity.

1. When we take into account the marvellous progress already made, we can see that "Christ shall see the travail of his soul," etc. The leaven must go working on. The issue of the great contest between Christ and Satan is not uncertain. "He must reign," etc.

2. Some Christians cannot see this as they look on hindrances, corrupt institutions, depraved customs, false systems, inert and inconsistent Christians; but Christ must increase.

3. Not that God will ever compel men. All that the Gospel wants is a fair chance; and this it will eventually secure for itself.

4. The advance of Christianity is undoubted, although it has receded in certain places.

5. The real progress is much greater than the seeming progress. The atmosphere of certain countries has become impregnated with Christian elements, and their inhabitants cannot help breathing it.

6. Humanity needs Christ, and Christ is adapted to humanity. So much so, that the two must coalesce. A strong confirmation of the Baptist's saying.

(G. Cross.)

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KJV: He must increase, but I must decrease.

WEB: He must increase, but I must decrease.