Gospel Model

Introduction

Well, good morning! If you have a copy of God’s Word, go ahead and turn with me to Philippians chapter two…this is our last week here in this chapter…and listen, if you were with us when Kyler opened up chapter two for us, do you remember what Paul’s point to his Philippian audience was? Paul was showing what Christian humility looks like in the real life, right? And then he charges us, all as believers, to model this kind of life. We’re all supposed to look the same, we’re to be unified in this kind of character.

That’s why he says to adopt the same mindset as Christ…and then he went on to give one of the greatest examples of humility there is...on the person and work of Jesus. And then immediately following that, Paul says, “Workout your own salvation. Do it with fear and with trembling. Remember that God works in you and through you.” And then last week, Paul said to “shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.” He’s charging us to be humble…to be like Christ…to live a life in line with the gospel, the gospel that’s transformed our lives. There’s unity there. We’re to be conformed to the truths of the gospel.

And so, as we finish up chapter two this morning, Paul seems to kind of take us down a rabbit trail like a lot of pastors tend do. And that’s what it would seem like at surface level if we don’t focus on the context. Context is what? It’s everything, right? When we come to this passage, Paul shifts from giving his readers some exhortations...to now, all of sudden, talking about himself and others. He kind of gives us a travel itinerary for Timothy and Epaphroditus...Now of course it makes sense that he lets these Philippians know his plans…it makes sense that he extends thanks to the church and sends their representative back to them. But guys, these types of travelogues so to speak, they’re typically at the end of his letters just before he wraps everything up.

So why would he put that smack dab in the middle of his letter just as he’s really beginning to get ramped up on what he’s trying to communicate to these Philippians?…Well, as Paul likes to do, it’s to give another example of what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. Except this time…he says, “Listen, if you didn’t get it the first time…if Jesus’s example wasn’t enough to get through your thick skulls…let me show you how it looks among those you know and those you love in a real physical way. Let me show you that what I’m saying actually works with people you know. Let me show that the gospel changes everything for you.” And so he gives them another example of what it means to be unified in the gospel…he gives us an example of what it looks like to live a Christian life. And if you really pay attention…Paul shows us through his three examples: sacrifice, selflessness, and love…literally everything we saw with his example of Christ. And so, that’s exactly why it’s put here in the middle of his letter.

Listen, let me just give you a little quiz to see if you can answer any of these questions in your own mind. Right now, could you name the top five wealthiest people in the world? All five of ‘em?...Or maybe, you could name the five most recent winners of the Nobel Peace Prize?…You guys got that in your minds?....Or try this one…can any of you name the last five people who were inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame?

My guess is that most of you, at best...we could only get two or maybe three names in those list of some of the world’s greatest and most successful people. Listen, those are some of the ways that our world measures success, right? It looks at a person’s career...it looks at their achievements, at their ambitions, what they do in this world (in arts, or science, in peace, athletics, business, whatever it is)...and it measures success in those ways...You remember what Paul told us last week about living in a crooked and twisted generation?

Guys, how success is measured in the kingdom of God, it’s very different. Let me ask you this…I think all of us can answer this question…Could you name five people who’ve helped you in a time of crisis? Or five people in your life who shared the love of Christ with you? Or listen, five people that befriended you and really met your needs during a crucial time in your life?

I think all of us could come up with a list of names like that, right? We can all come up with a list of people who actually loved us and cared for us…Now, these people might not be among the world’s most famous and successful, but they’re certainly the people that’s actually made the greatest impact on our lives. And listen, it’s a reminder that the way we serve Jesus, the way we serve others…that’s the measure of greatness…that’s the measure of the gospel impact in our lives. And listen, this passage that we’re digging into this morning, it’s all about that truth. It’s showing us that truth. It’s giving us another example of that truth.

And so, if you’re there with me this morning in Philippians chapter two, let’s stand together as we read our text. Paul says this in verse 17, “17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

Thank you…you can be seated.

Listen, just as you and I can name certain people in our lives who really had an impact on us…Paul could say the same. He could say the same about Timothy and Epaphroditus. He even shares with us a little something of his own heart as well. And guys, what we see here are these portraits of servanthood and humility. And each of their lives, their examples, they show us something different about what it means to live as Christians in our world.

And so, with that…let’s look at Paul’s example first.

1.) The Example of Paul: Sacrifice (vv. 17-18)

Look back at verse 17 again. Paul says, “17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

Guys, a drink offering, it was a God-ordained sacrifice that was poured on top an animal that was being offered to God. We see that in Exodus 29. Wine was typically poured either in front of or on top of the animal while it was being burned. And listen, while the wine was vaporized because of the fire, the steam rose upward. And what it symbolized was the rising of the sacrificial offering to God.

And so, what Paul’s saying here is that his life is being poured out upon the lives of these Philippians. Their very hearts and souls are being mixed together. Basically, he’s saying his life’s a sacrifice for them. And listen, Paul wasn’t complaining here…he’s not complaining about having to sacrifice for these Philippians. What’s he say? He says, “I’m glad that I get to do this...and I rejoice.” Paul’s happy that his life serves to advance the gospel. He’s happy that his sacrifices are being blessed to reach people. He’s told us that over and over again in his letter so far. Just as Jesus emptied has Himself…as we saw in the beginning parts of this chapter…Paul’s glad to pour himself out all for the glory of God. He’s glad to empty himself in any way he can. It’s really a perfect picture of what it means for us to be sacrificial....And not just any sacrifice…but a willing and joyful sacrifice.

And listen, there’s a connection here this week with our passage from last week. If you remember, Paul said, “Do all things without,” what? “Grumbling or disputing.” Paul’s example or his perspective on the Christian life, it’s a model of not grumbling, right? Even if he were to be “poured out” in death “as a drink offering” upon the “sacrificial service” of the Philippians’ faith, he wasn’t gonna grumble…but instead he was gonna rejoice. Over and over again, Paul stresses the idea of joy…I mean if you’re reading this in one sitting…he saturates these verses with four references to rejoicing. He said things like rejoice, or be glad, or rejoice with...” He’s talking about the demeanor in which we’re to serve and to sacrifice.

And guys, you gotta remember…Paul’s writing this from prison. He doesn’t know whether or not he’s gonna be set free. He doesn’t know what the verdict’s gonna be. He has no idea. Now, we know he thinks he might be set free…he said that in chapter one, right? But we also know that he’s ready to die all for the sake of Christ…He said, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

But guys, I say all that as a reminder because he’s writing all this about his circumstances in terms of sacrifice. He’s using the Old Testament language and he’s applying it to himself in a New Testament way. He uses the Old Testament language on sacrifice to describe the new covenant life of a believer and how that person who belongs to the new covenant is to live their lives as a sacrifice to God. He’s giving ‘em another example. And this isn’t the first and only time he uses that language…In Romans 12:1, after giving us like 11 chapters on nothing but doctrine, Paul says, “Therefore, brothers, I beseech you by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice …to God...” Guys, he’s using that language of sacrifice and he’s tying it together with worship. And what he’s communicating to his reader is that this is the only reasonable, rational response to the gospel…to present your lives and your bodies as a living sacrifice to God.”

And it’s interesting that Paul uses the language he does about a drink offering. The drink offering itself wasn’t the main sacrifice…it was added last…it was what completed the sacrifice. You see, what Paul was trying communicate was that his life, it was the drink offering poured out on THEIR sacrifice, the sacrifice of THEIR faith.”

Listen, this passage, it shows us the heart of Paul…the heart of a pastor…it shows his Christ-centeredness....His love for the Philippian church....his concern for their faith even with an utter disregard for himself. His only ambition was to serve Jesus and to serve the people of Jesus...with his life and in his death. “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Joyful sacrifice, a joyful willingness to give himself for others.

Listen, Lord of Rings....when Frodo Baggins, this insignificant hobbit…no special abilities…nothing great about him…when he realized the ring he held was the Ring of Power....when he realized that it had the ability to destroy the world he loved and the people he cared about....he willingly and joyfully took up the responsibility to destroy it himself…and at points in the story, Frodo really thought he’d die in that process....and he was okay with that…as long as he did his part in protecting the people and the things he cared about.

Guys, I want you think about the people you love…are they worth sacrificing for? Is your family…worth sacrificing for? Are your friends...worth sacrificing for? Are the people in this church…are they worth sacrificing for? Are all those you love worth sacrificing for if it means they’ll cling to Jesus because of your sacrifice? Guys, that’s what we’re called to.

I mean, thinking about Jesus, isn’t that what He called His first disciples too in Matthew 4:19? He said, “Follow me...and I will make you fishers of men.” “Follow me!”...Jesus was telling His first disciples to be sacrificial…to give everything up and to follow after Him. It was to give everything up so that they’d place people above everything else…that they’d become fishers of men. And listen, what’s the next verse say? Matthew 4:20, “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

Guys, that’s the paradox of the Christian life. The more you sacrifice for Jesus, the more joy you’ll have. The more you give for Jesus, the less it feels like a sacrifice, because there’s just so much joy in giving your life for something greater than yourself....And guys, the one that doesn’t understand what I’m talking about this morning, they’re the one’s that’s never sacrificed for the sake of Christ.

Paul embodied what it means for us to live sacrificially. He was our example in this.

2.) The Example of Timothy: Selflessness (vv. 19-24)

The second example he gives us is of Timothy and Timothy’s selflessness. Look back at verses 19 through 24 again. Paul said, “19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.”

Here’s Paul’s desire…he really wants to go to them. Of course he can’t because of his imprisonment…and so, he wants to send Timothy...but he’s holding him back until his verdict’s made. If the verdict’s favorable, then Paul says he’ll come shortly after Timothy’s deployed. Now, he recognizes that he’s subject to God’s will which is why he says, “I hope in the Lord Jesus,” but regardless he still plans to send Timothy to share news with the Philippians about Paul and to update Paul on their status. That’s his heart here…but through this update on what’s going on with Timothy....how he describes Timothy, we get another example of what it means to live this Christian life. It’s an example of selfless service. We see his compassion…his companionship…we see his humility.

I love the way Paul describes Timothy here. He says, “…as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” Guys, Timothy and Paul, they were close. Paul was like his father in the faith…the man that discipled him…Timothy was like his son in a spiritual way. Paul was his mentor. There was a special bond there. And what we see, Timothy had developed this Christ-likeness so much so that Paul had this unqualified trust in him. He says, “You know Timothy’s proven worth.” In fact, Paul elevates him above everyone else. He says, “I have nobody else like Timothy. He’s served with me like a son with a father; he’s served with me in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

In other words, Paul says there’s no else as like-minded as Timothy is. Other translations, they uses the word, “kindred spirit.” Guys, what an extraordinary statement for Paul to say. It’s a Greek word that literally means “one-souled,” or “equal-souled.” Paul and Timothy, they’re knitted together into one soul…they’re one-minded…one-hearted. It would be like me saying Kyler and I are the same person…I trust him with you just as much as I do myself. You understand what’s he saying here? Timothy’s like Paul in so many ways, and because of that he’s like Jesus. In other letters…Paul tells his reader to follow him as he followers Christ…And so if Timothy’s modeling Paul, then essentially he’s modeling Jesus.

And what makes him so special and so set apart is that Timothy genuinely cares about others, right? That’s what Paul says here. He was truly concerned for the well-being of others. He’s large-hearted. He’s a compassionate servant who loves the church. And just like Paul, Timothy had this unrivaled concern for the health of the church. That’s what separated him from everyone else. The most important thing to Paul outside of Christ was the church…and because of that, it’s what caused Timothy, his shared desire, it’s what cause him to gain Paul’s trust.

Paul writes...others seek “their own interests.” If you remember, Paul said earlier in the letter there were those that served out of rivalry and envy, right? This wasn’t the case for Timothy....Timothy was in the group that served Christ out of goodwill and out of love. And listen, you have notice the shift in Paul’s language here…In verse 20, Paul says that Timothy was concerned for their interests, right? The Philippians...But in verse 21, he says that he seeks after the interests of who? Jesus Christ, right? Here’s what Paul’s saying…Serving Christ always involves serving others in the church. It’s to be selfless with our brothers and sisters. Serving Christ and His body, it flows from our love of others and for Jesus’s glory alone! You realize what that means? What Paul’s saying here? Serving Christ, it doesn’t flow from our selfish desires. It’s not about what you and I want. The gospel…it transforms us into selfless people who just wanna serve the body of Christ. It gives us compassion for people…it causes us to humbly seek the good of others in light of how Jesus has poured His life out for us.

And Paul says in verse 22, when it comes to Timothy, they “know of his proven worth.” In first century Roman culture, it had the sense of being put through a special test…a special test that would give it a positive result. The word used here, it was used of testing a metal by putting it into a furnace in order to reveal if it was genuine metal or not. If it were false, the substance being tested, it would just dissolve....the impurities would be smelted out…but the genuine stuff....it would be left behind. The true metal would become purer as a result of it going through the fire. Paul was saying…Timothy’s been tested…he’s been put through the fire…he’s been educated in the school of hard knocks…and listen, he’s passed it all with flying colors. He’s the genuine stuff…Timothy has his spiritual scars…he can prove his advanced degree. In other words, what Paul’s saying…his humility…it can clearly be seen.

Guys, the most Christ-centered person you’ll ever meet, it’ll probably not be some great preacher or some great theologian who studies a lot about Jesus…No, listen, it’ll probably be some ordinary…humble…believer who only cares about others…who thinks about people as more important than themselves and who finds genuine joy in finding small, unseen ways to serve others.

Going back to the Lord of the Rings…the person that made the greatest impact in that story…it wasn’t the King of Gondor…It wasn’t the wizard that had all these special abilities....It wasn’t the strong dwarf that could wield his axe…or the nimble and accurate elf. Guys, it was a hobbit…a hobbit that stood shorter than everyone else…it was a hobbit who’s only abilities were that he had larger than normal feet. He was ordinary and insignificant…He was humble in every way. He just loved people…his people!

Timothy was this kind of person…and Paul commends him here to the church. He wasn’t the kind of person that insisted on the finest accommodations…he wasn’t self-absorbed…he didn’t live to be admired by others…he looked towards the interest of others all for the glory of Christ. He’s an example of how the gospel transforms us into selfless servants.

3.) The Example of Epaphroditus: Love (vv. 25-30)

But look at this last example here with Epaphroditus. We see a picture of love. And listen, just a little background on this guy…because he’s not really mentioned a lot in Scripture…Most people think he was from Philippi itself. They believe he was from the city, from the church in Philippi, he was probably a spiritual leader there, and of course we know that they sent him to Paul with a letter of news on how they were doing…We also know they sent him with a financial gift because Paul tell’s us that. He references that in the fourth chapter of this letter.

But I love, as we go through this, how Paul describes him to us…He does it in a five-fold way. Look at verse 25 again, “25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.” It’s really one of the most comprehensive descriptions there is on a servant of Jesus. First, Paul says, “He’s my brother! He belongs to the family of God!” But also, he’s someone that works hard....he labors for the gospel! He’s a fellow soldier…he’s standing next to me in this spiritual fight…he’s in the trenches....Paul says, “He’s your messenger…he’s been entrusted by you!” And listen, he’s a minister…he ministered to Paul’s needs.

And then, Paul shifts to talk about Epaphroditus’s illness. He’s been sick…Paul says, even to the point of death. He was close to dying....but God had mercy on him…Paul obviously didn’t have this power to heal, he couldn’t just snap his fingers in this situation…his life was all at the mercy of God....and yet God healed him, He was merciful. And now that he’s well again, Paul’s assuring the church that he’s okay....he doesn’t want ‘em to worry because this guy’s important to ‘em. Which is exactly why he’s giving them this example here…of someone they know intimately well…someone that should really impact them. And he says, “I’m sending him back.”

But look at these last couple of verses…this is where we really see this picture of love. Verse 29…he says, “so receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men...” There’s the reason for it… “…to honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

Guys, pay attention to this. The word “risking,” it literally means to gamble. William Barclay says this, “It’s a gambler’s word, and it means to stake everything on a turn of the dice.” You ever heard that song “The Gambler?” You have to know when to hold them and you have to know when to fold them! Guys, this is the closest thing you’re gonna get to “The Gambler” in the New Testament!

Epaphroditus, he’s a gambler....but he’s not gambling with money…he’s not gambling with materialistic things....guys, he’s gambling with his life; he’s risking his life…and he’s risking his life all for the sake of Christ. He’s risking his life for the gospel. You see that there? “He nearly died for the work of Christ, risking - ‘gambling’ - his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” So, in other words, the Philippians entrusted this task to Epaphroditus. He risked his life to take this gift, this message…he risked his life to fulfill the ministry, the task he’d been given. He’s an example of faithfulness…he’s an example of costly, risk-taking love. And Paul exhorts us as believers to receive and honor such people...honor people for their costly love.

It’s like Iron Man in “The Avengers: End Game,” right? Just as Thano’s is about wipe out half all of the living beings in the universe…Iron Man takes the infinity stones and he sacrifices himself for all humanity…for his home…for the people he loves…he really didn’t know what was gonna happen to him…but it was worth the risk…it was worth the gamble. And at the end of that movie, he’s honored for the sacrifice he made, right?

Closing

Guys, in closing…here’s what Paul’s trying to tell us…why he keeps giving us so many different examples. Serving Jesus and others…it’ll cost you…there’s a risk in doing what you were called to do as a Christian. Guys, the call to put the needs of others above your own…it might mean that you’ll have to sacrifice something....you might have to change your schedule this week. You might have to travel somewhere. You might even get sick along the way and through that you might still have to minister to people. Guys, you might have to open your home up or maybe even your wallet. You might actually face some kind of conflict or persecution. Guys, it’ll cost us. If we’re going to follow after these model servants, these people following the example of Christ, then we have to acknowledge the sacrifice that’s required of us to live this Christian life....Look back verse 18…Paul says, “Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” Meaning, I gave you the example…the way we live, it’s so costly…but listen, it’s worth it! It’s worth it! Your sacrifice, it’s worth it! Rejoice…because it’s worth it!

But here’s what else Paul shows us through these examples…deep relationships, they’re formed when we’re on mission with our brothers and sisters. I mean just look at the relationship’s Paul’s built here. You wanna get connected to people here at FBC…then get involved....start serving.

But here’s the last thing…the church....it’s always been sustained and built up by unsung heroes. Of course, it’s Christ working through these people…but the reason we’re all able to join here this morning, it’s because of countless unnamed and unremembered people that embodied these things Paul’s laid out here this morning. It’s been built up by their sacrifice, and their selflessness, and their love....all because they cared about the glory of Christ and the future generation of believers. All because they cared about you…people they’d never meet.

Guys, how are we honoring those that came before us? How does your life embody the virtues of following Jesus? What’s different about you?

Listen, as you think about those questions, would you just bow and your head and close your eyes?

I want you to think about these examples that Paul just gave us....If he was writing about you…what would he say? Could he use your life as an example to others?...Church, Jesus came to make us different…to take us out of this world…not to cling tighter to it. How are you different?

Jesus was the perfect picture of joyful sacrifice…He was the perfect picture of selfless service and costly love. The God of the universe He came, not to be served…but to serve. He came to give His life as a ransom for others. There’s never been a more joyful sacrifice than Jesus on the cross. Think about that, He endured the cross, took the shame…with joy! Why? Because He knew what He was buying…He knew with His payment, He was purchasing our salvation. He was taking on the punishment we all deserve…that’s the gospel…It’s the heart the gospel.

And guys, when that truth, when that good news captures your heart, you know what it does? It begins to change you, it beings to transform you…it melts your will into this condition where you can be completely reshaped into the image of Jesus. Our response, the only reasonable response to this gospel, its to make our lives a living sacrifice…a life of joyful sacrifice, presented to God....a life of selfless service to others…one of costly love. That’s the measure of greatness in this earthly life.

And so, how are different? How has the gospel reshaped you? And listen, if you’re here and you’ve never been changed…you’ve never been reborn as the Bible says…All you have to do is believe in Jesus…believe in what it is He came to do....and ask for forgiveness. Ask Him to give you His Spirit....Turn from yourself and turn to Jesus. It’s that simple…you can do it right where you’re at this morning!

Listen guys, what’s God saying to you right now? And if you don’t hear anything? Where’s your heart at? Listen, whatever it is…will you seek Jesus today? Ask Him to change you…ask Him to give you whatever you need to stand out in this world…to be who He called you to be....Will you do that?

Let’s pray!