Philippians 1:1-11 The Good Work He Began In You

Introduction

Coasting

still water makes mold

The Christian walk doesnt start or end at salvation

it has lasting effects.

It sucks being stuck

Some Christians are bad at being worldly

because they dont approve of the things of the world

but also not good christians because they are doing anything

Kinda sucks at being bad at both.

Greeting (Philippians 1:1-2)

Philippians 1:1–2 NKJV

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Beginning (Philippians 1:3-5)

Philippians 1:3–5 NKJV

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

Paul was there at their first day …

The church at Philippi is the first church he founded in Europe (Acts 16)

and where he was imprisoned for casting out a demon

and while in prison Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns at midnight

and brought the Philippian Jailer to salvation in Jesus

Then when Paul left the church at Philippi

they continued to support Paul’s ministry. (Phil 4:15-17, (2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 9:1-4, and 11:9).

Which is in part why Paul is writing this book

because Paul is in prison (likely in Rome)

and the Philippian church sent one of their own named Epaphraditus

to deliver to Paul a gift ( Phil 2:25-30)

and so Paul writes this letter is in response to their gift

and that Paul will send Epharaditus back to deliver to them.

but note that Paul doesnt start with thanking them for the gift

but is thankful for them

He is not about what the people do for him

He is about the people.

May we not be concerned about what the church does for us

but for each other

John 13:35 NKJV

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

and so Paul isnt sending a letter back saying thanks for your support

if you send me more I can do more

instead Paul

Instead he says that when Paul remembers them

he is thanking God for them

and making requests for them with joy.

Instead of asking for more,

He is asking God to bless them!

The Promise (Philippians 1:6)

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

When Paul thought of the beginning of God’s work among the Philippians (from the first day), it was natural that he also thought of the day when that work would be complete. Paul also expressed his confidence in God’s ability to complete that work.

i. It was indeed a good work begun in the Philippians and in all believers. “The work of grace has its root in the divine goodness of the Father, it is planted by the self-denying goodness of the Son, and it is daily watered by the goodness of the Holy Sprit; it springs from good and leads to good, and so is altogether good.” (Spurgeon)

ii. Because this good work was begun, Paul was confident of its completion. God is a worker who completes His works. “Where is there an instance of God’s beginning any work and leaving it incomplete? Show me for once a world abandoned and thrown aside half formed; show me a universe cast off from the Great Potter’s wheel, with the design in outline, the clay half hardened, and the form unshapely from incompleteness.” (Spurgeon)

iii. This work in the believer will not be finally complete until the day of Jesus Christ, which in context has the idea of the second coming of Jesus and our resurrection with Him.

The Present (Philippians 1:7-8)

Philippians 1:7–8 NKJV

7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

a. It is right for me to think this of you all: Paul’s thankfulness, joy, and desire to pray for the Philippians was right because they stood beside him in his trials for the gospel, and they received the same grace he did (you all are partakers with me of grace).

b. I have you in my heart: Paul was a man of towering intellect, but he was also a man of great heart, and the Philippian Christians were in his heart. He could even call God as his witness regarding his deep affection for them.

i. Adam Clarke paraphrased Paul’s idea here: “I call God to witness that I have the strongest affection for you, and that I love you with that same kind of tender concern with which Christ loved the world when he gave himself for it.”

The Future (Philippians 1:9-11)

Philippians 1:9–11 NKJV

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I think in this section we will get called out

here will be ways that we should be growing

until the day of jesus comes

There may be 1 or some or all

ways for us to grow

a. This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more: The Philippians had a lot of love, and they showed it to Paul. Yet Paul didn’t hesitate to pray that their love would abound still more and more. It doesn’t matter how much love for others we have; we can still have more!

i. “That it may be like a river, perpetually fed with rain and fresh streams so that it continues to swell and increase until it fills all its banks, and floods the adjacent plains.” (Clarke)

b. That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment: Yet, the love Paul wanted to abound in the Philippians was not “blind love.” It was love that had knowledge and all discernment; it was love that could approve the things that are excellent.

i. Paul knew the danger of an undiscerning love. He rebuked the Corinthian church that seemed to glory in their “love” and “openness” which lacked any sense of knowledge and discernment (1 Corinthians 5:1-7).

c. That you may be sincere and without offense: When we approve and receive the things that are excellent, we become sincere (speaking of inner righteousness) and without offense (speaking of outerrighteousness that can be seen). Till the day of Christ means that these things become increasingly evident in our life until Jesus comes.

i. Being sincere is important, but alone it is not enough. Notorious sinners in the days of Jesus such as tax collectors were sincere, yet they still needed to repent. As well, being without offense before others is important, but alone it is not enough. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were without offense in the opinion of many. We want God to make us both sincere and without offense.

d. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness: The work of becoming sincere and without offenseis really God’s work within us. It happens as we are filled with the fruits of righteousness.

i. Bearing fruit is always the result of abiding in Jesus (John 15:4-6). As we abide in Him, we receive the life and nutrients we need to naturally bear fruit to the glory and praise of God.

ii. “Every genuine follower of God has his glory in view by all that he does, says, or intends. He loves to glorify God, and he glorifies him by showing forth in his conversion the glorious working of the glorious power of the Lord.” (Clarke)

Conclusion

From when God started the work in you

to the day of Jesus

we progress

there should be a growth in love

growth in knowledge and discernment

Growth in what you approve of

growth in acts of righteousness

For God’s glory, and His Praise.