The Fruit of an Effective Life in Christ: Growth, Joy, and Glory (Philippians 1:25-30)
Notes
Transcript
We need each other...
We need each other...
I am reminded of a comment Gerald Frost quipped about community.
“The reason mountain climbers are tied together is to keep the sane ones from going home.” I don’t know who said it, or when, or where, but I’ve chuckled over it, thought about it, and quoted it, too. With a mountain of mercy behind me and a mountain of mission ahead, I need you, my sister, my brother, I need to be tied to you, and you need me, too. We need each other, to keep from bolting, fleeing in panic, and returning to the “sanity” of unbelief.” Gerald Frost
When God created Adam and Eve he created community. When he told them to be fruitful and multiply, and extended our community to our children, and then to our extended family and neighbors. Humanity was never meant to live alone. We need each other. In teh Christian faith, the first thing God does when he saves you is his empowers you with is Spirit that unifies you to not only the Holy Trinity, but to your new family, your new community, the church.
So it seems odd the church would allow a believer to live the Christian life in isolation, or that a true believer would think God is ok with you living in isolation. Furthermore, the idea that you can live the Christian faith alone is self-centered and spiritually narcissistic. For you assume that you are a mere receiver of growth and not a give of growth. What I mean is, your Christian faith is not all about you. It s as much about you helping others bear fruit that proves you belong to Jesus and glorifies the Father.
Bear the fruit that brings growth and joy to others and glorifies the Father (Philippians 1:25-30).
Bear the fruit that brings growth and joy to others and glorifies the Father (Philippians 1:25-30).
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
In verse 24, Paul conveys that his heart to cherishJesus above this life so much that he welcomes death brings Jesus great glory. In verse 25, however, Paul is absolutely convinced that it would bring Jesus greater glory to remain in earth for the Philippians sake. How would Paul remaining on earth be good for the Philippians and Christ honoring? The last part of verse twenty-five answers our question; “for your progress and joy in the faith.”
What does Paul mean by “progress and joy in the faith”?
What does Paul mean by “progress and joy in the faith”?
The words “progress and joy” and connected by the connection “and,” uniting them as objects to the preposition “for.” The propositional phrase is modified by the the other propositional phrase “in the faith.” Paul wants to stick around to help the Philippians progress, that is to grow, in the faith, which leads to a growth in joy. Walter Hansen’s wisdom is worthy to note here. He says,
“Real progress in the faith will result in genuine joy in the faith. Progress without joy is spurious; joy without progress is counterfeit.” Walter Hansen (The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2009)
Faith is the key word to pay attention too in the text. Paul wants to serve the Philippian church in a way that their faith grows, but toward what? It’s trust in Christ. It’s trusting in Jesus to help them stand firm and not loose heart when suffering comes to them on behalf of Jesus. Furthermore, the more you progress in the faith the more your joy increases. Joy is evidence of growing faith.
So, Paul wanted to delay his joy of being with Jesus in order to serve the Philippian church by helping them increase their joy by progressing in trusting Jesus.
Don’t miss Paul’s heart in our text. His love for Jesus compelled him to serve his brothers and sisters by helping them grow in faith and to increase their joy at his own expense. Paul wass imitating Jesus.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
See the church with Paul’s eyes!
See the church with Paul’s eyes!
Paul did not look at the church as something to serve him, but to serve them and give his life so that they can know the joy of Jesus forever. He sought their joy, their progress in the faith over his own personal desires. I would say, putting their spiritual interest above his own brought him joy, not the joy of being in Jesus’ presence in heaven, but joy in making much of Jesus in the lives of his brothers and sisters.
Paul’s love for the Philippians, his commitment to their progress and joy in the faith is the standard of what church life is supposed to be like. Meaning, church is not meant to be consumeristic. The church is not a Walmart or Target where the store sets up its appeal to draw you in to buy its product. The church is not a concert venue that entertains you with songs and self-help talks. The church us a community of Spirit-empowered believers who are not saved to be served, but give their lives in service to others. When you are welcomed into a body of Christians, you should, if I can paraphrase President John F. Kennedy,
“Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church.”
“Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church.”
Paul teaches us something about being a church member. True believers long to serve fellow saints in order to see them bear the fruit that proves they are disciples of Jesus and that glorifies the Father (John 15:8).
What kind of growth and joy come to a believer that glorifies the Father?
What kind of growth and joy come to a believer that glorifies the Father?
The kind of growth and joy that comes when the “manner of their life is lived worthy of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
The kind of growth and joy that comes when the “manner of their life is lived worthy of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
27 Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel,
Paul draws your attention to his first imperative: “Just one thing.” In others words, pay attention to this one thing. What is it? In every aspect of your life, live under the authority and worth of the gospel. That is what Paul means when he says “live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Some versions (TNIV) may have the phrase “as citizens of heaven live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” The literal phrase is not in the Greek, but Paul uses a word that could denote the idea. The imperative (politeuesthe) literally means “to be citizens” or to “discharge your obligations as citizens, which is the word for “live your life” or “let your conduct.” In chapter three, Paul reminds the Philippians that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). I get the impression that Paul is saying something more than merely being citizens in heaven.
With the imperative, Paul could be encouraging the Philippians to be good citizens of the Roman state. What is Paul’s goal for the Philippians? Ultimately it is to live a life that makes much of Jesus. Why? So they can testify of the gospel to their lost neighbors. So, Paul exhorts the church to be united (Phil 1:27; 2:2) so that they will “shine like stars” in the midst of their crooked and depraved generation (Phil 2:15). As they live as citizens of heaven, their conduct will testify in their life as citizens of Philippi, who is part of the Roman state. That is exactly what Paul did with his imprisonment. He acted like a good citizen of heaven so that his conduct could testify to his neighbors, i.e. the Roman imperial guard, in Philippi (Bockmuehl, 98: “Philippi may be a colony enjoying the personal imperial patronage of Lord Caesar, but the church at Philippi is a personal colony of Christ the Lord above all. Hansen, G. Walter. 2009. The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.).
So, Paul calls you and I to be good citizens of our country and our community, as citizens of heaven and Litchfield, Il. He says conduct your life in a manner worthy of the gospel. Meaning, Every part of your being is under the submission of Jesus and should reflect the worth of knowing Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross to atone for your sin, a death he did not deserve. He humbled himself for your best interest. On the one hand, just as he lived and died to serve you, so you should live and die to serve each other. On the other hand, your heart should be ecstatic that Jesus would do such a thing for a sinner like you and me. We should live and die to serve one another out of gratitude. That is, our manner of life should reflect both the pattern of Jesus life and death and a sense of gratitude for Jesus life and death. Think of it in the same way Walter Hansen sees it. He says,
“The gospel of Christ proclaims that Jesus is the exalted Lord of all and that this Lord of all emptied himself, humbled himself, and was obedient unto death on a cross. The gospel of Christ provides the motive and the pattern for all Christian behavior.” Walter Hansen (The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2009)
Your Christian life should reflect a heart desire to love Jesus and those whom he loves, and a pattern of expressing your love for Jesus and those he loves. This makes you good citizens of both heaven and Litchfield. Gerald Hawthorne sums this idea up well, He says
“Thus, to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ means to live as a good citizen of an earthly state, fully discharging one’s duties and responsibilities to that state (cf. Brewer, 76–83). But there is more. Through the gospel that proclaims Christ as Savior, the Christian is made a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem (cf. Heb 12:22–23; Rev 21:2–3), a partner in a spiritual fellowship, a member of a new community, the Christian commonwealth, the church (Phil 3:20; cf. Eph 2:19). To live worthily of the gospel, then, also means that the Christians live as good citizens of this new state, governing their actions by the laws of this unique πολίτευμα, “body of citizens”—righteousness, peace, faith, hope, love, mutuality, interdependence, good deeds, service to one another, worship of the living God, and so on” (Hawthorne, Gerald F. 2004. Philippians. Vol. 43. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated.)
Christians, for now you live in a dual citizenship; heaven and earth. Litchfield benefits when you live your manner of life as a citizen of heaven while you are on earth. In heaven Jesus is Lord. He loved supremely. He is obeyed perfectly and joyfully. The saints manifests love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Now imagine what Litchfield would look like if every believer lived their manner of life as if they were already in heaven. The darkness would not have such a grip on our friends, family, and neighbors through poverty and addiction. Our homes would be a bulwark for truth and piety and unity. We would have men and women of Godly character leading our institutions with righteousness and courage. Our schools wouldn’t succumb to this wicked and crooked generations morality. The church, community, and home would flourish together.
This is not a far off dream. This is what Christianity is supposed to look like and function in our Genesis three world. From the abundance of your heart your manner of life speaks. We can make this happen. It starts ith us, and it starts with living out our citizenship in heaven now, and by bearing the fruit of unity and suffering well.
Two Fruits of a manner of life lived worthy of the gospel:
Two Fruits of a manner of life lived worthy of the gospel:
Standing firm consistently in the unity of the faith (Philippians 1:27).
Standing firm consistently in the unity of the faith (Philippians 1:27).
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Paul wanted the Philippians to live their manner if life worthy of the gospel consistently. So that whether he is there in person or away, their habitual manner of making much of Jesus remains. By mentioning his coming to them, he leaves them with a sense of accountability. Keep in mind Paul is not angry with the Philippian church, so this is not a threat. This is more of a hope expectation. Regardless, if he comes or not, they need to consistently live their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel, and the fruit of that habitual life is standing firm in the unity of the faith.
Standing firm often represents a soldier. To stand firm is to hold your ground at all costs. It conveys the idea of firmness or steadfastness, or unflinching courage like that possessed by soldiers who determinedly refuse to leave their posts irrespective of how severely the battle rages (Hawthorne, Gerald F. 2004. Philippians. Vol. 43. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated.). What is the battle? The battle is for unity of the faith.
Paul describes unity when he says standing firm in “one spirit, with one mind.” The two ideas together “spirit and mind” refers to human unity. Paul is emphasizing the need for the Philippian church to coexist together with one mind and one spirit, like one new man. As believers, we know that it is the Spirit of Christ who unites us together. Ephesians 4:1-6
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Using similar language as the Philippians, Paul describes unity to the Ephesians church. In this context he encourages the Ephesians to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, and so on. The Spirit of Jesus unites us to the Father and the Son, and to each other. To the Philippians, however, he is emphasizing the need for us to cooperate with the Spirit to preserve unity. That is, we must work hard to keep the unity.
He uses the word strive. The word strive, once again, represents a military term. The idea is struggle through or fighting hard for or against something. I liken the idea of striving forward like struggle to get out of quicksand. You are fighting for your life, struggling to get to the edge to have someone pull you out. In this case, you are not alone. You are striving side by side in one accord.
When an army strives in battle together, they fight as one single front as if it were one soldier. The word for side by side, or one accord, was used in classical Greek by Aristotle to mean “one soul” like common bound friends. Aristotle said, “Friends have one soul between them; friends’ goods are common property; friendship is equality.”(Aristotle, Eth. nic. 9.8.2.) Walter comments, “Paul’s image of striving together with one soul conveys the ideal of such unity among Christians that they are no longer striving as separate individuals but striving together as one person.”( Hansen, G. Walter. 2009. The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.)
We must be unified, and we must fight for our unity, but not for unity in and of itself. Our unity is empowered by the spirit, maintained by the saints, for the faith, the gospel of Jesus. J.C. Ryle wisely says to us,
Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell.
J. C. Ryle
We stand firm, like soldiers in a battle, for the unity of the faith in Jesus Christ. We never compromise the gospel for the sake of unity, but we must strive in once accord to keep the unity for the gospel’s sake. A disgruntled and discombobulated church does not love each other. And Jesus said to his disciples,
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
To stand firm and fight for the unity is to love one another. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love compels us to forgive each other.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Stand firm consistently in the unity of the faith by loving each other. Fight for each other, not against one another. Fight for each others faith. Love each other enough to make it your joy that others progress in the faith. Be there for each other, especially when suffering comes to the church.
Standing firm in the gift of suffering for the faith (Philippians 1:28-30).
Standing firm in the gift of suffering for the faith (Philippians 1:28-30).
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
There is a fight waging on the outside to destory their unity. Roman nationals are persecuting the church because the Philippians will not bow their knee to Nero. Jesus is the true King. We know its the Romans because Paul says that they are engaged in the same conflict that Paul was engaged and was still engaged. Paul was arrested by the Roman nationals for preaching the gospel. His chains are Roman chains. His guards are Roman Imperial soldiers. The same opponents to Paul are attacking the Philippian church.
Paul tells the Philippian church, “Do not be frightened by your opponents, that is the Roman Empire.” The church and the Roman empire will clash and for now, you will be persecuted, but hold fast in the faith. Stand firm in one accord together, united, for the sake of the gospel. If you do this, it is a clear sign of their destruction, bit of your salvation. What Paul means is, when you stand firm in your suffering for Jesus, it si proof the Spirit of Jesus lives inside of you, empowering you, and keeping your faith until the very end. Paul says in
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The truth of Jesus is foolishness to the unsaved, the unregenerate, the pagan who walks in their flesh. The cross of Christ, for us however, is salvation from the wrath of God, which is mightier than the wrath of Nero and the Roman Empire. God has saved us through the death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son Jesus Christ. All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved from God’s wrath. Who who reject Jesus remain in His condemnation and will be judged to hell when they die. For it is appointed for man to die once and then face God’s judgement. So, when you suffer for Jesus, you manifest God’s salvation work in your life to those who stand in condemnation.
Corrie ten Boom told a story of a time when she was speaking at a church many years after being imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. After she was done speaking a man stood in front of her asking for a moment of her time. Right away she remembered he was one of the Nazi guards at her camp who brutally beat and tortured her and her sister. Her sister eventually died. In that moment the guard confessed his wicked deeds and sought forgiveness from Corrie. He spoke of her faith in the camp and her testimony int eh church as a means to what drove him to Jesus. Not only would her forgiveness testify of the Spirit’s power in her life to forgive a wicked man who came to Christ, but her suffering was a message to him as well of the Spirits power ti sustain believers in their time of need. Maybe that is why Paul sees suffering as a gift from God.
Verse 29, he connects the idea of the gift of salvation to suffering.
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
The word granted means gift. Its been given to you or gifted to you to not only believe but to suffer for Jesus sake. God grants you the gift od suffering to testify of the worth of Jesus. That means your striving for the unity of the faith and your suffering for his name sake is not in vain. It all serves a purpose. For the Nazi prison guard, it served as a means to bring him into the kingdom of God.
Jesus told us we will suffer for his name sake. But what does suffering for Jesus accomplish? First, suffering advances the gospel. That was Paul’s argument in Phil 1:12. His suffering in prison was advancing the gospel in pagan Rome. After Acts 8, the gospel is spread primarily through suffering persecution. Secondly, suffering for Jesus exalts Jesus (Philippians 1:20). When we say He is worthy in the midst of loss, we tell the world he is good and sufficient. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus. Third, suffering is a means to experience God’s grace (Phil 1:29). When Paul was deeply discouraged from suffering in Acts, Jesus came to him in prison in encouraged him (Acts 23:11). Martin Lloyd Jones once said in so many words, “ just as the magnificence and beauty of the Universe cannot be seen unless it is in the dead of night, so some of the most supreme glories of God cannot be seen and felt unless in the dark night of suffering.” Finally, you notice in Phil 2:8, suffering was the way of Jesus, who humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross. Suffering is Jesus’ way. Since to student cna be above their teacher, just as he suffered, so we will suffer. We will suffer, for now, in a season. It will not be forever. God has put limits on our suffering and pulled up the fences for our eternal joy. (Hansen, G. Walter. 2009. The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.) Therefore, brothers and sister, stand firm in the gift of suffering for Jesus.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Martin Lloyd Jones wisely says to you and I,
There is no independence in the body. Each part derives its meaning, its essence, from its relationship to the rest. That is the truth about the body; and it is equally true, says the Apostle, about the Church. Each organ needs the others, and each one benefits by the functions of the others.
Christian Unity, 55
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
You place at FBCL is important. Your growth and sanctification affects other peoples growth and sanctification. Your fight for our unity is vital to us keeping the unity of the faith.