Abounding in the Love of Christ

Philippians 1:11

Love as Commanded

Jesus Christ was the embodiment of love. He created out of His perfect love. And, He continued to act throughout humanities history in love.

He also commanded His chosen people, the Israelites, to live their lives through the lens of love. He calls all who call upon the name of the Lord today, to also live out their lives through the lens of love, as He has demonstrated for us.

Matthew 22:37–40 (NASB95)

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

“This is the great and foremost commandment.

“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus quoted from Deut. 6.5 and Lev. 19:15. It helped learn a fuller meaning of the Law. And we learn that God is the author of how His Word is interpreted, not man.

I bring this passage up because it is central to the Christian life. Paul’s letters are full of His deep affection for the brothers and sisters in Christ. For His countrymen and the Gentiles.

The letter to the church in Philippi echoes the heart of Paul for them. He wrote things such as:

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.”

“I have you in my heart”

“I long for you all”

“my beloved brethren”

“I long to see”

Paul wants to impart on the church in Philippi, not only His love and affection for them, but the truth of Christ and how to live it out daily in their lives. Paul was an example of Christ-like love.

Hearts are changed when we love as Christ commanded. Hearts are changed when we seek the needs of others before ourself.

Three Types of Love:

philos, eros, agape

philos - friend. A personal relationship and/or friendship you have with another.

This goes beyond acquaintances. You have a bond or even positive obligation to another. Whether it is to keep another accountable or an encouraging one.

This would include most of your close friends, some family member, and possibly those who may associate with on a regular basis at work, school, or community.

Notably: Paul does not use the term philos in any of his letters.

Additionally, this was the term the Pharisees used for Jesus when he ate with the tax collectors and sinners. It was not that Jesus was merely eating with some people. He was a part of their lives, He entered into a relationship with them, it was personal for Jesus. The Pharisees could not believe one would associate with the lowly.

eros - intoxication, sensual, and physical love that focuses more on the self than others.

The Greek god, eros, is said to be the ultimate god , above all other gods. To the Greeks, as noted by Plato, eros is an ecstasy that transports man beyond rationality. Eros is a wordly ideal, not consistent with the love which is found in Scripture.

Only found once in the OT, in Proverbs, about a harlot who tempts one to be pulled away from the truth of God’s Word and wisdom.

Not found in the NT. Although the term eros may have been at one time the common term for love, Christians opted for the term agape, which is used many times about God’s love for His people, and how we have been called to abound in.

agape - an intimate love, not physical. purely spiritual.

An agape love is one that Jesus demonstrated to the people and it was to be lived out by the disciples of Christ. Agape love, is demonstrated to us by the sacrifice of Christ. It is the love God has for the Son and believers enter into the relationship with God through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Paul lived out this love to the church in Philippi and we get that sense throughout his letter. Beginning with his prayer life.

Prayer with Joy

The first 5 verse compose the opening of Paul’s letter. He shares his credentials, namely that he and Timothy are bond-servant (slaves) of Christ, bought with a price.

We see the letter is to the church in Philippi, established by Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Perhaps in AD 49. Philippi was a Roman colony with Roman citizen rights.

The church was unique in that it may have been the first one established outside of the synagogue. Additionally, it included in its beginning, female converts to Christianity.

This letter was written to believers in Philippi, an encouragement to keep living for Christ. To Abound in love, as an example for others to follow, and know the gospel truth. Paul mentions in his letter about the advancement of the gospel, even in the face of opposition. While we are not certain, to what degree the church in Philippi was being persecuted. There was an occasion for the letter, and that was the encouragement and consistent participation of living out the gospel.

Philippians (The Greeting/Blessing (1:2))

The greeting proper is a marvelous example of Paul’s “turning into gospel” everything he sets his hand to.

Gordon Fee

Christ was central to the teachings of Paul.

This letter would be well suited for the Western church. We live in a culture that is very much similar to that of Greek culture, with an emphasis on self promotion and making sure are selfish needs are met, and making sure everyone knows it too.

This is in direct opposition to the gospel message, and the message Paul delivers here.

Paul is thankful to God, every time he remembers the church in Philippi. It is evident that his thankfulness goes beyond our common understanding. Why? The next verse clues us in.

His prayers are filled with joy. It brings him great delight to be praying for the people in Philippi. He earnestly wants them to continue obeying Christ and living out His truths to love.

Something of importance in this passage is the word ‘offering’ Paul saw his prayers as an offering to God, as an act of obedience and worship.

I think this understanding of prayer is something we may miss in our own prayer lives.

Does it bring you joy to pray for others? Do you see it as an act of worship and obedience?

In verse 5, Paul goes on to discuss the participation of the gospel. The people of Philippi, not only contributed financially to Paul, they sought to live out the gospel for the sake of Christ. Paul acknowledged their contribution, as many other churches at that time were going solo. That is they were more concerned with their own needs than Paul’s.

Perfecting Good Work

It never stops, Christ is continually molding you, shaping you, helping you grow in the knowledge of Him. Why? So you can truly grasp the concept of His agape love.

He is working for your good. Consider Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 (NASB95)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

That love is agape love. God began a good work in the church in Philippi and we can accurately say, He began a good work in you when you believed. This work is continually being perfected. It is nothing you can lose. God does not stop working for you and it will be perfected on the day He returns.

Later in the book to the Philippians Paul wrote:

Philippians 2:12 (NASB95)

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

This , work is not a condition of your salvation, it ought to be a result of your salvation. Every morning you get up how are you abounding in love, in such a way that you are working out your salvation.

Of note: Two verse later Paul said, Phil 2:14

Philippians 2:14 (NASB95)

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

His prayer and encouragement to the church in Philippi was to continually help them understand their participation in the gospel is a daily thing they must strive for.

Not to be perfected until the day of Christ. Let Paul’s encouragement to the church in Philippi be an encouragement to you.

A caveat: If Christ is not in your life, then there is no good to be perfected and He is not working for your good. God does not listen to the sinner, the unrepentant. And we would do well to remember Paul’s clear statement in his letter to the church in Rome:

Romans 3:10–11 (NASB95)

“There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;

The enlightened Christian sees himself to be like a traveller, standing on the narrow summit of a lofty ridge; on the right hand and on the left are gulfs unfathomable, yawning for his destruction;

if it were not that by divine grace his feet are made like hinds’ feet, so that he is able to stand upon his high places, he would long ere this have fallen to his eternal destruction.

Phil. 1.7-8

Longing for One Another

Paul was a bond servant of Christ and his desire was to be with his brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a mutual encouragement that existed between Paul and the church in Philippi.

This is an attitude of the heart. His love came from deep within. He used the word affection, which is not merely an idea of an affection for someone, as we commonly use today, but an aspect of his very core, his insides (and its the same word they used for intestines)

But the meaning here is attached to the “of Jesus Christ.” this denotes that is in the possessive case. meaning that Paul’s love, his affection is only attainable, only found in the Love that Christ has demonstrated for him.

We can use this example in our lives as way to demonstrate the love Christ has given us.

We need to stop fighting our fleshly selves and allow the Spirit of Christ to guide us in how to love others well.

Without Christ our shade of love is blackened.

Phil. 1.9

Abounding Love

This abounding love gives us the notion our love is to be more than enough. It is a present and active verb. It is an ongoing action, not one that is to be fulfilled one day. We are to live it out daily

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible Chapter 1

Those who abound in any grace, need to abound more.

The word abound means to continually grow , to overflow with love. And, your love needs to grow more and more. This means your love needs to grow continually. The emphasis on mentioning it twice, denotes the importance Paul is placing on the call the saints in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

I purposely skipped over the emphasis on the overseers and deacons at the beginning the letter. Because, why did Paul single them out and not lump them in with all the saints.

It seems to see this in the fuller context of the passage. It may be that the overseers and deacons needed to hear this message and seriously take it to heart

Why? Because set the example for the rest of the church. If your elders and deacons, leaders in the church are not abounding in love, then the likely of the rest of the church abounding in love is extremely less likely.

Only when you abound in love can you have…

Phil. 1.9-10

Real knowledge - Renewed Knowledge of His Will

Col. 1.9-10 (NET)

For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,

All Discernment - To judge/know moral insight

I hope that the Scriptural truth of abounding in love resonates in your heart. That you desire to know how God is leading , guiding, and teaching you to live for Him.

This is Paul’s prayer for those in Philippi, he wants their love to grow, in renewed knowledge of Him.

This is Christ’s command. It is what ought to be on our hearts each day. How to abound in love, so we grow in His will and are able to judge what is right and what we are called to.

Why? so we can discern what is best.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible Chapter 1

The things which most honour God will most benefit us

That Which is Excellent (Best)

Testing or approving what is excellent. This comes only through the knowledge of Christ and His love. And the more we actively abound in love, the more we know what is excellent and can teach others the same.

What is excellent is prescribed from Scripture.

This is hard work, but like anything else the more you practice agape love, the more you will understand. You can only achieve this because of Christ in you.

And, the rewards are everlasting.

The two words: pure and blameless are important and need to be flushed out just a tad.

Paul’s prayer was for the Christians in Philippi to be running towards this goal. You are considered blameless when you accept Christ in your heart. As noted earlier, we are to be working out that salvation.

The purpose of love is to perfect a community so that it will be pure and blameless. - Walter Hansen

Pure - Being sincere and not having hidden motives

Blameless - without fault of causing an offence, not causing an offence (Paul did not want the saints in the church to be ones that caused others to stumble.

Paul prayed that the church community would be one of love, be united in this pure love for one another and not divided.

When love abounds in the community, the community is characterized by a pure desire to serve each other rather than envying and hurting each other. Walter Hansen

Day of Christ

There is a day and hour Christ will return. Paul notes it twice in this brief introduction to His letter.

We are being perfected until He returns. And the mentioning by Paul is to emphasize that we are to have a view of the Day of Christ, it could happen in our life time, and it may happen hundreds of years from now.

But, that does not change our view and our calling.

Acts 1 illustration of disciples looking up and not going on to what Christ called them to.

1 Corinthians 1:8 (NASB95)

who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:7 (NASB95)

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

The only way you are going to understand His love, understand what it truly means to love another, what it means to have real knowledge and discernment in this world, is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Phil. 1.11

The New International Version (Chapter 1)

Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

You have been filled with righteousness, this is only because of Christ and His work on the Cross. It is fruit because it keeps our focus on the divine source of the fruit. And you are filled until the day of completion when Christ returns.

Growing fruit does not happen quickly, it is a process. And those of you who have farms know all to well the beauty of a good harvest.

Just imagine, the harvest of Christ is going to be perfect. Until that day comes, may you abound in love more and more, together, as a body of Christ.

Close.