Finding Joy in Christ

Introduction:

Even though Paul wrote it in a prison cell, The Book of Philippians is known as the Book of Joy. Since Paul founded the church in Philippi, his relationship with the Philippians has been like that of a father and son. He preached the gospel to them, and in return, they took care of Paul even in the midst of their poverty. Paul holds the people of Philippi in his heart and yearns for them. He created a pastoral bond of love and affection between the members of the church of Philippi. This love and affection rings out in Paul’s joy throughout the letter. We know the love he has for this church.

The message of Philippians 1:1-11 calls us to reflect on our own lives. Are we living in the joy that comes from a deep partnership in the gospel with other believers in the faith? Are we actively participating in the mission, supporting one another, and trusting in God’s continued work in our lives? From the times that I have been filling this pulpit, I can see that you have. This congregation has given tremendously to local and global missions. As we work through this series on Philippians, I want you to keep this question at the forefront of your minds and continue in joy as you graciously support other missions. This theme of joy and partnership in the gospel goes deeper than Paul’s imprisonment. He urges the church at Philippi to press on in joy. He labels himself and Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus, but as we study, we will learn that Paul and Timothy do not have the freedom to do as they please because of their status in Christ.

Philippians 1:1–11 (ESV) Page # ____________

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul opens this letter by expressing his love for the church at Philippi. He gives them more of his heart in this letter.

1. The Joy of Fellowship in the Gospel (vs 1-5)

So, as I said earlier, Joy permeates the ethos of this letter to the church at Philippi. It is believed to have been written between roughly 60-62 AD. To help put this time into perspective, Paul's first missionary journey occurred around AD 46-47. During his second missionary journey, between AD 49-51, he reached the port of Neapolis, which served Philippi. Paul's third missionary journey is believed to have taken place between AD 52-57. Paul was martyred somewhere between AD 64-67. Now, about a decade after first preaching to the Philippians, Paul is writing this prison epistle, one of four letters—along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon—to this group of believers.

Think about a person you know who was accused of a heinous crime. Paul was accused of inciting an insurrection, breaking customary laws, and going against the belief in other gods. Yet, the church at Philippi pressed on in their partnership and fellowship in the Gospel Paul preached. By doing this, the members of this body could have attracted persecution to themselves, becoming a target.

I can recall someone who was arrested and charged with several heinous crimes. I watched his family and friends distance themselves and eventually drift away. I also saw the targeting pointed at the accused with relentless resolve.

The same thing was true for Paul. He had already experienced in his ministry when people took off and left the gospel ministry. The enemies of Paul accused him with relentless resolve. Therefore, the Church at Philippi responded with relentless resolve by continuing to support Paul and making potent and mighty efforts to push the gospel forward.

Philippians 1:1–5 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

When Paul opens the letter, he addresses it to the overseers and deacons. Following that, he joyfully offers Grace and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. That statement has become the standard greeting for the early church. In joy, Paul thanks God for his memory of the Philippian church. In joy, he embraces their prayers and memories of him and their partnership in the gospel. Paul’s purpose here was to encourage the Philippians in the faith. He wanted to solidify their faith by his attitude of joy during his imprisonment. I stated earlier that for the church at Philippi this could put a target on their backs. But we see that Paul himself was oh so eager to thank them for such gracious support despite the social stigma it carried for supporting him.

And notice this: Paul prays in joy for his Philippian flock. Joy is the thread that holds this letter together. Paul’s joy comes from the church’s partnership in the gospel, including their concern for him. “Joy in God is the happiest of all joys.” - Charles Spurgeon

2. Confidence in God’s continued work in believers (vs. 6)

In verse 6, Paul moves on to point out that it is God who initiates the "good work" in believers. This good work refers to the process of salvation and spiritual growth that begins with accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul doubles down, and he is sure about God’s commitment to the Philippians. He recognizes that God is the one who began a good work in the church, and thus that God is the only one who will bring it to completion. In short, genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do. God’s overpowering faithfulness ensures that He will be with believers until the day of Jesus Christ. Can we have confidence that God, who saved the Philippians, saved us and will not let us go? If we can believe that, then we, just as the Philippians and other believers, will inherit our eternal award.

 3   The Lord is determined to strip us of all confidence in the flesh, leaving us with total confidence in him. - David Wilkerson

Look again at verse 6: “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” He, being Jesus, began that good work when he chose us before foundation of the earth. The word “Began” speaks to our justification. The phrase “Will bring” speaks to our sanctification. The phrase “To completion” speaks to our glorification. This verse alone gives us the three elements of salvation. As the old hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” says in stanza 3, “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.”

The NIV uses the word confidence. The word confidence comes from the Latin, con fide, which means with faith. Paul says here, “I am sure,” which can be translated as I am persuaded that he who began a good work….” Paul is saying that he knows within his heart of hearts that God will always finish what he starts.

Look at Paul; he is on house arrest and he is writing encouragement to the church. He is telling them to have joy in the midst of his suffering. Steve Lawson stated in his commentary on Philippians that ministry brings conflict. Well, Paul, through his actions as well as his words, is leading his flock back to Joy in Christ in the midst of their worry, struggles, and conflicts.

Think about this for the week: surrender your fears, doubts, and impatience to God. Trust in His ongoing work in your life. Reflect on the ways He has already shaped you and ask for the grace to trust Him in the areas where you feel unfinished. Remember, you are in the hands of the Master Artist, and His work in you is good. What is the chief end of man? To glorify him and ENJOY him forever.

3. Love, Knowledge, and Discernment in Growing Faith (vs 9-11)

Paul begins by praying that the love of the Philippians would "abound more and more." This isn’t just about having a general sense of love but a love that grows continually, becoming richer and deeper.

Philippians 1:9–11 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Why does Paul focus on love, knowledge, and discernment? R.C. Sproul once said that you can have a knowledge of God without a love for God, but you can’t have a love for God without knowledge of God. Paul reminds the Church at Philippi that their actions and concern demonstrate their love for God for him. Paul is saying that he wants their love to abound, and he wants their love to grow in knowledge so that they rightly know God. He then goes on to tell them that he wants them to walk in discernment and be on guard for any false teachings about GOD apart from what he taught them. In sum, the Apostle is saying, Know God, and you need to have a right understanding of Him.

Paul specifically uses the word discernment to call the Philippians to remember their shared spiritual experiences. This word discernment in the Greek speaks of moral perception, insight, and the practical application of knowledge. Paul knows what the true meaning of love is, and he remembers that love Christ showed him on the road to Damascus. Paul sees the authentic love and exuberant faith of the Philippians and urges them to continue in righteousness, giving all glory and praise to God.

As Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield says, the power of salvation lies not in the act of faith itself but in Christ, who is the object of that faith. In other words, faith is not inherently saving; it serves as a conduit to connect us with Christ. The effectiveness of faith thus depends entirely on its focus—Christ. Warfield emphasizes that salvation is a work of God's grace, not something earned by human effort or the strength of our belief. This perspective underscores that all glory for our salvation belongs to Christ, and our faith is simply a response to His saving work.

Conclusion

As we conclude our exploration of Philippians 1:1-11, we see that Paul’s message to the church at Philippi is timeless and deeply relevant to us today. Paul writes with a heart full of joy, despite his circumstances, reminding the Philippians—and us—of the joy that comes from partnership in the gospel. He encourages them to continue growing in love, knowledge, and discernment, to live lives that reflect Christ’s work in them, and to trust in God’s faithfulness to complete the good work He has begun.

Just as the Philippians were called to stand firm in their faith and continue in their mission, so are we. Our joy, like theirs, should be rooted in the assurance that God is at work in us, shaping us into the image of Christ. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on the unchanging nature of God’s grace and love. “For the Christian, suffering is not meant to produce sorrow, discouragement, or distress but joy of spirit; the gladness of heart; and rejoicing in the Lord.” ~ Hank Williams

As we go forward, let us take to heart Paul’s prayer for the Philippians: that our love would abound more and more, that we would grow in knowledge and discernment, and that our lives would be filled with the fruit of righteousness to the glory and praise of God. May we, like the Philippians, embrace the joy of fellowship in the gospel, confident that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion in the day of Christ Jesus.

I want you to remember this question for the week: how can we experience joy in our Christian community? Let us pray!

Closing Prayer

Blessing and Benediction:

May the God of all grace and joy fill our hearts with an ever-deepening love, a love that grows in knowledge and discernment. May we walk confidently in the assurance that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion, and may our lives be filled with the fruit of righteousness that brings glory and praise to God. As we partner in the gospel, may we be strengthened in our faith, overflowing with joy that transcends our circumstances, and may the peace of Christ guard our hearts and minds until the day of His glorious return. Amen.