Always Gospel Focused

The gospel is, broadly speaking, the whole of Scripture; more narrowly, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation. No matter the circumstances the Apostle Paul finds himself in, he finds a way to share the good news of the Gospel. What about us?

1. The Prison Perspective

Philippians 1:7 “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.”

Philippians 1:12–13 “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”

Millions have been encouraged by the struggles of fellow sufferers: Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe while in prison. John Bunyan produced The Pilgrim’s Progress because of prison. Sir Walter Raleigh wrote The History of the World during thirteen years in jail. Luther translated the Bible while imprisoned in the castle at Wartburg. Dante wrote magnificently during his twenty years in prison, part of the time under a death sentence.

2. The Push to Grow

Philippians 1:14 “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

3. The Proclamation Differences

Philippians 1:15–17 “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.”

Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

4. The Preaching brings Joy

Philippians 1:18 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,”