A Gospel Perspective
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Intro
Intro
Happy Valentines Day
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
It is a fitting night tonight to look at this passage.
Last week we looked at Paul’s prayer for the Philippians and we noticed that he prayed for their love to abound more and more through knowledge and discernment
One of the dangers of knowledge is that it can artificially inflate a person’s ego
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
Famous Intellectual arguments - Edison vs. Tesla
In the early 20th century Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla worked together
Tesla developed a DC system for Edison but Edison refused to pay the promised bonuses
Tesla struck out on his own to develop an AC system
In 1915 both men were reportedly in line to share the Nobel Prize in Physics
Their personal disagreement was so great that each refused to accept the award if the other person accepted as well
Arrogance will get you no where
It is interesting to note that this passage comes so quickly on the heels of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians
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. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
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. 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,
Prayer
Paul’s Perspective
Paul’s Perspective
2 Cor. 11:23-28; 2 Timothy 4:16-18;
Ratatouille Illustration
Anton Ego shows up to critique the restaurant and when asked what he would like he asks for “some perspective”
Paul sets the tone of unity for the Philippians by providing them a look into his perspective.
Preaching the Word: Philippians—The Fellowship of the Gospel Chapter 5: The Gospel First! (Philippians 1:12–18a)
The annals of the world’s epic lives and journeys contain nothing to rival the courage and endurance and love of the Apostle Paul.
Paul has been a man of action
3 Missionary journeys covering 11 years
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Paul’s desire has been to make it to Rome and then to Spain
Paul is imprisoned
Held in Caesarea for political convenience and in the hopes that money could be exhorted from him
Shipwrecked on the way to Rome
His life was threatened first by the soldiers and then by a viper bite
Under house arrest in Rome
abandoned by the church he had so longed to visit
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
At this point Paul could hardly be blamed for throwing up his hands and giving in
Paul has kept to the pattern of letters written in the ancient world
A greeting
Some sort of thanksgiving/prayer
Now is the portion of the letter where the readers could expect Paul to inform them of his status - his Facebook page if you will
His health
His meals
Thanksgiving for the gift the Philippians had sent with Epaphroditus
Preaching the Word: Philippians—The Fellowship of the Gospel Chapter 5: The Gospel First! (Philippians 1:12–18a)
With the barest allusion to his circumstances, Paul exulted in the advancement of the gospel, which for him was the main thing
With the barest allusion to his circumstances, Paul exulted in the advancement of the Gospel.
General McCauliffe illustration
“Aw Nuts”
Paul’s reaction is much the same
Instead of being overwhelmed and defeated by his circumstances he maintains his perspective on the Gospel and recognizes that God is actually using this to further His Gospel
Suffering can come into our lives for many reasons
Sin
As a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba a child died
Discipline
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
For His purposes
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers
He was wrongly imprisoned by his master
He was forgotten by the cup bearer
He rose to prominence over Egypt and was in a position to save his family
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Paul says that what has happened to him has actually furthered the Gospel
Among the Pagans
The whole Praetorian guard has come to know that Paul’s imprisonment is for the Gospel
Company of 9000 soldiers
Paul probably didn’t have access to all of them but every four hours a new guard would be assigned to him
Instead of viewing this man as an enemy or being intimidated
Paul looks past the chain on his own wrist to see the man at the other end
A man who needs the Gospel
The other Christians in Rome have become emboldened to preach the Gospel because of Paul’s imprisonment
This is counter-intuitive to civic discipline
Generally used to deter behavior
In this case it actually works to embolden the Christians in Rome to preach the Gospel
Acts illustration
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Battle of Thermopylae
King Leonidas leads 300 Spartan warriors against the Persians
1 year later a united Greek army defeated the Persians to maintain Greek independence
This letter is written just before the persecution carried out by Nero against the church - many of these men would soon be ripped limb from limb in the Coliseum or used to light Nero’s dinner parties
Yet they are still preaching the Gospel
Persecution has often resulted in the Gospel being furthered
Conversation with Hayden about going to jail
Queen of Mary in 1553
Bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley
Latimer cried out “Be of good cheer, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”
You can’t preach what you don’t know. Because of Paul’s example and his teaching the Gospel is impacting the the pagans and the church.
In all of this Paul maintains his perspective on the Gospel
Envy and Strife?
Envy and Strife?
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
These men are not heretics
In Galatians 1 Paul addresses heretical teachings and teachers
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
In one of the most offensive Bible verses he goes so far
I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
In our own book
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
This is certainly a correct way to treat heretics - wolves should be labeled as such and we shouldn’t shy away from naming names in a misguided attempt at showing Christian love or unity
But this is not Paul’s tone
He counts these men among the brothers that he talks about in verse 14
Preaching the Word: Philippians—The Fellowship of the Gospel Chapter 5: The Gospel First! (Philippians 1:12–18a)
some in the church were apparently bitter toward him, feeling that his appeal to the emperor would bring harder times upon them.
Most likely these are men who hold some doctrinal difference with Paul - but not to the extent that they have compromised the Gospel.
Doctrinal Differences are common today
These men were also spreading rumors regarding why Paul was in prison, seeking to undermine his credibility as an apostle
Paul gives us a lesson in perspective - and in humility
How should we react to those who seek to cause us frustration?
With grace
Grace tells me that I am no better than they are
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
We need to understand the differences between preferences and the Gospel - between secondary issues and primary issues
Preferences are the gray areas that are left open in the Bible - Worship music, Bible translation, etc.
This is also an area with respect to the teachers you listen to - whether Chuck Smith, John MacArthur, Timothy Keller or John Piper - among other high profile evangelical teachers
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
The Gospel is non-negotiable - so we should be careful who we partner with when we plan outreaches, etc.
There is some good news - there are those preaching the Gospel out of love
They understand that Paul is in prison because of the Gospel
There have always been good men who preach the Gospel regardless of what is going on around them, despite culture, despite the threat of persecution
This is the unity that is to be a major theme through out the rest of the letter
And that we have seen as a key point this far - our joy drives our humility which drives our unity
It is very possible that the situation in Rome is also being experienced in Philippi
Paul’s joy?
Paul’s joy?
The most shocking portion of the entire passage
Paul rejoices in both groups preaching because the Gospel is being preached
Paul exhibits his humility - whether there is any personal injury to him it is immaterial as long as the Gospel is going forth
Paul is in the same position as John the Baptist
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
This is contrary to the self-promotion that is often seen among ministries now
Paul recognizes where he falls in the pecking order - as long as the Gospel is going forth his personal advancement or ambition doesn’t matter
Conclusion
Conclusion
This is not a very technical passage
There is a depth that can easily be missed
In every verse Paul refers to the Gospel
He is in prison for the furtherance of the Gospel
His chains are in Christ (for the Gospel)
The brothers are confident to speak the Word of the Gospel
Some preach Christ’s Gospel
Again they preach Christ
It is acknowledged that Paul is in prison in defense of the Gospel
Whether by truth or pretense - Christ’s Gospel is preached
Much like a simple dish of Ratatouille, Paul provides some perspective by demonstrating that our focus should be on the simplicity (and yet infinite complexity) of the Gospel
Where is our perspective?
Are we humbly looking to advance the Gospel irrespective of personal gain or advancement?
Do we see problems surrounding us or the shackles on our wrist - or do we see the person at the other end in need of the Gospel?
Do we seek unity or disunity?
Paul demonstrates again the humility that is brought through the joy provided by the Gospel. Because of this he can seek unity and support of those who would seek to cause him distress.