A New Identity for a New People

Introduction

Every family has habits that reveal who they are. Some families have a certain way of greeting each other. Some share meals every night. Some build traditions that are passed down for generations. When you see those habits, you know something about the identity of that family.

Paul does something similar in nearly all of his letters. He begins with a greeting that tells us who the church is and who the church belongs to. Almost every letter in the New Testament opens with the author invoking grace and peace upon God’s people. This is not filler content. It is a declaration of identity and a reminder of what God has given His church.

Philippians 1:1–2 NIV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray

Paul speaks only twenty nine Greek words, yet those words contain a rich picture of who we are in Christ. They introduce themes that will run throughout the entire letter. Humility. Unity. Partnership in the gospel. A shared life shaped by Jesus.

Paul is showing the church in Philippi what the gospel has made them. And through this text, the Spirit shows us what the gospel has made us too.

Three simple truths rise to the surface. We are servants of Christ. We are saints in Christ. We are a family grounded in grace and peace.

This is our identity. And out of that identity flows our calling.

We are servants of Christ

Paul opens with a surprising introduction. “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.”

In other letters, Paul calls himself an apostle. Here, he chooses a different word. He calls himself a slave, a doulos.

Before he ever asks them to think like Christ, he shows them what that looks like.

Why begin a letter this way? Because the heartbeat of Christian identity is not status, position, or personal glory. The heartbeat is surrender. It is a life given over to Jesus as Lord.

And remember where Paul is writing from. He is in prison. Yet he does not say, “Paul, prisoner of Rome.” He says, “Paul, slave of Christ.” His circumstances do not define him.

His calling does.

(Statue of Caesar Augustus.David A. deSilvaCopyright 2020 David A. deSilva / Logos User)

In a city like Philippi, filled with Roman honor culture and devotion to Caesar, this was a direct challenge. Caesar claimed to be lord. Paul declared that Jesus is Lord. Caesar demanded allegiance.

Paul gladly offered his allegiance to Christ.

A servant is someone who has let go of personal rights for the sake of a greater mission. That is how Paul sees himself. That is how Timothy sees himself. And that is the attitude Paul longs to see in the church.

This is where gospel partnership begins. Not with demands. Not with entitlement. It begins with humility. Gospel work is not accomplished through prideful people seeking attention. It is accomplished through servants who bow their lives before Jesus.

We are saints in Christ

Paul writes to “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.”

The word “saints” does not mean spiritual superstars. It means God’s holy people. Not because of their achievement, but because they belong to Christ.

Their location is Philippi, but their identity is in Christ. They live in a Roman colony, but they belong to a heavenly kingdom. They live surrounded by imperial religion, but they worship the Lord who rules over all.

This is one of the great truths of Philippians.

Our truest identity is not where we live, what we do, or what others think of us. Our identity is rooted in our relationship with Christ.

The gospel creates a new people. A people made holy by grace. A people set apart for God’s mission. A people who live a different story than the story of this world.

And Paul includes the overseers and deacons not because they are more important, but because the whole church is called to unity. Leaders and members stand together as one family. Everyone shares the same identity. Everyone stands under the same Lord.

As Tony Merida writes, gospel partnership is more than friendship or common interest. It is a shared life shaped by a shared Lord, a shared salvation, and a shared mission.

So when Paul calls them saints, he is calling them to remember who they already are. Not who they are trying to become.

Who Christ has already made them to be.

We are a family grounded in grace and peace

Paul closes with words that appear simple, yet carry enormous power. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Grace is the foundation of our identity. Peace is the result.

Grace is God’s undeserved kindness that saves us, forgives us, strengthens us, and carries us. Peace is the wholeness and rest that flow from knowing God through Christ. Grace gives us a new status. Peace gives us a new stability.

Paul is not merely being polite here. He is speaking a blessing rooted in the heart of the gospel. This is what God wants His people to have. Not stress. Not division. Not fear. Grace and peace.

Grace shapes us into servants. Peace allows us to serve without anxiety.

Grace reminds us that God has made us saints. Peace reminds us that God holds us secure.

Grace gives us a new family. Peace helps that family live in unity.

This greeting is short, but it is the theological doorway into the entire letter. Everything Paul will say about humility, joy, unity, partnership, suffering, and hope flows from these two gifts. God has given you grace.

Therefore, live with humility. God has given you peace. Therefore, stand firm in unity.

Next Steps: Live as saints and servants

The gospel creates a people with a new identity.

Servants. Saints. A family grounded in grace and peace.

So how do we live this out?

Live as a servant of Christ. Lay down pride. Embrace humility. Give your life to the mission of Jesus.

Live as a saint in Christ. Remember who you belong to. Let your identity shape your actions. Take your place in the family of God.

Live in grace and peace. Receive what God has already given. Let grace make you patient. Let peace make you united.

This is what the people of the gospel look like. Not perfect people, but transformed people. People shaped by Christ. People shaped for Christ.

Here are listener notes without fill in the blanks. They follow your flow and keep things clear and memorable for people in the room.

**Listener Notes

Philippians 1:1–2 The People of the Gospel**

1. A New Identity in Christ

Paul calls the believers “saints in Christ Jesus.” This is not something they achieve. It is who they are because they belong to Christ. God has set them apart for His purpose and His glory.

2. A Shared Calling as Servants

Paul and Timothy introduce themselves as servants of Christ. They choose a humble title that reflects the way Jesus served. The Christian life follows the same pattern of humility, surrender, and obedience.

3. A United Community of the Gospel

Paul writes to the whole church in Philippi, including its leaders. Everyone shares the same identity and is included in the same family. The gospel creates a community where each person matters.

4. The Heart of Gospel Partnership

From the opening words, Paul reminds the church that following Christ is a shared work. Gospel partnership is spiritual friendship shaped by shared mission, shared love, and mutual support. The church stands together in the work of the gospel.

5. A Blessing Rooted in the Gospel

Paul ends his greeting with grace and peace. Grace is God’s kindness that saves and sustains. Peace is the wholeness God brings through Christ. These two gifts shape everything about the Christian life.

Application

• Remember your identity in Christ and let it guide your decisions. • Embrace a posture of service, following the example of Jesus. • Join with your church family in genuine gospel partnership marked by unity and love.

Bibliography

Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, and Michael S. Heiser, eds. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Dever, Mark E. “The Church.” In A Theology for the Church, edited by Daniel L. Akin and David P. Nelson, 603–756. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2014.

Keown, Mark J. Discovering the New Testament: An Introduction to Its Background, Theology, and Themes. Vol. 2: The Pauline Letters. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021.

Kurtz, Ronni. Fruitful Theology: How the Life of the Mind Leads to the Life of the Soul. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2022.

Merida, Tony, and Francis Chan. Exalting Jesus in Philippians. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016.

Runge, Steven E. High Definition Commentary: Philippians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2011.

Zerbe, Gordon. Philippians. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Edited by Douglas B. Miller, et al. Harrisonburg, VA; Kitchener, ON: Herald Press, 2016.

Here is a full 3 to 4 day Bible study for Philippians 1:1 to 2 along with a YouTube description for your sermon.

Bible Study

Philippians 1:1 to 2 The People of the Gospel**

Day 1: Saints in Christ Jesus

Read: Philippians 1:1 to 2; Ephesians 1:1 to 6

Paul addresses the believers as saints. This identity does not point to moral perfection. It describes people who belong to Christ and are set apart for His purposes. Holiness begins with God choosing, saving, and shaping a people for Himself. In the first sentence of the letter, Paul places your identity before your activity. You are a saint because you are in Christ.

Reflection: • How does being a saint change the way you see your everyday life? • Where do you need to let your identity in Christ speak louder than old labels or failures?

Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me Your own. Help me live from this identity and not from my past.

Day 2: Servants of Christ Jesus

Read: Philippians 1:1; Mark 10:42 to 45; Philippians 2:1 to 11

Paul introduces himself and Timothy as servants. He chooses a humble title because it reflects the heart of Jesus. The path of discipleship is shaped by service, not status. This opening word becomes a preview of the entire letter where Paul will call the church to humility, unity, and sacrificial love.

Reflection: • What does Christian humility look like in your relationships? • How does Jesus reshape the way you approach leadership, influence, and responsibility?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me to serve with Your heart. Make humility a joy, not a burden.

Day 3: A Community Formed by the Gospel

Read: Philippians 1:1 to 2; Acts 16:11 to 40; Philippians 4:1 to 3

Paul writes to all the believers in Philippi. Leaders are mentioned, but no one is elevated above the rest. The gospel creates a community of equals. This community is built on shared salvation, shared mission, and shared love. Philippi was a Roman colony, filled with pride in citizenship and status. Yet Paul reminds the church that their truest citizenship is in Christ and their unity comes from the Spirit.

Reflection: • How can your local church better reflect gospel unity? • What strengthens gospel partnership and what weakens it?

Prayer: Spirit of God, knit our church together in love and unity. Let us stand side by side in the work of the gospel.

Day 4: Grace and Peace for the Journey

Read: Philippians 1:2; Romans 5:1 to 2; Colossians 1:19 to 20

Paul speaks grace and peace over the church. These two words summarize the entire Christian life. Grace is God’s kindness that saves and sustains. Peace is the wholeness and reconciliation Christ brings. Paul places these gifts at the front of the letter because everything that follows depends on them. You cannot serve faithfully or pursue unity unless you rely on God’s grace and live from His peace.

Reflection: • Where do you need the peace of Christ to steady you today? • How can you extend grace to others in the same way God extends it to you?

Prayer: God of grace and peace, fill my heart with Your presence. Let Your peace shape my responses and Your grace shape my relationships.

YouTube Description

Title: The People of the Gospel Text: Philippians 1:1 to 2

In this message, Pastor Ryan opens our series through Philippians by looking at the greeting of Paul’s letter. These opening words reveal how the gospel creates a new identity and a new community. Paul shows us what it means to live as saints in Christ and servants together in the church. We explore gospel partnership, humility, unity, and the grace and peace that anchor our lives in Christ.

If this message encourages you, consider sharing it or connecting with us at Laughlin Community Church.

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