Philippians 1:6-30

It has been three weeks since I have led our Wednesday night bible study.

Our first study was an introduction to the book of Philippians.

Our second study was over chapter 1 vs 1-5

We had our NextGen night

Last week Pastor Marcia did an overview of the first two weeks.

So now we will be jumping in to vs 6-11

Philippians 1:6-11

6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Vs. 6 - Paul is confident that God will bring completion to the good work that had been started by God and it will be completed with the day of Jesus Christ (the return of christ)

What is this “good work” that had begun

Was it the partnership or fellowship they had with Paul? or something else

“the one” refers to God who he mentions is vs 7. It would seem unlikely that the good work would refer to their partnership with Paul unless Paul expected Jesus to return before his death, which is not out of the question. But most likely it refers to their salvation and sanctification that will be complete with the day of Jesus Christ.

vs. 7 - When Paul says it is right for me to think this way about all of you, he is refering to his confidence in what God will do in and what he has done already

The phrase, “because you hold me in your heart” is in some versions “I have you in my heart”

the former is believed because of what he says afterward. “for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”

Vs. 8 - Paul is calling God as witness to his longing for the Philippians, not only because of their partnership with him, but because his separation is forced, he is in prison.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, forced absence all the more!

His compassion is not just his but is also Christ’s.

Vs. 9-11 - Paul intercedes for the Philippians’ Spiritual Growth

He prays that “your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight”

He prays for this overflow so they can determine what is best,

When they can determine what is best, they can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ.

When this happens it will have produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:12–27

12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. 15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. 20 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

Vs 12-14 - Paul talks about what his imprisonment has accomplished.

The spread of the gospel

everyone knows his imprisonment is for Christ

produced a greater boldness in the sisters and brothers

Vs. 15-18 - Paul address the ones who proclaim the gospel our of envy and rivalry versus the one who speaks out of love.

Paul comes to the conclusion, “What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.”

Vs. 19-26 - Paul shows confidence through the human (prayers) and the divine (Spirit of Jesus Christ) that he will have his deliverance.

Is he talking about deliverance from prison physically or his ultimate deliverance to be with Christ?

Vs. 20 answers that for us. He wants to avoid shame “my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Paul understands something most of us miss, one of the most famous passages we often quote, “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain!”

But too many of us have a motto that “living is gain and dying is Christ.”

We spend our time in this life trying to get ahead until we die and get to be with Jesus. When actually the only gain we should seek is that of Christ.

Paul has a desire to be with Christ, but also knows the importance of staying on earth for the benefit of others.

Philippians 1:27–30

27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Paul encourages them to live worthy of the gospel as evidence of their firm stance as one in the spirit this will enable them to overcome the intimidation of their opponents.

This worthy life of the gospel is evidence of their opponents destruction and of their salvation, they were not the initiators of this God was.

It is not only a privilege of believing in Christ but it is also a privilege to suffer for him as well. The struggles they are facing is nothing new, Paul had them, and is still having them.