Philippians #2 1:3-11
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How should we act as a church?
in one mind and in one spirit, partner side-by-side for the faith of the gospel.
Which Doctor would you trust to operate on you?
Which Doctor would you trust to operate on you?
Let’s say you need triple bypass surgery and you need to choose the doctor to operate on you.
Show 3 pictures of ‘doctors’.
Doctor who has practiced for 30 years. He’s currently working at Mayo Clinic.
Doc Brown from back to the future
Doctor Who from the famous BBC series
You want the doctor who is practicing medicine. You don’t just want any doctor. In this first section of Philippians, Paul gives a distinguishing mark of a Christian. Something that every Christian, who is practicing their Christianity does.
This mark is so distinct that Paul says in v6 that he is sure that God has saved them and will eventually finish saving them when Christ returns.
How can Paul have joyful confidence that God will sanctify and glorify the Philippians?
How can Paul have joyful confidence that God will sanctify and glorify the Philippians?
I. Paul trusts the faithfulness of Christ and the power of the Gospel
I. Paul trusts the faithfulness of Christ and the power of the Gospel
Paul’s faith in Christ
He greets them with grace and peace v2 (gospel grace: the blessings of knowing God that come from a relationship with him)
He’s demonstrating confidence in the message of the gospel v5, 11 - We talk about the gospel here at church all the time. The good news that Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life and died in our place so we can live with our holy Creator forever.
Paul doesn’t spend a lot of time in this vignette discussing the Gospel itself. He’ll go into greater detail about its importance and power as we study the rest of the chapter.
He has confidence God hears him v3
He has confidence God is actively involved in their lives v6
When we become followers of Jesus, at that moment, the Holy Spirit begins a process in us where he gradually produces in us the fruit of righteousness and a deeper love for Christ, and in turn we stop loving this world and our own sin as we begin to value and imitate Christ Jesus.
The theological word for this is Sanctification, and culminates when this work is complete and we are fully righteous called glorification. Another way to say this is that God saved us from eternal punishment, and IS SAVING us from our sin, and will save us from all the effects of sin one day.
v9-11 is a great description of sanctification
sanctification - becoming like Jesus - is not like a switch where we accept Christ and instantly we become more spiritual. It’s not even like a microwave where we get hotter and hotter until the ‘ding’ declares we are done. No, sanctification is more like cleaning patio doors with a three year old…who has a cold.
increased love and fruitfulness: more significant affection for Christ and a life that reflects that relationship more clearly
This process will take a lifetime. So keep at it. Don’t give up because God won’t give up on you. We can have confidence that when he promises to save anyone who believes in Jesus, he will do it.
Paul has confidence that God is concerned about our relationships. v8
your positive relationships are something that God delights in.
This is a three-way-relationship: “affection of Christ Jesus”
Their relationship to Paul and to Christ is what binds them together
Paul has confidence that God is returning (Day of Christ) v10
notice when the purity and blamelessness is complete? - the day of Christ. When we talk about the day of the Lord we are discussing the end of the world as we know it where Christ establishes his eternal kingdom over us.
Paul was confident that God is deserving of all glory and praise. v11
Q1 - NCC - What is our only hope in life and death? That we are not our own but belong to God.
Q4-NCC - How and Why did God create us? God created us male and female in his own image to glorify him... “own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
That is part 1 of Paul’s joyful confidence in God’s sanctifying work: God’s faithfulness. Part 2 is based on the actions of the Philippians. Paul knows God will continue to sanctify them because:
II. The Philippians have partnered with Paul in the Gospel. Their lives demonstrate their ongoing faith.
They sent a substantial gift to Paul
Something I didn’t mention last week in the background of this book is that this letter is in part a thank you note. The Philippians had sent one of their church leaders, Epaphroditus, with a financial gift to Paul. We’ll examine him more thoroughly in week seven, but he almost died in the process of delivering this gift.
But it demonstrates the care the Philippians had for Paul. He’d been there three times and cared so deeply for them. He wishes to see them, and they would like to see him too.
So at great expense to their church, not only materially, but losing Epaphroditus for a long period of time, demonstrated their commitment to Paul and his mission.
When you believe in someone and what they are doing, you’re going to give to that person. The more you believe in the importance and necessity of their mission, the more you will sacrifice for them.
The Partnered with Paul in His message (the Gospel: Christ had come to save sinful people from every nation), and participated with his imprisonment and defense of the faith v5, v7
Because Paul has a relationship with them where they have demonstrated that they love the gospel and are willing to sacrifice for the gospel, Paul shares this desire with them.
Paul ‘feels this way’ about them. He’s saying we are truly knitted together in friendship as a result of how you have treated me. v8
see how he longs to be with them? with the affection of Christ. Because his relationship with the Philippians is built on unity in the Gospel, his prayer for them is that they would be sanctified. It’s a great model prayer for us to pray for our family members and our friends. v9-11
love for Christ may deepen and display itself
your faith grows out of understanding and experience
choices you make are continually for the very best things for your sanctification good
you are made complete as God intended when he returns
that you are overflowing with love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faith and meekness
that you’re fulfilling your life’s purpose, to bring glory and praise to Christ
Lets take a look at this word Partner- the theme word of the day.
The word Paul uses in v5 partnership = koinonia - has three basic parts
(This word has the same root as partakers - in v7)
fellowship
partnership/friendship
sharing (studying in week 4)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
“Fellowship cannot be reduced to, as one writer suggests, “idle chitchat over steaming coffee before or after a worship service.” Fellowship, on the contrary, is gathering around what we believe and then living out that belief for the world to see.” - Matthew Paul Buccheri (2009) redeemer.com
Picture a sports huddle. Why is it so important that they are together? To hear the same instructions because they have the same agenda. And they are going to work as a team most effectively if they humble themselves and do what is best for the team, which may or may not be what will make them look the best on tv.
The huddle is like fellowship because the players reflect the values they shared in that huddle. They come together with one mind (or attitude) and one spirit (or purpose) so they can accomplish something greater than themselves.
Our participation with other believers for the sake of the gospel, is true fellowship. It is not simply begin together. We have to be displaying the beauty and glory of Christ. We have to show Christ as glorious. That he is worth living for. That he will sustain you.
Unbelievers mimic this by saying, you’ll be ok. Everything will work out. They have no idea if it will work out. They have no confidence that everything won’t collapse in an instant.
We, however, can say, God will bring you through this. He will supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.
Unbelievers say, just believe in yourself. You can make it through this. We say, believe in Christ, he will strengthen you.
Unbelievers say, you have everything in you to beat this. We say, you can live your life in joyful confidence because Christ strengthens you.
See, as Christians, we put our confidence in Christ, not in ourselves, and as a community, we fellowship together when we direct our attention to the source of life and hope.
And we move from fellowship in the huddle, to partnership out on the court.
Sometimes we think that fellowship happens automatically when Christians group up. This is not the case. Relationships have to be built and encouragement and exhortation has to be made that advances the glory of Christ and the sanctification of the believers there.
How can we have assurance that God will sanctify us? (that we won’t fall away from the faith? That we will keep looking more and more like Jesus and draw closer and closer to others who value the Gospel?)
f. He’ll go into greater detail about its importance and power in the rest of the chapter.the fruit of righteousness and and a deeper love for Christ, and in turn we stop loving this world and our own sin as we begin to value and imitate Christ Jesus.
Here at Red Brick we believe the scriptures give three reasons for Christians to have assurance of their salvation:
present faith in Jesus for salvation
For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
2. Holy Spirit testifying with your spirit that you’re a Christian
Holy Spirit testifying with your spirit that you’re a christian ( - ...we are children of God)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
- ...we are children of God)
3. Act like a Christian
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Where is our assurance for sanctification?
- Because of the grace of Jesus Christ and our faith in the gospel
- Because of our faith in the gospel
- Because of our participation with other believers for the sake of the gospel
Let’s ask ourselves today, is it my desire to partner with the believers the believers God has put in my life, and work side-by-side with them for the advancement of the gospel. So that people from every tribe and nation can know that Jesus saves sinners.
God has designed our faith to be worked out in community, not isolation!
Our faith is best demonstrated not in how much money we give to the church or how many times we volunteer in the nursery, although those are important parts of supporting the ministry. Our faith is best demonstrated by our love for other Christians and our unity with them.
If your desire is not to partner with other believers and you avoid the fellowship of other believers, you need to ask yourself if you can have confidence that you’re being sanctified.
Are you a Christian because you put a name tag on that says Christian, or because you come to church or because you have a Bible?
God has designed our faith to be worked out in community, not isolation!
Our faith is best demonstrated not in how much money we give to the church or how many times we volunteer in the nursery, although those are important parts of supporting the ministry. Our faith is best demonstrated by our love for other Christians and our unity with them.
Just like being called a doctor doesn’t make you qualified for heart surgery, being called a Christian doesn’t automatically mean you are practicing your faith.
A Christian who isn’t participating with other believers for the cause of the gospel,
a Christian who isn’t fellowshipping with other believers by gathering together and encouraging and exhorting each other to live righteous lives and love Jesus,
a Christian who isn’t partnering with the believers around him to praise and thank Jesus
has little reason to think that God will continue the good work of sanctification in them.
How should we act as a church?
in one mind and in one spirit, partner side-by-side for the faith of the gospel.
the fruit of righteousness and and a deeper love for Christ, and in turn we stop loving this world and our own sin as we begin to value and imitate Christ Jesus.
How can we have assurance that God will sanctify us?
- Because of the grace of Jesus Christ
grace and peacez
- Because of our faith in the gospel
- Beause of our participation with other believers for the sake of the gospel
their remembrance of him
concern for him
their partnership in the gospel
including gifts
he was convinced that God had begun good work in them
content of Paul’s prayers