Sermon Tone Analysis

Where we’ve been

Review of where we’ve been in Philippians.

Review of where we’ve been in Philippians.

Servants - no stature, lowest of low, not domestic workers but slaves.

δοῦλος

Paul had referred to us as Saints.

That’s a term we’re not comfortable with - but it is a reality.

Justification is a present and past reality.

It happens the moment we receive Christ and are baptized.

Sanctification is a present and future reality - it is an ongoing process of being holy as God is holy.

Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do.

We talked about how Paul addresses this letter not only to the church, but also to the church leadership and how his entire message is to those whoa re in Christ.

Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do.

We also learned that this is one of Paul’s prison letters and that he was likely in prison near Rome.

Paul’s Positivity

Paul has a knack for being able to be positive in what would otherwise be very negative situations.

Let’s read our text this morning:

Process

It is not unusual for Paul to begin his letters with thanksgiving and a prayer, and he does so here.

Philippians 1:3-Paul is thankful for the Philippians partnership in the gospel, but

Paul is thankful for the Philippians partnership in the gospel, but

Paul is thankful for the Philippians partnership in the gospel.

Growing in our faith is a process and a progress.

We haven’t arrived yet, and still Paul refers to us as Saints as we saw in vs. 1.

Paul is thankful for the Philippians partnership in the gospel, but

We in our faith and baptism have been justified and are in the process of being sanctified.

We in our faith and baptism have been justified and are in the process of being sanctified.

Two words we need to understand:

“Justification” and “Sanctification”

Justification is a present and past reality.

It happens the moment we receive Christ and are baptized.

To justify means to set right.

From now on, Christians in the New Testament are only named “the saints.”[25]

The other conceivable name, “the just,” is not used.

It is not equally capable of describing the full content of the gift received.

It rather refers to the unrepeatable event of baptism and justification.

True, the recollection of this event is in need of daily repetition.

It is also true that the saints remain justified sinners.

But together with the unrepeatable gift of baptism and justification and its daily recollection, Christ’s death also warrants for us another gift, namely, the preservation of the life of those who are justified until judgment day.

Living within this divine preservation is the process of sanctification

Sanctification is a present and future reality - it is an ongoing process of being holy as God is holy.

Sanctification is a present and future reality - it is an ongoing process of being holy as God is holy.

Paul is not only sure of what God is doing in the Philippians, but he is also sure of God’s commitment to them.

Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do.

It is God who began the work, and they can be assured that he will complete it - God will not let them go.

Joy

Phil 1:7

Grace - grace to you and peace, partakers with me of grace...

In the ancient world to be imprisoned would be a source of great shame as it is often in our culture.

But Paul knows the Philippians know exactly where he is and the fact that they stood in solidarity with him.

In verse 8 Paul expresses his love for the people of the church at Philippi and then concludes our passage with this wonderful prayer:

May your love abound - growing, more and more,

Not a blind love, but may it abound with knowledge and discernment

For what purpose?

There are 3.

so that you may approve what is excellent

so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ

so that you may be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

And as always, all of this is to the glory and praise of God - not ourselves - it’s all about God and Jesus Christ.

What should be our take away?

1. You’re a partner in the gospel

You’re not a nobody.

You’re loved, you are called, you are commissioned!

2. God’s not finished with you yet.

You know all those places that you don’t feel quite worthy?

You know all those things that you hear God calling you to do, but you don’t feel up to the task?

God is still working.

You’ve been justified, and you are and are being sanctified.

It’s a process, as you follow you will grow.

A wise man once said, “God does not call us to be successful, he calls us to be faithful.”

And the reality is that our view of success is seldom what God’s view is.

3. It takes effort on your part.

Our faith is not meant to be stagnant, it’s active and moving.

Love may abound - how do we do that, by practicing love.

As learn to love we also learn to love with knowledge and discernment - we learn what love is and how to love, so that our expression of love is done in ways that are wise and truly benefit others and glorify God.

As our love grows and we understand how to love better we can approve what is excellent, and our motives will also be purer, and thus bear more fruit through Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Those last three verses are sort of a benediction to this passage:

Amen.

At end of service: Benediction

“May your love abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”