Grace & Peace From Jesus Christ

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Philippians 3:12 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:7 ESV

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

This overview of Philippians points us to the joy found in courageously living out the Great Commission...with the Grace and Peace from God alone.

BACKGROUND

Phillipi

In 356 BC, Philip II of Macedon seized some gold mines near the site of the colony Krenides in northern Greece that was founded just 3 years previous. Philip fortified the wall, drained the marshes, constructed a theater, made the city bigger, then renamed it after himself.

You may not have heard of Philip, but perhaps you’ve heard of his son, Alexander the Great - he used Philippi as a base for his conquests.

In the second Century BC, it was conquered by the Romans and Philippi became a Roman outpost.

After the Assassination of Julius Caesar, there was a major battle near Philippi

Paul’s missionary work in Europe began in Philippi as we learned last week in Acts 16

Paul

(formerly Saul of Tarsus) (See Acts 9:3-6; Acts 26:12-18) SaulSaul had learned the Scriptures early from a top teacher Was living the life that everyone expected him to live Was well respected by the established synagogues WAS NOT INTERESTED IN / VIOLENTLY OPPOSED TO HAVING HIS LIFE CONTROLLED BY JESUS or the teachings of Christ which called for living other than the Pharisees Saul was on an assignment from the Chief Priests to root out all of the Jesus followers / Christians.

dramatic encounter with Jesus - Confronted with the person (not the essence) of Christ! You are headed the wrong direction Your efforts are futile You were created to glorify God

direct encounter with Jesus - Paul’s companions saw a light and heard a noise but only Paul experienced the vision itself.

IMMEDIATELY CHANGED POSTURE,

BLINDED TO EVERYTHING AROUND HIM literally blinded

WORKS IT OUT IN PRAYER

LEARNS THE COST OF GLORIFYING GOD BY PROCLAIMING JESUS

PAUL RECEIVES HIS SIGHT

ROSE - WAS BAPTIZED / IDENTITY CHANGED

Acts 9:18 it is the first work of the new believer

behold I make all things new

He’s gone from disobeying anything connected to CHRIST to immediately embracing identity with CHRIST

embracing and proclaiming your new identity to the church and the world this would have immediately cost him all credibility with the Pharisees, the High Priest’s office

NOBODY would know this had happened (except these 2) IF HE HADN’T GONE PUBLIC

PROCLAIMS CHRIST - it is his highest joy it is his greatest challenge it is his ultimate destiny it is the path to glorifying Jesus (through a trail of tears) it is what he was made for it will ultimately cost him his health and life

>>>SLIDE - TAKE NOTE OF THIS TIMELINE.

SAUL TO PAUL

Destroyer becomes the Declarer

Prosecutor becomes the Preacher

Terror becomes the Teacher

Misguided becomes the Missional

Foolish becomes Wise

Agitator becomes the Peacemaker

Stiffnecked becomes the Surrendered

The posture OF THE CONVERTED is TOTAL SURRENDER. What can God do with a life that totally surrenders to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

Phillipians - the church @ Philippi / this letter

How did the Philippian church begin? Paul’s submission to the Spirit and evangelistic encounters - Luke tells us of these in Acts 16

Philippians: Confident in Christ Part I: Living Worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:1–30)

When the apostle Paul first shared the gospel in Philippi during his second missionary journey (AD 49–50), he was beaten and imprisoned by its citizens (Acts 16:12–40). Ten years later, from another prison, he writes to the church he planted there. His message is one of joy. He wants the Philippians to know and love Jesus so much that they, too, experience great joy—even when facing suffering.

This is the story of the founding of the church in Philippi: Lydia and her family, along with some other ladies (Euodia and Syntyche?), a slave girl, a jailer and his family, and some new “brothers.”

When Paul left, he received generous and loyal support from this new church (2 Cor 11:7-9; Phil 4:15-16; see Silva, Philippians, 2–4). He also revisited them on his third missionary journey (Acts 20:1-6).

BIG PICTURE

THE GOSPEL is the chief concern here of Paul. The word appears here more than in any other epistle (per 100 words).

Philippians contains a higher concentration of JESUS & CHRIST than any other New Testament Letter.

The noun and verbal forms of “REJOICE” & “REJOICE WITH” are used 16x in this short letter.

SUFFERING FOR CHRIST is an often neglected theme of Philippians. He mentions Christ’s suffering, his own suffering, Epaphroditus’s suffering, the church’s coming opposition and suffering. He instructs them to regard their suffering, like their faith, as a gracious gift from God.

We will see JOY & PARTNERSHIP flowing out of the Philippians’ response to the Great Commission…but make no mistake - this is not a joint venture for the purpose of community engagement…this is all about

A LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST at a personal level

A COMMUNITY DRAWN TOGETHER BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST

A MISSION THAT CENTERS ON THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST

Knowing HIM,

Living For HIM,

and Making HIM Known to our NEIGHBORS and the NATIONS!

Some Helpful summaries on this book:

Henrietta Mears - What the Bible Is All About - Summary on Philippians:

Joy Triumphs over Suffering (Phil 1.1-30)

Joy in Christ (Phil 2.1-11)

Joy in Salvation (Phil 2.12-30)

Joy in Christ’s Righteousness (Phil 3.1-9)

Joy in Christ’s Will (Phil 3.10-21)

Joy in Christ’s Strength (Phil 4.1-7)

Joy in Christ’s Provision (Phil 4.3-23)

It’s beautiful isn’t it? It reminds me of the acrostic many of us learned in Sunday School: JOY = Jesus (first), (then) Others, and You (at the back of the line)

The Bible Exposition Commentary takes an interesting approach in dividing the text with a look at the mind:

1. The Single Mind (Phil 1)

2. The Submissive Mind (Phil 2)

3. The Spiritual Mind (Phil 3)

4. The Secure Mind (Phil 4)

Surely the battle for worldviews, for abiding commitment…even joy itself - the battle begins in the mind. What a fitting approach. We would do well to remember the need to renew and wash our minds with the Word of God:

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Today, we begin with the Greeting…and it won’t take us long to see Christ exalted right before our eyes.

TEXT

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although this is very much a standard way to open a letter - (1) author, (2) recipients, (3) greeting, and (4) thanksgiving/prayer - Paul’s heartfelt greeting is not prepacked, perfunctory way.

Paul had a close relationship with the Philippian congregation. In the letter’s opening, Paul doesn’t need to declare his apostleship, as he often does when there is a conflict or doubts about his authority.

But notice how Paul takes these 4 categories and exalts Jesus Christ through them.

First, Christ is exalted as the key to understanding the identity of Christian ministers like Paul and Timothy (i.e., “servants of Christ”).

Second, Christ is exalted as the key to unlocking the identity of Christians (i.e., “saints in Christ”).

Third, Christ is exalted as the fountain of grace and peace (“from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”).

Fourth, Christ is exalted as the high point of history and holiness as Paul gives thanks and prays for the purity of the Philippians (“filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ”; 1:11) in light of the final day (“the day of Christ”; Phil. 1:10).

WORDS - that all point to Christ

1. SERVANTS

No status grab here!

Servants of whom? Christ and His Bride - the church.

Doulos = Slaves / subservient to, controlled by - pertaining to a state of being absolutely controlled by someone or something

SERVANT = more than 800x

This word that means SLAVE = 120x of those.

“In a Greco-Roman context, such as the cities to which Paul wrote, personal freedom was prized, slavery was denigrated, and self-imposed slavery was scorned and despised. But for Paul, whose sole ambition was to be pleasing to Christ, there could not have been a more fitting self-designation. His life revolved around the Master. Nothing else—including his own personal agenda—mattered.” (Excerpt From: John MacArthur. “Slave.”)

I surrender “some”

Some of this Lord, but none of that, Lord

I surrender “some”

2. SAINTS

No super status or designation by an earthly council here…since there are none righteous - no not one!

rom 3.23

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

“Holy People in Christ” NIV = “Hagios” (pr. “eye-ee-ohs)

Saint status is available to all in Christ

“…who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:” = local church

How did they become saints? Was it by performing religious rituals? No! It wasn’t because of their behavior. They became saints when they changed positions. They were once in Adam, but through faith in the gospel message they became “in Christ” new creations. Are you in Christ? That’s different from being in a church building. You may be in a worship service but not in Christ. If you’re in Christ, then you have every spiritual blessing. If not, then you’re in Adam (1 Cor 15:22).

1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

3. GRACE

God’s unmerited favor

Most people seem to disbelieve the nature of the basic relationship between a person and God not just in their minds, but deep in their hearts.

Because of our great scientific achievements, we tend to have a high opinion of ourselves. Riches and comforts and celebrity status are much more important than moral character.

We judge others by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intentions…”I meant this; I didn’t mean that.”

As long as we do a little good OR more good than what we perceive as really bad, we are very kind to ourselves. If someone’s conscience is bothering them, we tend to think it might be a medical condition. As a culture, we have convinced ourselves that we are basically good (in spite of the fact that we tell lies, are addicted to almost anything that will bring us pleasure, are consumed with ourselves, take things that don’t belong to us, and the list could go on and on).

Because of this, we don’t really see ourselves as fallen men and women who are rebelling against God’s rule…guilty in God’s sight, fit for God’s judgment. No, we tend to think that God owes us salvation, and heaven, and health, and money, and a good life, and anything else we can dream of.

We tend to ignore evil as long as we can…and we punish only as a last resort when it is absolutely necessary. We think that God feels that way too.

Yet (Packer writes in Knowing God), the Bible insists that this world which God in His goodness has made is a moral world. One in which retribution is as basic a fact as breathing.

We think grace is OWED…if it’s OWED, then it’s not GRACE.

We think God ignores sin. He doesn’t.

In fact, if you were to read the Bible as a book about God (which it is…and not about you…)

GOD IS TOO HOLY to entangle with sin.

GOD IS TOO POWERFUL to move toward the weak.

GOD IS TOO MAJESTIC to acknowledge the lowly

TELL STORY OF TRYING TO MEET WITH (NO NAME - RG) @ (NO NAME - BGEA)

“He doesn’t meet with anyone below a manager.”

GOD IS TOO WISE to entertain the foolish

GOD IS TOO TRUE - ABSOLUTE TRUTH to get mixed up with a lie

BUT GOD IS SO GRACIOUS…Because He has chosen to be…Because He takes pleasure in it…because it brings Him glory

John 1:16–17 ESV

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:32 ESV

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 5:20–21 ESV

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 16:20 ESV

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

1 Timothy 1:14 ESV

14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

!!!

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

ONE AUTHOR ILLUSTRATES GRACE...

Sermon Outlines on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians What God Has Done (Ephesians 1:1–14)

Redeemed by Christ

A woman carried some wet sand to a preacher. “Do you know what this is?” she asked. “Wet sand,” he replied. “No, sir. This is me—the multitude of my sins is more than you can count.” Then she began to cry. Asking her where the sand came from, she pointed to a nearby beach. The preacher said, “Go back and take a shovel. Pile up as big a mound of sand as you can. Then leave it. Stand back and watch the tide come in. See the effect of the waves on it.” His meaning came home to her. The blood of Christ can wash all your sins away.

4. PEACE

lit - freedom war or trouble between people; an inner calm given by God.

Billy Graham’s evangelistic tool bears the name, “Steps to Peace with God.”

Back to our reading during our worship time

Rom 5.1-5

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

You cannot have FREEDOM from TRIBULATION - Jesus promised we would experience that and not be exempt.

You can have FREEDOM FROM WAR with people, as you walk in His forgiveness…Forgive others as you have been been forgiven.

More than that is a deep settled peace - recognizing that His presence is more essential than His provision!

SUMMARY / TRANSITION TO COMMUNION

THE FINAL PHRASE OF THE GREETING IS “THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”

In the first century one could be killed for saying Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord. Yet that’s what Christians did. How was it that these ordinary people turned the world upside down? Luke writes that they were “saying that there is another king—Jesus!” (Acts 17:7).

What God has done for us has been done “in Christ.”

If you remember back some of our introductory text, there was a Philippian church because Paul was sensitive to the Spirit and shared the Gospel with people!

We should be moved by the evangelistic passion of this band of missionaries. Paul told Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim 4:5). Here we see them doing work.

You can slowly become so inwardly focused that you stop caring about those who are perishing. You can start complaining about all sorts of things when you lose sight of the mission. But it’s amazing how little you will complain about things inside the church when you’re reaching out to lost people.

Evangelism stirs up your passion for Jesus, produces holiness, and yields hatred for sin. And it’s amazing who will say yes to Jesus when you speak the gospel! Let’s pray for this passion, and let’s pray for God to open up hearts as we do the work of evangelism.

Those of us who are IN CHRIST - will make much of Jesus.

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

(SLIDE)

Francis Foulkes put it like this: “Christians not only have faith in Him; their life is in Him. As the root in the soil, the branch in the vine, the fish in the sea, and the bird in the air, so the place of the Christian’s life is in Christ.”

QUESTION TO YOU IN THE BUILDING THIS MORNING…Are you IN CHRIST?

(Let’s work our way backwards through the list)

If you are IN CHRIST, you will know the peace of God that passes understanding, even when the storm is raging.

If you are IN CHRST, you will know the grace of God in your life…not because it is owed to you, but because of His great love.

If you are…you are a SAINT because of the blood of Jesus - regularly gathering to worship with other saints!

If you are…you will SERVE the Lord with gladness…not because you have to, but because you get to!

You need to be IN CHRIST to take the Lord’s supper…it’s not a religious ritual, it’s a holy moment of remembering for the body of Christ - His Bride - His church. Let’s pray!

-----------

COMMUNION

IT'S A CELEBRATION.

- but the first one didn't feel like it. Remember, that the Passover Seder had been celebrated for hundreds and hundreds of years...but not like the way Jesus did it. No father would've broken the bread and shared the cup in the way Jesus did. His is a new and living way!

THERE IS A COMMAND!

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

THERE IS A CAUTION

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 ESV

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

When the elements are distributed, please wait...we'll all partake together.

1. This is not for everyone...this is for those who have a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

- If that's not you, or if you have hesitation, just let the elements pass by.

- Let the body of Christ proclaim the death of Christ to you this morning.

2. This is an act of worship. Let's be reverent to honor the Lamb. Let's be reflective in the cost of this privilege. Let's be responsive to the Great Commission...this is a part of our proclaiming.

BREAD

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

PRAYER FOR BREAD

We praise you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. We praise you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us and commanded us concerning the eating of unleavened bread.

Let us all eat this unleavened bread

CUP

1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

PRAYER FOR CUP

This cup is called the Cup of Redemption. It is to be shared after the meal. The Lord said, ‘‘I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.’’ This is the place in the Passover service that is recorded for us in the New Testament, where it says, “In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Take this and share it among yourselves’ ” (from Luke 22:20, 17).

Let us all drink this cup, the Cup of Redemption.

1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

CLOSING PRAYER:

“In the supper we remember his eternal love, boundless grace,

infinite compassion, agony,

cross, redemption,

and we receive assurance

of pardon, adoption, life, glory.

As the elements nourish our bodies,

so may your indwelling Holy Spirit invigorate our souls,

until that day when we hunger and thirst no more,

and sit with Jesus at his heavenly feast.”

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