The Purpose Of Life
Prison Epistles: Philippians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
Last week we began our studies into the book of Philippians by examining the introductory material for this book.
Some things we talked about and we should keep in mind is the over all theme of the book ‘The Joy In Christ.”
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Paul was closer to this congregation as much or more than any other and thus we see the deep personal connection he had with the church in Philippi.
Paul begins his letter to the church by discussing “The Purpose of Life.”
With this in mind let us examine our lesson.
Partnering, Defending & Confirming The Gospel
Partnering, Defending & Confirming The Gospel
Partnering in the gospel.
Partnering in the gospel.
Paul loves this congregation, not just because of their faith but because of their partnership with him in the gospel “from the beginning.”
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Php 1:
As any gospel preacher knows, it’s those that are willing to support you in the work that hold a dear place in your heart.
Php 1:
It isn’t about the money, it’s about the effort and desire to see a work fulfilled together.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Rom 10:14-15
Any congregation that “hires” a preacher to do the work instead of supporting him to work together simply doesn’t get it.
Paul talks about this improper mindset found in Corinth.
8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
Paul’s purpose in life was to partner with like minded Christians for the gospel.
This also include the partnering in...
The defense & confirmation of the gospel.
The defense & confirmation of the gospel.
Paul loved the church in Philippi because of their partnership with him in defending the good news of Jesus Christ.
You can’t support the preaching of the gospel without partnering in the consequences of such preaching and the church in Philippi understood this.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Php 1:
It’s a shame but many congregations are more like Corinth than of Philippi seeking a partnership with a preacher only to find out they really didn’t want the consequences of having a gospel preacher.
Many a preacher has started a work with the elders or leadership saying they will back up the preacher and stand up with the preacher only to turn their backs on him when the time comes.
16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Paul also loved the church in Philippi because of their partnership with him in confirmation of the gospel.
The word “confirmation” in the Greek means to validate through proving so the church in Philippi has been going about “proving” the good news of Jesus Christ.
Remember what we said about the church in Philippi, it was a mostly a gentile city with little Jewish influence which means it would take more than just preaching from the Old Testament.
This is the type of study that is need to teach Atheists.
They aren’t going to let you go to the Bible to convert them, you first have to prove or confirm the Word and then use the Word.
21 prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
Summary
Summary
Paul demonstrates that partnering in the gospel and partnering in the defense and confirmation of the gospel is the purpose of life in relationship between the gospel preacher and congregation.
Abound In Love
Abound In Love
Love shouldn’t be stagnate.
Love shouldn’t be stagnate.
Paul shifts gears to their purpose as the church and which is to make sure their “love abounds more and more.”
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Php 1:9-
How does Paul say our love is to abound more and more or grow more and more?
First is with knowledge or better translated wisdom/understanding “epignosis.”
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Col
Love that abounds or matures does so through grasping more and more of God’s Will.
Second, is with all discernment or the capability to grow in recognition.
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Pr
Love that abounds or matures does so through need to allows push our minds to recognize more.
Paul clearly states that a Christians purpose in life is to grow in love and this is done by learning how to apply our knowledge and use that wisdom to discern or recognize more and more ways to be wise in the Will of God.
This is the “circle of life” as it pertains to abounding in love.
The reason Paul wants this “spiritual circle of life” for the church is because it leads to an understanding of excellence which helps us be pure and blameless.
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Love isn’t stagnate so we can be pure at the end.
Love isn’t stagnate so we can be pure at the end.
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Paul explains that abounding in love through wisdom and discernment keeps us pure.
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Php 1:
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Summary
Summary
The purpose of life for the church is to always abound in love for God, His Word, and His children.
Every commandment and expectation from God is fulfilled if we love like this.
To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain
To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain
The purpose of life is the afterlife.
The purpose of life is the afterlife.
The reality is the purpose of this life is to live it for the afterlife whether unto good or evil that is the purpose of life.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 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 on your account.
Php 1:21-24
There is a real struggle in this and Paul understanding the struggle to stay here on earth talks about this.
However, Paul doesn’t talk about the struggle to be with family, loved ones, pets, or the like but to stay for the spiritual benefit of the church.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Php 1:
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Summary
Summary
How wonderful would it be if every member of the Lord’s church wanted to stay here on earth because they wanted it to grow more spiritually.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The purpose of life is to help each other for the gospel by abounding in love so that we may spiritually influence others for good in this life and be prepared for the afterlife.
WInston Churchill once stated, “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.”
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.