I Thank My God For You! (2)

Opening Up Philippians For Their Fellowship from the First Day (vv. 3–5)

Paul could not think of the Philippians without giving thanks to God for their fellowship in the gospel. The word ‘fellowship’ refers to sharing or holding something in common. We have a tendency to use the word very loosely these days. Any gathering of Christians in which there is a feeling of happiness and camaraderie is called ‘fellowship’. We have almost made the word synonymous with good food and a few laughs. But that, of course, makes Christian fellowship no different from what unbelievers often enjoy.

We can be sure that the apostle had something far different—and better!—in mind. It was more than merely enjoying each other’s company. It was partnership.

Christian fellowship is a marvel. People who by nature have nothing in common find a common life in Christ. Think again of Paul’s ministry in Philippi. Lydia the slave girl and the jailer had nothing in common until they came to Christ (Acts 16). But the gospel of Christ made them partakers of the same life and partners in the same cause.

Because of this bond of fellowship the Philippians had supported Paul in both his ministry and his imprisonment. They had done the former by sending gifts to him while he was in Thessalonica (4:14–16) and in Corinth (2 Cor. 11:9). They had done the latter by sending one of their number, Epaphroditus, to minister to Paul (2:25; 4:18).

The bond of fellowship between the Philippians and Paul was so very strong that he earnestly yearned to be separated from them no longer (v. 8). To remove all doubt from their minds about how very strongly he loved them he writes: ‘I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ’ (v. 8).

Opening Up Philippians For Their Fellowship from the First Day (vv. 3–5)

Paul could go no higher than this. His love for the Philippians was such that it reflected the love of Christ himself.

Philippians 1:5–11 ESV

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 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. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all 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.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Salvation is God’s Work

Opening Up Philippians For Their Victory in the Last Day (v. 6)

The Philippians did not begin the work of salvation in themselves only to have God come along and add a little to it. It was entirely his work. God provided the way of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, and he even enabled the Philippians to receive that salvation.

Salvation is a Good Work

Opening Up Philippians For Their Victory in the Last Day (v. 6)

Salvation lifts the sinner from eternal condemnation and ruin and makes that person part of God’s family and a partaker of God’s eternal glory. Who would dare say that this is not a good thing?

Salvation is a Sure Work

Opening Up Philippians For Their Victory in the Last Day (v. 6)

God does not begin it and then abandon it somewhere along the way. He does not pull his people from the flames of destruction only to allow them to slip back and be consumed. God completes the work of salvation. We know what it is to plan a work and undertake a work only to see it fail. But it is not so with God. We must not picture him looking over the redeemed multitude in eternity and saying: ‘We did fairly well. Eighty per cent of the saved finally made it home.’ God will not have to say such a thing because all his people will make it home. Not one will be missing! The faithful God will faithfully complete his work!

Began is from enarchomai (ee nark koma), a compound verb meaning “to begin in.”

It is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in reference to salvation. Paul rebuked certain believers in the Galatian churches who believed that they could finish in their own power what God had divinely begun in their lives solely by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Galatians 3:3 ESV

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

“Are you so foolish?” he asked rhetorically. “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” ().

MacArthur, John. Philippians MacArthur New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series) . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Believers should rejoice in the fact that God will have a people that give honor and glory to Jesus. Paul tells the Thessalonians that Christ is coming “to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed” (). “That day” is coming. And that day should give us joy this day. We learn here that salvation from beginning to end is God’s work. God sovereignly inaugurates this work in us, opening up our hearts like He did for Lydia (). We receive this salvation by faith alone, apart from works (), as illustrated by the Philippian jailer (). God sovereignly continues this work in us, as He was doing for the Philippians (cf. ). And God will complete this work in us “until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6).

Acts 16:14 ESV

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Believers should rejoice in the fact that God will have a people that give honor and glory to Jesus. Paul tells the Thessalonians that Christ is coming “to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed” (). “That day” is coming. And that day should give us joy this day. We learn here that salvation from beginning to end is God’s work. God sovereignly inaugurates this work in us, opening up our hearts like He did for Lydia (). We receive this salvation by faith alone, apart from works (), as illustrated by the Philippian jailer (). God sovereignly continues this work in us, as He was doing for the Philippians (cf. ). And God will complete this work in us “until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6).

God started the work, continues the work, and will complete the work.

This should give us a certain JOY like we talked about last week.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (pp. 27-28). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

It is not up to us. It is not up to our circumstances. It is up to God and we can trust Him to complete it.

Kent Hughes reflects on God’s goodness in keeping us:

As I reflect on my fifty plus years in Christ it is indeed God who has kept me. It is not my grip on God that has made the difference, but his grip on me. I am not confident in my goodness. I am not confident in my character. I am not confident in my history. I am not confident in my “reverend” persona. I am not confident in my perseverance. But I am confident in God. (Philippians, 28)

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 28). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Believers are going home one day. If you’re in Christ, your destination is certain. You have something even more secure than a boarding pass to assure you; you have the promises of God and the Spirit dwelling inside of you. The waiting may be grueling, but soon it will be over. And we will worship.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 29). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Human Evidence of The Work of God

We must notice something else as it relates to assurance, namely, the “human evidence of assurance” (Motyer, Message, 45–46). Paul knew not only the nature of God who provides salvation, but he also knew that the believers’ lives demonstrated that they belonged to Jesus. If we just peek into the next verse, or consider the whole letter, we see that Paul commends the Philippians for their faithfulness.

Moisés Silva says,

God is the only grounds of our confidence, but the apostle claims no insight into the eternal counsel. His assurance that the Philippians will persevere to the end arises from the external, visible evidence that their lives provided. (Philippians, 6)

In other words, when God works salvation into the lives of people, they bear fruit.

hey demonstrate a life of faithfulness. Paul could say, “It is right for me to think this way about all of you” (1:7), for there were observable qualities to their faith. Paul speaks of their partnership in the gospel (vv. 5,7) and of their support in the “defense and establishment of the gospel” (v. 7). He goes on to commend them for many other qualities. All of these fruits were evidences of God’s amazing grace in their lives. John wrote, “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (). Paul, too, shared this joy of hearing that the Philippians were living out their faith.

They demonstrate a life of faithfulness. Paul could say, “It is right for me to think this way about all of you” (1:7), for there were observable qualities to their faith. Paul speaks of their partnership in the gospel (vv. 5,7) and of their support in the “defense and establishment of the gospel” (v. 7). He goes on to commend them for many other qualities. All of these fruits were evidences of God’s amazing grace in their lives. John wrote, “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (). Paul, too, shared this joy of hearing that the Philippians were living out their faith.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 29). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

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,

Romans 5:8–10 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Dikaios (right) (pronounced dee ki os) denotes more than mere appropriateness.

It expresses moral and spiritual rightness; not merely that which is expected but that which is required.

It was only right before men and before God for Paul to feel this way about the beloved saints in Philippi.

MacArthur, John. Philippians MacArthur New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series) . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

We begin now to see Paul’s affection and the joy it produced for him. He had this affection because it was only right but, also because he was witnessing Christ in the lives of the Philippian church. Plainly speaking, he saw fruit of the spirit being manifest in their lives.

I have this same affection stirred within me when I see Christ working and producing fruit in your lives.

What fruit did he, Paul, see?

The Philippian church was faithful to him in his work to advance the Gospel.(v. 7-8)

Philippians 1:7 ESV

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.

Philippians 1:7–8 ESV

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. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Paul affirmed that the Philippian church selflessly and sacrificially stood by him to give encouragement, to help alleviate his suffering, and to meet his needs in every way they could. They were his spiritual partners, partakers of grace with him, in the fullest sense.

MacArthur, John. Philippians MacArthur New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series) . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Paul diligently prayed on behalf of the Philippians: their spiritual progress in love, excellence, integrity, good works, and in glorifying God. Those are the God-ordained spiritual essentials for which all Christians should pray on behalf of each other.

MacArthur, John. Philippians MacArthur New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series) . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The Philippian church was giving to the work of advancing the Gospel. (v.5)

The Philippian church was displaying the Love of the Gospel. (v.9)

Existing love may abound more and more.

Paul prays for the church at Philippi. (vs. 9-11)

He prays their love will grow.

He prays their discernment will grow.

He prays they may be unblemished.

He prays they may produce even more fruit.

He prays they remember where these things come from.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

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,

I pray today that you will fully embrace the fact that the God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.

I pray He will continue to grow you, producing the fruit of the Spirit in each of your lives.

Your partnership in the Gospel brings me the same joy Paul was experiencing here in Philippians.

God saves us, through Christ, and will complete the work He has begun in us until the day of Christ’s return.

Together, let’s find His purpose and live out His plan for each of our lives.

If we surrender to the Lordship of Christ, He will