Phil Sermon Notes - Week 1

Philippians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Notes:

Paul writing from Prison
Four main sections:
Greeting
This is an established Church
Saints, Servants and Overseers
Prayer of Thankfulness
For Their Partnership
For His confidence in the Lord
Admission of his Longing/Affection — the Affection of Christ
ILL - my assurance that God loves people, because I love them
Prayer of Their continued Growth
The Goal of the Gospel — growth in love, knowledge and discernment
for the ability to approve
to be pure and blameless
full of the fruit of righteousness
THAT ONLY COMES in Christ
to the Glory of God
Phil 1:1-11

This paragraph, while arising naturally out of the situation of apostle and congregation, has an epistolary purpose, for it functions as a prologue setting the tone and anticipating some of the major themes and motifs that bind the whole letter together.

Today like a personal email sent to the church

Outline

1. Welcome/Intro

Possible Angles:
What do you have affection for?
What is already done that you are still doing?

2. Paul’s Relationship with the Philippians

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.
The goal of this section is to establish the relationship between Paul and the Philippian Church. This leads to the deep affection that they share for each. This is a model of a healthy church, participation in the mission of God, and fellowship together and glory given to God.
Furthermore we see the situation that Paul is in. He has lost his freedom b/c of his work for the gospel. He is in prison, but the gospel cannot be imprisoned. In fact, it is working in spite of the situation and is enhanced by Paul’s suffering.
Such is the way of God. Paul and the Philippians have a good relationship. They are in fellowship no matter what the situation.
Paul, Timothy, Servants, Saints, Overseers and Deacons
Other People in Philippi
This is a REAL place with REAL PEOPLE
Today like a personal email sent to the church
This is a PERSONAL LETTER to the Church there.
Church Planted in 51 AD, 2nd Missionary Journey
Acts 16:6-40
Lydia 1st Convert - Seller of Purple Linen — Lucrative
Slave Girl Exorcised — likely became a believer
Philippian Jailer converted and his family
Leaves Philippi - Church is started.
NIVAPP: they left behind a diverse group of believers. The wealthy merchant Lydia and her household believed (Acts 16:15), as did a jailer and his family (Acts 16:16–18), and perhaps a slave girl (Acts 16:28). Apparently by the time Paul and Silas left, the group was meeting in Lydia’s house (Acts 16:40), no doubt the largest residence among them.
Women played a huge part in the establishment of the Philippian Church
Women played an important role in the life of the church at Philippi. The New Testament mentions four women: Lydia and the slave girl, the first converts, and Euodia and Syntyche, who were identified as co-laborers with Paul
Paul —
Paul Visited again in Acts 20:6
In Prison in Rome about 62 AD, Paul awaiting his Trial
Ten years after the church is planted.
By this time the church has been established.
Correspondence between Timothy, Epaphroditus and Philippi

3. Paul’s Prayer of thanks for the Philippians

Paul begins with prayer. This tells us what kind of man he his, the fact that the ‘fruit of righteousness’ is manifest in his life. His prayer is telling, it’s one of all glory to God.
as said at the end of the letter. This is the end goal, The Glory of God and that praise of Him.
Paul is 1st thankful for the Philippians partnership with him, especially financially. But he is more thankful to see fruit bearing in their lives. For him this means God is indeed present and moving. And his confidence soars that God will complete this great work. Simply meaning this: They are indeed saved by grace and will be taken to God’s Kingdom in the end. There is much to rejoice about.
How can he complain about his prison cell when he thinks of the glories that are to come?
Illustration from spurgeon about man on a journey, 1 mile from end breaks down.
Where does Paul Start? Prayer
That should say something
Thankfulness:
He’s Thankful for the Church for two things.
Their partnership in the gospel
specifically through practical needs, finances, gifts.
Celebrate Churches giving
Celebrate masks
Confidence in the Lord’s Work (theme that will run throughout the letter)
Tension of God’s Work and Our Work

4. Paul’s Partnership with the Philippians

What is this partnership? Financially for one. But he says they are both “partakers of grace” meaning that they have both experienced the grace of God as evidenced by their willingness to suffer and sacrifice for the gospel.
Whether in prison of free
Whether in defending the gospel or confirming it’s validity with their lives.
What does this mean for us?
Are we in this kind of partnership together?
The Body of Christ on mission for the Kingdom of Christ?
Everyone playing their parts?
Everyone willing to suffer for the greatest Good? God’s grace extending?
Everyone equipped to defend the gospel against false gospels? — PLUG TIM KELLER SERIES
Everyone confirming the power of the gospel in their and by their lives?
Is this power only for Paul? The Super Apostles?
NO! The very nature of this letter attest otherwise. Paul is imploring others to live as he does.
B/C it is God who is doing it in him and will do it in them as well.
This is his prayer for them.
Partners in the gospel, because we have partaken together of God’s grace.
They are partnered together (Phil 1:5)
in the Gospel form then until now
Celebrate Churches giving
Celebrate masks
Partnered in Phil 1:5 and partakers in 1:7 have the same root word of koinonia, or fellowship. Phil 1:7 just has the sun with it. This means they are connected.
Partnered in the gospel, because we have both been partakers of his grace.
Furthermore, partnership, is not just theological agreement, but rather action for the gospel.
For the PHIL this was at least financial, but also more.
Partakes of grace (Phil 1:7)
in his imprisonment (presence with him)
Defense - apologia - of the gospel
Confirmation of the gospel — it’s validity, through our lives.
They have stood by him through thick and thin, perhaps when no one else would.
This is the story of some at One Hope Church.
We have been through a lot these last few years.
you guys have remained true.
We have a deep gratitude for you and with you
And we are still standing together in this current struggle.
Paul’s Affection for the Philippians
Paul’s affection is dripping throughout this love soaked letter.
He is so grateful for them. He dearly misses them.
They were a great encouragement to him.
Don’t we all need a little encouragement?
It’s the Church, or at least it Could be.
So great it his yearning that he says it is akin to the affection of Christ, meaning that it is actually Christ’ affection for them?
Do you know that God’s love is shown to others when you love them?
I experience this all the time when I counsel people. They feel that God does not love them, or could not.
For how could he? Given how i feel about myself? The shame I’ve caused myself? The self-contempt I walk around with?
I always tell them, I know God loves you and cares for you, because I do. There is no other explanation for it. God is loving you right now through me.
deep affection here
Phil 1:8 “How I yearn (miss you all) with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

5. The End Goal

Paul’s prayer for their continued growth. This is the whole point, the reason that we are still here.
Love - love is the primary fruit of the spirit. the one thing the world can’t really teach us, only God can through his love to us.
If everything else grows in your life but not love you have not grown at all (1 Cor 13:3)
With Knowledge and Discernment
knowledge of Who God is and what he has done
The ability to discern
But again without love these are useless
Solomon was the wisest and riches man to ever live, but did he have genuine love for others?
hard to see it by the way he lived his life.
For what reason? Here it is “So That...”
you may approve, judge, decide what is best, superior, the right way, the truth
And be pure, blamless and full of the Fruit of Righteousness
What does that mean?
Christ has already cleansed you.
Christ has already made you blameless
Christ has already filled you with his righteousness
Therefore we can grow in these things, because we already have them in Christ.
2 Cor 5:7 “ 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.”
That’s what this means. Live what is already true inside of you.
This is the great secret of the Christian Faith
God is already working in you that which he is working out through you.
Christ imputed righteousness (the foundation) makes God’s imparted righteousness possible (fruit, building, etc.)
Thus we can boast in Christ, in the Finished work of the Cross and the unfinished work in our lives.
Both collide in us as we walk out our faith.
Barriers to living as if its already done?
That your LOVE would abound more and more
that your knowledge and discernment would abound with your love
Not just knowledge, wisdom and discernment
But LOVE is primary
All of these are garbage without love
1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
SO THAT
you may approve what is excellent
and be pure (clean) and blameless for the day of Christ (the end of time)
All of this is “for” the day of Christ, the 2nd coming, living in light of the end.
How do we do this?
We don’t walk around staring at the ground, we walk around looking to where you are going.
filled with the fruit of righteousness (what is this?)
That comes through Jesus
For God’s Glory and our Praise
To what end? For what reason?
To the praise of his glorious grace.
None of this is about our glory, but about his, and this is the best thing we can praise.
God’s great goodness towards us.
This changes us.

6. Application

What are you grateful for in your life?
Where do you struggle to believe that Christ has already done the work in you?
That it is already finished?
So it’s not about living a moral life, but living the life that Christ is living in you?
Are we this kind of Church?
partnering with one another?
10 potential new partners
Are we together?
Are we giving, living and believing the gospel?
How is our affection for one another?
Do you yearn with the affection of Christ?
How do we do any of this?
Haven’t you been listening?
You don’t do it.
God has to do it in you.
So how’s your prayer life?
What do you need to surrender to God? To let him work out in you?
Where do you need to let go of control?
Where do you need to ask God what are you calling me to in this time?
“That comes through Jesus Christ”
​

Words

Partnership

Philippians 1:5 ESV
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
The NIV Application Commentary: Philippians Thanksgiving for the Philippians’ Partnership (1:3–8)

The term “partnership” (koinonia) means more than “fellowship” (KJV) or even “sharing” (NRSV). It refers to the Philippians’ practical support of Paul’s efforts to proclaim the gospel and meet the needs of other believers.

The NIV Application Commentary: Philippians Thanksgiving for the Philippians’ Partnership (1:3–8)

The “partnership” of the Philippians for which Paul thanks God in verse 5, therefore, is their practical assistance of his efforts to proclaim the gospel.

Thanks to those who have been faithfully giving in this time of uncertainty

Approve, excellent, pure and blameless

Phil 1:10 “10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ
All of this is “for” the day of Christ, the 2nd coming, living in light of the end.
Approve/Discern
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Prayer for Complete Character (1:10b–11)

The word “discern” has the meaning of test by trial, and the term “best” emphasizes the result of that testing.

In particular it was employed of testing metals and money. A more general use was of testing oxen for their usefulness (Lk. 14:19). The verb then had reference to the result of the examination and came to mean to ‘accept as proved, approve’. This is its meaning here.

“to test or examine, to prove by testing,” as one would assay metals or test the genuineness of coins

​
Excellent/superior
That which will excel
things that are superior
discern what is best
That which is vital
A growing love, fed by proper knowledge and moral insight, enables one to see the best way to live in light of the day of Christ, NAC
Philippians 1:10 CSB
10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
Philippians 1:10 NIV
10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
“pure”
sincere, genuine

The most common etymology of the term suggests that it comes from the two words “sun” (helios) and “to judge” (krinō) and that the word meant to hold up to sunlight for inspection.

“blameless”
not causing others to stumble
to be without blame

Fruit of Righteousness

The idea here is that there is a fruit that comes from righteousness and that it is a fruit of righteousness or right living
The point both ways is that it is only possible through Christ.
A tension
God is growing fruit inside of us through our obedience.
Our legal righteousness, imputed righteousness is the foundation for our imparted rightesousness — means of grace, how it is Jesus is growing this fruit in us.
Kind of like — right soil, then fertilizer then the fruit grows.
Philippians 1:11 ESV
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The prayer was for them to live in such a way that Christ could work in them the harvest of morality and righteousness which would be acceptable at the day of Christ.

The passage teaches that if those who are righteous by God’s grace through faith live as they should, the fruit of their lives will be true blamelessness. No one will condemn them, and they will stand the test of judgment day.

that they will also be filled with the fruit of godly deeds and actions—the result of a right relationship with God.

So important here is the idea that this fruit “comes from Christ” and christ alone

διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ the apostle emphasizes that such a crop can only be given and produced through Jesus Christ

These are the natural consequences of being restored to a right relationship with God. Paul is careful to add that this quality is not something that a man can acquire for himself; it is something which only Jesus Christ can produce.

Writing Conventions of his Day - NIVAPP

The NIVAPP makes a pretty big deal of how Paul has used the convention of his day to advance gospel truths through the basics of writing a letter.
This seems a little overemphasized, nevertheless there may be a connection here to our particular modern situation.
Can we exprapolate the prinicple here that technology (neutral, like conventions of letter writing) can be used in formal legal meaningless ways, evil ways, or perhaps redeemed ways for the advancement of the gospel.
For example, we are accustomed to a live in person gathering for church, yet circumstance has made that impossible, but we can use the conventions of the day, FB and the internet as means for advancing the gospel in ways that we hadn’t thought of before?
Also the absence of the word apostle as a title for Paul.
This is also stressed in the commentary. Paul seems to intentionally leave out this designation in addressing the philippian church, all the while using ‘overseeers and deacons” explicitly in regard to their titles, this is also the only letter he does that.
this is curious.
The commentators argue that this has to do with living out what he says later, that is to put others first before yourself.
Perhaps he is doing that, but I don’t find taht super compelling.
Maybe rather he is emphasizing the togetherness of the church, the partnership.
Partners in the gospel, because we have partaken together of God’s grace.
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