Philippians Sermon Week 3.1 -

Intro/Welcome

hello

Pray

pray

Body

Phil 1:18b-20 “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Paul has just been rejoicing that the Gospel has Advanced through all that has happened to him.

He’s also prayed for their progress in the faith.

He continues on

“I will continue to rejoice”

why?

“Because I know (oida) that THIS will lead to my salvation”

What is “this”? — NIV translates — all that has happened to me.

My trial before Caesar.

Last week we said that Paul was arrested in Acts 21. And that Acts 21-28 covers Paul’s arrest all teh way up until his arrival at Rome where he is under house arrest awaiting his trial.

This covers a time period of about 5 years.

The Book of Acts ends with Paul in this state.

So this is where Paul is writing from.

He is still awaiting his trial before Caesar, not ultimately knowing what will happen.

But here he says that all of this will lead to his ‘salvation’

Does this mean his deliverance from Jail?

Does it mean his final vindication?

I think he probably means both.

His suffering for Christ will be vindicated on the Day Of Christ

Yet he speaks a few verses later about his confidence that he will come to them again.

but then he says something profound

“this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and the help from the Spirit of Jesus.

Two of our Great allies in the world.

The prayers of the people of God which have power

The Spirit of God in the world — which enables courage to witness to Christ

Paul is both exhibiting a deep confidence and comfort in Christ, yet is unsure of how it will actually turn out.

But we know what his hope is:

“that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now, as always, and with all courage”

“Christ will be highly honored (magnified) in my body”

“Whether by my life or death”

Just as last week all Paul cares about is the advancement of the Gospel.

What is the content and end goal of that gospel?

That Christ would be magnified.

Whether he lives or dies.

which is what he says next, justifying his answer.

“for (the reason is) for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”

Paul’s purpose is Christ, that Christ be magnified

That’s what he’s here for

to die would be gain

no more persecution, no more anxiety over the churches, no more sleepless nights, no more agony

Nothing but Christ and His full and magnificent presence.

This is Paul’s deep longing.

and it ‘should’ be ours.

Oh that every groan we feel we might cast it upon Jesus and declare that we long for Him to come again

To take us home.

This is true freedom.

Why?

This life is as close to hell as you will ever get as a believer

This life is as close to heaven as you will ever get as a nonbeliever

This determines how you live.

This is what Paul deliberates on.

Philippians 1:22–26 CSB

22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

If it were up to me, I’d go home right now

But i know that my work is unfinished here.

Convinced of this, I am confident that I will be released after my trial

that I will be vindicated.

That my life will mean continued gospel advance and fruit which is more necessary.

In other words “it is not about what I want, my comforts, my pleasures” but rather “God’s calling”

I know that I will remain for your progress and joy in the faith.

PROGRESS and JOY

notice how these two are linked.

How can Paul be joyful in his circumstances? he has progressed in the faith.

Is your joy progressing as you progress in the faith?

If not, what gospel are you following?

the two are linked.

A deep abiding joy, not a fake shallow joy.

This is evidence of their salvation — their growth in joy.

We are to be filled with joy and love and peace…etc.

If we are not growing in a deep abiding sense of Joy — then something is off.

What about you?

It’s all about glorying in Christ, boasting in Christ

This is what HE DID.

He released me!

I am here becuase of HIM

Do we give credit where credit is due?

Do we see that He gets all the credit?

everything we have is from him (1 cor 4:7)

B/C it is his, we can let it go.

We can give it up

We can live free of attachments — this again leads to JOY!

Living in light of this.

Since this is the case it changes how we live.

Right? i feel like I say this every week.

Paul here is our example.

He says, because all of this is true. live in light of this.

Phil 1:27 “Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

the language here is very specific.

Citizenship was a big deal back then as it is now

And it was known that Philippi was granted Roman Citizenship.

With this came priveleges and responsibility.

in fact it was Paul’s Roman Citizenship that saved his life in Acts 22

Just like in our day, to become a US Citizen means both priveleges, rights and responsibility.

But Paul, as a good teacher, is using this so the can understand but then says

that before anything else they are citizens of Heaven.

Thir status has changed.

Their ultimate allegiance

And with it comes rights, priveleges and responbilities.

it’s what he means by live your life worthy of the gospel.

worthy of the good news.

so that you can earn it? Not but because it has already been granted to you.

How so?

Phil 1:27-28 “Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.

Unity

One spirit (mind)

One purpose (of one accord)

fighting together for the faith of the gospel

Not fighting against each other but for each other

For the Gospel.

Courage

against opposition.

Confidence

Phil 1:28-30 “This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.”

You can have confidence for a couple reasons

This is a sign.

Of course there is opposition to the gospel

There always has been.

It signals their lack of the Holy Spirit, lack of a saving knowledge of Jesus, lack of knowing and experiencing God’s love in their life.

at the same time it is a sign of your salvation, and that it is from God.

He saved you. He granted repentance to you.

Suffering is a privilege of the Kingdom Citizenship

It is granted to you to believe

but also to suffer for him.

This is crazy. This was viewed as an honor.

Acts 5:41 CSB

41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.

Look at that. Peter and John rejoicing that they are suffering

This is crazy.

Do you and I live this way?

not that we would pray for persecution,

but that we would rejoice b/c this is such a powerful witness to our faith in the gospel.

3. We are in the same battle.

There is a united cause here

B/C God ultimately has only one enemy, the devil and his legions.

They are engaged in the same battle as we all are.

They saw Paul persecuted when he visited Philippi

He disrupted their commerce and was thrown in Jail (and used his citizenship there as well)

he was driven out, but they remained and have no doubt, experienced the same opposition

from both gentiles and judaizers (phil 3:12)

Application

What are we to take from all of this?

The power of prayer amongst God’s people

The power of the Spirit to give words and courage (verse about Spirit giving you the words to say)

The power of a Christ-ward life

not even death can take what he have

desires to be with Christ

The power of Joy in the progress of the faith

The power of citizenship in the fight

The power of unity in the fight

the power of God’s grace in our lives (gifts of suffering)

Are we experiencing God’s power in all of these things?

Prayer

Spirit

Desire for Christ

Submission to his will

Joy and Progress

Citizenship

Unity

Grace

What is the relational piece of this text?

maybe not theological.

Humility of paul, the humiliation of Christ.