The Cornerstone of Joy

Introduction

Review

What are the 3 Rules to reading the Bible?

What is the context of Philippians?

Who wrote it? Who received it? Where was it written from? Why was it written? What were the recipients going through?

Phil. 1:1-11: Introduction; Phil. 1:12-3:21: Body; Phil. 4:1-23: Conclusion

Gospel adversity advances the gospel. Phil. 1:12-14

Proclaim Jesus. Phil. 1:15-18a

Illustration

Happy days. Sad Days. Joyful days.

Read

Philippians 1:18–20 ESV

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Main Idea

The cornerstone of our joy is our salvation and Christ’s glory.

#1 (Phil. 1:18b): Our Joy Will Endure

Read Phil. 1:18b

Philippians 1:18 ESV

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Say Point

Our joy will endure.

Explanation

Paul was rejoicing presently as he was writing his letter because Christ was being proclaimed in Rome.

Paul wants to clarify that his joy was not just in that moment but it was also a fruit he would experience in the near future. This joy would continue.

This in essence is what joy is. Joy is a happiness that doesn’t go away, an eternal happiness. Joy is expressed in rejoicing, a joyful worship of God.

Paul assures the Philippians that his joy is not something that will pass.

Even in his present suffering, he has joy and will have joy no matter what comes.

Illustration

James 1:2-4

English Standard Version Chapter 1

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Application

As children of God who are filled with the Holy Spirit, we should be producing joy in our lives.

This joy comes from God our Father through the atoning death of the Song by the Holy Spirit who fill us.

We produce it because we have all the reason to be joyful. Christ has saved us! We are forgiven! This joy should be an overflow of that reality!

The question is then, “When life gets hard, when we are joked on and excluded for our faith, when we are seen as horrible people for preaching Christ, will we be a people marked by joy in Christ?” Christ is our solid foundation, our cornerstone..

Say Point

Our joy will endure.

Transition

According to the text, our joy will endure for two reasons. 1) Our Future Outcome 2) The True Purpose of that Outcome. Let’s look at the first.

#2 (Phil. 1:19): Our future outcome is a salvation that is certain

Read Phil. 1:19

Philippians 1:19 ESV

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

Say Point

Our future outcome is a salvation that is certain.

Explanation

First, let’s define the word “deliverance”. This is the same word in the Greek as salvation.

This is the same word that is used in Rom. 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Salvation here has two meanings: 1) Deliverance from Prison 2) Deliverance from this Life. Paul is saved in both cases. In this one word, he means both.

Paul is certain that he will be saved in his freedom from prison or his freedom from this sinful world.

Paul is certain of this future salvation because of two truths: 1) The Philippians’ prayers 2) The Holy Spirit’s help.

First, Paul assumes the Philippians are praying for him. Second, Paul assumes that their prayers are keeping him going.

Paul then mentions the Holy Spirit or in his words, “the Spirit of Jesus Christ”.

This means that the Holy Spirit was applying the grace and strength found from Christ to Paul. The Holy Spirit was Christ’s representative to Paul.

These two things are interlinked. The prayers are answered when the Spirit of Christ gives Paul strength. The Holy Spirit responds to the prayers of the saints for Paul.

Paul is confident in his future salvation because he knows his spiritual family is praying on his behalf and Christ is present with him through the Holy Spirit.

Illustration

Job 13:16 “This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.”

Phil. 1:6 “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.”

Application

Paul saw this future outcome as a reason to live joyfully. No matter the suffering he was about to endure. He found joy in knowing he would 100% be delivered by God.

Do we find joy in that truth as well? Are we confident that our future is an eternity with Christ? Are we confident that it will happen because of the grace of God through the prayers of his people? Do we have joy in our future salvation?

We may not have to experience the risk of death for our faith, but all Christians will suffer for Christ.

Is our faith resting on our Savior who assures us of our future salvation? If it is, we will be people of joy!

Say Point

Our future outcome is a salvation that is certain.

Transition

Again, according to the text, our joy will endure for two reasons. 1) Our Future Outcome 2) The True Purpose of that Outcome. Let’s look at the second.

#3 (Phil. 1:20): The true purpose of our salvation is a life that honors Christ

Read Phil. 1:20

Philippians 1:20 ESV

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Say Point

The true purpose of our salvation is a life that honors Christ.

Explanation

Paul first talks about his “eager expectation and hope”. This is referring to an intense longing for a certain event to take place.

What is that event? He describes it first with a negative and then with a positive. “that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always”

He doesn’t want to be ashamed. What Paul is referring to is what he is talking about in v.16 when he says, “I am put here for the defense of the gospel.”

Paul doesn’t want to be ashamed of Christ, but instead, he wants to be courageous and bold for Christ as he defends the gospel.

And then finally he gives us the true purpose of his salvation, the ultimate end goal of his joy. That “Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Paul wants to boldly stand for the gospel unashamedly and in doing so, glorify Jesus Christ. He wants the name of Jesus to be exalted. He wants Jesus to be worshipped!

Paul desires this so much that he doesn’t care how this comes about. “whether by life or by death.” He knows that his deliverance will occur in life and in death, and so will honoring Christ.

Illustration

Acts 5:41-42 “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

2 Cor. 5:15 “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Application

Paul saw his life in Christ as a means to bring glory to God. Every aspect of his life; his thoughts, his emotions, and his body were all used to the glory of Christ.

That was the true purpose of his salvation and his life in Christ, and that is the true purpose of our salvation and our life in Christ.

Say Point

The true purpose of our salvation is a life that honors Christ.

Conclusion

Main Idea

The cornerstone of our joy is our salvation and Christ’s glory.