Christ Is Preached
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning we are continuing our study of the book of Philippians. Last week we concluded with Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Situation
Paul’s Situation
In our passage for today, Paul reminds his readers that he is in prison. This would have been common knowledge to those in the Philippian church.
For the present day reader this section gives us insight into Paul’s situation. If you have your bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Philippians chapter 1, and we’ll begin reading with verse 12.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Paul begins by reminding his reader that his situation here on earth was being used by God to advance the gospel into places it might otherwise advance. God was not wasting anything, neither was God caught off guard by Paul’s situation. No God was using Paul’s situation to advance the gospel. Specifically, throughout the prison and the prison guard. Look at verse 13.
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
House Arrest
House Arrest
We know that while Paul was in Rome, he was under house arrest. Look at Acts 28:30-31 .
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
According to the Roman tradition, a prison that was under house arrest would have spent his days chained at the wrist to a Roman Guard.
This guard would have been from the “Palace Guard” also known as the praetorian guard. You can imagine, that the entire time Paul was under house arrest, the guards would have been rotated in and out. Every time a new guard came in, Paul had the opportunity of sharing the good news of Jesus with them.
So it became known that Paul was not a criminal (in the true sense of the word). Rather he was in prison because he shared the message of Jesus!
Now I don’t know about you, but if a prominent figure of a movement is tortured and arrested, I would expect his followers to abandon the faith. But that was not the case with those in the church.
Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
In spite of persecution, the men and women of the early church continued to share the good news of Jesus. The greater the persecution the more courageously and fearlessly they shared!
What a contrast to today. So many times fear stops me from sharing the good news! Fear keeps me silent! As I studied this passage, I was reminded that this kind of fear is a tool that Satan uses to keep me silent! Today, I need courage! I need boldness! And I need a fear to be replaced with fearlessness!
Reasons for Sharing the Gospel
Reasons for Sharing the Gospel
According to Paul, in his day there were two reasons for preaching the Gospel. Look at verse 15-17.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
There were two kinds of people who proclaimed the Gospel while Paul was in prison:
Those who preached out of envy and rivalry. According to Paul, these people preached out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing they could stir up trouble for Paul. Thus, while they shares sound doctrine, the preached the message for what they could gain!
Those who preached out of good will. These people preached out of love, and the knew that the only reason Paul was in prison was for preaching the Gospel!
Now, let’s be honest. I would rejoice for those who preached the gospel lovingly and sincerely! But I would despise those who were just trying to add to my suffering! But that is NOT Paul’s attitude. Look at verse 18.
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
To me this is an amazing attitude! What does it matter? Paul rejoices that Jesus is preached! He doesn’t care about the motive. He doesn’t care about the reason. The only thing that Paul cares about is that the good news of Jesus Christ is preached! This fact, and this fact alone is reason enough for him to rejoice, and to continue to rejoice!
Reason to Rejoice
Reason to Rejoice
How could he do this? Well, let’s keep reading.
for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
Paul relies on two things to comfort him in his situation:
He knew he could count on the prayers of the Philippians! He knew that they were a praying church!
Then he also depended on the work of the Holy Spirit in his life! He was confident that those who sought to stir up trouble for him were NO match for the Holy Spirit!
Finally, Paul says he knows that what is happening to him will turn out for my deliverance. The word that is translated deliverance is the Greek word sōtēria from which we get the theological term soteriology which is the study of God’s salvation.
Some believe this means that Paul is thinking he was going to be released from prison soon. This seems to be a hope that Paul had, but in this context it doesn’t seem to be the emphasis. Rather this use of sōtēria seems to be referring to Paul’s ultimate hope of glory! Look at verse 20.
Life and Death
Life and Death
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
No matter whether he lives and sees the Philippians again, or if he dies, his prayer is that Jesus would be exalted!
How about you? Live or die—is your goal to exalt Jesus? My prayer is that in ALL that I do—living or dying—I will lift up Jesus!
It is in this context that we have this favorite verse of so many! A lot of people quote Philippians 1:21!
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Unfortunately, we often quote it for the wrong reasons. In this passage Paul is emphasizing the fact that no matter what—life or death—his job was to exalt Jesus!
Exalting Christ
Exalting Christ
Now we know this because he continues the passage in the next several verses.
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Have you ever been like Paul? Paul was not thrilled with being under house arrest. We know he also struggles with “a thorn in the flesh. . .” Look at 2 Cor. 12:7.
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Paul certainly struggled (like you and I sometimes struggle) with his situation. He was torn between death, which to him meant being in the presence of Jesus; and continuing to live, which meant continued struggling. It is no wonder that he longed to be in the presence of Jesus! Nevertheless, he understood that God had a plan for his life, and he would be here until God’s plan for his life was complete!
So he continued in verse 25.
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Paul knows that he will continue to live so that he can continue influencing believers to continue growing in joy and faith!
All this being said, Paul doesn’t know what God is going to do with him, so he gives a challenge! Look at verse 27.
No Matter What Happens
No Matter What Happens
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
No matter what happens with Paul, he tells the church at Philippi to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
The phrase conduct yourselves. . . is one Greek word and it literally means live as citizens. You and I are to constantly live as citizens who are worthy of the good news we have been given.
This is how they need to live no matter whether Paul is there or not!
Stand Firm—be immovable in one spirit.
One in Spirit—having unity in the Spirit.
Contending side by side for as one for the faith of the gospel. The phrase for the faith of the gospel can have three meanings:
The faith that is the gospel.
The faith that originates from the gospel.
The faith that is in the gospel.
Without fear of opposition.
These four qualities, will serve as a sign to anyone who stands against the gospel of Jesus Christ—a sign that they will be destroyed by God, and a sign that will be saved by God!
But we may not experience the “salvation” right now. Paul reminds us that have been granted two things. Look at the last two verses of this chapter.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Did you catch the two things that we have been granted?
We have been granted the ability to place our faith in Jesus—to believe on Him!
We have been granted the opportunity to suffer for Jesus!
Most of us are super excited about our belief in Jesus—but we are not excited about our ability to “suffer” for Jesus! Have you ever wondered why, we struggle with one and not the other?
For me, I don’t like suffering. And the reason I don’t like suffering is because I believe a lie! I believe the lie that life was meant to be easy! That’s right, I believe the lie that my life is supposed to be stress and struggle free! But the reality is I’ve been called to be more concerned about a relationship that I am about the ease of my life.
I am called to suffer! Suffer for the name of Jesus! That’s why Paul says they are experiencing the same struggles that he experienced.
So What?
So What?
What is your situation like today? Paul was in prison, and could rejoice because the gospel was advanced!
Paul preached to everyone in the Palace Guard—Who are you “preaching to?”
Why do you share Christ? I share because I love people!
Here’s the KEY: No matter why we share Jesus—the important thing is that we share Jesus!
Do you rejoice when people come to know Jesus? Paul says that he will rejoice and continue to rejoice!
Are you a person of prayer? Can those around you trust that you will pray or are praying for them?
Do you depend on the Holy Spirit working in your life? I mean really depend on the holy spirit’s work in your life?
Can you really say: To live is Christ and to die is gain?
Are you exalting Jesus no matter what?
How hard are you hanging onto this world?