Paul's Love Letter from Prison
A Study of Philippians - 2
After our brief introduction last time, we begin now our discovery of Paul's Letter to the Christians at Philippi. If you are able to have a Bible open as you listen to the programme, this will help you to follow along as I refer to the letter. If you don't have a Bible do not worry as I will be quoting the Scriptures as we go along.
We will start by looking at chapter 1 and at the opening verse. In this verse Paul introduces himself and Timothy as "servants of Jesus Christ." A servant is one who puts his will and his abilities at the service of someone else. The term Paul uses here is actually a "bond-servant". This is one who willingly serves out of love for their master. Someone has put it like this in describing this relationship of Paul and Timothy to the Lord Jesus Christ: "The ties of Calvary bound them to the service of their Saviour and Lord forever".
We note also in this first verse that Paul addresses the complete church. He says, "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons." This letter is not addressed to the leaders only, but it is to all the believers in that local church. "All the saints in Christ Jesus" included them all and establishes the New Testament principle that EVERY believer in Christ becomes a saint at conversion. Not a saint in the sense that it is usually understood today, that is someone regarded by men as especially godly or eminent in some way, but one who has been set apart and consecrated by God Himself to His service.
So, this description "saint" applies to everyone who has committed their life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and it carries with it the privileges and responsibilities of service and obedience. If you are a Christian believer, you are not only a child of God, you are a saint - set apart for your Lord.
By the way - I understand that the word "saint" occurs some ninety-seven times in the Scriptures, so it is obviously very significant.
In verse 2 of Philippians chapter 1, we discover Paul's affectionate greeting to these believers: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Here are two lovely words, "Grace" and "Peace". Grace in the Scripture speaks of the free, unmerited favour of God towards us. It is from God's grace that all our blessings flow. Peace is something that everyone longs for, but true peace only springs from the knowledge of a true relationship with God as Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ. We read in the Scripture that our Saviour has "made peace through His sacrifice on the cross". Through His blood, shed for our sins, we have peace with God.
In verse 3, Paul breaks into a song of thanksgiving: "I thank my God every time I remember you." Thankfulness is an abounding feature of Paul's life and of his letters. This great man of God seizes upon every opportunity to give thanks, and we would do well to follow his example. In this verse his thanksgiving is for every remembrance he has of his beloved friends at Philippi. He is thinking of their faithful friendship and co-operation in the work of the gospel. He recalls that, along with himself, they had laboured, suffered, triumphed and rejoiced in the Lord. He goes on to say that in his prayers and supplication for them he was filled with joy as he remembered the fellowship he had with them in God's service.
Intercession - praying for others - should be a great source of joy to us as believers, because in doing this we are following the lovely example of our Saviour. His great prayer of intercession for us is recorded in John chapter 17, and I encourage you to read it again and again, and so be blessed as you are reminded of Christ's loving concern for His people. Interceding for others, as Paul did for all the churches he wrote to, is a great privilege. I wonder how many fellow-believers you have remembered with joy in your heart today as you have prayed?
We have already noted that Paul was filled with joy as he remembered their partnership, or fellowship, in the gospel. He says in verses 4 and 5: "I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..." That word 'partnership' has to do essentially with co-operation in the grandest, noblest sense. It was a wonderful fellowship in declaring the good news of Jesus Christ. In another of his letters the apostle describes the gospel as "The power of God for salvation", and his whole life was devoted and committed to the spread of this glorious, life-giving message.
As we read chapter 1 of this letter to the Philippians, we discover that Paul mentions the gospel five times: In verse 5, as we have just seen, it is PARTNERSHIP in the gospel; in verse 7 we read of the believers DEFENCE of the gospel; in verse 12 we have the ADVANCING or FURTHERING of the gospel. When we come to verse 27 we have a different thought, here it is the believers' CONDUCT, or way of life, which is to be a testimony to the effectiveness of the gospel. And then, also in verse 27, he talks about "Contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Here we have UNITY in the declaration of the Christian faith. One Bible commentator says about this: "Christians face a common foe; they should not fight each other ever, but should unite against the enemy of our souls - Satan and the forces of evil".
Come back now to verse 6 and discover how Paul has confidence in the spiritual growth of the Christians at Philippi:
"... being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."
He is reminding them that on the very day that they became Christians, God began to work in their lives, to change them for good. To change their attitudes, their desires and the whole purpose of their living so that they might bring glory to Him. Paul is confident that God would complete that work in them as they sought to live for Him and serve Him.
There is a lovely verse in a hymn written by Augustus Toplady that perfectly describes this process: "The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete; His promise is 'Yea' and 'Amen' and never was forfeited yet." In other words, here is something that we can be sure of as believers, that God will work out His purposes in us and through us, and He will bring them to completion. May this be your experience as you are obedient to His Word and allow Him to change you day by day into the likeness of the Lord Jesus.
You will remember that I have called this series of talks on Paul's Letter to the Philippians, "Paul's love letter from prison". As we look now at verses 7 and 8 of chapter 1, you will understand why I have used this title. Paul says in verse 7:
"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Jesus Christ."
What is Paul saying here? I feel he is saying that he loves them as well-proved Christians who, like Paul, had laboured and suffered for Christ, and who had shared in God's grace with him, whether on trial, or in prison, or travelling about preaching the good news.
W E Vine, a well-known Bible-teacher of the past in England, once said: "The gospel both overthrows its foes and strengthens its friends." This is certainly true of Paul and of these Philippian believers.
The apostle finishes his loving commendation by referring to the longing that he has for them all. He calls God to witness how greatly he yearns for them with the affection of Jesus Christ his Lord. Here is another evidence of the marvellous grace of God in the life of Paul. That he, as a strict, law observing Jew, now had such a love for these Gentile believers shows that God's grace had broken down the ancient enmity that there was, and now they were all one in Christ Jesus their Lord. God is still doing this today, and it is a powerful testimony to the gospel when enemies are reconciled, when old hatreds are turned to love, and when there is unity between individuals and groups who were once bitterly opposed to one another. Only God can do this through the transforming power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, Paul turns from these expressions of love and thanksgiving for the Christians at Philippi, and in verses 9 to 11 he prays for them:
"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 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."
Here is a prayer that is suitable for us all as we seek to live for our Master and Lord. As I finish this talk, let me summarise this prayer of Paul for these believers:
He desires that their love for one another, and indeed for all people, might grow, as we might say, "By leaps and bounds." The more they would appreciate God's love for them, so their love would abound.
He desires that their understanding of the things of God would increase, and that they might always aim for what is best and pleasing to God in their lives.
In doing this, says Paul, you will bring glory and praise to God. May you and I seek to be like these Philippian Christians for whom Paul had such a high regard and to whom he wrote this letter with such affection and love in Christ.