Please take out your Bibles and turn with me to Philippians chapter 1.
For quite a few weeks now, we've had a pop in the sound system, and it's only one.
John and I were up here on Friday trying to diagnose it, and we could not recreate it, no matter what we tried to do.
We couldn't make it happen again, but this past Monday I had the opportunity to go to a conference in Atlanta,
at a well-funded, a well-equipped church, and I was so encouraged.
The same thing happened to them.
In fact, I went and told the sound guy, I know you didn't do anything wrong,
but I just want you to know that I was encouraged, because that happens to us sometimes,
and it's quite all right, isn't it? Wake you up a little bit.
Our text for today is Philippians chapter 1, verses 27 through 30.
Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us.
It was written for his glory and our good, so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises
and to obey its commands.
Beginning in verse 27, Paul writes,
This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him,
but also suffer for his sake.
Engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
The gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ is truly good news.
It is the greatest declaration that this world has ever heard.
It is the news that people who have rejected the good reign of the creator God
and deserve eternal death
can be made alive because of the perfect life and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus lived the life required by the law of God,
a life that we could never and will never live,
so that in him we might be counted as righteous.
Jesus died the death that we deserved.
He bore the wrath of God that was due to us,
so that in him we might have all our sins forgiven.
For those who believe the gospel,
we add nothing to the equation of our salvation but our unholiness.
We only bring our sin.
It is God who does the saving.
He justifies.
He redeems.
He adopts.
And he does not do this on our merit,
but on the merit of Christ.
We are saved by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in Christ alone.
So, in that sense,
salvation is free.
Paul wrote in Romans chapter 6 and verse 23,
For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God
is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But,
in another sense,
it is costly.
You see,
when Jesus becomes your Savior,
he also becomes your Lord.
You cannot separate out the true.
And those who are,
in fact,
in Christ Jesus
will willingly follow him
wherever he leads.
Where is it that our Savior and Lord
leads us?
He leads us
to radical self-denial
and to suffering.
Let me show you some
parallel texts
to this one.
Mark chapter 8,
verse 34 and following.
Jesus said,
If anyone
would come after me,
let him deny himself
and take up his cross
and follow me.
The cross is not a place
of mild discomfort.
The cross is a place
of death.
Verse 35,
For whoever would save his life
will lose it,
but whoever loses his life
for my sake
and the Gospels
will save it.
It's a costly call
to follow Jesus.
John chapter 15,
beginning in verse 18
and following.
Again,
here,
Jesus says,
If the world hates you,
know that it has hated me
before it hated you.
If you were of the world,
the world would love you
as its own,
but because you are not
of the world,
but I chose you
out of the world,
therefore,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I said to you,
a servant is not greater
than his master.
If they persecuted me,
they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word,
they will also keep yours.
I think a lot of people today
think subconsciously
that they are greater
than their master.
Those who follow Christ
follow him wherever he leads.
Radical self-denial
and suffering.
If we are to receive
the free gift
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
it is going to cost us
everything.
But beloved,
this is a trade
worth making.
It is far more excellent
to give up everything
that we might gain
Christ.
Jim Elliot very famously said,
I hope that this quotation
popped into your head
as I said those things.
Jim Elliot,
if you don't know,
was one of a couple
of Christian missionaries
who were martyred
in an effort
to preach the Gospel
to the Harani.
Somebody's going to
correct me on that.
People of Ecuador.
He said this,
he is no fool
who gives
what he cannot keep
to gain
what he cannot
lose.
If we are going to answer
the costly call
of the Gospel,
we are going to need
a robust theology
of suffering.
I am so grateful
that the Bible
is not silent
on this topic.
I am thankful
that we did not
have to have
some grand wisdom
to think that we
needed to prepare
the church
for suffering,
but the Bible
does it for us.
And as we open it
and read it
and get into it
and teach it
bit by bit
by bit
across the years,
I am grateful
that we have
some foundation
for this
in the life
of our church.
The Bible
instructs us
again and again
in this matter.
You cannot be
a reader of the Bible
and not see
that it is
teaching Christians
how they ought
to suffer.
So with all this
in mind,
let's study today's text
in the following
simple outline.
Two main points.
Number one,
the consistent conduct
the Gospel demands.
And number two,
the togetherness
the Gospel affords.
And of course,
I've got some sub points,
but the consistent conduct
the Gospel demands.
The togetherness
the Gospel affords.
So number one,
the consistent conduct
the Gospel demands.
And we see this
in verse 27.
Paul begins this section
by telling the Philippians
that they must live
in a manner
consistent
with the Gospel.
He begins the sentence
with the word
only,
which means that
if they are recipients
of the good news,
then they have
no latitude
but to live
in light
of it.
Our lives
are meant to model
the message
that we have embraced.
We began
by absolute
surrender
to Christ.
We threw ourselves
on His person
and work.
You become convicted
of your sin
and you see it
in the light
of God's holiness.
You know you have
a huge problem.
You know you need
as Savior.
And if this is true
of you,
you throw yourself
the mercy of God
found in the person
and work
of Christ.
We asked for it.
We said,
Lord, I know
you're merciful.
I know you will
supply it
in Christ.
And with that
kind of abandon,
we must
continue.
His phrase then,
only let
your manner
of life.
Let your manner
of life
is a single
Greek word.
You could also
render this
conduct yourselves.
Greek allows
for a high
level of
nuance.
I'm grateful
for a lot of
things in my life.
One of the things
that I'm thankful
for is that
I don't have
the task
of translating
the Bible
from Greek
into English.
I'm glad
that there are
more brilliant men
than I
that do this
work.
And in this case,
there's a single
word that they
expand out
in one case
into two words
and the ESV,
which I'm looking
at now,
into five.
There's a lot
of nuance
that Greek
allows for.
And so there's
some things to
point out about
this particular
verb.
I'm going to do
it fast and
not be nerdy
about it.
First,
it's in the
present tense,
which means
the exhortation
is always
active.
It's not a
one-time thing.
It's an
ongoing,
continual thing.
It's a
now and
forward
thing.
It's in the
middle voice
and it is
second person
plural,
which means
it's an
exhortation
for every
believer.
It's always
active and
it's for
every believer.
Steve Lawson,
who's a
contemporary
preacher and
commentator,
said this.
This could be
translated this
way.
It's a
grand
expansion.
He wrote
this.
Live
consistent
with the
gospel always.
Take action
with this,
all of you,
and that is
God's
command.
Live
consistent
with the
gospel always.
Take action
with this,
all of you,
and that
is God's
command.
So the
command to
only let
your manner
of life be
worthy of
the gospel
of Christ
is a
command
for every
believer
always.
And Paul
emphasizes this
by saying
so that
whether I
come and
see you
or am
absent,
we are to
live in a
manner
consistent
with the
gospel
consistently
all the
time.
We are
supposed to
be doing
this work.
Beloved,
obedience is
never
optional.
We are
not saved
by our
works.
We're
saved by
the work
of Christ.
We're
not saved
by our
works.
But people
who have
been saved
by the
works of
Christ
work to
live lives
of grateful
obedience.
We're called
to holiness.
We're meant
to be putting
off our
old selves
and putting
on our
new selves,
this reality
of who we
are in
Jesus.
We're supposed
to be growing
in that
truth.
We've been
set free
from bondage
to sin.
Do we
believe that?
We no
longer have
to by the
power that
Christ provides
by his
spirit.
Sin.
And we
can grow
in holiness.
Paul had
observed this
reality with
the Philippian
believers,
right?
He's not
rebuking
them here.
He's actually
encouraging them
to press
on.
And we see
this in
Philippians
chapter 2
verse 12,
the first
half of
it.
He says,
therefore,
my beloved,
as you
have always
obeyed,
so now,
not only
as in my
presence,
but much
more in
my absence.
And then he
tells them,
continue,
work out your
salvation with
fear and
with trembling.
We are
meant to
live lives
that respond
to the
gospel of
Jesus Christ.
God
secondly,
the
togetherness
the gospel
affords.
The
togetherness
the gospel
affords.
The gospel
of Jesus
Christ does
not save
us to
solitariness,
but saves,
purchases
us a
people.
We're not
saved by
ourselves.
We are
saved as
individuals,
but we are
saved as
a
people.
it's an
imperfect
people,
but it's
a people
who are
meant to
be a
wonderful
grace to
us.
If you've
been here
for very
long,
you have
heard me
said,
the more
I mature
in Christ,
the more
I recognize
my great
need of
the church.
I am
not outgrowing
you.
I'm growing
in my
realization
of how
much I
need you.
What a
grace you
are to
me.
And it
troubles me
that there
are so
many people
in our
day that
seem to
mature a
bit.
They seem
to understand
some of
the commands
of Scripture.
They seem
to see a
healthy picture
of what the
church might
look like,
and they
get frustrated
and they
abandon
church
altogether.
Other than
lending that
maturity and
helping people
see and grow
up in
faithfulness
to Christ,
they dip
out altogether.
And again,
and again,
I see
these people
no longer
mature,
and in
fact,
in many
cases,
regress as
they deny
themselves the
grace that
can be given
to them in
the life of
a church.
We are an
imperfect people,
but we have a
God who works
mightily as
we meet
together.
We have
noted over the
past few
weeks that
Paul's letter
to the
Philippians is
deeply
personal.
This letter
does not
contain rebuke,
he's not
writing to
correct anything,
but only
encouragement.
Recall
Philippians
chapter 1
verse 3
through 5
where he
wrote,
I thank
my God
in all
my
remembrance
of you,
always in
every prayer
of mine
for you
all making
my prayer
with joy
because of
your partnership
in the gospel
from the first
day until
now.
Paul is so
encouraging
toward them.
But even
when Paul
was writing
to rebuke,
he also
found
opportunity
to encourage,
to be
grateful
for the
church.
You begin
to read
Paul's
letters in
this way.
I mean,
he's really
harsh
things,
but he
is so
positive
about the
people that
he's writing
these things
to.
And Paul
wrote a
scathing
letter to
the Corinthian
church,
which
purposed
to bring
them
some
harsh
correction,
right?
They were
an absolute
mess.
They were
allowing for
unrepentant,
really gross
unrepentant
sin.
They were
factitious.
They were
dividing over
silly things.
I follow
Paul.
I follow
Apollos.
They were
unloving
toward one
another.
They were
proud.
But listen
to Paul's
opening words
to them.
First
Corinthians
chapter one
beginning in
verse four.
Sounds a
little familiar
to our
Philippian
text.
He wrote,
I give
thanks to
my God
always for
you because
of the
grace of
God that
was given
you in
Christ Jesus
that in
every way
you were
enriched in
him in
all speech
and knowledge
even as
the testimony
about Christ
was confirmed
among you
so that you
were not
lacking in
any gift
as you
wait for
the revealing
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ who
will sustain
you to the
end guiltless
in the day
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ.
God is
faithful.
by whom
you were
called into
fellowship
of his
son Jesus
Christ our
Lord.
He's going
to spend
some chapters
telling them
all the
things that
they did
wrong but
he begins
in this
way.
Why was
Paul so
positive
about a
people who
were such
a mess?
Because
Paul gloried
not in
them but
in the
God who
had saved
them.
He had
given evidence
God's
grace to
them and
so therefore
he was
thankful
for them.
Further
Paul knew
what wretchedness
he had been
saved from.
He called
himself the
chief of
sinners.
So he was
humble and
he bore
!
patiently
with the
sinfulness
of others.
I wonder
how different
the church
might be
if we
became more
concerned
with our
own
sinfulness
and less
concerned
with the
sinfulness
of others.
Not
unconcerned
but less
concerned.
More
concerned with
our own
sinfulness
and less
concerned
with the
sinfulness
of others.
Perhaps
we would
see clearly
to take
the speck
out of our
brother's
eye if
the plank
was removed
from ours.
I think
the church
would look
so different
if we
extended the
kind of
grace to
others that
Christ
extends
to us.
So the
gospel affords
us this
togetherness.
It brings
us together.
Let's look
at some
ways that
it does
that.
So here's
your sub
points.
Number
one,
the gospel
affords us
togetherness
in standing
firm and
striving for
the faith
of the
gospel.
Standing
firm
and
striving.
Again,
verse 27,
I may
hear of
you that
you are
standing
firm in
one spirit
with one
mind,
striving
side by
side for
the faith
of the
gospel.
Standing
firm means
to be
stationary,
to be
unmoved.
This is a
Greek military
term commonly
used of
the front
line.
It pictures
a soldier
not being
pushed or
swayed.
but holding
his
position.
He's got
a spot
to stand
in where
he will
not be
moved.
Sometime
ask Clay
about Roman
military
tactics.
I'll spare
you my
horrible.
He'll
enthrall you
with it.
I'll bore
you with
it.
But they
were trained
for a
position.
And if
they gave
up their
position,
it all
fell apart.
The tactic
totally fell
apart.
They had
to stand
firm.
They had
to stay
in their
spot.
They didn't
do it
alone.
They did
it shoulder
to shoulder
to shoulder.
Striving
is from
the Greek.
Here I go.
Sunathleo,
I think,
from which
we get
the words
athlete
or
athletic.
it pictures
a maximum
effort.
If we
were running
a race,
this would
be a word
that would
help us
think of
sprinting,
not jogging.
This is
maximum
effort.
Standing
firm
and
striving
together.
What are
we to
stand firm
and strive
in?
One
spirit
and in
one
mind.
Paul
uses these
two phrases
to express
the entire
inner working
of a human
being.
We are to
stand firm
and strive
with all
of our
being.
And don't
lose that
we're meant
to do
so
together.
William
Hendrickson,
a 20th
century New
Testament
scholar,
wrote of
these two
words,
the unity
here envisioned
is one of
striving and
struggling
side by
side like
gladiators.
against a
common
foe.
We don't
need to
stand firm
and strive
if there's
not something
to stand
firm and
strive
against.
There's a
foe.
There's a
common
foe
because we're
meant to
stand firm
and strive
for the
faith
of the
gospel.
So anything
that is
pressing
against
is a
foe
to the
faith
of the
gospel.
It's
what we're
meant to
stand firm
and strive
together
against so
that we're
doing it
for the
faith
of the
gospel.
Paul here
is referring
to the
objective
truth
of the
gospel.
We're
to stand
firm and
strive for
the
apostles
teaching,
Acts chapter
2 and
verse 42,
for sound
doctrine,
Titus chapter
2 and
verse 1,
and for
the faith
that was
once for
all delivered
to the
saints,
Jude chapter
3.
Now as
an aside,
this is not
found in
our text,
I think the
church in
our day is
going to
need to
learn,
so expect
this coming
in the
coming months,
how to do
theological
triage.
I know that
most of you
don't work
in an
emergency room,
maybe one
of you
does,
but if a
bus full
of people
were in
an accident,
all of those
people would
be in
various
conditions
as they're
rushed into
the emergency
room,
and what
doctors,
sometimes charge
nurses do,
is they very
quickly do
triage,
they establish
who is
most severely
injured and
who is less
severely injured,
so they can
address the
needs of the
room.
That's why
if you've
ever broken
your arm and
gone to the
emergency room,
you sit for
hours,
because you're
alright,
you're going
to be okay,
they're going
to take care
of you,
if you go
in with a
one-hoe-two
fever,
they're going
to make you
sit for a
really,
really long
time,
but somebody
with a
bullet wound
is going
to get
rushed into
the back,
so this is
what happens
in an
emergency room,
triage,
and we need
to learn how
to do that
theologically,
what are
what are the
things that
first order
issues for
Christians,
what are the
things we're
going to
stand firm
and strive
together
because they're
under attack,
it's those
first,
those primary
doctrines that
were meant to
battle about,
that's the
stuff,
all we've got
to get in
there,
we've got to
make sure the
purity of the
gospel is
preserved,
that's a fight
worth fighting,
right,
that's a
thing to
die for,
so many
Christians today
are in
battles over
tertiary
issues,
unimportant
things,
they don't
matter at
all,
just
embittered
toward one
another over
stuff that
does not
matter,
and there's a
lot that matters
in these
first order
doctrines,
there's plenty
for us to
be standing
firm and
striving for,
that stuff
needs to be
laid aside,
so we're to
do this work,
this is an
important work
for us to
be doing,
and I'm
going to
take you to
a parallel
text,
it's a bit
lengthy,
so if you'll
turn there
with me,
keep yourself
marked in
Philippians,
go to
Ephesians
chapter 4,
I'm going to
read you
16 verses,
I'm going
to do it
with some
haste,
with a
couple
little
comments,
beginning in
verse 1,
Ephesians 4,
Paul writes,
I therefore,
a prisoner for
the Lord,
urge you to
walk in a
manner worthy
of the
calling to
which you
have been
called,
similar
language,
yes,
with all
humility
and gentleness,
with patience,
bearing with one
another in
love,
eager to
maintain the
unity of the
spirit in the
bond of peace,
right,
it's a
unity that
exists because
we're in
Christ,
we have the
spirit,
therefore,
and that's the
thing we have
to work to
preserve,
there is one
body and one
spirit,
just as you
are called to
the one hope
that belongs to
your call,
one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism,
one God and
father of all,
who is over all
and through all
and in all,
but grace was
given to each
one of us
according to
the measure of
Christ's gift,
therefore it
says,
when he ascended
on high,
he led a host
of captives
and gave gifts
to men,
and saying he
ascended,
what does it
mean but that
he also descended
into the lower
regions,
the earth,
he who descended
is the one who
also ascended
far above all
the heavens that
he might fill
all things,
and I love that
parenthetical
insertion because
Paul just loves
to speak about
the glory of
Christ,
right,
inserts that
into the middle
of this,
verse 11,
and he gave
the apostles,
the prophets,
the evangelists,
the shepherds,
and teachers,
I would argue,
although not at
length now,
that the apostles
and prophets,
we have as a
gift to the
church in the
form of the
scripture,
right,
we've got the
Old Testament
and we've got
the New Testament,
we have people
who are gifted
in evangelism,
who are meant
to help all
of us be
evangelists,
and we have
shepherd teachers,
pastors who
shepherd the
flock,
for what purpose,
why,
why were the
gifts given
to the church,
verse 12,
to equip the
saints for the
work of ministry,
your work,
the work of
ministry,
for building up
the body of
Christ,
until we all
attain to the
unity of the
faith,
the word there,
the faith,
and of the
knowledge of the
Son of God,
to mature manhood,
to the measure
of the stature
of the fullness
of Christ,
why,
so that we may
no longer be
children,
tossed to
and fro,
standing firm,
striving together,
is the opposite
of this,
being tossed
to and fro
by the waves
and carried
about by
every wind
of doctrine,
by human
cunning,
by craftiness
and deceitful
schemes.
Together,
together,
we're meant
to stand firm,
together,
we're meant
to strive so
that this
isn't happening.
How?
Paul says,
rather,
speaking the truth
in love,
we are to grow
up in every way
into him
who is the head
into Christ,
from whom the
whole body,
joined and held
together by
every joint
with which it
is equipped,
when each part
is working
properly,
makes the body
grow so that
it builds itself
up in love.
So just picture,
so the reason I
pulled you there,
you can go back
to Philippians
now if you'd
like to,
right?
We are being
exhorted to
stand firm
and strive
together for
the faith
of the gospel.
And Paul is
using these
strong,
this really
strong language,
this military
type of language,
but how are we
doing that,
though?
How do we
do that work?
I think Ephesians
helps us
see it.
Humility
and gentleness
and patience
and forbearance
and eagerness.
we're meant
to speak
the truth
to one another.
It's a much
different picture
of a lot
of what I
see going on
out around
us,
the type
of contention
that we see
happening
around us.
It's troubling
to me
and I hope
it's not
true
of us.
I hope
it's not
true
of us.
Paul goes
on to say
in verse 28,
this is the
second sub
point,
togetherness
in sanctification.
He says,
and not
frightened
in anything
by your
opponents.
We don't
have to
rage against
the machine
because our
God reigns
providentially
over the
machine.
Right?
We are
secure
in him.
Paul says
this is a
clear sign
to them
of their
destruction,
but of
your
salvation
and that
from God.
Beloved,
as I made
the point
already,
opposition
to the
gospel
should
be
expected.
Peter wrote
1 Peter
chapter 4
verse 12,
beloved,
do not
be surprised
at the
fiery trial
when it
comes upon
you to
test you
as though
something
strange
were happening
to you.
Of course
opposition
comes to
those who
are followers
of Christ
because the
world
crucified
Christ.
2 Timothy
chapter 3
and verse
12.
It surprises
me how many
Christ followers
have never
heard this
verse.
You can
count yourself
in a minority,
I think,
in a moment.
2 Timothy
chapter 3
verse 12.
Indeed,
all who desire
to live a
godly life
in Christ
Jesus
will be
persecuted.
And I don't
find any
wiggle room
in that.
How do we
escape that?
By an overly
strict definition
of persecution,
possibly.
It's possible
that we think
of persecution
only as
being burned
alive in a
fire or
being put
in an arena
with lions,
which certainly
is persecution.
Maybe that's
the only way
we think
about it.
I think we
need to
broaden the
definition,
though,
to see that
not being
liked,
being passed
over for
a promotion,
having to
leave a job
altogether,
being uncomfortable
at a family
gathering.
These kinds
of things
are a
rejection
of the
gospel of
Jesus Christ.
For to be
godly in
this world,
many are
not going
to want
to hear
what we
have to
say.
I read it
to you
already,
John chapter
15,
verse 18
and following.
Do we
really think
that we're
greater
than our
master?
I hope
not.
I hope
not.
But Paul
says that we
shouldn't be
frightened in
anything by
our opponents,
and we
should not
be frightened
because if
God is for
us, who
can be
against us?
If God
is on our
side, who
cares what
other people
think?
William
Gurnall,
who's a
17th century
Anglican
preacher,
this is the
quotation on
your bulletin
this morning,
said,
let your
hope of
heaven master
your fear
of death.
We have
the promise
of heaven
if we're
in Christ.
God is
our God.
Why should
you be
afraid to
die who
hope to
live by
dying?
Paul says
that the
immovable
nature of
the believer's
faith gives
testimony to
our God.
It speaks
to the
guilt of
our
persecutors
and it
speaks to
our
confidence
in our
deliverer.
Christians
await an
unshakable
city and
recognize that
this world
is not
our home.
This is
temporary.
This is
fleeting.
This is
not our
dwelling
place.
I'm going to
give you
another long
cross-reference.
Return with
me, if you
will, to
Romans chapter
8.
I can't
bear to
begin reading
this without
finishing the
chapter.
That's why
this is a
little bit
long.
You're
likely familiar
with verse
28.
I think
the college
students right
now are
studying
Providence
and this
is the
theme,
this verse
for them
as they're
thinking about
the life
of Joseph.
Paul writes,
and we
know that
for those
who love
God, all
things work
together for
good, for
those who
are called
according to
his purpose.
And I
think a lot
of Christians
then go,
well, then
I've got to
figure out,
in all of the
trouble that I
have in my
life, I've
got to figure
out what the
good is that
he's working.
No, you
don't.
Paul tells
you.
Don't be
confused.
Don't pull
this out and
misunderstand
it.
Right?
What's the
purpose?
Verse 29,
for those whom
he foreknew,
don't get
distracted by
these words,
make your brain
spin,
those whom
he foreknew,
he also
predestined for
what?
To be
conformed to
the image
of his
son.
That we
would grow
up in
Christlikeness.
Isn't this
what we've
been talking
about?
This is what
we've been
talking about.
This together
in sanctification,
this suffering
is about
bringing about
Christlikeness
in God's
people to
the praise of
his name in
order that he
might be the
firstborn among
many brothers.
Verse 30,
and those whom
he predestined,
he also called,
and those whom
he called,
he also justified,
and those whom
he justified,
he also glorified.
He guaranteed
everything will
come to pass,
right?
Paul says,
look,
it's one,
six,
I'm confident
of this,
he who began a
good work in you
will bring it to
completion at the
day of Christ.
He's saying the
same thing here,
verse 30,
what then shall
we say to
these things?
If God is for
us,
who can be
against us?
Who could be
against us?
Just to speak
to our cultural
moment,
not the
Democratic Party.
Y'all calm down.
If God is for
us,
who could be
against us?
He who did not
spare his own
son but gave him
up for us all,
how will he not
also with him
graciously give us
all things?
He gave us his
son.
Why would he not
also give us
all things?
Verse 33,
who shall bring
any charge
against God's
elect?
It is God
who justifies.
Who is to
condemn?
Christ Jesus
is the one who
died.
More than that,
who was raised,
who was at the
right hand of
God,
who indeed
is interceding
for us,
praying for us.
Verse 35,
who shall
separate us
from the love
of Christ?
Shall
tribulation,
or distress,
or persecution,
or famine,
or nakedness,
or danger,
or sword?
As it is
written,
for your sake
we are being
killed all the
day long.
We are regarded
as sheep to
be slaughtered.
No,
in all these
things we are
more than
conquerors through
him who loved
us.
For I am sure
that neither death
nor life,
nor angels,
nor rulers,
nor things present,
nor things to
come,
nor powers,
nor height,
nor depth,
nor anything
else in all
creation will
be able to
separate us
from the love
of God in
Christ Jesus,
our Lord.
Beloved,
we have
nothing to be
afraid of.
Nothing to
be afraid of.
And our
lack of fear
speaks judgment
to those
who are our
persecutors.
God is for
us.
Who can be
against us?
And beloved,
we will not
persevere to
the end,
right?
We will not
press on all
the way to the
end in the
faith if we
don't do it
together.
God supplies
sanctifying power,
helps us grow up
into this
Christ likeness.
It is his
provision,
but he does
so most
often through
graces.
That's how he
grows us up.
That's how he's
working in us
through his
word,
prayer,
and the
church.
We are
sanctified
together.
If we're going
to stand firm,
if we're going
to strive,
we're going to
have to do it
together.
Third and
finally,
togetherness and
suffering.
verse 29 and
34 has been
granted to you
for the sake of
Christ.
You should not
only believe in
him,
but also suffer
for his sake,
engaged in the
same conflict
that you saw I
had and now
hear that I
still have.
Salvation and
suffering are
inseparably bound
together.
Spiritual
conflict is a
sign that we
are identified
with Christ.
It's a sign
that people know
that we are
identified with
Christ,
right?
The gospel
has an enemy
in the world.
Paul was
imprisoned for
the very faith
that he is
exhorting the
Philippians to
stand firm
and to strive
for.
He's riding
this very
lever from
imprisonment
for that
faith.
And he
says that
it has been
granted to
us,
that it is
given to
us by
God,
that it's
a gift
from God.
That for
the sake
of Christ,
you should
not only
believe in
him,
but also
suffer for
his sake.
Suffering for
the sake
of the
gospel is
a blessing.
It's a
gift given.
Do you view
it that way?
Do you get
all uncomfortable
every time we
talk about
suffering?
You're like,
oh no,
we're talking
about suffering
again.
I think
that most
of us
spend our
time avoiding
discomfort.
Maybe as
the highest
value,
I'm going
to do
everything I
can to
avoid
discomfort
and to
find comfort.
Think about
how much of
your life
is oriented
around being
comfortable
and avoiding
things that
are uncomfortable.
Perhaps
our lives
are missing
the joy
that Paul
calls us
to because
we have
not suffered
for the
sake of
Christ.
This letter
is full
of joy
rejoicing.
He is
just overjoyed
writing a
letter from
a Roman
prison.
Maybe we
miss out
on that.
Maybe we
don't really
understand
the goodness
of Christ
because we
haven't really
suffered
for his
sake.
I want us
to have the
faith that we
can observe
in Paul
as he
writes in
Philippians
chapter 4
verse 4
and following
rejoice in
the Lord
always.
Again I
will say
rejoice.
Let your
reasonableness
be known
to everyone.
The Lord
is at
hand.
He is
present.
He is a
help in
times of
trouble.
I want us
to have the
faith that we
can observe
in the
apostles as
they stand
trial before
the Sanhedrin
as recorded
by Luke
in Acts
chapter 5.
When they
had called
in the
apostles,
they beat
them and
charge them
not to
speak in
the name
of Jesus
and let
them go.
Verse 41
does not
tell us that
they then
went and
made a
woe is
me post
on all
of their
social media
accounts.
says this,
then they
left the
presence of
the council
rejoicing,
rejoicing
that they
were counted
worthy to
suffer dishonor
for the
name.
It had
been granted
to them,
been granted
salvation,
and they
had been
granted the
opportunity to
suffer for
the sake
of Christ.
Beloved,
our suffering
puts on
display the
suffering of
Jesus, a
people who
so love
God that
they will
give up
everything for
him.
They'll pursue
him through
a costly
call to
give up
what they
cannot keep,
to gain
what they
cannot lose.
I want us
to have
this kind
of faith,
and I want
us to have
it together.
The gospel
demands a
consistent
conduct,
and it
affords us
togetherness.
Let's pray
together for
the grace
to obey
all that
our God
commands.