Well, 2021 has been a year already full of oddities of various kinds.
! We've had a lot of folks in our church sick and out.
We've had a lot of musicians out.
I'm thankful for the plethora of musicians that we do have that can help and fill in.
We found ourselves the first Sunday of the year with me leading us a cappella,
which was the strangest of oddities this year.
We've had a lot of our regular folks out, unable to be with us.
And then as a wonderful oddity, we've had a lot of guests here with us.
For some time now, we've been preaching expositional sermons from various texts
throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, which is an oddity for us.
Because our habit for the past 12 years has been to preach verse-by-verse expositional sermons
through a book of the Bible.
Well, typically a New Testament book than an Old Testament book and back and forth like that.
And so, it's with great joy that I'll ask you to turn with me this morning to Paul's letter to the Philippians
as we begin, once again and Lord willing, a 15-week exposition of this wonderful book.
Our plan is, across the next 15 weeks, to walk ourselves through Paul's letter to the Philippians.
As a very brief reminder to you, we purchase and have handy these ESV scripture journals.
I just want to make one more little pitch to you.
They're extremely helpful for me in my study.
I use them to read through the entire letter, in this case, and make notes off on the note page and mark it up.
I'm not marking in my Bible any longer because it gets terribly messy, but I'm doing that.
If you would like one of these, they're actually back on the rail of the sound booth.
They're just five bucks.
You can owe us.
So, if you want to run back there and grab one, no one here will mind if you do that.
There's a little stack of them back there for you if you'd like to follow along and keep notes in that way.
You can also find them all over the internet.
You can purchase them if you'd like to do that as well.
Our text for this morning will be Philippians chapter 1, verses 1 and 2.
And I do promise that we're going to spend some time with these two verses, but I would first like to do two things.
Number one, I'm going to give you seven reasons that Christians should study the book of Philippians,
which should give us some bearing on the themes of this letter.
And secondly, we will read the entirety of Paul's address to the Philippian believers as this would have been his intent in its writing.
It is the way that the Philippian believers would have first heard it,
and doing so should help us think about its thematic content.
It'll take about 10 to 12 minutes to do that together.
So, because we have some ground to cover, let's get right into it.
And first, consider seven reasons Christians should study the book of Philippians.
Number one, Philippians is a purposely relational book.
It's a purposely relational book.
God intends for us to be in relationship with one another.
We are meant to be saved to a people.
We need each other.
And in a culture where relationship is being fractured, right?
We have a sense of knowing more people than we've ever known before,
but yet know fewer people deeply as we should.
It's good for us to consider the relational nature of this book.
But these are not unaimed relationships.
These are not relationships for the sake of relationship,
but they are aimed.
These relationships are to be for the magnification of the gospel to the glory of God.
I'll show you two examples.
Philippians chapter 4 and verse 1.
Paul writes,
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for,
my joy and crown,
stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Just a single verse packed full of Paul's affection for these Christians.
His brothers.
He loves them and he longs for them.
He calls them his joy and his crown.
And then finally, his beloved in that single verse.
Then in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27,
another example of an exhortation toward relationship.
Paul writes,
These things being of one spirit and one mind,
striving together, side by side,
does not happen without purposeful relationship.
Second reason,
Philippians is a gospel-oriented book.
This is always a good thing,
and this is true of the scripture in totality.
While this letter does not contain an explicit gospel presentation,
it does contain much gospel application.
Paul makes mention of the gospel repeatedly in chapter 1
and on occasion in chapters 2 and chapter 4.
Philippians chapter 1 and verse 5,
verse 7,
verse 12,
verse 16,
and verse 27.
He mentions the gospel in each of those verses.
And then chapter 2 and verse 22,
chapter 5,
excuse me,
chapter 4,
verse 3,
and verse 15.
We will not be able to wade into the waters of Philippians
without making the gospel abundantly clear.
Otherwise,
the letter would make no sense.
As we strive together to work out all of those applications,
we're going to have to,
again and again and again,
make the gospel abundantly clear.
It will be foundational to our understanding of Philippians
to know that apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ,
we are enemies of God and deserve his just punishment.
But by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone,
we can be granted the salvation of our souls.
So Philippians is a gospel-oriented book.
Third,
Philippians is a doctrinally rich book.
We discover in Philippians great theological truths, right?
In its few verses,
it is just packed full.
Let me give you two quick examples.
We see the incarnation of Christ
for the purpose of propitiation.
Philippians chapter 2,
verse 6 and following.
Who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not account equality with God,
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
It is going to be a joy
to unpack these verses together.
We also see the exaltation of Christ
to the right hand of God.
There in Philippians 2,
verse 9 and following.
Therefore,
God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name.
So that the name of Jesus,
every knee should bow in heaven
and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
We're going to have such opportunity
to discover and explore
many other grand theological truths
as we study Philippians together.
Fourth,
Philippians is a prayer-producing book.
If we learn from the example of Paul,
our prayer lives will be deepened
as we study Philippians.
Paul expresses heartfelt prayer
for the Philippian believers
in chapter 1, verses 3 through 11.
Just a sampling of that,
beginning in verse 3.
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.
And he encourages the Philippians to pray
if they are to avoid anxiety
and experience peace.
Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 and 7.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything,
by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
Paul, rightly,
is going to be encouraging us
to pray
as we study the book of Philippians.
Fifth,
Philippians is a holiness-growing book.
This letter has much to say
about how we are to live
the Christian life.
It speaks to the part
that we play in our growth in holiness,
and it reminds us
of the part that God plays,
the prominent part that God plays.
Just as an example,
Philippians chapter 2,
beginning verse 12,
Therefore, my beloved,
as you have always obeyed,
so now,
not only as in my presence,
but much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
For it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work
for his good pleasure.
Sixth,
Philippians is an eternity-gazing book.
book.
Christians need to think more
on eternity.
We think far too much
about the present state of things.
We need to think much more
about the eternal state of things.
We need to have our minds drawn
to the world to come
to give us hope
for today.
Again,
Philippians chapter 3,
here's verse 20 and 21.
Paul says,
But our citizenship
is in heaven,
and from it we await
a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform
our lowly body
to be like
his glorious body
by the power
that enables him
even
to subject
all things
to himself.
That ought to just
birth hope in you
thinking about it.
And lastly,
Philippians
is a joy-producing
book.
We see the theme
of joy
repeated in this work
more than any other,
and we live in a moment
where many Christians
are learning,
many for the very first time,
what it means
to fight
for joy.
Joy has just come
easy and natural
as we've lived
a life of ease,
but many Christians
now are finding
their world
upset
and rocked
for all sorts
of reasons
and are having
to learn what it means.
How is it that we have
an abiding joy
that's rooted in
an unchangeable
Christ?
This will be good
and instructive
for us.
And you see this theme
over and over again.
Chapter 1
and verse 4,
verse 18,
verse 25,
chapter 2 and verse 2,
verses 17 and 18,
28 and 29,
chapter 3 and verse 1
and chapter 4
and verse 10.
We see this idea
of joy and rejoicing
over and over
and over.
One example
to read out loud to you,
Philippians chapter 4
and verse 4.
Paul exhorts
them
and us
to rejoice
in the Lord
always.
Again,
I will say
rejoice.
Not based on
your circumstances,
right?
Not rejoice in the Lord
when it's easy
to rejoice,
but rejoice
in the Lord
always.
Again,
I will say
rejoice.
So,
I hope
that sets up
a framework for you,
a platform
for you to go,
man,
this is going
to be good.
I hope you're eager,
expectant,
looking forward to
our time together
in this
short letter.
So,
I'm going to read it now.
I'm going to read
the letter
as I guess
I would imagine.
Of course,
it would have been
read in Greek,
not in English,
but as it would have
been opened
to a church,
right?
It would have been
received.
And if you could
just imagine
for a moment
what that would
have been like,
right?
The Apostle Paul,
right?
The man who came
and preached the gospel
in this city
and started this church
is now,
many years later,
writing back
to this church,
this church that's been
in partnership
with him financially
in his mission efforts.
in the world
and he writes to them
a letter.
One of their elders
announces to them
that they've received
this letter
and opens it up
and reads it.
Before I read it,
I want to remind you,
beloved,
that this is God's word
to us,
written for his glory
and our good.
We would all do well
to listen to it
in order to believe
its promises
and obey
its commands.
So,
chapter 1,
beginning in verse 1.
Paul and Timothy,
servants,
of Christ Jesus,
to all the saints
in Christ Jesus
who are at Philippi
with the overseers
and deacons,
grace to you
and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
It is right for me
to feel this way
about you all
because I told you
in my heart
for you are all
partakers with me
of grace.
I hold you in my heart
because you are all
partakers with me
of grace
both in my imprisonment
and in the defense
and confirmation
of the gospel.
For God is my witness
how I yearn for you all
with the affection
of Christ Jesus.
And it is my prayer
that your love
may abound more
and more
with knowledge
and all discernment
so that you may approve
what is excellent
and so be pure
and brainless
for the day
of Christ.
filled with the fruit
of righteousness
that comes
through Jesus Christ
to the glory
and praise of God.
I want you to know
brothers that what
has happened to me
has really served
to advance the gospel
so that it has become
known throughout
the whole imperial guard
and to all the rest
that my imprisonment
is for Christ.
And most of the brothers
having become confident
in the Lord
by my imprisonment
are much more bold
to speak the word
without fear.
Some indeed
preach Christ
from envy
and rivalry
but others
from good will.
the latter do it
out of love
knowing that I am
put here
for the defense
of the gospel.
The former
proclaim Christ
out of selfish ambition
not sincerely
but thinking
to afflict me
in my imprisonment.
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 will
with full courage
now as always
Christ will be honored
in my body
whether by life
or by death.
For to me
to live is Christ
and to die is gain.
If I am to live
in the flesh
that means fruitful labor
for me
yet which shall I choose
I cannot tell.
I am hard pressed
between the two.
My desire is to depart
and be with Christ
for that is far better.
But to remain
in the flesh
is more necessary
on your account.
Convinced of this
I know that I will remain
and continue with you all
for your progress
and joy in the faith
so that in me
you may have ample cause
to glory in Christ Jesus
because of my coming
to you again.
Only let your manner
of life be worthy
of the gospel of Christ
so that whether I come
and see you
or am absent
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
and not frightened
in anything
by your opponents.
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.
Engage in the same conflict
that you saw I had
and now hear
that I still have.
So if there is any
encouragement in Christ
any comfort from love
any participation
in the spirit
any affection
and sympathy
complete my joy
by being of the same mind
having the same love
being in full accord
and of one mind.
Do nothing from
selfish ambition
or conceit
but in humility
count others
more significant
than yourselves.
Let each of you
look not only
to his own interest
but also to the
interests of others.
Have this mind
among yourself
which is yours
in Christ Jesus
who though he was
in the form of God
did not account
equality with God
a thing to be grasped
but emptied himself
by taking the form
of a servant
being born
in the likeness
of men
and being found
in human form
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death
even death
on a cross.
Therefore God
has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him
the name that is above
every name
so the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth
and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord
to the glory of God
the Father.
Therefore my beloved
as you have always obeyed
so now not only
in my presence
but much more
in my absence
work out your own salvation
with fear
and trembling
for it is God
who works in you
both to will
and to work
for his good pleasure.
Do all things
without grumbling
or disputing
that you may be
blameless and innocent
children of God
without blemish
in the midst
of a crooked
and twisted generation
among whom you shine
as lights in the world
holding fast
to the word of life
so that in a day
of Christ
I may be proud
that I did not run
in vain
or labor in vain
even if I am
to be poured out
as a drink offering
upon the sacrificial
offering of your faith
I am glad
and rejoice
with you all
likewise
you also
should be glad
and rejoice
with me
I hope in the Lord Jesus
to send Timothy
to you soon
so that I too
may be cheered
by news of you
for I have no one
like him
who will be genuinely
concerned for your welfare
for they all seek
their own interests
not those
of Jesus Christ
but you know
Timothy's proven worth
how as a son
with a father
he has served me
in the gospel
I hope therefore
to send him
just as soon
as I see
how it will go
with me
and I trust
in the Lord
that shortly
I myself
will come also
I have thought
it necessary
to send to you
Epaphroditus
my brother
and fellow worker
and fellow soldier
and your messenger
and minister
to my need
for he has been
longing for you all
and has been distressed
because you heard
that he was ill
indeed he was ill
near to death
but God had mercy
on him
and not only
on him
but on me also
lest I should
have sorrow
upon sorrow
I am the more
eager to send him
therefore
that you may rejoice
at seeing him again
and that I may be
less anxious
so receive him
the Lord
with all joy
and honor such men
for he nearly died
for the work of Christ
risking his life
to complete
what was lacking
in your service
to me
finally my brothers
rejoice in the Lord
to write the same thing
to you
as no trouble to me
and it is safe for you
look out for the dogs
look out for the evildoers
look out for those
who mutilate the flesh
for we are the circumcision
who worship by the spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus
and put no confidence
in the flesh
though I myself
have reason for confidence
in the flesh also
if anyone else thinks
he has reason for confidence
in the flesh
I have more
circumcised on the eighth day
of the people of Israel
of the tribe of Benjamin
a Hebrew of Hebrews
as to the law
a Pharisee
as to zeal
a persecutor of the church
as to righteousness
under the law
blameless
but whatever gain I had
I counted as loss
for the sake of Christ
indeed I count everything
as loss
because of the surpassing worth
of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord
for his sake
I have suffered the loss
of all things
and count them as rubbish
in order that I may gain Christ
and be found in him
not having a righteousness
of my own
that comes from the law
but that which comes
through faith in Christ
the righteousness from God
that depends on faith
that I may know him
and the power of his resurrection
and may share his sufferings
becoming like him
in his death
that by any means possible
I may attain
the resurrection
from the dead
not that I have already
obtained this
or am already perfect
but I press on
to make it my own
because Christ Jesus
had made me his own
brothers
I do not consider
that I have made it my own
but one thing I do
forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward
to what lies ahead
I press on toward the goal
for the prize
of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus
let those of us
who are mature
think this way
and if anything
you think otherwise
God will reveal that
also to you
only let us hold true
to what we have attained
brothers
join in imitating me
and keep your eyes
on those who walk
according to the example
you have in us
for many of whom
I have often told you
and now tell you
even with tears
walk as enemies
of the cross of Christ
their end is destruction
their God is their belly
and they glory
in their shame
with minds set
on earthly things
but our citizenship
is in heaven
and from it
we await a savior
the Lord Jesus Christ
who will transform
our lowly body
to be like his glorious body
by the power
that enables him
even to subject
all things
to himself
therefore my brothers
whom I love
and long for
my joy and crowned
stand firm thus
in the Lord
my beloved
I entreat
Yodia
and I entreat
Cintiq
to agree in the Lord
yes I also ask you
true companion
help these women
who have labored
side by side
with me
in the gospel
together with
the Clement
and the rest
of my fellow workers
whose names
are in the book
of life
rejoice in the Lord
always
again I will say
rejoice
let your reasonableness
be known to everyone
the Lord
is at hand
do not be anxious
about anything
but in everything
by prayer
and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your request
be made known
to God
and the peace
of God
which surpasses
all understanding
will guard your hearts
and your minds
in Christ Jesus
finally brothers
whatever is true
whatever is honorable
whatever is just
whatever is pure
whatever is lovely
whatever is commendable
there is any
sorry
if there is any
excellence
if there is anything
worthy of praise
think about these things
what you have learned
and received
and heard
and seen in me
practice these things
and the God of peace
will be with you
I rejoice
the Lord greatly
that now at length
you have revived
your concern for me
you were indeed
concerned for me
but you had no opportunity
not that I am speaking
of being in need
for I have learned
in whatever situation
I am
to be content
I know how to be brought low
and I know how to abound
in any and every circumstance
I have learned
the secret
of facing plenty
and hunger
abundance
and need
I can do all things
through him
who strengthens me
that it was kind of you
to share my trouble
and you Philippians
yourselves know
that in the beginning
of the gospel
when I left Macedonia
no church entered
an apartage with me
in giving and receiving
except you only
even at Thessalonica
you sent me help
for my needs
once and again
not that I seek
the gift
but I seek the fruit
that increases
to your credit
I have received
full payment
and more
I am well supplied
having received
from Epaphroditus
the gifts you sent
a fragrant offering
a sacrifice
acceptable and pleasing
to God
and my God
will supply
every need of yours
according to his riches
in glory
in Christ Jesus
to our God and Father
be glory
forever and ever
amen
greet every saint
in Christ Jesus
the brothers who are with me
greet you
all the saints greet you
especially those
of Caesar's household
the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ
be with your spirit
and then I imagine
that the Philippian believers
spent much more
than 15 weeks
trying to understand
everything that Paul
was trying to say
to them
in that time
so that's the work
that we'll be about
and we're going to begin
this morning
with the first
two verses
and I hope that we're
setting us up
for the rest of our study
to be fruitful
so verse
one
and two
in order to look
briefly at these
two verses
I want to draw
your attention
to two
titles
first
Paul refers
to himself
and his compatriot
Timothy
as servants
of Christ Jesus
some of your
translations
may say
bond servants
which I applaud
this is a wonderful
way to translate
that Greek word
the Greek word
doulos
this signified
a person
who was owned
by someone else
and was entirely
dependent
on their owner
for their livelihood
a doulos
was different
than someone
who served
as a servant
in a household
who would have
a household
of their own
who would come
and do work
and then go
home to their home
not a particular
task that they
accomplished
a doulos
a bond servant
had no ownership
of their own
they were entirely
owned
by their master
and anything
that they got
for their own
livelihood
came from
their master
in many of Paul's
other writing
he will remind
his readers
of his
apostolic standing
he starts out
as declaring
that he is
an apostle
but he sees
no need
to do so
here
the Philippian
believers do not
seem to need
a reminder
of Paul's
leadership status
amongst the church
but he does
see fit
to remind them
of his
subservient
status
to the Lord
Jesus Christ
he is reminding
them that the
Christian goes
and does
and says
what he is
commanded
by God
and that every
ounce of our
being is derived
from him
he introduces
Timothy in the
same way as he
is commending
Timothy to them
he is hoping
to send
Timothy
to them
we see that
in chapter 2
in verse 19
it is contextually
important to note
at the outset
of our study
of this letter
that it was
written
from a Roman
prison
this is mentioned
there in
chapter 1
it was most likely
delivered in the
early 60s
somewhere around
62
Paul's bond
service to
Christ Jesus
found him
jailed
and
we will make
mention of this
often as we
explore the
themes
of this book
remember the
prominent theme
of joy
Paul does not
find himself
in a condition
that any of us
would wish
on ourselves
and yet
this prominent
theme emerges
again and
again
beloved
Jesus has not
asked for us
to be admirers
he has asked
for us to be
followers
I wonder how
many of us
are as keenly
aware as we
should be
of the
reality
that we
are in
Christ
and that we
belong to
him and we
depend on
him entirely
for our
livelihood
I wonder
how our
lives
how the
culture of
our church
and how
our broader
community
might look
different
if we also
consider ourselves
bond servants
of Christ
Jesus
doing everything
at the will
of his
command
recognizing
that we
receive
everything
by his
good pleasure
so this is the
first title I
wanted us to
note this
morning
second
Paul addresses
the letter
to all the
saints
in Christ
Jesus
who are
at Philippi
with the
overseers
and the
deacons
notice first
that while
Paul
recognizes
that the
church at
Philippi
was properly
ordered
with the
biblical
offices
of
overseers
or elders
and deacons
he's commending
that
good for the
church at
Philippi
they had
both
overseers
and
deacons
he's being
very careful
to address
this letter
to all
the saints
in Christ
Jesus
who are
at Philippi
he's being
very inclusive
and we do
well to
understand
that this
was a
letter
written by
a man
to a
group
of people
these were
real people
they existed
in time
and in
space
right
and this
letter had
a purpose
right
Paul had
something in
his mind
that he's
trying to
communicate
to these
people
as he
wrote it
but also
this letter
was inspired
by the
spirit of
Christ
and therefore
is also
addressed
to us
and to
all who
have believed
or who
will ever
believe
in
Christ
but to
get the
mind
of
Paul
we have
to
remember
that
he's
a
real
person
writing
a
real
letter
to
a
real
group
of
people
and then
we get
to
receive
the
wonderful
benefit
of
this
letter
written
between
these
saints
right
he's
thinking
of
all
the
saints
in
Christ
Jesus
who
are
at
Philippi
but
the
spirit
as
he
inspires
the
text
has
us
in
mind
has
you
in
mind
has
me
in
mind
as
we
sit
under
this
word
that's
why
on
Sunday
mornings
before
I read
the text
for the
morning
I
remind
you
beloved
this
is
God's
word
to
us
it
has
bearing
and
meaning
for
us
today
right
while
it
has
its
context
its
historical
context
it
means
something
for
us
today
and
it
was
written
for
his
glory
and
our
good
and
because
of
that
right
we
would
do
well
to
listen
to
it
to
believe
its
promises
and
to
obey
its
commands
now
Paul
gives
these
people
and
us
a
very
specific
title
what
does
he
call
them
saints
he
calls
them
saints
this
title
refers
to
someone
who
is
set
apart
for
God
and
not
the
way
the
Catholics
treat
that
special
sainthood
Paul
saying
all
Christians
anyone
who
is
found
in
Christ
is
a
saint
has
been
set
apart
for
God
the
Greek
word
is
which
is
often
translated
holy
so
when
we
see
the
word
saints
we
can
also
read
holy
ones
people
set
apart
for
God
Paul
is
referring
to
their
status
in
Christ
Jesus
when
God
saves
us
he
changes
us
fundamentally
we
become
different
we're
not
changed
in
degree
you
don't
become
a
little
bit
better
you
are
changed
in
kind
you
are
regenerate
you
are
made
new
and
then
because
we
are
changed
in
kind
we
can
be
changed
in
degree
to
be
more
like
God
who
has
declared
we
are
we
are
changed
in
kind
fundamentally
we
are
now
given
the
title
saint
we're
not
becoming
saints
we
are
saints
we're
very
often
not
saintly
we
do
still
sin
but
we
are
saints
that
is
why
Paul
has
the
moxie
to say
in
chapter
1
in
verse
6
I
am
sure
of
this
that
he
who
began
a
good
work
in
you
will
bring
it
to
completion
at
the
day
of
Christ
saying
you
saints
because
God
made
you
saints
he's
going
to
work
that
out
he's
going
to
bring
that
to
completion
your
sanctification
at the
day
of
Christ
not
by
any
plan
it
was
wonderful
that
this
morning's
new
city
catechism
question
was about
justification
and
sanctification
right
justification
declares
us
righteous
before
God
sanctification
is the
gradual
outworking
of us
becoming
more
like
Christ
significantly
Paul
says of
these
people
and us
that
we
are
saints
but
saints
in
Christ
Jesus
we
cannot
be
saints
apart
from
Christ
Jesus
we
cannot
be
set
apart
for
God
without
the
saving
work
of
Christ
Jesus
on
our
behalf
that's
why
Peter
declares
in
Acts
chapter
4
and
verse
12
there
is
salvation
in
no
one
else
for
there
is
no
other
name
under
heaven
given
among
men
by
which
we
must
be
saved
Paul's
doing
something
very
significant
when he
calls
them
saints
in
Christ
Jesus
there's
no
other
way
to
be
set
apart
for
God
than
in
Christ
so
we
can only
be
set
apart
for
God
with
Christ
but
Paul
doesn't
say
saints
with
Christ
he
says
saints
in
Christ
Jesus
Paul
uses
this
phrase
in
Christ
Jesus
or
some
variation
of it
like
in
Christ
or
in
the
Lord
124
times
in
his
writing
that's
a lot
you're
going to
see
this
you start
to
pay
attention
in
your
New
Testament
reading
these
types
of
phrase
in
Jesus
Christ
in
Christ
Jesus
in
Christ
or
in
the
Lord
124
times
in
his
writing
so
we
have
to
pay
very
careful
attention
to
what
he
means
by
it
Paul
is
reminding
them
and
us
that
we
are
not
saints
holy
ones
for
God
because
of
a
righteousness
of
our
own
impossible
cannot
produce
the
kind
of
righteousness
required
by
God
but
because
as
Martin
Luther
called
it
an
alien
righteousness
a
righteousness
that
comes
from
outside
of
us
the
righteousness
that
justifies
us
before
God
must
be a
perfect
righteousness
you
can't
be
pretty
good
or
mostly
good
you
have
to
be
completely
good
and
we
cannot
do
this
on
our
own
the
righteousness
that
makes
us
saints
must
be
distilled
to
us
from
an
outside
source
and
this
source
must
be
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
because
he
obtained
his
righteousness
this
righteousness
that's
necessary
for
us
to
have
he
obtained
it
by
a
perfect
life
that's
why
God
saved
us
this
way
right
he
became
a
man
to
fulfill
the
law
right
to
obtain
perfect
righteousness
that
perfect
righteousness
might be
given
to us
by
faith
in him
imputed
to us
Paul wrote
in Romans
chapter 4
verse 22
and following
that is
why
Abraham's
faith
was
counted
to him
as
righteousness
but
the
words
it
was
counted
to him
were
not
written
for
his
sake
alone
but
for
ours
also
it
will
be
counted
to
us
who
believe
in
him
who
raised
from
the
dead
Jesus
our
Lord
this
righteousness
it
this
righteousness
will be
counted
to
us
who
believe
in
him
who
raised
from
the
dead
Jesus
our
Lord
so
if
you
have
believed
in
the
person
and
work
of
Jesus
Christ
you
are
a
saint
in
Christ
Jesus
you
are
found
in
him
you
are
clothed
in
his
righteousness
we
need
to
hear
this
gospel
truth
constantly
and
I
hope
that
this
is
a
gospel
truth
that
is
true
of
you
this
morning
that
you
have
been
set
apart
by
God
and
for
God
if
you
have
any
doubt
of
this
repent
of
your
rebellion
flee
from
the
wrath
to
come
you
deserve
eternal
judgment
if
you
are
an
enemy
of
God
and
flee
to
Christ
flee
to
his
person
and
his
work
his
sacrificial
work
and
his
perfect
life
on
your
behalf
for
God
is
gracious
and
merciful
and
he
is
abounding
in
love
he
is
quick
to
place
you
in
Christ
Jesus
and
forgive
you
all
of
your
sins
if
you
don't
find
yourself
positionally
in
Christ
this
morning
if
you
have
not
been
changed
in
kind
then
your
end
is
destruction
there's
nothing
this
world
can
offer
you
for
the
salvation
of
your
soul
Christ
you
need
to be
found
in
Christ
you
need
to have
it
said
of
you
are
a
saint
in
Christ
Jesus
if
you
are
in
Christ
Jesus
this
morning
it's
not
to
be
a
great
encouragement
for
your
soul
not
because
of your
performance
this past
week
is God
pleased
with
you
not
because
of the
good
that you
did
or the
bad
that you
did
or the
good
that you
didn't
do
but because
of
Christ's
perfect
righteousness
we are
imperfect
people
declared
saints
because of
who
Jesus is
because of
his
work
not our
own
what hope
there is
in the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
every
world
religion
places
God
on the
top
of
a
mountain
and
sets
up
a
number
of
ways
in
which
you
climb
the
mountain
to
reach
to
God
Christianity
declares
that we
are unable
to climb
and yet
our
God
came
down
the
mountain
to
us
all
we
have
to
do
is
receive
this
wonderful
gift
that's
found
repentance
and faith
to be
declared
saints
in
Christ
Jesus
Paul
concludes
the
opening
of
his
letter
to
the
Philippians
with
a
common
salutation
found
in
his
writing
in
which
he
states
the
source
of
saving
work
and
the
eternal
status
of
those
who
repent
and
believe
I'm
going to
read
this
salutation
as my
closing
words
for our
time
in
the
word
this
morning
this
is
verse
two
grace
to
you
and
peace
from
God
our
father
and
Lord
Jesus
Christ
let's
pray
together