WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.000 I cry positively, this has already been made, the point has already been made a number of times already. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:23.000 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:46.000 The reason that Paul writes at the church in Philippi is to encourage them to stand firm in the Gospel in the midst of suffering. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:53.000 Turn with me first of all to chapter 1 verse 27. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:59.000 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:08.000 So that whether I come and see you or I am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:18.000 but you have one mind striving side by side with the faith of the Gospel, not frightened in anything by your opponents. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:25.000 He encourages them to stand firm and now look for one. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Therefore my brothers whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm, thus in the Lord. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:33.000 I love the love. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:39.000 This is the core of Paul's message to the Philippians. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.000 And he encourages them to stand firm. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.000 If you like these two passages are the bookends. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:47.000 And the core, the central message is to stand firm. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:49.000 How does he encourage them? 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.000 Well he sets for them examples to follow. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:02:01.000 So first of all we had Christ's example, the ultimate example, his humility, his embracing of suffering. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:07.000 When we came to Timothy and Epaphroditus, you might remember, men whom we should honour, 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:11.000 or the Philippians should honour, seek to imitate. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:17.000 And now here in our passage, Paul sets himself as an example for them. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:22.000 He is in prison in Rome, and yet he is rejoicing. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:27.000 Verse 17, Brothers, join in imitating me. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:33.000 Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:42.000 What message causes somebody to rejoice in the midst of suffering and hardship imprisonment? 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.000 What do you mean? 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:49.000 Well, in our passage, here I want to draw out three points. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:54.000 Three encouragements which are also going to encourage us to stand firm in the Gospel. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:59.000 And three points to speak of what the Gospel is. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:01.000 Point number one. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:06.000 The Gospel is the hope of perfection in Christ. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:09.000 Take a look here in verse 12. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:10.000 The Gospel is the hope of perfection in Christ. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.000 It is not that I have already obtained this, or I am already perfect. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.000 But I press on to make it my own. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:21.000 This is astounding when we really think about this. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:26.000 Paul thinks that one day he is going to be made perfect. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.000 How? 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:28.000 Where? 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.000 When? 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:30.000 Why? 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:34.000 Well, the hope is this, that when Christ returns, 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:41.000 He will transform our lowly bodies into the likeness of His glorious body. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.000 Look in here at verse 21. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:50.000 He will transform our sin stained bodies to be like His glorious body. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.000 He will transform our sin stained world. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:07.000 And there will be no longer tears, pain, suffering, affliction, hardship and toil. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:14.000 Now there are some who teach, aren't there, that Christ has come, He has broke His power on the cross. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:26.000 We no longer need to accept any form of suffering, whether that be ill health or poverty or premature death, etc. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:29.000 While this is not the Gospel, what does Paul say? 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.000 He has not already obtained perfection. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:34.000 That He waits for when Christ returns. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:38.000 That is when perfection, when completion will come. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:42.000 I don't know how to call it. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.000 The prosperity Gospel? 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:46.000 No. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.000 It is not a Gospel. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:48.000 It is not the Gospel. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.000 In fact, it is not different. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:56.000 It is not different to what the world's response to suffering is. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:59.000 Namely, delusion. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:04.000 Now we know that people in the world, they recognize that suffering takes place. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:09.000 But they choose to delude themselves by focusing on their idolatry 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:15.000 and finding temporal joy, so-called joy in their idolatry. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.000 Family, romance, sex, money. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:26.000 These are delusions in their temporary. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Christians, we do not console ourselves in these delusions. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:38.000 We console ourselves in the reality of Christ Jesus, His death and His resurrection. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:43.000 We do not console ourselves in present situations, in the present context. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:49.000 We console ourselves with joy in our hope of Christ's return. 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:51.000 We will make everything complete and perfect. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:53.000 That is not true. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:56.000 Point one. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.000 It is the Gospel. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.000 It is our hope of perfection. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:03.000 Point two. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.000 Somewhat related. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:13.000 The Gospel is our present day certainty. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:18.000 What is it that the Lord speaks at the beginning of his lesson? 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.000 Verse 6. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:21.000 Verse 6. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:29.000 I am certain of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:30.000 When? 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:35.000 In the day of Christ. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.000 Well, this is the Gospel. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:40.000 It is not just a future hope. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.000 It is not just looking into the future. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.000 But it is also a present day reality. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:46.000 He has begun a good work. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.000 We see this also in our passage. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.000 In chapter 3. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.000 Look here at verse 16. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:58.000 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.000 They have already attained something. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.000 Well, what have they attained? 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:03.000 What has Paul attained? 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.000 What has the Philippian church attained? 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.000 If it is not a sinless life. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.000 If it is not a life free from suffering and affliction. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.000 Look down at verse 20. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:18.000 That our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Saviour. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:25.000 Our citizenship is here now presently in heaven. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:27.000 That is what we have already attained. 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:38.000 When I have been thinking about this metaphor, really it has been very beautiful to my mind. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:43.000 I don't know how familiar we are with ancient customs. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:50.000 But obviously to be a Roman citizen was an extreme privilege. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:55.000 It was a privileged status within society, economically. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:59.000 And even in the eyes of the law it was a privilege. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:04.000 And one of the beauties was that anyone could become a Roman citizen. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.000 Even a slave. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.000 If they worked hard enough. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.000 If they toiled for their master faithfully. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.000 They could become a Roman citizen. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:18.000 Well, is that what Paul is talking about when he talks about becoming a citizen of heaven? 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:23.000 Is it that if you work hard enough you can earn your citizenship? 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:24.000 No, it's not. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:27.000 He says here at the end of verse 12. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.000 It says, 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.000 Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 For of this I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:37.000 It's not something that Paul has done. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:39.000 It's something that Christ has worked. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.000 We see that again in verse 9 in chapter 3. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:48.000 That I may gain Christ and be found in him. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.000 Not having a righteousness of my own. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.000 It's not something that he works. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.000 But what? 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.000 That which comes with faith in Christ Jesus. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:02.000 The righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.000 I think one of the beauties about this metaphor of citizenship is that it's still very relevant today isn't it? 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:19.000 People will toil and make huge sacrifices to become British citizens or American citizens. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:25.000 Even professionals from different countries will come and work as cleaners and take the lowest job in society. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:29.000 They will work and toil so that they can earn the British citizenship. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:41.000 How amazing it is that the more glorious citizenship, this heavenly citizenship is offered freely. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:45.000 It is offered freely and it is given to those who repent and believe. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:52.000 I think it's also an encouragement when we look back to verse 16. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:57.000 Let us hold true brothers of what we have attained. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:02.000 We have attained this heavenly citizenship. Let us live in light of this. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:10.000 Lastly, my third point is this. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.000 If you take from the passage. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:19.000 The Gospel makes a demand for our whole hearted affection. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:30.000 Now look, we have already covered in the space of Philippians. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.000 This is a very emotional letter. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.000 Paul is very emotional when he is writing. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:38.000 In verse 1 of chapter 4. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.000 My brother is whom I love and long for. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.000 My joy and my crown. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:53.000 His affection for the Christians is shown also at the beginning of chapter 1, verse 8. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.000 God is my witness how I yearn for you. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:59.000 For all affection for Christ Jesus. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.000 So he has affection for the believers. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:04.000 You also see he has affection for Christ. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:07.000 He considers everything rubbish. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.000 He might know Christ Jesus. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:16.000 And here in this passage we see he also has affection for unbelievers. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.000 The cure of verse 18. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.000 Very powerful. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:25.000 For many of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:30.000 Walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:35.000 Who is it that Paul is crying for? 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:40.000 Most probably these are people who showed signs of believing. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:43.000 They showed signs of believing in Christ. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.000 And he told the Philippians about this. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:49.000 But then they turned their back on the Gospel. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.000 And it grieves them. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.000 And they said, should we be surprised? 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:56.000 Should we be surprised? 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.000 Should we be surprised that this happened? 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:00.000 Should we be surprised when it does happen? 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.000 No. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:02.000 We shouldn't. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.000 Why? 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:06.000 We can think of Jesus' own teaching. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.000 The power of the sower. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.000 In the sower sows the seed, the word of God. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.000 Some falls on the good soil. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.000 It grows up, it bears fruits. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:19.000 Some falls on the rocky ground. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.000 It starts to grow. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:25.000 But when the sun and the hardships of this world come against it, 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.000 it withers and perishes. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.000 Because its roots have not been found deeply. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:34.000 Should we be surprised? 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.000 No. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:37.000 Should we be grieved? 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:42.000 Should our hearts be broken? 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:48.000 Is Paul just one of these emotional kind of guys? 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:53.000 Or is this something we also need to be imitating him in? 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:59.000 I think it becomes very clear when we look at Christ's own example for us. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:03.000 When Christ came to Jerusalem, 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:09.000 He looked out over the city for those who only days later would crucify Him. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.000 He wept. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.000 He wept. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:12.000 He wept. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.000 He wept for His enemies. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:20.000 I want to say something very plainly now. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:26.000 I want to say something bluntly, if not for your benefit then for my own benefit. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:37.000 When we fail, when we fail to be grieved for our unbelieving neighbors, colleagues, friends and family. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:49.000 When we fail to be grieved, it is a clear and unmistakable sign for us that we are not living in a knowledge of God's grace. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:56.000 How can I say that? 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.000 Well this is the gospel. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 Once we were alienated from God. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:14.000 Once we were enemies in our minds towards God because of our evil behavior. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:19.000 Once we were far from Him. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:28.000 Once we have done nothing in word or deed, fault, ambition, except to war against Him and force an offense. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:41.000 When we were brought into His presence, clothed in rags of filth and hungry, deserving only His judgment. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:43.000 He had mercy on us. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:47.000 He fed us with His bread of life. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.000 He robed us in clothes worthy of royalty. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.000 He cleansed us by His blood. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.000 He adopted us as sons. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.000 This is the gospel. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.000 We were enemies. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:06.000 We were enemies and He reconciled us by Christ's physical body. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:11.000 Through death to present His holiness sight. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:16.000 He reconciled us making peace by His blood shed on the cross. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.000 This is the gospel. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:23.000 Now if we are living within this knowledge of God's grace. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.000 We are living within the knowledge of God's grace. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.000 If we were enemies. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:32.000 Now we have been reconciled only by His grace. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:35.000 Then how can we fail to be grieved 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:45.000 for those who without God's grace stand as enemies and waiting His destruction. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:51.000 There is a deep need on our part. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:59.000 To daily and continually set our eyes on the gospel and Jesus Christ. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:06.000 Because we are quick to forget the work that God has done and is doing in our lives. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:10.000 The gospel demands our affections. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.000 And I think if we don't really get to this point. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.000 If we don't get this and we don't understand it. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:20.000 We are going to struggle with what Paul is doing here in the letter of Philippians. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:26.000 Because the Philippian church knew the gospel. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.000 They had accepted the gospel. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.000 You read it. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:33.000 He is not trying to convince them of the basic tenets of the gospel. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:38.000 He is writing to spur them on in their loop of faith. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.000 His heart is that their affection would be set on Christ. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.000 That love would abound more and more. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:49.000 Take a look here. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:52.000 Chapter 1 verse 9. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.000 It is my prayer. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:59.000 Your love may abound more and more. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:01.000 Acknowledge and will discern me. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.000 It is not enough. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.000 Saints. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:09.000 It is not enough just to know what the gospel is. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.000 You have to live it. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.000 You have to. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.000 It has to. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.000 It demands your emotions. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.000 It demands your affections. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:19.000 And this I think should also be apparent in closing. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:24.000 That God's love may abound in us. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.000 Let's pray.