TEACHING NOTES Introduction Last Sunday we began a study of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. This is the most joyful letter from Paul in the New Testament. But joy is not the main subject of the letter. Faithfulness is main subject. Paul wants us to know how to live out our faith in Christ. ‌ Main Theme of the Series ‌ Philippians 2:12–13 12 Therefore…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ‌ Work out = Grk. katergazesthe - continue to do, bring about, produce. ‌ Work out = Keep living out (faithfulness) ‌ To have faith is to be faithful. ‌ It is God who works in you = Faithfulness is our cooperation with God’s work. ‌ How to Live Out Your Salvation: Phil. 1:1-11 — Partnership in the Gospel Phil. 1:12-26 — Live for Christ and Others ‌ Philippians 1:12–14 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. ‌ What has happened to me = Paul is referring to the fact that he is in prison (possibly in Ephesus). The church in Philippi was concerned and even afraid that Paul is suffering and may be executed. Paul is going to encourage them by explaining that his imprisonment is actually a good thing. ‌ Really served to advance the gospel = Paul has come to realize that being in prison has turned out to be a good thing. In other words, the Gospel is spreading in the prison. ‌ Whole imperial guard = This refers to the prison guards. ‌ My imprisonment is for Christ = The guards and the other inmates know why Paul is in prison. Apparently, Paul had been sharing the Gospel to everyone in the prison. They now know that Paul is imprisoned because Christ wants to save everyone—both the guards and prisoners. ‌ Confident for the Lord = The fact that the Gospel is advancing even in prison has made other Christians become more confident (Grk. peitho - convinced) in the truth of the Gospel. ‌ Much more bold to speak the word without fear = This “confidence in the Lord” has led these other Christians to be more bold or courageous to share the Gospel. ‌ God Wastes Nothing: God used Paul’s imprisonment to reach guards and prisoners, while also strengthening the faith of the church. ‌ What seems like the worst situation in your life may actually be what uses to advance the kingdom of God to others. ‌ Philippians 1:15–17 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ‌ Some preach Christ from envy and rivalry = Literally, “some because of jealousy and strife.” Even in Paul’s lifetime there were people preaching the Gospel for selfish gain and in competition against Paul and other apostles. These kinds of preachers are only in ministry to gain influence and popularity to increase their own status. In 2 Corinthians 11:13 Paul says, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” ‌ But others from good will = Just as there are bad preachers, there are also good preachers. It’s easy to focus on all the bad preachers we see today, but God has already preserved a remnant of faithful servants. Find the good ones and ignore the bad ones. ‌ The latter do it out of love = Notice that love is what drives faithful servants of Christ—not jealousy and strife. ‌ I am put here for defending the gospel = Paul was arrested on several occasions for various reasons. Sometimes the Jews reported him to the Romans and made false accusations against him. Sometimes the pagans were angry that the spread of the Gospel was changing their culture and/or costing them money. The most serious reason was that Paul claimed that Jesus is Lord—not Caesar—and this was considered treason against Rome. ‌ Selfish ambition, not sincerely = These false apostles were only preaching to gain a following and probably to gain donations. They were not sincere in their faith at all. It was all a show for personal gain. ‌ Thinking to afflict me = These false apostles wanted to diminish Paul’s ministry in order to gain more followers for themselves. ‌ Philippians 1:18 18 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,” ‌ In pretense or in truth = The Greek word for “pretense” here is prophasis, which means “to put on a show” or “to use as a cover or mask.” ‌ Christ is proclaimed = Even though there were false apostles preaching the Gospel with the wrong motives, the Gospel was still being preached. Even bad preachers can preach the truth. People can still come to Christ through the preaching of an insincere preacher. ‌ In that I rejoice = With all that was against Paul—being imprisoned and having false apostles as enemies—he was still rejoicing. Why? Because the mission of God was still working in the world. ‌ Philippians 1:19–20 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ‌ Through your prayers = The fact that the Philippian church was praying for Paul gave him comfort and joy. When we’re suffering it helps to know that people love you and are praying for you. ‌ The help of the Spirit = Not only does Paul have Christians praying for him, but he is also comforted by the “help” (Grk. epichoregia - support, provision) of the Spirit of Jesus (the Holy Spirit). A survey of Paul’s writings reveal that he relied heavily on the work of the Holy Spirit in his own life and he taught that the work of the Holy Spirit was vital to the Christian life. ‌ This will turn out for my deliverance = The Greek word for “deliverance” here soteria, which is also the word for salvation. Paul was confident that no matter what happened to him it would be for his deliverance—whether by death or by being released. ‌ That I will not be ashamed = Shame was an important issue in ancient cultures, and especially in Roman culture. Once a person was shamed it was nearly impossible to regain honor. Paul wants to finish well and be honored by God as a faithful servant. The last thing Paul wants to do is deny Christ and bring shame on the Gospel and mission of God. ‌ Whether by life or by death = In Paul’s mind, dying for sharing the Gospel brought honor to Christ. We also see this attitude in Acts 5:41 “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.” ‌ Philippians 1:21–24 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ‌ To live is Christ = If Paul is allowed to remain alive, that will only lead to more people hearing the Gospel. His life is for Christ. ‌ To die is gain = If Paul is executed, he gets to be with Christ. Paul considers death as personal gain because being with Christ is far better. ‌ Hard pressed between the two = Paul torn between his desire to remain alive and serve Christ on earth or to die and be with Christ. This attitude is very different from how most Christians think. We are constantly trying to avoid death. ‌ To depart and be with Christ = Paul believed it was “far better” (Grk. polys mallon kreisson - very much more better) to die and be with Christ. Paul’s belief that he would be with Christ upon his death tells us what we can expect at our death. We do not go somewhere to wait (as in the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory). When a believer dies, they are with Christ and Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ‌ To remain is necessary on your account = Paul realized that his life is to be lived for the sake of others. If Paul survives he confidently plans to continue serving God by starting and helping churches all over the known world. ‌ Philippians 1:25–26 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. ‌ Convinced of this = Paul is convinced that he will not be executed so the Philippians can see their prayers answered. ‌ For your progress and joy = Paul wants to continue serving the church so they can see progress in their faith, which leads to joy. ‌ Ample cause to glory in Christ = If we’re honest, we all have ample cause to glory in Christ. He has done far more for us than we can imagine. ‌ Conclusion Christians are called to deny themselves for the sake of Christ and others. ‌ Who are you living for?