The Fourth is Persecution. When we stand firm and partner together in the Gospel, be sure that persecution will come because of the gospel. Persecution comes in many forms today:
-Mocked because of faith
-being falsely accused or slandered because of your faith
-being hated
-losing employment
-imprisonment
-martyrdom
Paul was in prison because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, “…it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” (1:13). The Philippians we’re very acquainted with Paul’s suffering. In the first days of his finding the church as recorded in Acts 16, he was beaten and thrown into prison because of the gospel. They saw early on the opposition to the message of Jesus Christ.
But the Philippians didn’t just observe that persecution; they were themselves being persecuted like Paul. In chapter 1 verse 29-30 Paul says, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
He not only acknowledges their suffering, but, informs them that their persecution is a privilege from God: “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ to suffer for him”. It is a privilege because it is a participation with God when you suffer like Him. It’s as if Paul was saying not only have you been brought to believe on the name of Christ, which is an eternally blessed privilege, but, you even can have a deeper knowledge of Christ the Lord because you are suffering for Him and like Him. Paul talks further on this in chapter 3 verse 10 when he says, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings”. The word fellowship is that same word again, “kononia”, and Paul is saying when we suffer like Christ we are suffering with Christ and there is a closeness with our Lord that only happens through it.
The Fifth is Practice. Practicing the gospel. Or, as Paul says in 1:27, “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.” When a church is partnered in the gospel it practices a lifestyle that is worthy of the gospel. Paul said in 1:25 that he was confident that he would remain alive and be able to see them again so that they may have progress and joy in their faith.
We need each other, we need our partners in the gospel, so that we can progress in our faith and grow in our obedience to the Lord. People who say that they don’t need to be in church to be a Christian are technically right – you need to believe in Jesus Christ – but, practically wrong. If you have been saved like the others around you, there is a duty and a desire to be a part of the kononia, the fellowship with others who are your partners in the gospel.
Paul speaks a number of times regarding the Philippians conduct. In 2:13, he says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” God is the One who is at work in the believer’s life to create the desire and to behaviors that are consistent with His purpose. God saved us so that we would be “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which [we] shine like stars in the universe”.
It’s important to note that we weren’t saved from our sin so that we could continue to sin. In other words, the gospel of salvation is not a license to sin. Our morality is to shine like the stars in the universe as Paul says in 2:15. Stars are lights in a dark sky. Rather, our faith in Jesus Christ is freedom from sin to live in obedience to God.
Paul practiced this gospel lifestyle. As their partner in the gospel, he gave the Philippians an example to follow in their conduct. In chapter 3 verse 17“Join with others in following my example, brothers, take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” And he reiterates in 4:9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.” A church that is partnered together in the gospel practices a lifestyle that is worthy of the gospel.
The Sixth is Promise. There is promise for those who are partnered in the gospel. First, Paul speaks of the promise of the return of Jesus Christ. In 3:20 he says, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Lord has promised He will return and Paul expected it. Those who were in fellowship with him in the gospel – his partners in the gospel – they expected it too. And we are to live with the eager expectation too that our Lord Jesus Christ will return.
A second promise Paul mentions to the Philippians is in verse 21. He says that Jesus Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Speaking on this verse, John Walvoord says:
"our vile body, or body of humiliation, will be transformed and fashioned according to the pattern of the glorious resurrection body of Christ. This will be a demonstration of divine power of the One who is able to subdue all things unto Himself. Our present body will be transformed into a body that will last forever, a body that will not know pain, or disease, or sin. It will be a body that is timeless in its character and will never wear out. It will be suited in holiness for the glorious presence of the Lord. This does not mean that our bodies will have divine attributes such as God alone possesses, but our resurrection bodies will reflect to some extent the beauty, the glory, and the holiness which is in the resurrection body of our Lord in heaven..." (1)
When we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and become partners in the gospel, we also receive promises that are yet to be fulfilled. We have things to look forward to. One of the virtues of a church that is partnered in the gospel is that there is an expectation in the air – an eager anticipation of the One we hope for. Our Lord is coming back and faith will be done and we will see Him face to face. Our eyes will be brand new and so will our bodies because the Lord promises that by His power he will transform our lowly bodies into glorious ones like His. This is our hope, and this is why Paul says to in Colossians, “set your hearts …and minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
The Seventh is Provide. As we talk about the kononia, or fellowship we share in together, we share in each others needs too. Being partners means meeting each others needs. The letter to the Philippians really is a thank you for the help they have given Paul. They sent Paul money many times when he was in need. Paul mentions this in 4:10, 14-16.
Conclusion:
What I want us to walk away with today is knowing that we are partners in the gospel. And by being partners in the gospel these 7 virtues that we learn from Philippians are the make-up of a church that is partnered together in the gospel.
If you’re here today and you do not believe in Jesus Christ I want to tell you that today you can become a partner; you can become part of the fellowship of believers. More importantly you can enter into a fellowship with God and his Son Jesus Christ if today you are ready to put your trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. You cannot be made a partner by attending church, by being a good person or doing good things, or by any other way except believing in the name of Jesus Christ. God says that our good works are not good enough. They amount to nothing in God’s sight. You have to be made a partner through receiving forgiveness of your sins through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
(1), http://bible.org/seriespage/chapter-3-we-look-savior
-Mocked because of faith
-being falsely accused or slandered because of your faith
-being hated
-losing employment
-imprisonment
-martyrdom
Paul was in prison because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, “…it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” (1:13). The Philippians we’re very acquainted with Paul’s suffering. In the first days of his finding the church as recorded in Acts 16, he was beaten and thrown into prison because of the gospel. They saw early on the opposition to the message of Jesus Christ.
But the Philippians didn’t just observe that persecution; they were themselves being persecuted like Paul. In chapter 1 verse 29-30 Paul says, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
He not only acknowledges their suffering, but, informs them that their persecution is a privilege from God: “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ to suffer for him”. It is a privilege because it is a participation with God when you suffer like Him. It’s as if Paul was saying not only have you been brought to believe on the name of Christ, which is an eternally blessed privilege, but, you even can have a deeper knowledge of Christ the Lord because you are suffering for Him and like Him. Paul talks further on this in chapter 3 verse 10 when he says, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings”. The word fellowship is that same word again, “kononia”, and Paul is saying when we suffer like Christ we are suffering with Christ and there is a closeness with our Lord that only happens through it.
The Fifth is Practice. Practicing the gospel. Or, as Paul says in 1:27, “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.” When a church is partnered in the gospel it practices a lifestyle that is worthy of the gospel. Paul said in 1:25 that he was confident that he would remain alive and be able to see them again so that they may have progress and joy in their faith.
We need each other, we need our partners in the gospel, so that we can progress in our faith and grow in our obedience to the Lord. People who say that they don’t need to be in church to be a Christian are technically right – you need to believe in Jesus Christ – but, practically wrong. If you have been saved like the others around you, there is a duty and a desire to be a part of the kononia, the fellowship with others who are your partners in the gospel.
Paul speaks a number of times regarding the Philippians conduct. In 2:13, he says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” God is the One who is at work in the believer’s life to create the desire and to behaviors that are consistent with His purpose. God saved us so that we would be “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which [we] shine like stars in the universe”.
It’s important to note that we weren’t saved from our sin so that we could continue to sin. In other words, the gospel of salvation is not a license to sin. Our morality is to shine like the stars in the universe as Paul says in 2:15. Stars are lights in a dark sky. Rather, our faith in Jesus Christ is freedom from sin to live in obedience to God.
Paul practiced this gospel lifestyle. As their partner in the gospel, he gave the Philippians an example to follow in their conduct. In chapter 3 verse 17“Join with others in following my example, brothers, take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” And he reiterates in 4:9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.” A church that is partnered together in the gospel practices a lifestyle that is worthy of the gospel.
The Sixth is Promise. There is promise for those who are partnered in the gospel. First, Paul speaks of the promise of the return of Jesus Christ. In 3:20 he says, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Lord has promised He will return and Paul expected it. Those who were in fellowship with him in the gospel – his partners in the gospel – they expected it too. And we are to live with the eager expectation too that our Lord Jesus Christ will return.
A second promise Paul mentions to the Philippians is in verse 21. He says that Jesus Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Speaking on this verse, John Walvoord says:
"our vile body, or body of humiliation, will be transformed and fashioned according to the pattern of the glorious resurrection body of Christ. This will be a demonstration of divine power of the One who is able to subdue all things unto Himself. Our present body will be transformed into a body that will last forever, a body that will not know pain, or disease, or sin. It will be a body that is timeless in its character and will never wear out. It will be suited in holiness for the glorious presence of the Lord. This does not mean that our bodies will have divine attributes such as God alone possesses, but our resurrection bodies will reflect to some extent the beauty, the glory, and the holiness which is in the resurrection body of our Lord in heaven..." (1)
When we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and become partners in the gospel, we also receive promises that are yet to be fulfilled. We have things to look forward to. One of the virtues of a church that is partnered in the gospel is that there is an expectation in the air – an eager anticipation of the One we hope for. Our Lord is coming back and faith will be done and we will see Him face to face. Our eyes will be brand new and so will our bodies because the Lord promises that by His power he will transform our lowly bodies into glorious ones like His. This is our hope, and this is why Paul says to in Colossians, “set your hearts …and minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
The Seventh is Provide. As we talk about the kononia, or fellowship we share in together, we share in each others needs too. Being partners means meeting each others needs. The letter to the Philippians really is a thank you for the help they have given Paul. They sent Paul money many times when he was in need. Paul mentions this in 4:10, 14-16.
Conclusion:
What I want us to walk away with today is knowing that we are partners in the gospel. And by being partners in the gospel these 7 virtues that we learn from Philippians are the make-up of a church that is partnered together in the gospel.
If you’re here today and you do not believe in Jesus Christ I want to tell you that today you can become a partner; you can become part of the fellowship of believers. More importantly you can enter into a fellowship with God and his Son Jesus Christ if today you are ready to put your trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. You cannot be made a partner by attending church, by being a good person or doing good things, or by any other way except believing in the name of Jesus Christ. God says that our good works are not good enough. They amount to nothing in God’s sight. You have to be made a partner through receiving forgiveness of your sins through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
(1), http://bible.org/seriespage/chapter-3-we-look-savior
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