Sermon Series:

Philippians: Our Joy in the God Who Saves

Look Out, Look Out, Look Out!

A drastic change of tone, halfway through this letter suggests Paul has received word about heretics troubling the church. Peaceable Paul has very harsh labels for these ‘dogs’ and their ‘careless cutting.’ Then he hauls out his old resume, when he was living in/for the flesh. But now, he puts no confidence in it.

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Mercy, Risk, Sorrow, and Joy

Epaphroditus is given a glowing five-fold commendation by Paul, all of them elaborations on being a faithful servant. This is the God-chosen conclusion to a chapter about putting the interests of others ahead of our own (a.k.a., a beautiful life).

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Christ-Interest

The apostle of joy gave himself leave to lament, for a verse, that most people in his experience (even Christians) were more self-interested than Christ-interested. Timothy, Paul’s son in the Lord, was different. We should examine & emulate lives & hearts like his.

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Innocence & Gospel Witness

Paul continues to help Christians like us to understand what God wants from us ‘in a crooked & depraved generation.’ The heavenly luminaries can help us here!

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Working Out Your Salvation

Several common falsehoods confront us as we seek to grow in Christ & love our fellow believers: Thinking we have nothing to do with our sanctification, or that God has nothing to do with it; then proudly claiming I don’t need the church in order to serve God faithfully, or that I can never obey God if I must be alone.

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…So the Father Exalted the Son

God does not call us to enjoy humiliation nor submit to it for its own sake. Jesus who was greatly humbled was then exalted to the highest place by His well-pleased Father. We respond in our worship of the Son, enjoying our exaltation in Him, and humbly serving one another … first within the household of faith.

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Jesus Christ Humbled Himself

Paul in the Spirit could think of no greater example of humility-for-purpose than our Lord Jesus. He did not give up divinity for even a moment, but deprived Himself of its glories & privileges, for a time. He is worthy of our praise, long before we get to the eternal exaltation.

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The Attitude Which Was in Christ

We are called to have the mind or attitude of Christ Jesus, which is equivalent to being a healthy tree which produces good fruit for God. Humility & others centeredness are two aspects. All this, only if we have experienced ANY encouragement from Christ!

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This Gospel-Worthy Life

An early, practical application in this letter is to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. We do so by sending away all hypocrisy, standing firm in the gospel together, staying alert, and suffering for our faith. Our conduct is one way to measure the gospel’s worth to us!

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Not Ashamed in Life and in Death

Once the great fear of death is resolved (getting to the point we are at peace about God making the choice plus all the circumstances of timing & details), we can focus on Paul’s main concern, that he will be faithful to God & His gospel in life and in death. And we WILL be faithful because God is faithful to us.

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