Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:1-8)

What does a healthy church and its members look like? Many of us don’t know what a right relationship with the church looks like because of bad models or bad experiences. As a military kid, I struggled with having a healthy relationship with the church.

The fact that we were so transient kept me from ever really investing or allowing myself to really be invested in. We found a new church home for a few years, attended, and then we left.

Many of us have similar experiences. But, Paul’s relationship with the Philippians shows us a model relationship with a church.

The letter to the Philippians is very unique. It’s unique because many of Paul’s letters deal with rebuke and correcting sin or false doctrine, as seen in the letters to Corinth and Galatia. In those letters, he began by declaring his apostleship. He declared his right to correct the issues going on in these churches. But in the letter to the Philippians, he introduces himself as a servant (or slave) of Christ (v. 1). Paul writes to them as a friend updating them on his current circumstances and encouraging them in their faith. In fact, one of the themes of this letter is joy—his joy in God and his joy over the Philippians.

Paul, at the time he wrote the letter, was imprisoned in Rome awaiting his sentence. He was chained to a Roman guard and was under house arrest (cf. Acts 28:16). It would seem like a time of great sorrow—the potential end of dreams and aspirations—but not for Paul. It was a time of great joy as he considered this wonderful church and God’s faithfulness.

In this letter, specifically verses 3-8, we will see a picture of what healthy church members look like. In fact, he uses this church as a model for other churches. Consider what he says to the Corinthians:

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

As we study this passage, we should ask ourselves, “Is my church spiritually healthy?” “Am I a spiritually healthy church member?” And if not, “In what ways can I help improve this?” In this study, we will consider seven signs of healthy church members.

Big Question: What signs of healthy church members can be discerned from Paul’s relationship with the Philippian church and how can we apply these to our lives?

Healthy Church Members Think of One Another Often

I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3)

We cannot but stand in awe at the thoughts of a man in prison awaiting the possibility of death (cf. Philip 1:20). Yet, while in this horrible circumstance, his thoughts continually came before the Lord in praise for the faithfulness of this church.

While many deserted Paul during his time in prison (cf. Phil 1:17), the Philippian church cared for him, prayed for him, and supported his ministry. They were a faithful church.

Again, we must consider the typical reaction of people going through a difficult time. We often are prone to becoming self-centered—thinking that the world revolves around us. We become consumed with our problems and our circumstances, but this was not true of Paul.

Despite imprisonment, Paul constantly thought about this church and thanked God for them. How about us? Do you often think about the members of your congregation and thank God for them? This is a sign of spiritual health.

Christ’s Example

Did we not see this with Christ? Listen to what Hebrews 12:2 said about Christ’s thoughts as he endured the cross: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

What was the “joy set before” Christ? It was his church. Like Paul, Jesus, in his hour of distress, focused his thoughts on those for whom he was suffering. While on the cross, he thought about believers—those who would spend eternity with him—and it gave him joy. They were the “joy set before him.”

Saints, as we consider what healthy church members look like, we must ask ourselves, “Do we continually think of one another?” Are thoughts of the members of our church always coming to our mind even in the midst of a busy week or a trial? Do these thoughts cause us to thank God?

Application Question: What type of thoughts should we have and to what should they lead us? 

Hebrews 10:24 says this: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” The writer of Hebrews said that church members should “consider” how they can spur one another toward love and good deeds. During the week, church members should continually think about how they can help each other love God more and love one another more—how they can help each other use their spiritual gifts for the kingdom. This is a sign of being spiritually healthy—thinking about how to help each other grow.

When someone prospers in the church, we should rejoice with them. When someone is sick, we should pray for them. When somebody mourns, we should weep with them. We should constantly think about how to stir up one another to love God and others.

Practically, when we think often of one another, it leads to acts of service. These simple acts of service might look like writing an encouraging letter, as Paul did, or taking someone to lunch to get to know them or to pray for them.

Application Question: In what ways is God calling you to consider the members of your congregation so you can stir them toward love and good deeds?

Bitter Thoughts toward God’s Church

In the same way that pleasant thoughts of the church are a sign of spiritual health, unpleasant thoughts are a sign of spiritual sickness. Woe to us when our thoughts of Christ’s church are unkind, jealous, angry, or bitter! Woe to us when we have negative emotions towards those for whom Christ died! James 3:14-16 says this:

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Many church members harbor these types of thoughts and emotions. Perhaps their church experienced a split, the pastor had a moral failure, or the members were political. Therefore, their thoughts of church turned unpleasant. But, we must remember that the Philippian church wasn’t perfect either. People grumbled and complained in the church (Phil 2:13-14). False teachers were in the church (Phil 3:2), and two women were fighting in the church (4:2). In fact, when Christ joyfully thought about us on the cross, he was aware of all our failures—we are far from perfect.

If Christ on the cross had joy thinking about his church, if Paul in prison had encouraging thoughts about the Philippians, even though they were imperfect, how much more should we have pleasant thoughts about our church throughout the week?

Application Question: If we harbor bitterness and anger towards God’s church, what should we do? 

1. We should forgive those who harmed and failed us in the church. Paul taught we should forgive just as Christ forgave us (Col 3:13).
2. We should pray for them. Christ said: “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).
3. We should serve them as an act of love. Consider Romans 12:20-21:
4. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

As we love them practically through forgiving, praying, and serving, we will find that our hearts will change towards them. God’s grace will change our hearts toward his church.

Application Question: How are your thoughts towards the church? Are they full of bitterness, joy, or apathy? How is God calling you to work on your heart?

Healthy Church Members Pray for One Another Often

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy (Philippians 1:4)

Here we see another aspect of Paul’s relationship with the Philippians, and thus a characteristic of healthy church members. He constantly prayed for the church. He said he always prayed for the church with joy.

Intercessory prayer underscored many of Paul’s relationships with churches. Consider what he said in Romans 1:9-10: “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times.”

What’s most challenging about this is that he had never visited the Roman church (cf. Rom 1:13). Despite that, he said God witnessed how he constantly prayed for them at all times. For Paul, intercessory prayer for the church was not something done on occasion but constantly. He came before God and called the churches and members by name. Intercession for churches is a re-occurring theme in his epistles.

In fact, in many of his letters, he told them exactly what he prayed.  In Ephesus, he prayed that they would have the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God more (1:17). He prayed for the church to be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man (3:16). He also prayed that they would know the depth, the height, and the width of Christ’s love for them (3:17-19). For the Colossians, he prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, that they would walk worthy of the Lord, and also bear fruit in every good work (1:9-10). Later in this letter to the Philippians, he prayed that their love for one another would grow in knowledge and wisdom so they could discern what was best (1:9-10).

Certainly, we should take lessons from Paul not only on our need to pray but also on how to pray for the church. We never see Paul praying for people’s needs, wants, or even healing in the epistles. He always prayed for the church to grow in love, to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, to know God more, etc. These are the primary types of prayers we should bring before the Lord for our churches as well. It’s not that the temporal doesn’t matter; it’s just that the spiritual is more important because it’s eternal. We should remember one another every day in prayer, even as Paul did for the churches.

Constant intercession for the church shows a healthy spiritual life. But, lack of intercession flows out of an unhealthy spiritual life. When a Christian is unhealthy, his prayers will primarily be selfish—concerned with one’s own needs.

Example of Christ

If Paul’s example were not enough, we must also consider Christ’s. Right before he went to the cross he prayed, “Father, I pray that you would sanctify them by your truth—your word is truth” (John 17:17, paraphrase). Help the disciples and those who will believe in me grow through hearing and studying the Word of God; let it be like food for them. He prays, “Father, make them one as we are one” (v. 20-22, paraphrase). Help them to be a unified church. He also prayed, “Father, keep them from the evil one” (17:15). Protect your saints from every attack of the devil.

Not only did Christ pray before going to the cross, he now prays in heaven for the church. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” When we continually intercede for the church, we are connected to our head, Christ.

Saints, do you remember the church in your prayers daily? Do you bring struggling members of the church before the Father to receive his grace?

Example of Godly Pastors

I’ve studied the disciplines of other godly pastors and found that they often practice very similar disciplines as Paul and Christ. Many times they seek to cover every member in the church by name throughout the week or month.

They might list all the church members, divide them by seven, and pray for each throughout the week. Or they divide that list by thirty and pray for each member throughout the month. This is a good discipline that we should consider adopting.

Prayer for the Universal Church and Local Churches

In addition, we should not only pray for our local church, but for the universal church and other specific congregations, even as Paul did. When Scripture talks about the church being the body (Eph 4:4), many times we think first of our local church, but that is incorrect. The reality is our local church is not the body—it is only part of the body. The church universal is the body, and we should continuously pray for it, since we are connected to it and dependent upon it. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul actually commands us to pray this way. He says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” We should be alert and “always” keep on praying for “all saints.”

How is your prayer life? How often do you pray for your local church? How often do you intercede for the church universal? Christ did, so did Paul, and so should we.

Saints, we must understand how important this is—prayer is the power of the church. When the church becomes prayerless, it begins to die and becomes fruitless. This is also true of our spiritual lives. Healthy church members pray often for the church.

Application Question: How would you rate your prayer life 1-10? What tips or practices have you found effective in cultivating your prayer life?

Healthy Church Members Have Gospel Fellowship

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:5-6)

Next, Paul tells the church why he was so thankful and prayerful for them. He cites their partnership in the gospel. “Partnership” in Greek is the word “koinonia,” which also translates as “fellowship.” It simply means “to have in common with.”

Most of our friendships are based on koinoinia. We partner with people because they share similar cultural experiences, similar hobbies, or similar dreams. In the same way, healthy churches and church members share a similar partnership—a partnership of the gospel.

Interpretation Question: What does gospel fellowship or “partnership in the gospel” mean?

1. Gospel partnership means people have been saved by the same gospel—the same good news.
2. Gospel partnership means people partner with one another to spread the gospel. 

Paul probably focused on the latter, which is also a sign of a healthy congregation. When each member shares a common passion and ministry of spreading the gospel, it creates a tremendous fellowship. The Philippians partnered with Paul’s ministry by supporting him financially and meeting his practical needs. In fact, they sent Epaphroditus to care for him while in prison (Phil 2:25), and their partnership with Paul in gospel ministry created a special bond between them. And this is true for healthy churches and church members as well.

However, let us hear this: Most members of the church know nothing about gospel fellowship. They come to church based on the fact that they share a common ethnicity or socio-economic status. They are all black, white, yellow, rich, poor, etc. That is not gospel fellowship.

You can tell it’s not gospel fellowship by changing the music, the carpet, or how you take the offering in most churches. A split might happen if you do this. However, when the fellowship or the “common thing” truly centers on the gospel, there is unity.

Gospel fellowship is one of the greatest intimacies we ever experience. At times, you may meet Christians and only fellowship with them for fifteen minutes and yet find deeper fellowship than with family members. This is because of the common bond of desiring and working to see all nations know Christ. Again, many Christians know nothing of this. It is a special bond shared by those who work and sacrifice to see others know Christ.

Consider what Christ said about this in Mark 10:29-30:

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Christ described the reward of sacrificing for the gospel as receiving brothers, sisters, mothers, and children. When he said this, he was talking about God’s reward of intimate, familial relationships for those who sacrificially serve the kingdom. However, many Christians never experience this reward—the gospel fellowship that Paul and the Philippians shared.

Have you experienced gospel fellowship? Are you experiencing it with your church?

Application Question: How can we develop a greater gospel fellowship in our lives and in our churches?

1. We develop gospel fellowship by gathering together to pray for the lost. 

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul tells Timothy that the church should pray for everyone because God desires that all be saved.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

This implies the church should gather to pray for “all men to be saved.” Do you partner with your church to pray for the lost? This creates gospel fellowship.

2. We develop gospel fellowship by serving together, as we build God’s kingdom through discipleship, evangelism, and missions.

This could be as simple as inviting people to church, evangelizing, serving, supporting missions, etc.

Do you invite people to church? Are you practicing personal evangelism with friends and church members? Are you supporting the work of missions? Are you partnering with your church to reach your city and the world for Christ? If not, your gospel fellowship will be weak or nonexistent. Healthy church members experience gospel fellowship.

Application Question: How would you characterize the fellowship of most churches? In what ways is God challenging you to foster gospel fellowship in your life and your church?

Healthy Church Members Have a Growing Confidence in God

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean by being “confident” that God would complete the “good work” he began in the Philippians till the day of Christ?

Confidence is simply another word for trust or faith. Paul had great faith in God that he would complete the work that he began in the Philippians until the day of Christ.

What work was Paul talking about? What work did he believe God would complete in the life of the Philippians? Romans 8:28-29 tells us. It says,

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

In Romans 8:28-29, Paul taught that God foreknew, meaning he chose, and predestined believers to be conformed to the image of his Son. In fact, he said that God works everything out to the good so these special people will conform to Christ’s image.

This means if a truly born again person backslides, somehow God uses that backsliding for the purpose of making him like Christ. It means for those truly born again, even when they stumble, they stumble in God’s direction. Even trials help a believer to look like Christ. It is a tremendous promise that believers should take great comfort in while going through trials and tribulations.

We are often quick to quote this verse, “God works all things to the good,” but we must remember that “good” means looking like Christ, being holy like him. Yes, we often quote it, but the question is “Do we really have confidence in it?”

Faith in God for our Walk

Let’s consider this truth first about ourselves. If we really have confidence that God is going to complete the work he began in our own lives, it should affect how we go through trials.

Application Question: How can I know if I lack faith in God to complete his work in me?

1. Be careful if you’re an anxious person. 

The anxious often become frantic or overwhelmed in their trials. This is because they lack confidence that the trial is ordained, the trial is chosen, and God is working in the trial to make them look like Christ. Consider these verses:

When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?(Amos 3:6)

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)

Do you believe that God is in control and that he works every situation for your good? Or are you a worrier and an anxious person? Worry shows a lack of faith in God.

2. Be careful if you’re prone to anger or depression over your failures.

Being impatient with God or yourself also shows a lack of trust in God. These Christians often become angry at God and sometimes very angry at themselves when they fail. They get very frustrated when they fail and struggle to get back up after stumbling.

We must consider that our trials are meant to make us know God more and to have greater trust or confidence in him. In our trials and failures, God desires to draw us closer to him through his Word, prayer, and the saints. He even uses our failures to help us hate our sin so we can turn away from it and learn how to get rid of it (cf. Matt 5:30).

The situation that causes us to doubt God and fall into depression, God intends it as a breeding ground for greater faith. Let your faith in God grow, as you draw near him.

Faith in God for Others

Application Question: How can I know if I lack faith in God to complete his work in others?

We first looked at what it means to grow in faith in our own spiritual lives, but Paul in this text spoke about believing God to work in the lives of others. He was confident in God despite the Philippians’ complaints (2:14), false teaching (3:2), and discord (4:2). Paul believed God is faithful.

What does this look like? How can we know if we trust God to complete his work in others?

We can tell if we have “confidence in God” to complete his work in others by how we treat them, especially in conflict or when they fail us. Listen to what Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 2:24-26:

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Paul tells Timothy the Lord’s servant should not quarrel with people, but he should have a reputation of kindness, not resentment. Why? Paul says this person “hopes” or trusts in God to grant them repentance.

The Lord’s servant is gentle and gracious, even when in a disagreement, because he trusts in God. He has proper theology. He knows it is God who changes the hearts, not him.

He knows yelling at the person will not change him, because only God grants repentance and changes hearts. The servant of the Lord still teaches and challenges, but he does it in love, with gentleness, because he realizes only God transforms lives. Scripture says we plant the seed and water it, but God makes it grow (cf. 1 Cor 3:6).

How do you treat people during a conflict? Do you trust God is going to complete the work he began in them? Certainly, this doesn’t remove the need for rebuke or discipline. It just changes the manner because of our faith in God.

Are you an arguer? Are you resentful and unforgiving? If so your faith in God is small. Your confidence lies more in yourself or others, and therefore, you stay constantly frustrated.

We see an example of how Paul handled people in the church who disagreed with him in Philippians 3:15. It says, “All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.”

He understood that they might disagree with what he taught, but he essentially said this to them: “Stay open, God will make this clear to you.” I have confidence that God will reveal these things to you.

When you look at the church, you will find much disorder—fighting over doctrine, impatience, unforgiveness, and church splits. Part of this chaos springs from a lack of trust in God to complete the work he began in others.

Confidence in God often means waiting for him to make his will clear to people in his own timing. This doctrine will heal many marriages and many churches. It will heal the hearts of many people. We must learn to trust God to complete what he began in his followers.

God, like any good teacher, doesn’t teach us everything at once. If he did, we would become frustrated and overwhelmed. So, he patiently works on each area of our lives to conform us into the image of the Son. We must trust him—both in our lives and in others.

Application Question: How do you typically respond when you fail or others fail you? How can we as believers develop greater confidence in God’s perfect work for each believer’s life?

Healthy Church Members Love One Another

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart… God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:7-8)

Another characteristic of healthy church members is love for one another. Paul had a genuine love for this congregation. He said that he had them in his “heart” in verse 7 and that he longed for them with the affection of Christ in verse 8. He loved these believers.

In addition, the Philippians loved him. They sent Epaphroditus to care for Paul’s needs while he was in prison (Phil 2:25), and they supported him financially when no other church would (Phil 4:15). Paul loved this congregation, and they loved him.

In one sense, this should be true of every believer since Scripture teaches that love is a proof of salvation. First John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.”

Christ also taught that the world would identify believers by this love. In John 13:35, he said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Application Question: What does biblical love look like? How should we demonstrate it in the church?

1. Love is practical.

While Paul was in prison, the Philippians provided for his needs through Epaphroditus. Philippians 2:25 says, “But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.”

If Paul was sick, Epaphroditus probably got him medicine. If he needed materials to study or write, he probably provided it. No doubt, when he was discouraged, he listened. The Philippians met Paul’s practical needs, and we should do this for one another.

In addition, we see Paul’s concern for the Philippians as he writes a letter to encourage them in the faith. First John 3:18 reiterates the importance of the practical nature of love. It says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

2. Love is forgiving.

Peter said this about love: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Love covers a multitude of sins; love is forgiving. To support this, Warren Wiersbe shared a story of a husband who was interviewed on a radio station about his wife. Let’s consider the conversation:

“Tell us some of the blunders your wife has made,” a radio quizmaster asked a contestant.

“I can’t remember any,” the man replied.

“Oh, surely you can remember something!” the announcer said.

“No, I really can’t,” said the contestant. “I love my wife very much, and I just don’t remember things like that.”¹

This is very biblical. First Corinthians 13:5 says that “love keeps no record of wrongs.” Sadly, many members in the church are historians. They keep a long record of wrongs which dates back years. Whenever they discuss them, it’s like they’re fresh in their hearts—all the bitterness comes back. However, healthy church members love one another and practice forgiving one another.

Who is God calling you to forgive?

3. Love is sacrificial.

Jesus said this: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

Christ taught his disciples to love as he loved. How did he love us? Christ died for us. Therefore, sacrificing for others should characterize our lives. Certainly, we see this in Epaphroditus’ relationship with Paul. Epaphroditus left his home, job, and family to serve Paul who was in prison. While there, he gets sick and almost dies. His love was sacrificial.

In addition, Paul’s imprisonment demonstrated his sacrifice for the Philippians and other Gentiles. In Ephesians 3:1, he called himself “Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.” He suffered for the Gentiles. His love for the Philippians was sacrificial. We also see this sacrifice in the early church. In Acts 2:45, the early church sold all they owned to provide for the poor in the church. No doubt, all who saw them identified them as Christ’s followers (cf. John 13:34). Healthy church members love sacrificially.

Application Question: How is God challenging you to love the church more like Christ? How can we grow in this radical, Christlike love?

Healthy Church Members Share God’s Grace with One Another

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me (Philippians 1:7)

Next, Paul says it was right for him to have such deep seated thoughts, love, and affection for this church. It was appropriate because whether he was in prison, defending the Word of God, or preaching the Word of God, they shared in God’s grace with him.

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean by the Philippians sharing in God’s grace with him?

To share in God’s grace simply means they supported him as a ministry from God. When Paul had needs, the Philippian church supported and encouraged him. In fact in chapter 4, he talked about how no other church shared with him financially but them (Phil 4:14). They were there for him; they allowed themselves to be conduits of God’s grace to Paul.

Consider how Paul boasted about the Philippians when addressing the Corinthian church. Second Corinthians 8:1-2 says this:

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

He said that even though the Philippians, who were part of the Macedonian churches, were struggling themselves, God’s grace was manifest through them. In their great poverty, they gave exceedingly to support the struggling church in Jerusalem. Paul saw this giving as a grace of God. The Philippians allowed God to work through them.

This grace is not only seen in using our finances but specifically in using our spiritual gifts to build up others. Consider what Paul says in Romans 12:5-8:

so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

We share God’s grace by using our spiritual gifts to bless others. They are gifts of his grace. Some have the gift of mercy—meaning they can listen to people and feel their pain and empathize. Some have the gift of exhortation, the ability to challenge and encourage people. Many will not grow in their spiritual lives unless challenged. This is how the body of Christ grows. Paul said this in Ephesians 4:16: “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Churches grow as each person uses God’s grace to build one another up.

In a sense, God’s grace is not just about giving of one’s finances or using one’s spiritual gifts. It is using all of the abilities God gave us to advance his kingdom. Are you sharing the grace God gave you to build up his church? Are you allowing God to work through you to build up other Christians? This is a characteristic of spiritual health.

Are you using God’s grace? Or are you a lone ranger Christian, not serving or getting involved in the life of the church? It is possible for God’s grace to be without effect in us—meaning not used. Paul said this about the grace God gave him. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor 15:10).

In Paul’s life God’s grace was not without effect. This means he used God’s grace. He worked hard with it to build up God’s church. It must be the same for us. Sadly, very few in the church faithfully use God’s grace, which handicaps the church.

If the church is a body, then when one part is not working, it hinders the ministry of God’s church. Most churches are handicapped because the members do not exercise their gifts. It has been said that only 20% of the church does all the work. What about the other 80%? Can you imagine how effective churches would be if they were operating at 100% capacity?

What grace has God given you? In what ways is God calling you to get involved in your church? Some don’t have much time, but they come to church to greet people at the door. Some have a God-given ability to make money. He gave it so they could advance the kingdom through showing hospitality, giving, and living sacrificially.

A believer might be asking these questions, “How can I know what my spiritual gift is? How can I find it?”

Spiritual gifts are given to build up the church (1 Cor 12:7). One finds them by serving and getting involved with the body of Christ. In the midst of teaching, listening, serving, helping, leading, etc., you will find that God has given you grace in a certain area or areas. It will edify others and it will edify you (1 Cor 14:4).

In what way have you received grace? Healthy church members use God’s grace to build God’s church.

Application Question: What are your spiritual gifts? How do you feel God has called you to use it in building God’s church?

Healthy Church Members Long to Be with the Church

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:8)

Finally, Paul declared how he longed for the Philippians with the affections of Christ. “Affection” is an interesting word in the Greek. It is a medical word used for the bowels or intestines (cf. Acts 1:18). This word started to be used for compassion or affection since we often feel our greatest emotions in our stomach. When a person is nervous, he feels it in his stomach. When a person really likes someone, he often feels it right in his gut.

Essentially, Paul said that he felt the same affection Christ felt for them and that he desired to meet with them. Paul missed these saints while away in prison and desired to meet with them.

It’s the same for other healthy Christians. Because they are intimate with Christ, they feel his affection for the saints, and they continually want to meet with them.

Consider what Paul said in other passages about longing for the church:

But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us. (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18)

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. (2 Timothy 1:3-4)

in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong (Romans 1:10-11)

Paul longed to meet with the Philippians, with the Thessalonians, with Timothy, and even with the Romans whom he had never met. This is a sign of spiritual health in a Christian.

Listen, Saints, if you don’t long to meet with the church then something is wrong with your spiritual life. If you are growing in your relationship with Christ, then you will naturally grow in your love and longing for the church as well. Paul said I long for you with the loins of Christ—the very inner parts of Christ were yearning through Paul to be with this church.

I often hear Christians say, “Oh, I am a Christian, but I don’t need to go to church to practice my faith.” Yes, maybe you don’t need to, but you will want to if you are a true Christian and a healthy Christian at that. Love for Christians is a characteristic of genuine salvation, and when you really love someone, you always desire to meet with them. First John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” A lack of desire to meet with the church may prove a lack of love and therefore true salvation.

When one is saved, God gives him a love for the church. Romans 5:5 says, “the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” He gives believers the ability to love God and one another. And it is natural when you love someone to want to meet them and to long for them.

Since Christ died for the church and he lives in us, it will be natural to continually long for the one he died for. It will be natural to yearn with the affections of Christ.

Do you long for the church? Do you long to meet with brothers and sisters throughout the week for fellowship and prayer? Or does your “longing” for work, success, and wealth overtake Christ’s passion within you? Are you a healthy Christian?

Healthy Christians want to be with one another, and they meet as often as possible. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The early church who lived in the wake of Christ’s coming met every day from house to house breaking bread (Acts 2:46). Because they longed for one another, they met as much as possible. This natural desire should be growing in us “all the more” as we see the day approaching (Heb 10:25).

Do you long to meet with believers throughout the week? Do you want to live life with the people of God?

Interpretation Question: What are some of the reasons Paul longed to meet with believers?

Why did Paul long for them? Why should we long to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ? Here are a couple of healthy reasons:

1. Accountability

Listen again to 1 Thessalonians 3:5: “For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.”

We should desire to meet with believers to see how they are doing spiritually. We should meet with believers to find out the temperature in their spiritual life. We should ask them how their relationship with God is, their devotional life, their battle with temptation, etc. Paul wanted to know, so he sent Timothy to find out (1 Thess 3:2).

2. To Study the Bible

Romans 1:11 says, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong.”

Most commentators believe this spiritual gift was his teaching of the book of Romans and not a charismatic gift of some sort. He wanted to help them grow by teaching them the Word of God (cf. 1 Peter 2:2).

3. Mutual Encouragement

In Romans 1:11-12, we see another reason to meet together. He said, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.”

We should long to meet with others not just to give but also so we can receive—to be mutually encouraged by others’ faith. Similarly, Paul said this to Timothy: “Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy” (2 Tim 1:4).

I’m sure much of the depression in the church is because many do not have healthy fellowship with others. Paul longed not only to give, not only to check up on them, but also to receive and be encouraged. Oh, there is joy in meeting with the people of God! There is joy in the midst of God’s people!

What does your Christian fellowship look like? Are you longing? Do you long to see believers to impart a spiritual gift? Do you long to see them to make sure they have not been tempted by the devil? Do you long to see them for mutual encouragement?

Application Question: How is your longing to meet with the saints? How is God calling you to grow in this endeavor? Why is it so important?

Conclusion

What are signs of spiritually healthy church members?

1. Healthy Church Members Think of One Another Often
2. Healthy Church Members Pray for One Another Often
3. Healthy Church Members Have Gospel Fellowship
4. Healthy Church Members Have a Growing Confidence in God
5. Healthy Church Members Love One Another
6. Healthy Church Members Share God’s Grace with One Another
7. Healthy Church Members Long to Be with the Church

Application Question: How is God challenging you to grow in your relationship with his church?

¹ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 65). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:12-18)

What are characteristics of a mature witness for Christ—a mature evangelist?

As we look at Philippians 1:12-18, we see Paul’s description of the gospel being spread throughout Rome while he was imprisoned there. Paul had earlier stated his desire to preach in Rome (Romans 1:11-12). It was the most influential city in the world, and by reaching Rome, he would affect the entire world. However, he probably never thought he would reach Rome through imprisonment. At this point in Paul’s ministry, he had already been imprisoned for two years in Caesarea for preaching the gospel, and he was to be in prison for two more years in Rome. He was under house arrest with a Roman guard chained to him twenty-four hours a day. Yet, while there he says, “all that has happened has really served to advance the gospel” (v. 12). The word “advance” has the meaning of a pioneer advance. It was a military term used of an army advance; the army would go before everybody to clear the way into new territory.¹ While in prison, God used Paul to break new territory for the gospel, and others were following.  Here we see the ministry of a mature witness—a mature evangelist—who all of us can learn from.

It must be remembered that every believer is called to be a gospel pioneer as well. We are all missionaries in whatever context God has placed us—whether that be as a student, a teacher, a business man, or some other profession. Where ever God has placed us, he placed us there to be a witness. Matthew 28:18-19 says,

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We are all called to make disciples. We are all called to be pioneers—mature witnesses—who spread the gospel to places where people have never heard it. However, if we are honest, many of us would admit to struggling with witnessing. We fear being rejected. We fear being incompetent in our gospel presentation. We fear pushing people away and dishonoring our Lord. As we look at Paul’s description of the gospel ministry in Rome, the hope is that we will be inspired to become gospel pioneers as well—mature witnesses for Christ.

God is looking for gospel pioneers to break new ground in schools, businesses, and nations around the world. Will you allow God to use you to break new ground for the gospel so others can follow?

Big Question: What characteristics of a mature witness do we see in Paul’s description of the gospel-ministry happening in Rome?

A Mature Witness Shares the Gospel in Every Circumstance

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. (Philippians 1:13)

The first characteristic of a mature witness is that he shares the gospel in every circumstance. Here we see Paul, who has already been in prison for two years in Caesarea, imprisoned in Rome and still sharing the gospel. Look at the superlatives he uses in Philippians 1:13. It says that it has become clear throughout the “whole palace guard” and to “everyone else” that his chains are in Christ. Everybody was hearing the gospel through Paul during his imprisonment. We learn more about his situation in Acts 28:16, 30-31. It says,

When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him…For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was under house arrest—guarded by a soldier all day. While there, people came to see him all the time. Obviously, having an apostle of Paul’s stature in Rome became very well known. People from all throughout the Empire started to come to Paul, and he would share the gospel and preach to them.

The palace guards chained to Paul would switch every four hours. “Palace guard” in the Greek is actually the word “praitorion.” The praetorian were high ranking military officers—hand selected to protect the emperor and keep the general peace. They received double the pay of a regular soldier with a generous retirement. There were anywhere from 9,000 to 16,000 praetorian. These soldiers were well known and became very powerful in the government. They became known as “king makers,” as they would in later years use their power to select emperors.² There has been renewed interest in these well-known soldiers with the release of the movie Gladiator (2000) and 300 (2007). As these high ranking soldiers were chained next to Paul, they listened to his testimony, heard his prayers, and consequently the gospel started to spread among them and throughout Caesar’s palace (Philippians 4:22).

Paul’s situation was not ideal. He didn’t have freedom—he couldn’t go and visit the city. He never had privacy, even when using the bathroom. However, this never affected his willingness to share the gospel. Again, Acts 28:31 says he boldly, without hindrance, preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. This potentially could have worsened his situation. However, even the prospect of retribution or consequences, didn’t hinder his witness.

That is the type of Christians we must become as well. We must share the gospel in every circumstance. “We must never let circumstances get us down—never let our situation hinder our testimony and witness for Christ, no matter what they are...

Often it is these types of circumstances that actually quiet our witness. When talked about, criticized, persecuted, or while going through difficult circumstances, we often become self-consumed instead of gospel-consumed. We often become quiet instead of becoming even more outspoken for Christ.

This is what we see with Paul and that is what we have seen throughout much of church history in the midst of persecution. Second century Church Father Tertullian said, “The blood of the saints is the seed of the church.” When persecution against the church has increased, Christians have often been more inspired to preach and spread God’s Word. On the other side, when the church has lived in comfort—free from persecution—it has often become apathetic and stagnant in sharing the gospel.

Similar to Paul’s situation, we can learn a great deal from the story of John Bunyan who wrote the book The Pilgrim’s Progress, which historically is one of the most popular books outside of the Bible. This is what John MacArthur shared about John Bunyan:

John Bunyan’s preaching was so popular and powerful, and so unacceptable to leaders in the seventeenth-century Church of England, that he was jailed in order to silence him. Refusing to be silent, he began to preach in the jail courtyard. He not only had a large audience of prisoners, but also hundreds of the citizens of Bedford and the surrounding area would come to the prison daily and stand outside to hear him expound Scripture. He was silenced verbally by being placed deep inside the jail and forbidden to preach at all. Yet in that silence, he spoke loudest of all and to more people than he could have imagined. It was during that time that he wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, the great Christian classic that has ministered the gospel to tens of millions throughout the world. For several centuries, it was the most widely read and translated book in the world after the Bible. Bunyan’s opponents were able to stop his preaching for a few years, but they were not able to stop his ministry. Instead, they provided opportunity for it to be extended from deep within a jail in the small town of Bedford to the ends of the earth.

As we consider Paul and John Bunyan in prison still sharing the gospel, I can’t but think of a story Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life, shared about his dying father. While his father was on his death bed, he suddenly became disturbed and tried to get out of bed. The family tried to calm him down and asked him what he wanted. He replied, “I’ve got to save one more soul for Jesus! One more soul for Jesus!” Rick said his father probably repeated that phrase 100 times within the next hour.⁴ Even while on his death bed, he wanted to share the gospel.

How do your circumstances affect your witness? Are you still seeking to advance the gospel no matter your present circumstances? This is a picture of a mature Christian witness—a gospel pioneer.

Application Question: What experience do you have with evangelism? Describe your struggles and also the grace you have received in the area of evangelism?

A Mature Witness Is Courageous and Fearless

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. (Philippians 1:14)

Similar to the last point, another characteristic of a mature witness is that he is courageous and fearless in sharing the gospel. As mentioned previously, Acts 28:31 shares how Paul preached the Word boldly to all who came. It says, “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Not only was he preaching boldly, other Christians started to preach boldly because of him. Philippians 1:14 actually says “most of the brothers” were encouraged to speak the Word of God “more courageously and fearlessly.”

With Christians being persecuted in Rome, many of the saints ceased to share their faith for fear of persecution and its potential effects on their jobs and family. However, when these Christians saw Paul’s bold witness while in prison and facing death, they began to boldly and fearlessly share the gospel as well. No longer were they afraid of losing their jobs—no longer were they afraid of what people thought or of people being offended. They became fearless.

Application Question: How can we become more bold and fearless in proclaiming the gospel?

1. Boldness is a result of prayer.

Boldness in sharing our faith is a result of personal prayer and the prayers of others. Paul himself commonly asked for prayer to speak boldly. In Ephesians 6:19-20, he said this:

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Ephesians is a prison epistle along with Philippians—something he wrote while in Rome. He essentially petitioned for others to pray for his boldness twice. He asked for prayer to preach the word “fearlessly.” It was not Paul’s natural strength which made him a bold witness. It was his recognition of weakness which caused him to depend upon God and the prayers of others. He needed their prayers to preach boldly every day, even though he knew his preaching could make his situation worse. He needed prayer to be bold while sitting next to a soldier with a large sword in his hand. Just like Paul, we need prayers too.

We must petition the Lord for boldness to witness, and we should ask others to pray for our boldness as well. We must do this if we are going to be fearless in whatever situation God places us.

We also see this need for prayer in the book of Acts when the apostles were warned to not share the gospel any more. The apostles responded with corporate prayer and casting their cares before the Lord. Acts 4:23-24 and verse 31 says this:

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them…. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The church was empowered to speak the Word of God boldly through prayer. Maybe, we lack boldness in our witness because we lack prayer. Maybe, we lack boldness because we are not weak enough to ask others for prayer.

What else enables us to have boldness in our witness for Christ?

2. Boldness is a result of watching and partnering with other bold witnesses.

Paul says that “most of the believers” were encouraged to share the gospel because of his example. Proverbs says, “He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but the friend of sinners will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20). One of the wisest things we can do with our life is witness for Christ.

This boldness is increased by being around wise Christians who are serious about God and serious about the gospel. Our relationships always affect our witness for Christ. They can affect it positively by helping us become bolder or negatively by silencing us.

Paul said this in Philippians while he was in prison. He called the people to follow his example which no doubt included his faithfulness in sharing the gospel even while being persecuted. Look at what he said: “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17).

We should all have people we are watching and/or who are mentoring us to help us grow in the faith and to help us share the faith. This includes studying faithful witnesses like Paul in Scripture and also the faithful throughout the history of the church. I have read the stories of many contemporary pastors who were deeply impressed and encouraged by the witness of Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot, Martin Luther, and other great saints. Their lives and examples challenge us and encourage us to become bolder in our witness for Christ.

Application Question: Who has inspired you the most to grow in your spiritual life and to become a mature witness for Christ?

A Mature Witness Encourages Others to Share Their Faith

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. (Philippians 1:14)

As mentioned previously, the Christians in Rome were encouraged to speak the Word of God fearlessly because of Paul’s chains. Paul said the things that happened to him worked out for the advancement of the gospel, and Christians becoming encouraged to spread the gospel was one of the ways God worked it out (v. 12).

Again the word “advancement” Paul used is a military term for an army going ahead to prepare the way to enter into new territory. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome was used to make a military advancement into the kingdom of darkness. There, he not only preached the gospel but made a way for others to preach it. He cleared the path like a pioneer. We can be sure he did this not only by his example in prison but also by challenging the church to share their faith. We see this with Philemon whom he wrote to while also imprisoned in Rome. In the letter, he said, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 1:6).

He prays that Philemon would be active in sharing his faith so that he could fully know the blessings we have in Christ. As you can imagine, this would have been very challenging coming from a man who was in prison for sharing the faith. While Paul was in Rome, he called the church to stand up and be pioneers—he called them to be mature witnesses.

Paul did this not only so the lost could hear the gospel, but because he realized sharing was important for Christians to grow. With Philemon, Paul said that if he shared his faith, the result would be coming to a “full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Paul realized that if Philemon shared the gospel that God would give more understanding of himself—more grace.

Christians who faithfully share God’s Word—God can entrust with more. Those who do not, God cannot entrust with more. God will not give them more because they are not trustworthy. They will become like the Dead Sea which is dead because it has no ocean, sea, or tributaries to pour into.

Many Christians are like this. They read every Christian book they get their hands on and listen to all the famous preachers’ sermons, but they will not share the gospel. When this happens, instead of growing, they actually start to decrease in faith. Christ said this:

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (Mark 4:24-25)

Many Christians do not share and actually experience a taking away instead of receiving more blessings from Christ. It is crucial for us to share our faith not only for others to hear but also for our faith to grow.

Therefore, Paul and Christ both encouraged Christians to be faithful in sharing what they received. Pioneers of the gospel—mature witnesses—encourage others to share their faith. They do this by their faithful example and also by their teaching. We can have no doubt that the church was emboldened to preach not only because of Paul’s example but because he encouraged them to do so, as he did with Philemon.

Let us understand that we must encourage other Christians to witness as well. This is crucial for those we disciple. They cannot know every good thing, every blessing they have in Christ, if they do not share their faith. With the measure we use what God has given, he gives back. Some are abounding in the knowledge of Scripture, abounding in peace, abounding in grace because they faithfully share God’s Word. However, others do not, and therefore, they become spiritually stagnant.

Are you sharing your faith so you can know every good thing we have in Christ? Are you encouraging others to faithfully share their faith? It is crucial for their spiritual growth.

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced spiritual growth by consistently sharing your faith and serving? In what ways have you experienced spiritual stagnation for not sharing and not serving?

A Mature Witness Should Expect Attack and Respond to It in a Godly Manner

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill... The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains… But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:15, 17-18)

The next characteristic of a mature witness that we can discern from Paul’s account of his ministry in Rome is that a mature witness should expect attacks and respond to it in a godly manner. It should be noticed that Paul was not describing attacks from those in the world or even from false teachers. The attacks Paul shared about were from other peers in the gospel. They had an orthodox faith—they taught Christ. However, they taught Christ out of envy and rivalry.

When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, many congregations and ministers started to make pilgrimages to hear him preach and teach at his rented home which may have caused a spirit of rivalry in other minsters. The word “envy” has the connotation of jealousy—they wanted the prominence and favor that God gave Paul’s ministry, and they also wanted to see him fail. They were hoping to stir up trouble for Paul as they preached to their churches.

Maybe they were saying his imprisonment meant that he was not really an apostle or a godly man or that he was in sin. We saw this mentality with Job’s friends. They had an early form of the “prosperity gospel.” The fact that Job was sick and lost his wealth meant to them that he had sinned in some way. They believed this because for them, it was never God’s will to allow trials in the life of someone who was righteous. Possibly, it was this form of false doctrine that was used to attack Paul and his ministry in prison.

Let us understand that if we are going to be faithful witnesses for Christ, this will stir up animosity towards us. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Sometimes this attack will come from the very people that we love most. It will at times come from people you expect to support you. It will come from the people you pray for and often minister to.

I remember when I went through my ordination process, one pastor said to me that if I was going to remain in pastoral ministry, I needed to develop the “hide of an alligator.” I must develop thick skin. To serve faithfully in ministry, to step up and preach the Word of God, means to be an open target for criticism, even at times by those I love.

In the book of Corinthians, Paul was attacked by some false prophets who had turned many in the church against him. Look at some of the criticism Paul received: “For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing’” (2 Corinthians 10:10).

They criticized his writing, his looks, and his speaking. Nothing was off limits, and these were people who he loved and served. If we are going to be faithful witnesses for Christ, we should expect attack.

In fact, if we are not receiving attack, whether through persecution, criticism, or even spiritual warfare, I would be concerned. Satan has no reason to attack somebody who is content on the side-lines not working for God. But those who are faithful should expect attack to come, even at times from those they invest in most.

If we are serving God—speaking his Word—and by God’s grace we suffer criticism and attack, let it not weigh too heavily upon us. Yes, let us consider the criticism and evaluate it, for it might be God speaking to us. But, we also must realize that attacks from the enemy are common to those who speak for God. Let those who are faithfully serving the Lord and being attacked be encouraged—for this happened to the prophets and faithful men and women of God before us. Christ said this:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

This happened to the prophets before you, and it also happens to other faithful witnesses around the world today (cf. 1 Peter 5:9). Let us therefore be encouraged.

Observation Question: How did Paul respond to these attacks from the brethren, and what can we learn from his response?

Not only should we learn to expect attacks as we consider what Paul endured, but we also should learn how to respond to attacks. When it came to false teachers attacking God and the church, Paul was fierce. He was like a lion. Look at what he said to the Galatians:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:8-9)

Paul said, “Let him who preaches another gospel be condemned—eternally condemned!” Listen to what he says in Galatians 5:12: “As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!”

Paul said he wished that those who preached circumcision would just completely emasculate themselves. When it came to the gospel, protecting the church, and honoring God, Paul was like a lion. However, when it came to personal offense, Paul was like a lamb. He said this to the Philippians: “But what does it matter?” (v. 18). “What does it matter? Who cares if they mock me—make up lies about me? Who cares if they mock my appearance and talk bad about my sermons? All that matters is that Christ is preached”—that was his primary concern because that concern would affect eternity.

How do you respond when people criticize you—when people treat you wrong, possibly out of envy and a desire to see you fail? How do you respond? Are you quick to fight and get angry? Or are you like Paul—willing to overlook the wrong? Are you like Christ—willing to turn the other cheek and at times even practice silence?

I’ll be honest as a pastor who also suffers criticism—sometimes just, others unjust, or simply unwise. It is a great place to practice sanctification. I commonly think of Paul and Christ, and I take comfort. I practice biting my tongue even when I feel my rights have been violated. “What does it really matter? As long as the gospel is being preached, what does it matter?” A mature witness should expect attack and also respond in a godly manner.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced attacks for being a faithful witness for Christ? How can we practice a wise response to attacks? What does a wise response look like?

A Mature Witness Has the Right Motives

The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. (Philippians 1:16)

Application Question: What are possible wrong motives one might have in sharing the gospel or serving in ministry?

Another characteristic of a mature witness is having the right motives. Why do we share the gospel with others? Why do we serve in children’s ministry, youth ministry, or worship ministry? What are our motives?

In this scenario, we see both those who served out of envy and rivalry and those who served out of love. Let us realize that a lot of ministry is done out of wrong motives. The disciples commonly argued about who was the greatest. A competitive spirit was still in them from their life in the world. Many churches are competitive. I talked with one pastor who previously started a church plant in a city. When he started this church, a local pastor called his father and said that he was really bothered that his son started a church in the same city because now they were going to be competitors.

A competitive spirit is not uncommon among ministers. “Which seminary did you go to?” “How big is your church?” Often when there is a publicized fall by a well-known pastor or a divide in a church, people are quick to point fingers and criticize, instead of mourning for those hurting and over the dishonoring of God. Like the disciples, a competitive spirit is still upon us from the world.

In considering this, there are many wrong reasons to do ministry. Some do it to compete with others; some do it for glory, prestige, and exaltation. We saw this with the Pharisees who loved to be greeted by others. They wore long robes so people would know they were ministers (Luke 24:46). That was the problem with Paul’s critics; they preached, but they did it for the wrong reason.

It should also be noted, as we consider those who did it for the wrong reasons that many times God probably blessed their ministry. They preached the gospel and people got saved, and yet their hearts were not right with God. We see this throughout the Bible. Jonah hated the people he preached to in Nineveh and was angry at God, and yet, the Lord still brought a great revival. The false prophet Balaam prayed a blessing upon Israel and through the Holy Spirit gave a prophecy about the messiah, and yet he still worshiped another god.

Application Question: Why does God use and often bless those serving in ministry even though they have wrong hearts?

The primary reason God many times prospers their ministry is because God is committed to honoring his Word. Paul said the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). In Isaiah 55, God says he watches over his Word. It is like water and dew, and it will never return void.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10 -11)

Many times the ministries of those who are corrupt and ungodly will excel, and the primary reason is because God is faithful to his Word. He will not let it return void. That was no doubt true of the people attacking Paul.

However, the best ministers—mature witnesses—serve out of a selfless, loving heart. Listen to what Paul said about the majority of the believers who were emboldened to witness and share the gospel: “The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16).

Similarly, when Paul talked about his motivation for sharing the Word of God with others, he said this in 2 Corinthians 5:14: “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”

He said that he was compelled by love. He proclaimed the Word of God, suffered, and wrote letters to encourage churches all because he loved God and loved people.

What is the real reason we don’t evangelize? It is not because of fear—it is because of a lack of love. I don’t love others as I should, and therefore, I don’t witness as I should.

Paul said that love compelled him. The Christians throughout the Roman Empire who were sharing the gospel felt compelled by love—love for God, love for others, and love for Paul. Love compelled them to preach and proclaim the gospel.

Love is the only true motivation to do gospel ministry, and it is the only motivation that will be rewarded by God. Paul said this about his ministry:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

He said that nothing he did for others or God mattered if it didn’t come from love. Mature witnesses serve others out of love. Love means that it is not about me. It is not about what I get in return. Love can be criticized and hated, and it won’t matter because love is only concerned with the object it loves. Love is not selfish—it is not concerned with self-interest. It is consumed with the glory of God and the good of others.

Why don’t we witness? It is because we don’t love properly.

Application Question: How can we grow in love in order to become mature witnesses of Christ?

1. Love increases by prayer.

First Thessalonians 3:12 says, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

Paul prayed for the love of the Thessalonians to increase. Love is increased by prayer. We should pray for our love to increase and also for our church’s love to increase.

2. Love increases by an act of the will

John 13:34 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Love is not necessarily a feeling but primarily an act of the will. We grow in love by choosing to act in love towards people and God. Jesus said if you love me, obey my commands (John 14:15). We love God by obeying him. We love others by serving them. Consider what John said: “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

We grow in love by acting in love. Love is not primarily an emotion but an act of the will that may include emotions. We grow in love by choosing to serve, share, listen, forgive, etc. Love grows as we choose to act in love towards others.

Application Question: In what ways is God calling you to love others in order to be a better witness?

A Mature Witness Is Gospel-Centered

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:18)

Application Question: What are some common things that take away your joy or give you joy? What does that say about what your life is centered on?

The next thing we see with Paul is that he declares that, even in the face of prison and the attack of other Christians, he could rejoice because of the gospel’s advancement. In fact, he repeats the word “rejoice” twice in verse 18 to emphasize his joy in the gospel.

I believe one of the things this teaches about Paul is that his life was gospel-centered. His life was centered and focused on the gospel. You can tell what your “center” or “focus” is by what gives or takes away your joy. People who constantly lose their joy when criticized or their joy increases when praised show what their center is. It is probably self. Their joy or lack of it is based on how they are treated.

But for Paul, his joy was primarily affected by the advancement of the gospel. It didn’t matter that he was in prison. It didn’t matter that he lost his freedom. It didn’t matter that he was away from his family. It didn’t matter that he could potentially lose his life. In fact, in speaking about the Jews in the letter to the Romans, he wished that he could be cursed and cut off from Christ if only his brothers could know Christ (9:3). His life was not about himself; it was about the gospel advancing. His life was gospel-centered. This made him an effective and mature witness for Christ—it made him a pioneer.

People who are the most effective witnesses are gospel-centered. That is where they get their joy. They get joy from seeing the gospel shared and accepted by others. They get a tremendous joy from supporting the work of missions financially and praying for the work of missions. Their joy is not tied to what they own or do not own but to the kingdom of God advancing. This is a gospel-centered person.

Where is your joy centered? What is your heart tied to?

Application Question: Why are so many of us not gospel-centered? Why is our joy not primarily in the gospel and its advancement?

The reason many of us are not gospel-centered is because we have a heart problem—a heart defect that affects our focus and our joy in the work of the gospel. Solomon said this: “Guard your heart for out of it flows the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Because of this reality, Jesus commanded us to not store up riches on this earth in order to protect our hearts—in order to make our hearts kingdom-centered. He said this:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

One of the reasons many of us are not gospel-centered is because our hearts, and therefore, our joy is tied to the things of this earth. It is tied to our phones, our computers, our cars, our clothes, and many other materials.  It is tied to our promotion and our advancement instead of kingdom advancement, and therefore, we are not mature and effective in witnessing for Christ. Paul’s heart was centered on seeing people in heaven. Consider what he later says to the Thessalonians: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

This was Paul’s joy. His joy was seeing the Thessalonians in heaven. His heart was tied to the gospel. He lived a gospel-centered life, not primarily concerned with the temporary things of this earth but the things of heaven. Christ commands us to have a similar heart and passion. Look at what he said in Luke 16:9: “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Christ said to use our wealth on earth to make friends in heaven. Christ says we should be motivated by this picture of people in heaven welcoming us and thanking us because we gave to the work of missions, and they came to know Christ because of it. Christ essentially said, “Make that your ambition—live a gospel-centered life.”

In fact one time Christ had a very crude response for two disciples who put off the call of the gospel for something else. Look at Christ’s interaction in Luke 9:59-62:

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Christ essentially said this call must be first before all things; neither job nor duty to one’s family can come before the call to preach the gospel. If it does, we are not fit for his kingdom. His disciples must be gospel-centered.

This is true for us as individuals, but it is also true corporately. It is very easy for churches to lose their focus on the gospel. Sometimes their focus can become worship, helping the poor, or some other social cause. All those things are important, but they are not more important than the gospel. Churches must be gospel-centered. Commentator Kent Hughes said this about the fall of many denominations into liberalism:

The history of some of the mainline Protestant denominations in our country serves to make the point. There were generations that believed the gospel and held that there were certain accompanying social and political entailments. Then came a generation that assumed the gospel but identified with the entailments. The next generation denied the gospel but made the entailments everything. This is a caricature that is simplistic and reductionist. Nevertheless, in broad swaths it describes Protestant liberalism in America.

When the gospel is no longer the main thing, when it becomes assumed, the next generation may be lost. As evangelicals we must take note. All kinds of issues cry for our attention—abortion, pornography, media bias, economic justice, racial discrimination, classism, sexism, to name a few. And we need to be alert and involved in certain of them. But if any of them become the main thing so that the gospel is marginalized, beware!⁵

What are our lives centered around? What are our churches centered around? Is it centered around our success? Is it centered around our comfort and safety? Or is it centered on the gospel and seeing multitudes of people from every language, tribe, and tongue worshiping God together? Lord, help us and our churches to live gospel-centered lives for only that really matters.

Application Question: How can you develop a more gospel-centered life? In what ways is God calling you to make your focus evangelism and missions?

Conclusion

What are characteristics of a mature witness for Christ? What are characteristics of a gospel pioneer—someone who advances the gospel into new territory so others may follow? We see these characteristics in Paul and his gospel ministry in Rome.

1. A Mature Witness Shares the Gospel in Every Circumstance
2. A Mature Witness Is Courageous and Fearless
3. A Mature Witness Encourages Others to Share Their Faith
4. A Mature Witness Should Expect Attack and Respond to It in a Godly Manner
5. A Mature Witness Has the Right Motives
6. A Mature Witness Is Gospel-Centered

¹ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 67). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 61). Chicago: Moody Press.

³ Teacher's Outline and Study Bible - Commentary - Teacher's Outline and Study Bible – Philippians: The Teacher's Outline and Study Bible.

⁴ Accessed 7/1/15 http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-rick-warren-shares-story-of-fathers-final-dying-words-reach-one-more-for-jesus-126720/

⁵ Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (pp. 51–52). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

How can the church walk in unity?

In this passage Paul calls for the church of Philippi to be unified. Even though in many ways they were a model church, they were not a perfect church. They had many threats to their unity. In chapter 1, it is clear that they were being persecuted from outside for their faith. Paul said that God had granted them to not only believe in Christ but to suffer for him as well (v.29). In chapter 3, we see that there were false teachers teaching circumcision (v. 2). In chapter 4, two women were fighting in the church possibly causing it to divide into factions (v.2). Though a model church, the Philippians had many threats to their unity. William Barclay perceptively observed this:

the one danger which threatened the Philippian church was that of disunity. There is a sense in which that is the danger of every healthy church. It is when people are really in earnest, when their beliefs really matter to them, that they are apt to get up against each other. The greater their enthusiasm, the greater the danger that they may collide. It is against that danger Paul wished to safeguard his friends.¹

Passions which are good things can often lead to discord. Paul calls for this church to make his joy completed by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (2:2). Essentially he called them to be unified, to be one.

The Philippians’ struggle with unity was not unique; there were problems with unity from the inception of the church. In Acts 6:1 one of the issues was cultural. The church was caring for Greek widows and Hebrew widows, but while distributing the food, the Greek widows were being left out. Amongst the Roman Christians, there were divisions over preference (Romans 14). Some preferred to worship on Sunday, and others practiced the Sabbath day. Some ate only vegetables, and others ate everything. These differences created division. The Corinthian church was divided over the personalities and teaching gifts of their greatest teachers (1:12-13). Similarly, each church today has the potential of disunity over such things as ethnic culture, church culture, doctrinal differences, personality differences, and personal preferences. Disunity is something the church must be aware of and wisely labor against.

Moreover, it must be noted that unity does not mean conformity. The world wants us to be all the same. We should all have the same body type, the same skin, the same education, the same type of clothes, etc. However, in the church (and the world for that matter) God made everybody different with different roles, and these differences make the body of Christ beautiful. The eye needs the hand, and the hand needs the feet. We give honor to the hidden parts like the heart and liver (1 Cor 12:23). Unity does not mean that everybody is the same but that we honor our differences and work together despite our differences.

Are there any conflicts in your life with family, peers, co-workers, or church members? How can we learn to walk in unity, especially in the body of Christ? In this text we will consider several ways to maintain unity in the body of Christ.

Big Question: How can the church and its members walk in the unity God called us to according to Philippians 2:1-4?

To Be Unified, Christians Must Focus on the Right Resources

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion (Philippians 2:1)

Some might be tempted to think that it is impossible to have unity. They might declare, “We are too different! We have different backgrounds, different styles of worship, and we enjoy different things. We also express ourselves differently. How in the world can we be unified?”

Paul seems to be answering this question as he reminds the church of the resources they have for unity. He describes four resources which are both commonalities of each Christian and empowerments for unity. He says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion” (Phil 2:1).

This really is not a question but a confirmation. The “if” could be translated “since.” Since you have encouragement from being united with Christ, since you have comfort from his love, and since you have fellowship with the Spirit, etc.

Most of our close relationships are based on commonalities—what we share in common. With relatives, it may be the blood we share in common. With friends, it may be a common ethnicity or hobby. These commonalities help us be unified. However, what we share in common as Christians is even greater than any commonality we could share with the world.

But God has not just given us these as commonalities but also as empowerments. The grace to be unified has been given by God, and we must appropriate and access it. Since God has given us all these resources—all these supernatural empowerments—we should be a unified church.

Interpretation Question: What are the resources God has given the church for unity?

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion” (Philippians 2:1).

1. God has given us encouragement in Christ.

One of the commonalities we have as believers is encouragement from our relationship with Christ. The word “encouragement” means to come alongside someone, to give assistance by offering comfort, counsel, or exhortation.² It means to come alongside to help. “It combines encouragement with alleviation of grief.”³ Christ used a similar word in referring to the Holy Spirit and his ministry to us. The Holy Spirit is the “paraclete”—our counselor, our advocate, our helper (John 15:26). The word represents exactly what we see in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10). The Samaritan comes alongside the person hurting, anoints his wounds, puts him in a hotel, and pays for his stay. He does whatever is needed to help. Christ does the same with us.

This is one of the reasons we can be unified. We can be unified because we have in common the same friend, the same comforter, the same encourager. For each of us, Christ comes alongside to walk us through the pains and the struggles of life. Where ever you go, Christ goes with you. He said this to his disciples and to us through them, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:19).

We have the same person to come to in order to find grace and mercy in time of need. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews said about Christ.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15)

We have a Savior that can sympathize with our weakness and minister to us the exact mercy and grace we need. He understands being alone. In the hour of his greatest need, his family and friends left him. He knows depression. He said, “I’m weary unto death.” He knows being betrayed. He knows being hungry. He knows being tired. He knows being tempted by the devil, and yet, he is without sin.

Surely, we each have great encouragement in Christ. This commonality is a motivation for us to be unified. But again, this is not just a commonality; it is also an empowerment for unity.

Christ could still love his disciples who failed him. He could love those who mocked and accused him. He could forgive them. And he can encourage us to do the same when we suffer. We can be unified because we have someone who has been through it all before us, and he comes alongside us to help us.

Yes, we can be unified because we have the help of Christ. You can love your roommate, your parent, and your church because of the help and encouragement of Christ. He comes alongside you to do so.

What else has God given us for unity?

2. God has given us comfort from Christ’s love.

Another commonality and empowerment for unity that God has given us is “comfort from Christ’s love.” Each believer became a recipient of Christ’s love at spiritual birth.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We have all become recipients of this great love; we have received comfort in our sin and failures through God’s love for us. This is a tremendous consolation that the world does not know. We have received God’s love which comforts and enables us to be unified.

John said this: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Fear and anxiety are often the driving forces behind conflict. We fear being rejected. We fear not being loved. We fear people talking about us. We fear losing things important to us, and this encourages us to think bad thoughts about others and sometimes to even fight with them. Many of us stay awake at night rehearsing conflict and cultivating anxieties. However, Paul says we can be unified because we have comfort from Christ’s love, and this comfort should enable us to be unified. Love drives away those fears. With the Ephesians, Paul actually prays for them to have power to grasp this love. Look at what he prays:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17b-19)

To be filled to the fullness of God means to be empowered by God (cf. Eph 5:18). That is the result of grasping the greatness of Christ’s love. Christ’s perfect love casts out fears and anxieties that keep us from unity. Fear of rejection and fear of being hurt not only cause us to fight but keep us from seeking to restore relationships. These fears are not God’s will for the believer so he sends us his supernatural love to comfort us and enable us to live in unity with one another (cf. Rom 5:5).

3. God has given us fellowship with the Spirit.

Another commonality and empowerment to be unified that God gave us is the Holy Spirit. When we were saved, God did a miraculous work in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit baptized us into the body of Christ. First Corinthians 12:13 says, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Now this baptism happened at the very moment every Christian was saved. They became part of the body of Christ and eternally attached to Christ and to believers. One person becomes the hands, and another becomes the feet. God did a supernatural work through the Holy Spirit that will never be undone. Throughout eternity we will be the body of Christ, attached to Jesus and dependent upon one another. It’s a phenomenal concept.

However, even though the Holy Spirit made us one in Christ and gave us spiritual gifts that we must use for one another’s edification, we must still labor to keep this unity in the Spirit. Paul said this: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

The Spirit of God already made us one and works in us to work together and depend upon one another; however, we must labor to keep the unity he forged. The Spirit made us one, and we must work to maintain it.

This labor for unity is also done through the Spirit. Listen to the fruits that he bears in our lives to help us be unified: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Can you not hear Paul challenging this church and us? Some might say, “We are divided because this person is unreasonable!” But Paul says, “Yes, I know, but the Holy Spirit has given both of you patience.” One says, “We can’t be unified because we are so different!” But Paul says, “Yes, but God has given you love.”

Everything we need to be unified has been given to us by the triune God. Christ has come alongside us to help and encourage us. He comforts us with love in times of discouragement and fear. He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit to help us be unified. There is no excuse for us to be divided. However, Paul says, “Wait! There is more.”

What else has God given us so we can be unified?

4. God has given us tenderness and compassion.

Paul says God has given us “tenderness” and “compassion” in order to be unified. The word “tenderness” is translated “bowels” in the KJV. It is a physical word related to one’s stomach. It means the ability to feel somebody’s pain or hurt with them through trials. Paul used this word earlier in Philippians 1:8. He said that he longed for the Philippians with the very “affections” (or bowels) of Christ. He felt the same pain and yearning for the Philippians that Christ felt.

This is very important because when we are in discord we often only feel our own pain. We can’t hear the cries of the other person because we are too upset about being disrespected and dishonored, but the bowels of Christ feels the pain of others. This tenderness, or affection as it can be translated, leads us into compassion. It leads us to serve the very needs of those who hurt us. One author said that “tenderness is the root and compassion is the fruit.”⁴ Compassion is tenderness in action.

We can be unified because Christ gave us his own tenderness and compassion. When Christ looked at the crowds and saw them like sheep without a shepherd, he had compassion on them and went to minister to them (Matt 9:36).

Excuses may abound about why we cannot be unified. We have different backgrounds, different cultures, etc. But the triune God speaks to us and says,

I have empowered you. My Son comes alongside you to help and bring you encouragement. I have given you my love to comfort you in pain and to empower you to love the unlovely. I have made you one by the Holy Spirit and given you his fruits to help you be unified in trials. Finally, where others only feel their pain, I have given you tenderness—sensitivity to the pain of others—and desire to respond with compassion like my Son did with you.

Does Paul’s rhetorical argument make sense? Certainly, it does. He challenges the Philippians and us to look at the resources God has given us to be unified. These are both commonalities and empowerments for unity.

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced the resources of God in your life, and how have you, by his grace, found them helpful in working for unity?

To Be Unified, Christians Must Develop the Right Attitudes

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:2)

Disunity always begins in the heart—the mind, will, and emotions—before it manifests outwardly. Therefore, if we are going to be a unified people, we must work on the inner man; for it is from the inner man that all divisions come. James 4:1 says this: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?”

The reason I have conflict is because I have a heart problem. It’s an inner man issue.

Observation Question: What attitudes must believers cultivate in order to be unified?

1. Believers must have the same thoughts.

Paul says that believers must be “like-minded.” It literally means “to think the same thing.”⁵

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean by being like-minded in order to be unified?

It seems that this question is answered by looking further along in the context. In Philippians 2:5 Paul says that every person should have the same “attitude” or “mind” as Christ. When Christians develop the mind of Christ, it will be easy to be unified. The mind of Christ is further clarified in Philippians 2:7 where it says that Christ took the very nature of a “servant.” He didn’t come to earth to be served, he came to serve. That is the type of mindset each believer must develop in order to be unified in the church.

In fact, one of the major reasons that we fight and argue in the church is because people treat us like servants. We feel disrespected. We feel like others are not respecting our position. Church members don’t mind serving on occasion, but don’t ever treat them like servants.

However, Christ took the “very nature” of a servant. He wasn’t simply a king that was serving—he was a king that was a servant. His attitude was consumed with others over himself. That is the mindset that must be developed if we are going practice unity in the church. We must care more about others than about ourselves. We must be more about other’s happiness. Paul expands this thought in the following verse. He says this: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

This is the servant mind that each one of us must adopt. Unity cannot be achieved if only one person has this mindset. Each of us must decide to be servants in order to be unified. “No, not my way, let’s do it your way.” It’s the mindset of a servant. Lord, help us develop this.

2. Believers must have the same loving attitude.

The next attitude Paul says we must develop in order to be unified is a loving attitude. He says make my joy fulfilled by having the same love. What type of love? The type of love that Paul is talking about here is “agape.” He uses the Greek word for God’s love in this text. It is not a selfish love or a love of the emotions that is many times seen in world. “I love you until you hurt me. I love you because you love me. I love you because I feel this way, but when I don’t feel this way I don’t love you anymore.” That type of love will never result in unity. It is like the wind—it is here today and gone tomorrow. It cannot be relied on.

Interpretation Question: What does this agape love look like which unifies the church?

• Agape love is an act of the will.

“I choose to love even when you are unlovable. I have committed to love you no matter how much you harm me or do wrong to me.” Many would call this an irrational love or a crazy love. But it is actually the type of love found in God. Look at how Scripture describes God’s love:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:8, 10)

God loved us while we were sinners and enemies of his, and yet, he still gave his life for us. That is the type of love that brings unity. In fact, some have defined love as this: “Love is when you give not caring what you get in return.” That is the type of love God gives us. We fail and dishonor him, and yet he still loves us. He gives the unjust “rain and sunshine” even as he does the righteous (Matt 5:45). This common grace is a reflection of agape love.

Because agape is a love of the will, it can be “commanded.” We can be commanded to love our enemies, to bless them, and to do them good. We can be commanded to feed our enemy when he is hungry, and when he is thirsty to give him drink (Romans 12:20).

Is your love an act of the will in obedience to God? Or is your love up and down based on how you feel emotionally?

• Agape love is a sacrificial love.

Christ gave up his life for us and taught that we should do the same thing for others. People who would truly die for one another are not going to be divided by temporary petty issues. Agape is a sacrificial love that is willing to give up its privileges.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).

• Agape love is practical.

John said this: “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Agape love is not simply saying you love the church; it is being overwhelmed with a desire to serve the church and meet one another’s needs. Romans 12 says this: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love… Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (12:10, 13).

Is your love sacrificial—willing to give up your rights for others? Is your love practical? Is it given to acts of service among the church?

This is the same love that we must have if we are going to be unified. We must choose to love each other sacrificially and practically, regardless of how we are treated. This is the type of love that unifies.

If your love is the selfish love of the world, you will love your church as long as they don’t fail or disappoint you. But when they do, you will hold a grudge and complain causing more dissension or you will simply leave. We must all have agape love in order to maintain unity.

I don’t mean to imply that this is easy; it is not. But it is possible because the ability to love like this was given to believers in their salvation. Romans 5:5 says, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” The love of God has been lavishly poured out in our hearts. God has given the church ability to love like him. Let us then in faith choose to love each other the way God loves us.

3. Believers must be united in spirit.

The word “united” literally means “one-souled”⁶; therefore, to be united in spirit means to care for one another as though we were caring for ourselves. This means to follow the golden rule, to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). When we are united in spirit and love one another as ourselves, then we will become a united church.

We see something of what it means to be “one-souled”—“united in spirit”—by reading Romans 12:15-16. It says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.”

We should rejoice when others are successful or happy. We should mourn when others mourn. Paul actually describes this as “living in harmony with one another.” He essentially describes this as being “united in spirit.”

Too often members of the church live independently of one another. Church is just to fulfill their desire to worship on Sundays and that is it. However, in order to be “united in spirit,” we must live life together. We must get to know one another and be connected to one another.

I remember during my junior year of high school, we got a new basketball coach. And one of the things he initially implemented was our strategically getting to know one another better. He said he wanted us eating together, going to the movies together, etc., so we could essentially become one in spirit. He said chemistry on the basketball court did not happen only by practicing and playing together. It came by living life together. This was the type of culture that he fostered in order for us to be successful, and this culture should be similarly fostered in the church. The early church met every day breaking bread from house to house (Acts 2:46). They were united in spirit—one souled—and we must be as well.

How are you fostering unity in spirit with your church? How are you developing intimate relationships? How are you getting to know one another in such a way that you think the same and feel the same—where you weep and rejoice together? When we are “one-souled,” we will care about people so much that we will make every effort to be unified with them (Eph 4:3).

A good example of becoming one-souled is a marriage. When a couple gets married, they move in with one another, eat together, and share entertainment together, among other things. Then all of a sudden weird things start happening like finishing one another’s sentences or being able to sense when the other person is upset or something is wrong. They start to become united in spirit—one-souled. As this process continues to deepen, the conflicts typically lessen in a marriage union. However, when they are less united, more conflicts happen.

This is God’s will for his people as well that they would live as “one body” (Ephesians 4:4). The phrase “one body” is actually very similar to the one God uses for marriage—“one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). We must be united in soul to maintain the unity.

4. Believers must have the same purpose.

Finally, Paul says believers must have the same purpose. What purpose is Paul referring to?

Many commentators believe Paul is referring to the gospel being the church’s primary focus. Paul mentioned the gospel five times in chapter 1, and in the last one he said this: ⁷

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27)

A support for the possibility that Paul is referring to the gospel being their purpose is the fact that chapter 2 is connected to chapter 1. The NIV 1984 does not demonstrate this clearly because it removes the “therefore” from the passage. However, the NIV 2011 translates it this way: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion” (Phil 2:1). Therefore, points back to Paul’s emphasis in Philippians 1:27—walking in a manner worthy of the gospel.

When the church is unified around something as big as the gospel, then our petty differences, by necessity, fall to the wayside. What will unify a people with different cultures, different careers, different ages, etc.? It has to be something bigger than all those things. It is the gospel—the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the world. Competing purposes will only divide.

If your purpose is your kingdom and your will be done, then you will fight with everybody who gets in your way. If your purpose is your comfort, then if the music changes in the church, the seats change, or the order of service changes, you will fight against everybody and against everything that makes you uncomfortable. But when your purpose is the gospel, you will gather with people very different from you, even doctrinally, to seek to advance the same cause.

Is your purpose the gospel—seeing people know Christ and living out the faith of the gospel? This is the purpose that will unify us.

What attitudes must we have in order to be unified? We must have the mind of Christ—serving others. We must have the love of Christ—loving sacrificially and practically. We must live as the body of Christ—being unified in spirit—living as though we are one. Finally, we must have the same purpose of Christ—to spread the gospel.

Application Question: Which attitude necessary for unity challenged you the most? In what ways is God calling you to work on a specific attitude in order to increase the unity of your church?

To Be Unified, Christians Must Develop the Right Practices

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Next Paul goes from our inward motives to outward actions. We must develop certain practices in order to maintain unity in the church.

Observation Question: What type of practices must we develop if we are going to maintain unity in the church?

1. Believers must practice forsaking selfish ambition and vain conceit.

Paul gives us a very difficult challenge. He says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit” (v. 3). The phrase “selfish ambition” pictures “a person who persistently seeks personal advantage and gain, regardless of the effect on others.”⁸ They will use anything to get what they want including: “flattery, deceit, false accusation, contentiousness, and any other tactic that seems advantageous.”⁹ The word was often used of politicians.¹⁰ It has the connotation of building oneself up by bringing others down. In politics the desire to win is so great that they will often do anything to get what they want including tearing down the other candidates’ family, past, etc.

“Vain conceit” can literally be translated “empty glory.” There are some differences between selfish ambition and vain conceit. John MacArthur said this:

Whereas selfish ambition pursues personal goals, empty conceit seeks personal glory and acclaim. The former pertains to personal accomplishments; the latter to an overinflated self-image. Understandably, a person with such conceit considers himself always to be right and expects others to agree with him. The only unity he seeks or values is centered on himself.¹¹

One causes division because of goals they are pursuing; the other causes division in order to receive or protect glory. Selfish ambition and vain conceit often go together. We saw this in the Pharisees who loved to be greeted by others and to sit in the best places. They desired to both be honored and maintain their position. Therefore, the Pharisees were in conflict with both John the Baptist and Jesus because they were threats to their position and glory.

This is often how the world is. Life is all about selfish ambition and vain glory—getting the best grades, the best degree, the best job, the nicest car, and receiving praise because of these things. Therefore, the world will often do anything to get or protect these things. The world system is driven by selfish gain. People will cheat to get what they want. They will cut others down. They will fight, steal, or do any number of dishonest things to achieve their desires.

It is not surprising that Paul lists selfish ambition and vain glory as attitudes we must forsake to have unity since these attitudes originally brought disorder in the world. It was Satan’s desire to be like the Most High that brought division in the heavenlies. He had an inflated view of himself. Satan then tempted Adam and Eve with the same desire to be like God causing a division between God and man. Selfish ambition and vain glory are really the root of all sin. It is the desire to get our will done over God’s and have our glory over his. It is the cause of all division. 

James said, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16). Where envy and selfish ambition are, you will find disorder and every evil practice. He then described how this was affecting the early church. Look at what he said:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. (James 4:1-2)

These Christians were warring because they were living like the world. They were seeking their own desires and glory instead of the desires and glory of God. Somebody had even died amongst these scattered congregations because of their selfish ambition. Similarly, selfish ambition and vain glory led the Pharisees to kill Jesus. They did not want to lose their place and authority in Israel.

Paul simply said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain glory.” Do nothing to exalt yourself and your goals. This was not something seen in Christ. He gave up everything to come to the earth and to serve those he ruled over. Christ wasn’t living for his glory; he lived for the glory and the will of the Father and for others. He often would do miracles and say, “Shh… now don’t tell anybody” (Matt 8:4). Sometimes he would try to avoid the crowds (Mark 1:35-38). He wasn’t a glory seeker, and he wasn’t fighting for his glory like others. He came to do the Father’s will and give glory to the Father. This type of attitude will deliver us from much division. We must forsake selfish ambition and vain glory.

Ambition and desire for glory in itself are not wrong, but our ambition must be to honor God and receive glory from him. Christ didn’t even rebuke the disciples for desiring to be great; he just tells them how to do it by being last, for the last will be first in heaven (Mark 9:35).

Application Question: How do we practice doing nothing out of selfish ambition and vain glory?

• We should survey and question our motives.

Christ challenged the disciples to look at their motives when they did works of righteousness. Don’t do it to be seen by men like the Pharisees (Matt 6). Therefore, we must always survey our motives, especially when in conflict and struggling with anger.

We should ask ourselves questions when feeling tempted to react with anger or to fight with others. “What is really motivating this? Is it my desire to be respected? Is it my desire to see my will done? Or is it my desire to do God’s clearly revealed will? Is it my desire to help others?” We should ask ourselves these types of questions.

• We should ask God to test our motives.

This is what David did. Consider what he prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

2. Believers must practice the humility of a servant.

Paul said “in humility consider others better than yourselves” (v. 3). The word “humility” can also be translated “lowliness of mind.” In secular Greek literature this word “was used exclusively in a derisive way, most commonly of a slave. It described what was considered base, common, unfit, and having little value.”¹²

Again Paul gives us this slave or servant metaphor in order to teach us how to have unity. We must practice the humility of the servant. We must not see ourselves better than others but less than others.

This is very countercultural. We live in a culture that is all about “self-esteem.” We must all know how special we are, how good we are. If you are depressed, the world would say, go to the mirror and say to yourself over and over again, “I am special. I am significant.” This is the very opposite of what Paul says and also opposite of how he lived. Consider some of Paul’s comments about himself.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)

Was Paul really the least of the apostles? We probably hear about Paul more in the Bible than any other apostle. He wrote almost half of the New Testament. Paul, is that really a fair assessment of yourself? What else did Paul say?

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Why did Paul talk about himself in this way? He called himself the worst sinner; the KJV translates it the chief of sinners. Why did Paul have such “low self-esteem”—the least apostle and the chief sinner? Why was his esteem so low? It was because he esteemed everybody else higher than himself.

If this were not enough, Paul also said that he made himself a servant or slave of everyone. “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19).

Here we see the reason we are so divided. We think too highly of ourselves (vain conceit). Satan has developed a system that is all about self-esteem—building ourselves up—, and therefore, it is a system full of division. However, the kingdom of God is all about coming down—becoming low like Christ—to serve others. Christ lowered himself in order to unify the earth. It should be the same for us. The kingdom of heaven should be full of peace-makers.

Application Question: How do we develop humility in order to view others better than ourselves?

• We practice humility by living in the presence of God.

A person that lives in the presence of God will by necessity continuously see their sin (Isaiah 6:4). They will by necessity see how far they fall short. They will also by necessity become a servant of all. That is why Paul saw himself as least of the apostles, chief of sinners, and slave of all. A person only looking at others or himself will develop an exaggerated view of himself that will cause division.

• We practice humility by an act of the will—by choosing to put others before ourselves and consider their interest.

What other practice must believers develop in order to have unity?

3. Believers must take care of their own personal interests in order to have unity.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).

It must be noted that Paul does not teach us to eliminate our interests all together. He says that we should not only look to our own interests. Throughout the history of the church some have taken a view that Christians must forsake all interests and adopt a form of asceticism. Like many monks, they forsook all forms of pleasure and treated their bodies harshly in order to pursue God and serve others. We see that asceticism had crept into the Colossian church. Colossians 2:20-23 says this:

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

People in the church were teaching “Don’t eat this!” and “Don’t touch that!” They were treating their bodies harshly in order to restrain their urges. In 1 Timothy 4:3 we see that this teaching sometimes even included abstaining from marriage. Scripture does not teach that we are to forsake all of our interests; however, it does teach that our interests must be submitted to the Lordship of Christ. John MacArthur said this:

Christians who do not take reasonable care of their bodies cannot live or minister effectively. Nor are they required to forsake all personal interests in other regards. Paul’s point here relates primarily, though certainly not exclusively, to personal interests in serving the Lord. 

At times Christ left his disciples and the crowds to go up on the mountain so he could pray and be with God. The crowds were looking for him, but in order to properly minister to the crowds, he had to take care of his spiritual needs by being with God (Mark 1:35-37). At times, he took the disciples away so they could have rest and food. There is a proper balance of taking care of ourselves in order to better serve God and others.

This is very important for anybody in a serving ministry. It is very easy to become overworked, overburdened, and eventually burn out. There are always more needs and more people struggling, and if you don’t take reasonable care of yourself, you cannot properly serve them. Certainly, in this time of church history the pendulum has swung where most people are caring for themselves and their interests over others. The church is about its health, wealth, and prosperity, and therefore, it is not a great servant. However, we must see the balance in Scripture, lest we swing again to the opposite side—asceticism.

4. Believers must look out for the interests of others in order to have unity.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Not only must we take care of our personal interests, but ultimately we must exalt the interests of others. This is the nature of the servant. We should notice the word “look.” “Look“ means to observe something. But, as in this context, it often carries the additional ideas of giving close attention and special consideration.¹³ I think many Christians would be servants if others just told them their needs. However, the best servants are not just waiting to be asked; they are observant. They are looking out to discern others’ needs and how to best meet them.

They notice needs in the children’s ministry. They notice a need for the walls to be cleaned. They notice how people are doing. But, they just don’t notice; they want to meet those needs. I think many times the very reason we have discord is because we are not observant enough. We haven’t observed how to best serve or edify others and have only observed how to best serve and edify ourselves.

Consider what Hebrews says about how the church should function: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

Churches that are unified are always looking out—considering how they can best “spur one another toward love and good deeds.” This attentive look delivers them from much discord. If I observed my wife more and discerned her needs, we would be delivered from much conflict. It’s the same for us as a church community. This is what Paul exhorted this congregation to do.

If believers are going to be unified, they must have the right practice. They must forsake selfish ambition and vain glory. They must practice the humility of a servant. They must take care of their own interests in obedience to God, and finally they must look out for the interests of others. These are essentials for unity.

Application Question: At which of these practices are you the weakest? In what ways is God calling you to grow in these in order to stir the church more towards unity?

Conclusion

How can we as a church be unified? How is unity possible if we are so different—different backgrounds, cultures, gifts, etc.?

1. To Be Unified, Christians Must Focus on the Right Resources. We have Christ who comes alongside us to help, comfort from Christ’s love, fellowship with the Spirit, and Christ’s tenderness and compassion.
2. To Be Unified, Christians Must Develop the Right Attitudes. We must have the same mind—the mind of a servant. We must have the same love—agape. We must be unified in soul and unified behind the purpose of the gospel.
3. To Be Unified, Christians Must Develop the Right Practices. We must forsake selfish ambition and vain conceit. We must in humility esteem others better than ourselves. We must take care of ourselves. Finally, we must look out for the interests of others.

¹ The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. Rev. ed., [Louisville, Ky.: Westminster, 1975], 31

² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 104). Chicago: Moody Press.

³ Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.

⁴ Motyer, J. A. (1984). The message of Philippians (p. 104). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

⁵ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 106). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁶ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 108). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁷ Hughes, R. K. (2007). Philippians: the fellowship of the gospel (p. 76). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

⁸ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 110). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 110). Chicago: Moody Press.

¹⁰ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 110). Chicago: Moody Press.

¹¹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 111). Chicago: Moody Press.

¹² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 112). Chicago: Moody Press.

¹³ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 113). Chicago: Moody Press.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)

What is the process of spiritual growth—sanctification? Paul speaks to this congregation and challenges them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Now it must be noticed that Paul does not say to “work for” your salvation but to “work out” your salvation. Scripture everywhere teaches that we are saved not by our works but by grace through faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We are not saved by our works. In fact, Paul argues that even our faith is a gift from God, and therefore, there is no room for man’s boasting. Salvation is a work of God. However, salvation is not simply a work that happens when we are born again. It is a work that continues till we are made into the full image of Christ. It will end at death or at the rapture, whichever happens first. Romans 8:29-30 says,

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Paul here describes the process of salvation. It begins before time when God foreknew some in a saving relationship. The word “foreknew” does not mean to know some facts about a person but to know in an intimate saving relationship. Christ said in the last days many would say, “Lord, Lord,” but he would reply, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity I never ‘knew you’” (Matt 7:23). Similarly, God said to Jeremiah, “before you were born, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). He knew Jeremiah in a saving relationship. He selected him not based on any merit of his own but based on grace—unmerited favor.

The next part of salvation is predestination. What is predestination? In this text it is God choosing those he knew in a saving relationship to be conformed to the image of his Son—to look like Christ. At some point, God effectually calls them as they hear the gospel and respond in faith. He then justifies them—declaring them righteous, then he will glorify them which is the completion of salvation. One day all believers will fully resemble Christ.

This is what Paul is talking about when he says “work out your salvation.” He is saying to work out this process of being made into the image of Christ. We often call this “sanctification”—the daily process of growing into the very image of Christ.

What is this process? How can we daily pursue growth into the image of Christ?

Throughout history many have held different views on this process. Some have said that this process happens solely by a work of God without the participation of man. What we must do is “Let go and let God.” We must rely on grace and give up working and striving to be holy. Sometimes these preachers will preach simply, “Grace! Grace! Grace!” to the exclusion of any discipline of our own. However, Paul said, “train yourself to be godly” or “exercise yourself to godliness” (1 Tim 4:7).

On the opposite side, others will preach “Work! Work! Work! Discipline yourself!” to the exclusion of reliance on God at all. These types of ministries often become legalistic, relying totally on works of the flesh. Listen to what Paul said to the Galatians: “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3).

What is the proper way to progress in holiness—to work out our salvation? Here in Philippians 2:12-13 Paul teaches a paradox. We must work and God works. We must work alongside God in the process of our sanctification. Paul says, “God works in us to will and do of his good pleasure.” He gives us the very desires to grow in Christ and he works in us to do it. This is why, when we get to heaven, there will be no room for boasting. Why? Because God did it all. However, both realities are true. We must work and God is working. Listen to what Paul said about this reality in his own life:

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)

Paul said he worked harder than everybody else but not him, the grace of God within him. He said that God’s grace was not without effect in him. The reality is that God’s grace works in each one of us to grow spiritually, but for some it is without effect. Some instead resist the work of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 7:51). We must work with God in the process of sanctification—responding to his conviction, allowing him to empower us to accomplish his will for our lives.

It should be noted that when Paul calls this church to work out its salvation, he is probably specifically referring to the problems going on in the church. At the end of chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2, he challenges them to be one in spirit—to be unified (1:27, 2:2). In chapter 4, some divisions were threatening the church’s unity (v.2). Paul calls for them to be unified by developing the mind of Christ (2:5) and working out their salvation together (2:12).

As we study this text, we will learn steps to work out our salvation—our sanctification.

Big Question: What is necessary for a believer and a congregation to work out their salvation—their sanctification?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Focus on Our Model—Jesus Christ

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

What is the first step in the process of sanctification? It is focusing on our model—Jesus Christ. The word “Therefore” in Philippians 2:12 means “because of this” and points the reader back to Paul’s previous comments. In Philippians 2:6-11, Paul gave Jesus Christ’s incarnation, death, and exaltation as a model for the church to follow in developing unity. Christ did not grasp onto his rights as God but became a man. In his incarnation he did not come as a wealthy king but a poor servant. His descent continued as he was obedient unto death—even death on a cross.

Paul says if we are going to work out our salvation—our sanctification—we must follow the model of Christ. He is the person we must seek to study and to emulate. The writer of Hebrews said this:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

The author says that we must fix our eyes on Jesus. The word “fix” means to focus on something to the exclusion of everything else. It essentially means to be single-minded. A person who has a fixed look on Christ is seeking to know and please Christ in everything he does. He wants to do God’s will in his career, marriage, hobbies, entertainment, etc. Paul said, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of the Lord” (1 Cor 10:31). We must have an unwavering focus on Christ in order to grow in our sanctification. Surely, we focus on him through time in the Word, prayer, serving, etc.

We must know our model in order to be sanctified. I cannot but think of Peter trying to walk on water in Matthew 14:22-33. As long as his focus was fixed on Christ, he could walk on the water. However, when he started to focus on the wind and the waves, he began to sink. It is the same with us. We cannot grow in Christ if we are focused on anything other than him. Sometimes the trick of Satan is to get us focused on our sin, failures, or even the devil himself to stop our spiritual growth. However, the more we focus on our struggles the more we fail. Similarly, the more someone focuses on demons, conspiracy theories, or the world, the more they become consumed with them. This is the opposite of how to be sanctified. We are not to focus on sin or the world. We are to focus on Christ in order to be sanctified.

Christ said this: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If we make our home in Christ, if we make him our focus, then all good fruits will grow out of that relationship. Love, joy, peace, self-control all come from an abiding relationship—an abiding focus on Christ.

Listen to what Paul said in Philippians 3:10-12:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Paul said he wanted to know Christ. He wanted to know his power and have fellowship with his sufferings. For Paul, following Christ did not mean skipping the cross to go to glory—it meant being like Christ even in suffering. Paul said he pressed or ran after this since it was the reason that Christ took hold of him. Christ took hold of him for a relationship and for Paul to be made into Christ’s very image. Therefore, Paul challenged the Philippians to pursue the same path he took—an endless pursuit of Christ as his goal (Phil 3:15-17). In order to be sanctified, like Paul, we must focus on Christ. He must be our ambition and focus.

Application Question: How do we keep a fixed eye on Christ in order to grow into his image?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Know the Love of God

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

The next step in the process of sanctification is to know the love of God. Paul says, “dear friends.” This can also be translated “beloved.” The implication of Paul calling them “beloved,” as he commands them to work out their salvation, is that they needed to hear and understand that God loved them.

Love is a tremendous motivation for spiritual growth. Paul said this: “For Christ’s love compels us…” (2 Cor 5:14). What motivated the great apostle to suffer, serve, and preach the gospel? Love—the love of Christ compelled him. In fact, he thought it was so important for the church to understand this love that he prayed for them to grasp it. Ephesians 3:17b-19 says this:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

He prayed for them to know Christ’s love so that they may be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” To be “filled” means to be controlled and empowered by God (cf. Eph 5:18). Similarly, if the Philippians could know how much God loved them, it would propel them in their spiritual growth—into working out their salvation.

I believe it is for this reason that Satan constantly works against believers knowing the love of God. With Eve, he said, “Is it true that you cannot eat of every tree in the garden?” He wanted her to think God was a tyrant—that he was keeping the best from her. By doubting the love of God, she would be encouraged to sin. It was the same with Job. Satan, by bringing trials, was trying to get Job to curse God. Even his own wife said, “Why don’t you just curse God and die?” Satan wanted Job to doubt the love of God because that would encourage him to sin and curse God. However, Job’s reply to his trials was, “Even if God slay me I will still trust him” (Job 13:5).

In order for us to be sanctified, we must know the love of God. For when we know the love of God—the depth, the height, and the width of it—it will compel us to grow in our spiritual lives.

Application Question: How do we grow in knowing God’s love?

1. We grow to know God’s love through the love of others.

When Paul says “beloved friends,” he was not only speaking of God’s love but his own (v. 12). He loved the saints at Philippi (cf. Phil 1:8). Many times the way God will demonstrate his love to us is through others (cf. 2 Cor 5:20). Therefore, in order to know the love of God, we must be intimate with his saints. Many times they are the channel by which God lavishes his love on us.

2. We grow to know God’s love through prayer.

Paul prayed for the Ephesian church to grasp the love of Christ (Eph 3:17-19). We must pray this for ourselves and for others as well.

3. We grow to know God’s love through loving others.

Paul said this: “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:8).  Paul could feel Christ’s love radiating through him as he loved the Philippians. Many times we have to make ourselves vulnerable by getting involved in people’s lives and messes to know the love of God. While serving others, he pours out his love in us to bless others, and through this experience we come to know God’s love for us more.

I specifically have experienced this when loving people who have hurt me. By forgiving and serving them, God gave me a supernatural love that I couldn’t explain and didn’t make sense to me. I just knew I was experiencing God’s love for them.

4. We grow to know God’s love through spending time with God and obeying him.

Christ said this: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Jesus promised that he would make his home in people who were obedient to him. This happens at salvation, but it happens as we continue to obey him. He makes his home in us, as we become more intimate with him (cf. Eph 3:16-17).

In order for us to be sanctified, we must know his love. Love is one of the greatest motivations in this world—whether that be love for a sport, a person, or some goal. It motivates us. Knowing how much God loves us is a tremendous motivation to be sanctified. “The kindness of God draws men to repentance” (Rom 2:4). One of the reasons many Christians are stagnant is because they don’t really know Christ’s love. Lord, help us to grasp and know your great love!

Application Question: What are some of the ways that you have experienced God’s love? How has this love or lack of recognizing it affected you?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Grow in Obedience to God

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

Here Paul gives the next necessary step in the process of sanctification—we must grow in obedience to God. He says that they had always obeyed, but they must do it “much more” in his absence. They needed to be more obedient to God to work out their salvation.

Obedience to God is not only a necessary practice in sanctification but it is a proof of salvation.  A person who professes Christ but does not practice daily obedience to God is deceived about his salvation. Jesus said this: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Profession alone is not enough. Jesus said that in order to enter the kingdom of God one must be born again (John 3:3). A person that is born again has a new nature—a nature that desires to practice righteousness. Those who are truly part of the kingdom of God hunger and thirst for righteousness as Christ taught in the beatitudes (Matt 5:6). John said this in his epistle: “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

The practice of daily righteousness is a proof of salvation, and this is what Paul said about the Philippians. He said they “always obeyed.” This doesn’t mean that they were perfect. Paul even said in his epistle that they were not (cf. Phil 4:2). Therefore, he meant that even when they failed, they repented and continued to practice obedience. However, in order to work out their salvation, they had to obey God “much more” (v. 12).

Interpretation Question: In what ways is obedience necessary to continue to progress in our sanctification?

1. Obedience to God’s Word leads to God’s blessing on our lives and progression in our sanctification.

James 1:25 says, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

The man who obeys God’s words will be blessed by God. This doesn’t necessarily mean wealth and health, though it doesn’t necessarily exclude those things. It primarily refers to spiritual blessings. God gives them more of the Word of God, more peace, more fruits of the Holy Spirit, etc.

Christ said this:

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (Mark 4:24-25)

Whoever faithfully obeys—using what God teaches them—will be given more. They will grow in Christ. Obedience is necessary for growth. This leads us to the next point.

2. Obedience to God’s Word protects us from stagnation and going backwards in our sanctification.

Listen again to what Christ said:

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (Mark 4:24-25)

“Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” When we are unfaithful to God’s Word, God begins to take away what we have. He takes away the knowledge that we have already attained of him. We become forgetful Christians like the Israelites. The Israelites saw the miracles of God in Egypt. They saw the parting of the Red Sea and manna come from heaven, but they still constantly failed God and didn’t believe in him. This was a natural result of lack of obedience—they could not appropriate the knowledge they had.

Many Christians are like the Israelites. They have sat under many sermons, seen the blessings and miracles of God but because their hearing wasn’t mixed with faith—obedience—they continued in the infant stage without progression. They stay in the wilderness—a time of stagnation and discipline in their spiritual life.

In order for the Israelites to leave the wilderness and go into the promised land, they had to practice obedience. This was a necessary component. Whoever has will be given more but he who does not have even what they have will be taken away.

What areas have you been unfaithful in that God is again calling you to obedience? Is it Scripture reading and prayer? Is it serving? Is it getting out of an ungodly relationship? Is it changing your language or entertainment? He who has will be given more, but he who does not have even what he has will be taken away.

Application Question: What areas of obedience is God calling you to practice “more” in order to progress in your sanctification?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Practice Continuous Discipline

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

The phrase “work out” is written as a command with a continuing emphasis. “The idea is, ‘Keep on working out to completion, to ultimate fulfillment.’”¹ This implies the need for discipline in our spiritual lives. Yes, God gives us grace, but we must be disciplined in order to grow. We must “keep on working it out.” We see this taught throughout the Scriptures. Paul told Timothy, “Discipline yourself unto godliness” (1 Tim 4:7).

I had a professor in seminary that said, “I have never met a godly person that wasn’t a morning person.” What he meant was that he had never met somebody truly godly who hadn’t developed discipline in their lives. This is the kind of discipline seen in Christ who got up early before everyone else and went to the mountain to pray. Mark 1:35 says this about Christ: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

An implication of “keep on working out your salvation to completion” is that we must have continuous discipline in order to be holy.

Application Question: What types of disciplines must we practice in order to grow in sanctification?

1. Sanctification happens through rigorous study of the Word of God.

Jesus prayed this right before going to the cross: “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth” (John 17:17).

In order for us to grow in Christ, we must be people of the Word of God. We must be devoted to the study, memorization, and teaching of it. Peter said this: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

The verb “may grow” here is passive—it literally means “it may grow you.”² When a person is rigorously studying the Word of God, it makes him grow. Scripture says the Word of God is active and alive (Heb 4:12). It equips the man of God for all righteousness (2 Tim 3:17). If you are consistently getting into the Word of God and obeying it, it will make you grow. It will make you look more like Christ. This is a discipline that all believers must develop in their lives so that they may grow up into their salvation.

2. Sanctification happens through rigorous prayer.

Jesus said this to the disciples right before he went to the cross, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak”’ (Mark 14:38).

Jesus had previously told Peter and the other disciples that they would deny him; however, Christ also taught them how not to fall to the temptation—how not to sin. They needed to be disciplined in prayer. This prayer was not a quick arrow prayer but a disciplined time in prayer. He called them to pray for an hour so they would not stumble. He put a time limit on it. This amount of prayer would make them strong enough not to deny him.

How many of us stumble into frustration, depression, anger, pride, or lust because we are not disciplined in our prayer lives? If we are not going to succumb to temptation, we must find time to pray, a space to pray, and people to pray with. It should be noted that when Christ was preparing for his own temptation, he not only prayed but called a prayer meeting. He said to his disciples, “Pray with me this one hour” (Matt 26:40). We must not only have individual times of prayer but also corporate times of prayer. It will build us up and make us strong to stand against temptation.

3. Sanctification happens through godly fellowship.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Being around godly brothers and sisters who are serious about Christ will help us grow. Developing accountability relationships where we confess sin to one another and pray for one another will bring healing and victory in our lives. James said this: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

Who are your accountability brothers and sisters? Many Christians have fellowship but their fellowship is centered around TV shows, shopping, sports, etc. Let our Christian fellowship be centered around spiritual growth and knowing God more.

In fact, this may be the primary method of spiritual discipline Paul had in mind when addressing the Philippians. Each of the pronouns in Philippians 2:12-13 are plural. The Philippians were to become more like Christ together. They needed one another, and we need one another as well. There are no lone rangers in the Christian life. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” If I will become like Christ, I need the body and the body needs me. Sanctification happens in the context of Christian fellowship. Thus Christians who do not go to church and are not involved in the life of the church are going to struggle with their spiritual progress.

How is the Lord calling you to develop godly fellowship?

4. Sanctification happens through mentorship.

Along with the idea of growth through Christian fellowship is mentorship. Paul was mentoring the Philippians as he challenged them to work out their salvation. Proverbs 13:20 says this: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”

The more you get around people who are wiser than you and know God more than you, the wiser you will become. We see this model throughout the Scripture. We see Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and his disciples, Paul and Timothy, Peter and Mark. It was through mentorship relationships that these people grew up into their salvation and fulfilled God’s calling on their lives.

Someone compared mentorship to walking in the airport. While in an airport, you see people walking to their destination, but you also see others walking to their destination on escalators. The people on escalators get there faster than people who are walking by foot only. Similarly, mentorship is God’s process to help us grow. We never get too old for mentorship because there is always somebody who knows more than us and who has walked with the Lord longer.

How do we develop these mentoring relationships?

Sometimes the mentor approaches us. Elijah approached Elisha. Jesus approached the disciples. However, sometimes the potential mentee should approach the mentor. In Luke 9:57 and 61, we see two people approach Christ and say, “I will follow you wherever you go.” We must seek out mentoring relationships, and we should not be discouraged when we are turned down. I’ve asked several people to mentor me throughout the years and at times, I have been turned down—sometimes simply because they were already too busy. Mentoring helps us grow.

With this said, we must understand that we not only grow by being mentored but by mentoring others. Teachers always learn more than their pupils. This is often true in mentoring relationships as well. We should not see mentoring as a burden, but as a way for us to grow as well.

5. Sanctification happens through serving.

Paul said this to Philemon: “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 1:6).

Paul told Philemon to be active in sharing his faith because through sharing he would come to a full understanding of every good thing believers have in Christ. He would come to know God and his blessings more through sharing his faith—serving. If a person is not serving then he, by necessity, will be going backwards and will never come to a full understanding of Christ.

If we are going to grow in Christ we must be disciplined. These disciplines include but are not limited to studying the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, mentorship, and serving. Other disciplines include worship, celebration, solitude, simplicity, secrecy, fasting, etc.

Application Question: What disciplines have you found most helpful in your spiritual life? Are there any ways God is calling you to be more disciplined?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Develop Perseverance

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

Again “work out” has the idea of “Keep on working out to completion, to ultimate fulfillment.”³  In the NIV this is represented by the word “continue”—continue to work out your salvation. This means that sanctification doesn’t happen overnight. It is a process that must be worked out till it is fully completed which ultimately won’t happen until we get to heaven. The implication of this is that we must persevere until it is complete.

Application Question: Why is perseverance in working out our salvation important?

1. Perseverance in working out our salvation is important because of temptations toward complacent, apathetic Christianity.

In this process of following Christ there will be temptations to give up the pursuit and just become spiritually comfortable and lethargic. The church is full of those who have not “persevered” in the discipline of “working out their salvation.” We see this with one church in particular in the New Testament—the church of Laodicea. Christ said this to the church:

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation 3:14-17)

This church was of no use to God—they were lukewarm. They thought to themselves that they did “not need a thing.” They were content and apathetic in their spiritual life, and therefore, they brought great displeasure to God. The church is full of Christians like this. Practically, they are of no use—fit only to be disciplined by God. This is a temptation for all Christians. We must persevere in our work of being sanctified. We must fight against lethargy.

Paul said this: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). We all have this responsibility to persevere in our pursuit of holiness and fight against apathetic, lukewarm Christianity.

2. Perseverance in working out our salvation is important because of temptations to fall away from God all together.

Paul confronts this reality commonly in his teachings. In Colossians, he said this:

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. (Colossians 1:22-23a)

Paul writes to this church that was being attacked by a Gnostic cult who denied the deity of Christ and thus the gospel and said that they must continue in the faith—in the gospel. The church is constantly confronted with threats that cause many to fall away. Some fall away because of discord or moral failure in the church. Some fall away because of liberal—secular thinking—that challenges the exclusivity of the gospel. Some fall away into cults, and others fall away because of persecution the church encounters. Christ talks about some of these realities in Matthew 24. He says,

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13)

Christ talked about how persecution, false teachers, and increased sin and wickedness in the end times will cause many to not persevere in the faith. They will simply fall away. He says that those who persevere are the ones who are really saved. Perseverance is a proof of genuine salvation (cf. 1 John 2:19). There are many threats to us continuing this process of “working out our salvation,” but we must persevere.

3. Perseverance in working out our salvation is necessary because it is the ground where character is developed.

Listen to what Paul said:

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Paul said we rejoice in suffering because it creates perseverance and perseverance creates character. He said don’t give up in doing good because in due time you will reap a harvest. Yes, I know you’re working hard in studying the Word of God, praying, and serving, yet you don’t feel like you’re growing. Don’t give up and don’t grow weary for the fruit will come. I know it seems like you are going through trial after trial but don’t give up because that is where patience and joy, regardless of circumstances, are grown. We must persevere in working out our salvation until it’s complete. Perseverance in trials, perseverance in doing good and serving others is where character is developed.

Are you a Christian that commonly gives up? You start a small group but don’t finish it. You start serving a ministry but quit. You start certain spiritual disciplines but don’t complete them. You quit a relationship when it gets hard. You leave a church when there is a conflict or a problem. Listen, perseverance is necessary. It’s necessary for spiritual growth. James said this: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4 NIV 2011).

Perseverance is important in working out our salvation because of tendencies toward apathetic Christianity which plague the church, threats to falling totally away from the faith, and because it is only through perseverance—bearing up under a heavy weight—that we develop character. Are you persevering?

Application Question: In what ways has God been challenging you to not give up—to persevere—in order to grow spiritually? How can we find encouragement when we want to give up?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Develop a Healthy Fear

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12)

Paul says that another aspect of sanctification is developing a healthy fear. The word “fear” means fright, terror, or reverential awe of something. “Trembling” refers to a shaking—it is where we get the English word tremor.⁴ There is a fear, a reverential awe needed in the believer’s life in order to continue to work out his salvation.

Interpretation Question: What type of fear and trembling is Paul talking about?

1. In order to work out our salvation, we must revere God.

This means we must see and know the awesomeness of God. When one truly realizes the awesomeness of God, he will not give up intimacy with him for other things. Many pursue school, work, family, or hobbies over God. The problem these people have is that they don’t really stand in awe of God; they don’t have a reverent fear and trembling of him. Consider what David said about God: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).

David said, “Taste and see how good he is. See how awesome our God is.” When we really know how wonderful he is, how can we choose the bitterness of sin over him? How can we choose the created over the Creator? Taste and see how good he is. When one really knows how good he is—when one truly reverences God—it will be a motivation towards holiness. In fact, look at the context in which David wrote this:

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD (Psalm 34:7-11)

He says there is protection and deliverance for those who revere God (v. 7). He says those who fear him will lack nothing—there are provisions for those who fear him (v. 9). He speaks to those younger than him and says, “Listen, I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (v. 11). The benefits are too good. You must revere God. Give up your games, hobbies, and small ambitions. Make the reverence of the Lord your greatest pursuit. The benefits are glorious.

Do you revere God? Is God truly awesome to you? We must have a reverence of God in order to pursue him and our sanctification.

2. In order to work out our salvation, we must fear God’s discipline.

The writer of Hebrews said this: “the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6). He says every child of God is disciplined. God will not allow us to ignore him. He will not allow us to ignore his Word, and he will not allow us to live in sin. When we try, we will be disciplined. It may start off with a gentle rebuke through study of Scripture and/or the preaching of a sermon, but if we do not respond, it will turn into a whipping. Jonah ignored God, and God brought a terrible storm in his life that almost killed him and others associated with him. We must have a healthy fear of God’s discipline.

Consider what Paul said to the Corinthians who were disciplined by God for disrespecting the Lord’s Supper:

That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:30-32)

They were weak, sick, and some even died because of God’s discipline. He then says, “if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.” He challenges them to survey their lives and their heart motives in order to avoid God’s discipline. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”—it is the beginning of living a wise life—a holy life. If we are going to grow in Christ, we must fear God’s discipline.

What other fear should believers have?

3. In order to work out our salvation, we must revere God’s Word.

Consider what God said through Isaiah: ‘“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). God esteems—he thinks highly of the one who trembles and shakes at God’s Word. Sadly, many Christians ignore it; they sleep during the preaching of it. They ignore God’s commands in it and choose to sin instead. God says he looks with esteem on the one who trembles at his Word.

This is necessary for us to grow in our sanctification. If we don’t reverence the Word of God, we won’t read it, study it, or memorize it. We will allow the Bible to collect dust on our shelf. If we don’t fear God’s Word, we will disobey it and dishonor it in our life.

Do you reverence it? If you reverence it, you will pursue understanding of it. If you reverence it, you will obey it because you realize God speaks through it. It is not a pastor or a parent speaking; it is God speaking, and he is worthy to be revered.

If we are going to be sanctified, we must reverence God, fear his discipline, and revere his Word. Christians should minister with a holy fear and trembling of the one they serve. Consider how Paul described his ministry to the Corinthian church: “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). Paul was a man who lived in a reverential fear of God. One could tell by the way he spoke and served. He served with a constant view of a majestic God—a God who is a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

Application Question: Do you feel like you have a healthy fear of God and his Word? Why or why not? How do we grow in the fear of God? How do we know if we have an unhealthy fear of God?

In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Allow God to Work in Us

…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

After speaking about the believer’s role in working out his salvation, Paul speaks about God’s role. As he focused on the necessity of our labor in sanctification, you can imagine how some felt discouraged over their sins, failures, and lack of discipline. Here Paul comforts them with, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure.” This is similar to Paul’s encouragement for Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6-7. He said,

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

He says “fan into flame the gift of God”—make it strong and maximize it—and then he says “for God has given us power, love, and self-discipline through the Holy Spirit.” He has given us everything needed through his indwelling Spirit to be holy and maximize our gifts. He is working in us; therefore, we must work as well.

Observation Question: How does God work in us?

1. God works in us to will—meaning he gives us his desires.

Jesus said this about the work of the Holy Spirit in the world: “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Even though Christ was speaking to the world, this certainly happens to believers as the Spirit produces in them a desire to do God’s will. This happens in various ways.

Interpretation Question: In what ways does God work in us to give us his will or desires?

• God works in us to will by convicting us of sin.

Some have called this a holy discontent. By the Holy Spirit’s convicting work in our heart, he enables us to hate and despise our sin. He does this through God’s Word, fellowship with godly saints, and through discipline. Consider how Isaiah responded when he saw God: “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty’” (Isaiah 6:5).

By seeing God it revealed to Isaiah how sinful he and his people were. Similarly, Paul said this: “O wretched man that I am” (Romans 7:24). The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin—enabling us to hate it and to desire to get rid of it. He gives us a holy discontent.

• God works in us to will by convicting us of righteousness.

God gives us holy aspirations—desires to be more like him or to fulfill his will. We see both Paul’s holy discontent and his holy aspirations in Philippians 3:12-14:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul desired to press to be more like Christ daily—he had holy aspirations.

• God works in us to will by convicting us of judgment.

One of the ways he works in us to will is by the Holy Spirit reminding us of the coming judgment—the second coming of Christ. We as believers will not be condemned for our sins, but we will be rewarded or lose rewards based on our works. Second Corinthians 5:9-11 says,

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

Paul said that he and the other apostles were motivated by the judgment seat of Christ. There they would either have reward or loss of reward. They wanted reward not out of selfish ambition but in order to please God and out of fear of his judgment (v. 9, 11). First Corinthians 3:15 talks about those who will be saved by fire (KJV)—meaning they will receive no reward in heaven. The Holy Spirit convicts us of this judgment.

• God works in us to will by the manifestation of peace or removal of peace.

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

The word “rule” is an athletic word used of an umpire in an athletic contest. The umpire says that this person is safe or that this person won the race. Many times as we are seeking God’s will about a future decision or what path we should take, he works in us to do his will by the presence of peace or by the absence of peace.

With Pilate’s wife, God’s grace was manifest by tormenting dreams the night before Christ’s crucifixion. She told Pilate to have nothing to do with that righteous man (Matt 27:19). God took away her peace to help her discern God’s will. One person said this about God’s peace: “Darkness about going is light about staying.” Many times in discerning God’s will, a consistent lack of peace is enough revelation to not make a decision or to not go forward. He works in us to will by peace.

• God works in us to will by the manifestation of his sovereign will.

Another way God works on our wills is simply through the manifestation of God’s sovereignty—directing our hearts by various means. For instance, Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”

We saw this with Pharaoh as God hardened his heart (Ex 9:12). But God also sovereignly works in our hearts through directing circumstances, events, demons, waiting seasons, and everything else in order to guide us into his will. God could use a donkey on the side of the road to change our desires to his purposes (cf. Num 22, Balaam and the donkey).

How else does God work in us according to Philippians 2:13?

2. God works in us by giving us the power to work.

The Greek word for “act” in verse 13 is “energio.” It is where we get the English word “energy.”⁵ God energizes us—empowers us—to do his will. Paul said this about his ministry: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:28-29).

Paul said he labored, literally “labored to exhaustion,” and the reason he could do that is because the power of God worked in him so strongly. In fact, Paul prayed for the power of God to be operating in the Ephesian church. In Ephesians 3:16, he says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”

How does God’s power begin to operate in our lives? Jesus simply said this: ‘“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We must abide in Christ so that his power can fully manifest in our lives to accomplish his work—to be sanctified.

Application Question: How is God calling you to rely more on him in your sanctification? How do we keep that delicate balance of our work and God’s work?

Conclusion

How do believers work out their salvation—their sanctification?

1. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Focus on Our Model—Jesus Christ
2. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Know the Love of God
3. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Grow in Obedience to God
4. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Practice Continuous Discipline
5. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Develop Perseverance
6. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Develop a Healthy Fear
7. In Order to Be Sanctified, We Must Allow God to Work in Us

¹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 161). Chicago: Moody Press.

² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2004). 1 Peter (p. 100). Chicago: Moody Publishers.

³ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 161). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁴ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 160). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁵ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 172). Chicago: Moody Press.