11 December

11 December                           

Philippians 1-4

Philippians 1

This letter is in itself a revelation of Christian experience. The word "sin" is not mentioned. The flesh is referred to only that it may be ignored. It is characterized by a revelation of the mind of love. Associating Timothy with himself, the Apostle described Timothy and himself as the "servants of Jesus Christ."

Declaring that he thanks God upon all his remembrance of Philippians he tells them that he is praying that their "love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment." Such an experience will enable them to "approve the things that are excellent," and so "be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ."

Thrice over he referred to his bonds. He declared that these "have fallen out unto the progress of the Gospel," and that in three ways:

First "throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest," the fact that he is a prisoner of Christ has been manifest.

Second, therefore, a effect had been produced on his brethren. They had become confident through his bonds.

And yet again reference is made to a Judaizing element in the Church. On every hand the Lord is magnified In view of all these things the apostle was able to write, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Then he stated his mental debate. From the purely personal aspect it would be very far better that he should depart. The triumph, how ever, is on the side of sacrificial service, for his remaining will minister to progress and joy in the faith of others. From the standpoint of Personal experience he wrote to them concerning their fellowship, and declared that "to YOU it bath been granted on the behalf of Christ . . . to suffer."

Philippians 2

The Apostle now urged those to whom he wrote to fill his joy to the full. In order to do this he indicated two causative facts which suggested two resulting experiences, and then referred to conduct issuing therefrom. The facts are "exhortation in Christ" and "fellowship in the Spirit." When these are realized and submitted to they create that frame of mind which issues in such manner of life as is for the progress of the Gospel In a stupendous and stately passage the mind of Christ is revealed. The master principle is love, first as the motive of self-emptying, and, second, as the reason of divine exaltation. In His Self-emptying, Christ passed from sovereign authority to obedient service, which led ultimately to the death of the Cross, in which He was able to deal with sin and provide redemption.

The issue of such self-sacrificing love and action resulted in the enthronement of that mind of love. God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the name that is above every name, with the avowed purpose that all should submit to Him.

In order to obtain obedience to the initial injunction to have the mind of Christ, the apostle now shows the secrets of ability to obey. First, there must be recognition of the fact that it is God who wills and works in the believer; and then the consequent deduction as this fact of salvation is worked out in fear and trembling. The result will be that in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation the believers will be seen as lights in the world. Throughout this teaching, incidentally, we have a revelation of how remarkably Paul himself was actuated by the mind of Christ. Though in prison, the missionary impulse was strong in him, and his passion for the progress of the Gospel and the blessing of others affected all his thinking and his doing.

Philippians 3

This is the great chapter of the autobiography of Paul. First, he emphasized the story of his past in a most remarkable way. Then referring to these things as gains (the word in the original is plural) he declared he counted them loss. The vision of Christ immediately showed him the worthlessness of everything in comparison. He then brought up the story of his life to the time of his writing. It would then be about thirty years after meeting the risen Lord that he counted his gains but loss. He now wrote, "I count all things to be loss." After thirty years of tribulation and trial such as few men have known, there was no regret in his heart.

The supreme passion of his life was that he might "know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings." Having thus looked at his past and declared his present attitude, he spoke of his sense of limitation, and declared that there remained for him but one thing, which was to press toward the ultimate realization of conformity to his Lord spiritually, mentally, and physically.

He then urged those to whom he wrote to walk by the same rule. Referring to the false walk of certain people, he described the true walk as inspired by the consciousness of heavenly citizenship, and having as its direction the complete realization of salvation at the Advent of the Lord. Those referred to as walking in a false way are seen as diametrically opposed to this idea. In their case the Cross is made of none effect, and the whole mind is materialized and sensualized. The end of such conduct is perdition, and the apostle, even with tears, warns the saints at Philippi against the peril of such conduct.

Philippians 4

Passing from particular to general instruction, the apostle first enjoined the grace of rejoicing. Twice he repeated his injunction. Moreover, he charged the Philippians that forbearance toward all men should be manifested. Continuing, he showed that the cure for anxiety is supplication with thanksgiving. In this connection he used that remarkable phrase, "the peace of God." Observe it carefully, the peace of God, His quietness as serenity, based on His infinite knowledge and unlimited power. Well does the apostle declare that it passes all understanding. This is the peace which is to guard the heart of such as make their requests known to God. To know that He knows, to be sure that He cares, to obey in the confidence that He is able to accomplish all His perfect will, is to have the heart at rest, and the thoughts guarded against anxiety, and free for highest service.

The mind thus guarded by the peace of God is set free to think on the highest things which Paul here named. Drawing to the conclusion of his letter, the apostle expressed thankfulness for the love manifested to him by the saints at Philippi, and declared that in all things he had learned the secret of rest in the midst of varying circumstances. That secret is ultimately revealed in the words, "I can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me."

The deepest reason for his thankfulness for their care is not selfish, but that their giving meant that fruit increased to their account. What a fulness of thought there is in the declaration so familiar, and yet forevermore surprising. "My God shall supply every need of yours, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

The doxology constitutes a fitting expression of the experience of the Christian. This prisoner of the Lord Jesus recognizing his relationship to God, ascribes to Him the glory and is thus seen superior to all the limitations which characterized his position. The last words are those of personal and tender salutation by the pronouncement of the single and inclusive benediction of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.