Philippians: Pressing Onward in the Gospel
Through Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we will be encouraged to joyously make progress in living out our heavenly identity. Central to our progress, is the necessity to joyously stand firm in Christ and be united in love and purpose amidst opposition, trials and apathy. The letter is profoundly Christ-centered in that the imperative to joyously stand firm and be united is consistently build upon the indicative of the gospel. Finally, we should keep in mind that thanksgiving permeates the whole of the letter. It’s important to keep this theme in mind because it reminds us that this is primarily an admonishment to keep doing the good we are already doing more and more.
We close Philippians with a topic that’s permeated the letter: Rejoicing. While ample reasons to do so have already been given, how can we rejoice when in both need and abundance? This passage directs us to God’s provision in Christ as the answer.
Resources:
Philippians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Moises Silva
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs
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Paul encourages us to think about and practice that which is good, which is ultimately found in Jesus.
Resources:
Philippians 4:8-9
Anxious for Nothing by John MacArthur
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Stand firm in the Lord with unity, joy, reasonableness and peace.
Resources:
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The people we imitate determine the direction of our lives. In this passage, Paul urges the Philippians to carefully imitate the lifestyle of those who press on toward Christ and the resurrection.
Resources:
Philippians 3:17-21
NIGTC by Peter O’Brien
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Paul calls the Philippians to walk the path of rejoicing in the Lord by counting their gain as loss so that they can gain the infinitely valuable Christ.
Resources:
Philippians 3:1-16
NIGC by Peter O’brien
http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/treasuring-christ-together-because-he-is-more-valuable-than-all-else
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Sometimes we learn best when we have concrete examples. Throughout Philippians, Paul has been exhorting the Philippians to adopt Christ’s attitude toward one another. In Philippians 2:19-30, Paul provides Timothy and Epaphroditus as concrete examples of what it looks like to adopt the very attitude of Christ.
Resources:
Philippians 2:19-30
NIGC by Peter O’brien
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The gospel makes us a family who shows the world what our Heavenly Father is like.
Resources:
Philippians 2:14-18
NIGC by Peter O’brien
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Work on godliness because God is working in you
Resources:
Philippians 2:12-13
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Christians are to adopt the humility of Jesus toward one another so that at the proper time God may exalt us.
Resources:
NIGC, Philippians, by Peter O’brien
http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/and-all-the-earth-shall-own-him-lord
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Let your union with Christ unite you with one another by forgetting yourself, remembering others and treasuring Jesus.
Resources:
Philippians 2:1-4 https://www.esv.org/Philippians+2/
New International Greek Commentary by Peter O’brien
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“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel…”
Resources:
Philippians 1:27-30
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The biggest question we can ask, and the one we cannot avoid, is what is my purpose in life? Here we see we’ve been given a purpose by God: the honor of Christ.
Resources:
Risk is Right, John Piper
Making Sense of God, Timothy Keller (Chapter 3 especially)
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In Philippians 1:12-26 Paul provides a window into his ability to rejoice in all circumstances. Paul can rejoice in the worst of times because what is most important to him, Jesus and his gospel, can advance in all circumstances.
Resources:
Philippians 1:12-26
NIGC, Philippians, Peter O’brien
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In this passage we get a glimpse through Paul’s prayer into what Paul, and ultimately God, wants for us, his people. We’ll see that God’s ultimate desire and our ultimate joy climax in a life that results in God’s praise and glory. Does God’s desire match ours? How can it?
Resources:
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Paul opens the body of his letter by thanking God for the Philippians because God has made them partners in the gospel and because God will complete his work in the Philippians.
Resources:
Philippians 1:3-8
Biblearc.com
NIGTC, Philippians, Peter O’brien
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The Philippians were in many ways a normal group of people; they’d experienced great joys but also faced the harder realities of life. The book of Philippians is God’s word of grace and peace to these people, people who live in a world that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Ultimately, it’s God’s words of grace and peace to us.
Resources:
Philippians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Moises Silva
The Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy, Alec Motyer
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