mission - Drew Boswell

“For I Have Given You An Example – Serve” John 13:1-17

“This Time Next Year” A Sermon Series

“For I Have Given You An Example – Serve”

John 13:1-17[1]

Introduction

Matthew 20:20-28 Sons of Zebedee wanting special places of honor

Matthew 20:28 “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,3 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer

The Focused Message at the Close of the Day (v. 1)

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

As you read all the gospels as they approach the end (when the hour finally arrives) you get the feeling of extreme focus by Jesus, and His attention to making sure the disciples understand His ministry. Even if they don’t understand now, later it will make sense. So, there is this sense that Jesus does not have forever to complete His ministry – there is a timeline and it is quickly drawing to a close, “Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world.”

Along with this sense of urgency in mission, is a love for what John calls, “his own.” But who were these people? “They are those who have been given to Christ by the Father (6:37, 44). They are those for whom Christ was about to die. (10:11, 15). They are those who were born, ‘not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husband’s will, but born of God’ (1:13). They are those to whom Christ gives eternal life, who shall never perish, and who therefore shall never be plucked from Christ’s hand (10:28-29).”[2] It is those who were in the world, out of which Christ called them.

Jesus has shown His love for His own, and helps us to define love. While we are not given and answer to “why God loves them,” we are given “how He loves them,”

1) He will give His life as a substitutionary atonement for their sin. He lays down His life for the sake of others (10:11, 15).

2) He is going “to prepare a place,” for them in heaven and promises to return to gather them (14:3). He wants his own to be with Him.

3) He is going to send them the Holy Spirit, the Helper (14:16).

4) and Jesus is going to send His own out, filled with the Holy Spirit, to do His work, to share the good news of Jesus, the gospel (15:16).

5) He also tells those who are His own, that He is interceding for them, praying for them, as He sits at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34). In v. 1 “he loved them to the end,” or “having loved His own, He saw it all the way through.” He completed the task that He was called to do.

“the way Jesus displays his unflagging love for his own is in the cross immediately ahead, and in the act of self-abasing love, the foot-washing, that anticipates the cross. ‘Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:3).”[3]

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include Jesus’ introduction of the Lord’s Supper right before the passion. John is the only gospel to include Jesus washing the disciple’s feet and he does not include Jesus’ introducing the Lord’s Supper. Why would John not include a major sacrament of the church, and why would the other gospels not include Jesus washing their feet? Some theologians believe that before the Passover there would be a time of instruction or teaching.[4]

So John includes it because of what Jesus taught them the last time they would be together before the cross. John tells us in 20:31 what he is hoping to show through his gospel account, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” So, John wants to show how foot washing will point you to believe that Jesus is the Christ (message) and follow His mission (method/love)?

So, with this pressing sense of mission urgency, and a deep love for His own – what does He do as one of final moments with His disciples? What can He give them, as a reminder of how they are to live their lives in light of this mission and love? What is His final sermon? One last parable.

The Heart’s Desire Followed (vv. 2-5)

2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,[5] and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

“Jesus, knowing the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God” – We are told three things about Jesus’ state of mind as he was about to wash the disciple’s feet: 1) He knows the Father has put all things in his hands – this is Jesus’ authority. 2) Jesus knows that He has come from God, this is His divine origin, and 3) Jesus knows that he is about to return to God, this is His future glory.[6] So knowing that He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, knowing He is God in the flesh, and knowing He will be worshipped by everything that exists,[7] he sets an example for “His own.”[8]

Typically, when people would gather on special occasions, like the Feast of the Passover, they would bath before the social gathering. They would leave their homes and walk to where they would celebrate the meal. Because you would be wearing sandals, and had walked through dirt roads, when they would arrive, a servant or a low-ranking person would wash the dirt off the traveler’s feet.

It was just the disciples, and Jesus who had gathered, and there were no servants present – so no one washed their feet. The meal has started, and they are all sitting down at the table. Luke tells us that during the meal 22:24 “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” So Jesus teaches his last parable (but it’s not about a man on a path scattering seeds, or a good Samaritan), He “rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” There is horror and silence.

“Emperor Caligula who, Suetonius tells us, required his senators to attend him at table. Succinctos lineto (wrapped in a towel), like waiters!” Jesus did not demand that his followers wait upon Him, he leads them to serve others instead – to serve Jesus we serve others. Matthew 25:40 “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Look at how John describes the room, “taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin” – to wash their feet they needed: water, a basin, and a towel. All that was needed was already there to complete the task. There just needed to be a person willing to do it. Remember Jesus is passing on a mission (the gospel) and a love that He is expecting to continue on in His followers. “ . . . He is passing on the responsibility of love to them.”

Bellevue Baptist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

We have everything we need to complete this task.

The Heart Moved Toward the Savior (vv. 6-11)

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Simon Peter breaks the silence and says what everyone else in the room is thinking, “it’s not right for the highest (the greatest) among us, to do this act of service.” “To him it is unthinkable that Jesus should ever engage in the menial activity of washing his servant’s feet.”[9] Rabbis don’t do that. John the Baptist when referencing Jesus says, “. . . the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” To touch a person’s dirty feet and to clean them was a servant’s job.

That’s a servant’s job! Are you a servant?

Jesus tells him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”—this is a reference to the passion and what is about to happen. Once Jesus dies on the cross, and then is resurrected from the dead, and then appears to the disciples – then all the pieces fall into place, and the symbolism in the foot washing makes sense.

Peter responds, “You shall never wash my feet.” – Peter’s words are more like, “As long as heaven and earth exist, you will never wash my feet.” Peter says something like this earlier in their time together, “Matthew 16:21-23 “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord!5 This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

We call Jesus Lord, Master, Savior, only so far as He does what we want, but when He goes on a direction we don’t like, “I’m not going that way!” Jesus, in this teaching parable, has a point – but Peter brushes it aside, so Jesus responds “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Westcott says, “The first condition of discipleship is self-surrender.” Or as Jesus would later say, “not my will, but yours, be done.”[10] If we are to understand Jesus’ mission (and thereby our mission), we must fully submit to Him and His plan.

Judas is mentioned, and we will look more in depth at him next week, but I want to point out when it says, “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,” there is an aligning of the will. Judas had willed what the devil had willed. Satan did not make Judas betray Jesus; their heart’s desires aligned together.

Jesus is teaching a couple of things at the same time. First, Peter says, “wash all of me,” and Jesus says, “that’s not necessary.” This is an image of salvation; Jesus is going to lay down his life so that they can be clean (of their sin). But once a person is saved, they still sin, and will need Jesus to cleanse them again.

But you are not born again, and again, and again – no a person is born again, and then they return to Jesus to clean them of their sin (full washing, verses washing only the feet). 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Martin Luther said, “The Devil allows no Christian to reach heaven with clean feet all the way.”[11]

Second, no matter what your role is in Christ’s kingdom, we should always follow His example of being a servant – to humble ourselves and serve others.

An Example to be Followed (vv. 12-17)

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.[12] 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger (literally apostle) greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Once Jesus had finished washing the disciple’s feet he asks them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?” – wash one another’s feet.

Look for something that needs to be done, no matter how lowly, and do it.

(v. 15) “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” –

Servant Leadership

(v. 16) “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger (literally apostle) greater than the one who sent him.” The disciple is sent by Jesus, as was Jesus sent by God the Father, and is to represent Jesus in spirit and character, as Jesus represents God the Father (17:18, 20:21). “. . .no emissary has the right to think he is exempt from tasks cheerfully undertaken by the one who sent him, and no slave has the right to judge ant menial task beneath him after his master has already performed it.”[13]

(v. 17) “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them,” – You can’t do the right thing until you know what the right thing is. But now that you know what it means to be a follower of Christ, to be His own – now you must do what He has said – then you will be blessed by the Lord. Blessed can also be defined as happy. If you want happiness, then serve others.

Jesus says, Matthew 5:3-12 “blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” The world says blessed are the those who are served, the winners, the dominant, the one’s who get their way, the loud and get to the top by any means necessary. Then you will be blessed and happy.

If you want to be happy, serve.

If you want to be unhappy, expect the world to serve you.

Conclusion

D. L. Moody wrote the following words next to Isaiah 6:8 in his Bible: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.”

Isaiah 6:8: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

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[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk

[2] James Montgomery Boice, The Gospel of John, Volume 4, Peace in the Storm, John 13-17 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Books, 1999) 997.

[3] D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1991) 461.

[4] Leon Morris, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981) 610.

[5] See also Matthew 11:27; 28:18

[6] Boice, 1009.

[7] Philippians 2:10-11 “. . . so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

[8] “Jesus is fully conscience of his deity and Messianic dignity when he performs this humble act.” Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume V The Fourth Gospel to the Hebrews (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1932) 237.

[9] Morris, 617.

[10] B. F. Westcott, The Gospel According to St. John, The Authorized Version With Introduction and Notes (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981) 190.

[11] Arno C. Gaebelein, The Gospel of John, An Exposition (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers, 1982) 250.

[12] A fortiori argument.

[13] Carson, 468.

“Two Believers Are Arguing; What Do We Do?” Philippians 4:2-9

A Study of the Book of

“Philippians” Unity. Humility. Joy.

“Two Believers Are Arguing; What Do We Do?”

Philippians 4:2-9

Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaDEoDAmznM

Deer’s antlers locked from combat. If they stay locked together they both die, no matter who “won” the argument. In church, disagreements will arise, because we are people, but sometimes when those disagreements turn into arguments that need to be addressed, someone needs to step in and help free the congregation from this entanglement. If they don’t, it will splinter and damage will be done.

There is however, no irreparable damage to a church – because we have the gospel. No church has gone so far that the love of Jesus and faith in Him can’t turn things around.

Prayer 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Agree in the Lord (vv. 2-3)

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul up to this point has strongly encouraged the Philippian church to be united, to stand firm, and he has been thankful for their partnership in the gospel – but he is also writing them because there was division within the church. Now, he specifically mentions two women’s name (Euodia and Syntyche). By entreating, pleading both of their names, he is not choosing sides.

However, “his reference to them by name in a letter to be read to the whole church appropriately and understandably identifies a major cause of the problem of disunity addressed in numerous ways throughout the entire letter.”[1]

All of the issues of disunity within the church swirled around these two women. The only way for the church to have unity is for these two women to be united and (as he has said earlier) be of the same mind in the Lord. We don’t know what they were arguing over, or what caused this sharp division – Paul has already mentioned earlier that “such division is caused by pride, selfish ambition, and spirit of rivalry. These church leaders were engaged in a power struggle to expand their spheres of influence and control over the church.”[2]

These two women don’t seem to be able to work this out on their own, so “I ask you also, true companion,2 help these women” – The division was so heated, and was spreading like a cancer to the entire church, there needed to be a moderator – a third party to step in and help these two women work this out.

The women were famous for serving with Paul, he says the women “who have labored side by side with me in the gospel,” – They are believers, “whose names are in the book of life.” But whatever this issue may be, they are greatly divided over the issue.

So how do you get from division to “agreeing in the Lord?”

Let us assume that we are the “true companion” that Paul is asking to step in and help these women, what could we do? Paul is continuing his teaching of how the church is to “conduct” themselves “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27). Our agreeing “in the Lord” is paramount to the mission being completed.

This is why doctrine is so important on the front end of church membership – if anyone can believe anything at any time, then there will always be division. So, we say, this is what we believe, and how we live this out (basic values) – once that is established, then division should go away. Because beyond this, we are not arguing over essential beliefs, we have moved into opinions and preferences.

These two ladies are not arguing over a doctrinal issue. Paul has already addressed the doctrinal issues of the dogs, the evildoers, and the mutilators (3:2). Paul is not addressing the message of the church, but how two believers are disagreeing over the method of the church.

7 Principles of Moving From Arguing to Agreeing

Remember that this (the church) is not an “us” and “them” – it is always just “us.” If you find yourself using language like “those people,” or any way of diving the church into different groups, then you are on the road to division.

Think about what is at stake if the two groups don’t come to an agreement: division will continue, and it will escalate. The church will slip in two; it will splinter. Is one side’s viewpoint so right, that it should cause a church split? Is this issue or opinion a hill to die on?
Remember Believers serve and love the same Lord. Paul uses the phrase “in the Lord,” several times throughout the book. They can be joyful “in the Lord,” even in times of persecution; they were to welcome Epaphroditus back home “in the Lord,” even when his plans had to change, and these two ladies should seek unity because they are “in the Lord.” We all serve the same Lord and Christianity serves the same mission – sharing the gospel.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Rejoice. To rejoice is to “show great joy or excitement.” It is an expression of joy. If we are to settle a dispute between believers (whose names are in the book of life), Paul says to rejoice. It’s the only one of the list, that Paul repeats, “again, I say rejoice.” We are to rejoice, specifically “in the Lord,”

We serve a risen Lord, who has called us to salvation, we get to be apart of the gospel expanding, and seeing lives eternally changed. Rejoice in the Lord that you are apart of the most noble life purposes. Rejoicing will keep your focus upward, and you are less likely to complain.

Rejoicing in our salvation reminds us how much we have been forgiven. “Philippians 4:4 is a Paul’s hyperlink to Matthew 18:23-35. There in response to Peter’s question about how to respond to his brother who sins against him, Jesus tells the gospel story. That is, Jesus takes Peter vertical. Over and against the one-hundred-denarii offense of our brother, Jesus points out our ten-thousand-talent offense against God. And yet, he reminds us, God our Master forgives us.”[3]

“Rejoice in the Lord,” is a call to realign our attitude and agenda with God’s. The Lord’s agenda, must be our agenda.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

How Believers Deal With Conflict is a Witness to the Power of the Gospel. “Reasonableness” “a yielding up of certain real rights.”[4] In order for there to be a possibility of a partnership in the gospel, all parties must yield certain real rights, in order for others to hear and understand the gospel – we show the power of the gospel by displaying to the community our reasonableness to work together for important things; in other words, the gospel is more important than my feelings.

https://churchanswers.com/blog/twenty-five-silly-things-church-members-fight-over/

Our reasonableness is rooted in a desire to make peace. James 3:16-18 “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Remember the “Lord is at hand.” – we don’t have to settle this issue alone, we don’t need to be anxious about this conflict or division, instead God is here to help us work through it. “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,” – We go to the Lord in prayer, to seek wisdom, and the Lord will hear and answer our prayers. Paul adds that we should pray in times of conflict, “with thanksgiving.”

Paul even opens this book by saying how thankful he is for the church, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” (1:3). The church had issues, that’s why he wrote the letter, but thankfulness allows him to see the big picture.

When there is a lack of thanksgiving, our hearts tend toward idolatry, Romans 1:21-25 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. . . 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator . . .” Instead of God, the gospel, the lost, the kingdom, the mission, etc. being the center of our thoughts, we substitute what we think about this issue in it’s place, and our feelings on that topic becomes the idol.

We think on that issue all the time. Also, without thanksgiving for all that God has done, this one point of disagreement becomes our whole world. Thankfulness keeps our minds aware that there are things going on in the world (in the church) other than what we think about a given issue. Our view become myopic.

Without thanksgiving, prayer becomes merely a way of complaining to God about all the bad things in our lives. Knowing that God is near, that he hears our prayers, and we have a thankful spirit, that leads to . . .

(v. 7) “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” – Give the issue to the Lord. “Lord, this is your church, these are your people, I am here to serve, and will do whatever you want me to do.” – and mean it. Don’t add, Lord this is your church, now do what I want or I’m going to leave,”

In our hearts, when God moves to the center, and we give everything to Him. God’s peace stands guard over our hearts and minds. Earlier in the passage, where it has been “in the Lord,” (agree in the Lord, rejoice in the Lord, etc. ) now as we apply these things to our lives, it moves to “in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:26 echoes this same idea, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” There is no “us” and “them” – just those in Christ Jesus. Just those who love Jesus and have put their faith in Him. We are all seeking to serve the same Jesus.

And in our relationship with Jesus we have experienced forgiveness. “Our blindness to sin and unwillingness to forgive reveal more than a failure to think of God. They reveal our failure to remember our own offenses against God and his amazing grace and acquittal of our sin.”[5]

“do not be anxious about anything” – This is in the context of church life. There are things in church life that may lead us to be anxious. Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” Anxiety is doubt that God will come through with an answer, the solution, that He somehow doesn’t know what we need. We strive toward Jesus, we serve with all our hearts, and we trust that God will take care of us.

Choose What You Will Think About

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Now Paul gives us six things to consider for the Christian life – but without these no ideals can exist. Think about these things, what is: Honorable, Pure, Lovely, Commendable, Excellence, Praise Worthy

Think on these things – you can choose to focus on the strongness of the coffee at the fellowship meal, or how something was changed on the stage in the sanctuary, or how a decision was made and your input was not considered – or you can think on things that will bring you peace, and peace within your church. “We are responsible for our thoughts and can hold them to high and holy ideals.”[6] Or you can choose to dwell and think on things that cause division and at the end of the day will keep you (like those deer) locked up in combat.

____________

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.[7] We live in a world that cries out for forgiveness – let it be found in the church.

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[1] G. Walter Hansen, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, The Letter to the Philippians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009) 282.

[2] Hansen, 284.

[3] Alfred Poirier, The Peacemaking Pastor, A Biblical Guide to Resolving Church Conflict (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Books, 2006) 121.

[4] W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967) 466.

[5] Poirier,121.

[6] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume IV (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1931) 460.

[7] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/f/forgiveness.htm

“Partakers of Grace & Partners in the Gospel” Philippians 1:1-11

A Study of the Book of

“Philippians”

“Partakers of Grace & Partners in the Gospel”

Philippians 1:1-11

Introduction

Prayer

Unity In Purpose (vv. 1-2)

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In that day it was very typical of letters sent to include who was sending the letter, “Paul and Timothy,” and to include their title. “Paul usually introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. But in this letter he makes no reference to his apostolic position . . . (and) he uses the same title for both himself and Timothy. Their work together was that of “slaves,” the literal meaning of the term servants.”[1]

Paul and Timothy are not free to do what they wanted, they were servants of Jesus and they were subject to the claims of the one who owned them. Jesus’ claim was that He was God, Lord – and if that claim is true, then we are servants of God.

The poet William Ernest Henley wrote the words, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” “No matter how much you would like to think otherwise, your every plan and action is driven by a desire to avoid pain or achieve gain by pleasing or placating some ‘lord’ or other. The master you serve may be success or money, or what money can buy. Your lord may be affection or romance, or reputation and respect. You may be enslaved by other people’s opinions, terrified at the prospect of rejection or ridicule, or perhaps you are haunted by the specter of life alone.”[2] But the truth is that we all are a servant of a lord in our lives.

Moses, Joshua, David – all the great men and women of the Bible are servants, slaves, of the Most High God. You have to submit yourself to something in this life – The rulers of this world use you, disregard you, and when they are done with you cast you away. But King Jesus gives his servants authority, considers them brothers and sisters, Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The Lord honors the slave’s role by assuming it himself in his incarnation.

When believers receive the claim of Jesus, that He is Lord, then we are all on the same level as His servants – Paul and Timothy are servants, side by side, each doing what God has called them to do. Any other Christians who say they believe the claim that Jesus is Lord, then there is no hierarchy, only fellow servants serving as each has been gifted and called.

Four hundred years before Paul and Timothy shared the gospel in Philippi “the city was taken over by King Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great—hence the name Philippi.”[3] The city of Philippi “was established in 42 BC as a colony for Roman veterans after the defeat of Brutus and Cassius by Mark Antony and Octavian (later Caesar Augustus).”[4] And later in 31 BC there was a repopulation wave made up of Roman soldiers and Italian farmers. So, it is a retirement city for soldiers.

In the church in Philippi there had been arguing and fighting – some believers were struggling with pride, arrogance, and it had caused strong division within the church. “Paul directs his opening greetings to leaders (overseers and deacons), in the church because they were the potential solution to the problem of disunity.”[5]

Paul refers to himself and Timothy as “servants of Jesus Christ,” then he references the saints, the church at Philippi, and then their leadership (overseers and deacons) but these leaders are not over the church, they are “with the overseers and deacons – the leaders serve the Lord, in a leadership capacity and oversee the church, but they are together, side-by-side seeking to fulfill the mission.

We will see that pride, arrogance and division was tearing the church apart – Paul, in these opening remarks, is saying, we are all (apostles, church members, pastors, deacons, etc.) everyone are all servants to the Lord. Jesus comes first in all of our lives.

“To all the saints in Christ Jesus” – There is this common bond between Christians; “the believer gives up himself, his own life, to Christ, and possesses the life of Christ in himself; he is in Christ, and Christ in him; he is dead with Christ, and Christ becomes his life.”[6]

“the saints,” – The term saint describes a person of purity, and a person that has the privilege of standing before God. But how do sinners become pure able to stand before God? In Exodus 3:3-5 Moses sees the burning bush while he is out tending sheep, “And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” It was God’s presence that made the ground holy. It is God’s presence in the believer that makes the pure, holy, a saint – not their actions or works.

When there is submission the Jesus as Lord, and we humble ourselves before Him, then we experience grace (unmerited favor) and peace that comes from our being forgiven of our sin and being make right with our Creator – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul uses this phrase in all his letters, because it is the mission of the church – God grace and peace that comes from Jesus alone. This is what gives unity and purpose to the church at Philippi and to all the churches that claim to be servants of Jesus.

Partnership In the Gospel (vv. 3-8)

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy[7], 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

(v. 3) Paul is in prison and is writing the church at Philippi who (as we will see) have sent someone to help him, and supplies – so the whole letter should be read as a thank you note from Paul to this church. Paul is expressing his thankfulness and gratitude for their support. This letter was written twelve years after Acts 16.

(v. 3) Even in chains and in prison, Paul is thankful; there is joy[8] in his times of prayer – why? “because of your partnership in the gospel” The church at Philippi, are working together with Paul, to expand the gospel. Let me ask you, “Do you have joy in your walk with the Lord?” Paul has joy – when he thinks of the church, he knows all the problems, so he prays for them. Then he is moved to thank God for them and this process fills his heart with joy. Praying for others who you are a partner with you in ministry, thanking God for them leads to joy in our spirit.

Do You Have Joy In Your Christian Walk?

Are you praying for others Christians, and thanking God for them?

Our joy, when you think about church, should be linked to other believers and their struggles as we all are seeking to expand the gospel – but many time this is not the case in churches. We too often link our joy with experiences (music performances, excitement in preaching, etc.) Paul links his joy with people and a common mission.

It can’t just be to a group of people; if it is, then the church is no different than Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, or a bowling league. Also, It is not just to the mission, because we are not designed to live the Christian life in isolation. Individually, we don’t have all that is needed to accomplish the mission – this is why the church exists. It is people and a common understanding that the church “exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The word for partnership (koinonia) was used in that culture in various ways; family relationships, friendships, business partnerships, common ownership of property, citizenship, and religious organizations; these “were all considered examples of koinonia in Paul’s day.”[9] Paul uses this word partnership six times in this gospel – and begins to help us understand that those that partner in the expansion of the gospel is different than any other partnership.

Do You Have Joy In Your Christian Walk?

Are you engaged in the mission of reaching others for Christ?

The church does not exist to serve you, we exist to serve the Lord and reach others for Christ.

Our relationship with Christ over flows into relationship with others who have also placed their faith in Christ, and as we seek to all be obedient the calling upon our lives. The gospel transforms our lives, and that transformation draws us in a unique, beautiful, and powerful community. (unlike any previous partnership) Even to the point of considering each other family. Paul refers to this body of believers nine times as, “brothers and sisters.”

(v. 6) Paul sees and knows all about the issues the church is facing, but he says, “this I know for sure,” that “he who began a good work in you (the Philippian Church) will bring it to completion,” – “Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians, this koinonia was threatened by opposition from without (1:28) and conflict within (4:2). Intense suffering in a world hostile to the gospel and a bitter dispute between leaders in the church may have called into question the survival of their partnership in the gospel.”[10] Paul is saying, “God started the Philippian church, and God would see it to its completion.”

Picture of eggs in a nest — “draw a picture of what you see”

(v. 7) “for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,” – it is not until verse 7 that we get a hint of trouble. Paul is writing from prison (and remember that Timothy is with him). The Greek work “imprisoned” is closer to “chained.” Paul was chained as he waited for an appeal to the emperor. By this point he had previously spent two years in custody in Judea, waiting for his “case” to be resolved by officials there in Rome.

“If we are partners in the gospel, it is because we are partners in grace – because of the invincible Spirit of Christ has pulled us, in spite of our ourselves, out of the pit of our self-centered self-reliance, made us face the ugly reality of our guilt and helplessness, and drawn us to trust in Jesus.” We both know of God’s grace, and that draws us closer, and leads us to love one another.

A Church Known For Its’ Love (vv. 9-11)

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays out loud so that we can hear him ask God for the Philippian church so that their “love may abound more and more,” – “may keep on overflowing, a perpetual flood of love, “yet more and more,” but with necessary limitations (river banks), “in full knowledge,” “and all discernment.”[11]

The Christian life is one of growth. Paul, because of his love for his brothers and sisters in Christ, is not content for them to stay the same – He prays that their love would grow, and the “more and more,” is ongoing, ever growing dynamic for better and purer expressions of love.

The theologian and writer K. Chesterton once said, “Love is not blind. Love is bound. And the more it is bound, the less it is blind.”[12] Love needs to see clearly and speak truthfully. Love knows how to see and speak.

Do You Have Joy In Your Christian Walk?

How Committed Are You to Other Christians?

“with knowledge and all discernment” – the knowledge and discernment mentioned here is in reference to other believers. There is a “recognition of the will of God that is effective and in the conduct of one who knows God.” Christ knows us, in spite of our flaws, and draws us to a deeper relationship with Him. Our love for each other should cause us to push one another toward Christ, to gain knowledge and discernment of Jesus.

In Hosea 4:1, 6 we see the opposite of this, “There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; . . . My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;”

We need knowledge (of Christ) and discernment of His Word, “so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless”[13] – When we make a decision, we have to look at multiple options, weigh them, and then choose the best way. The way Paul says this is not choosing between good and bad, but between what is good, and what is best (excellent). Paul is wanting their love to grow for one another, so that they will know the best way to express their love one for another (with excellence).

_______________________

[1] G. Walter Hansen, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, The Letter to the Philippians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009) 38.

[2] Dennis E. Johnson, Reformed Expository Commentary, Philippians (Phillipsburg, New Jersey; P&R Publishing, 2013) 9.

[3] Johnson, 4.

[4] Hansen, 41.

[5] Hansen, 42.

[6] W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids; Michigan; WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967) 416.

[7] “as we entrust ourselves to Jesus, he gives two gifts: a love that stretches our hearts to embrace others, and a joy that places our pain into perspective, enabling us to see our suffering in the context of God’s comprehensive plan to make us like his Son.” Johnson, 22.

[8] “This is the first of fourteen times that the joy note sounds in this letter.” Hansen, 47.

[9] Hansen, 48.

[10] Hansen, 50.

[11] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume IV, The Epistles of Paul (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1931) 437.

[12] Hansen, 59.

[13] “a firm conception of those spiritual principles which would guide them in their relations with one another and the world.” Nicoll, 421.

“The Spray Across the Water” Indicators of Mission Speed

“The Spray Across the Water”

Indicators of Mission Speed

In the sport of high diving there are twists, turns, and flips that take place within seconds of knifing into the water. Once the diver jumps from the platform or board they are relying on years of coaching, training, and knowing when to make a specific move at a certain height from the water. So, the diver must know how high they are at every given moment of the dive.

As they move at speeds of over 35mph it is incredibly dangerous if they hit the surface of the water incorrectly. In order to assist divers with their perception a jet of water is shot across the surface of the water. This helps the diver to judge depth and height. Without that point of reference, the diver may pull out of a twist or any number of mistimed maneuvers that will at a minimum cost them points or worse a serious injury.

Leadership involves directing and guiding people, and once the ‘train has left the station’ (to mix metaphors) to stop or turn at the wrong point could cause disaster. The leader needs a ‘spray across the water’ or some indicator of how fast they are moving and where they are in the process. If the leader moves too fast or too slow it could cause danger to the mission – and they need awareness of where they are – which often times is difficult to determine if you are moving a what feels like mac speed.

How do we know how fast we are going?

How do we know when it is time to deploy or wait?

Indicators of Mission Speed

Grumbling and Complaining; Once you are moving your group from one place to another grumbling and complaining may be a sign you are going too fast. Create channels or avenues so that you can get the information you need – if they only complain behind your back you may never know until it has caused damage. Grumbling and complaining may also be an indicator that the mission is moving forward after years of non-movement.

If you are walking around in the desert in circles for forty years, does it really matter how fast you are going? (see Joshua 5:6)

Rituals and Celebrations; After you have been traveling for some time you may cycle through events that come year after year (Christmas, Easter, etc.) In the church world there may be annual celebrations – these give you a feeling of tradition and stability – but they may also pull you from your mission if can’t explain why these events are important. One of these annual ‘rotations’ for the leader may be vacations, breaks, get-aways, etc. Time away from the mission may help to determine how healthy you are and the health of the mission.

Staff & Leadership Turnover; Another indicator of timing is how fast you have turn over in key positions. Long term volunteers, staff, etc. may be an indicator that they feel appreciated, and understand the importance of the mission. A frequent or high turn-over may indicate that you may be lacking in the above-mentioned areas. If your people are getting burned-out it may be an indicator that you need to slow down. There must be a balance of caring for people and accomplishing the mission. Don’t treat your people as though they are disposable.

Accomplishing Short-Term Goals; Again, we are looking at indicators of speed and the ability to make moves at the right time. So, there should be a series of weekly, monthly, or short term goals that are being accomplished (or not being accomplished) on a regular basis – and are these things getting accomplished with excellence? If they are not, you may be moving too fast. If they are, it may be time to things up. If the short-term goals are not being accomplished, then you may need to further break down the goals into sub-goals — to a point to where things are getting done, and work up from there.

“Partakers of Grace & Partners in the Gospel”

“Partakers of Grace and Partners in the Gospel”

In the beginning of the book of Philippians we discover that since Acts 16 a considerable time has passed (10-12 years), and Paul has once again been imprisoned. He is awaiting a response from the emperor (he has been in prison about 2 years). He is thankful to the church because of their gift they sent to him in prison and for their help in the “defense and confirmation of the gospel.”

Because they have experienced the forgiveness of sin through their faith in Christ, that has led them to love each other more – that type of relationship draws them together as God’s people. That love and unity then drives them to do what God desires, which is the salvation of mankind.

Family & Mission

God puts together individuals from all kinds of lives and backgrounds (ex. a business woman, a teen girl, and a jailor, see Acts 16), who then together share the gospel with others. The “family” then expands as the mission is carried out. But there are issues in the church that Paul feels the need to write them — there are dangers that will keep the church from growing and doing what it is supposed to do.

There are two dangers to this progress;

1. The family becomes divided; the differences between those brought together through the gospel becomes the focus instead of the change that has been made in their lives (Paul discusses pride, arrogance, etc.)

2. The mission becomes corrupted; Sharing the gospel for the people moves toward something else, something of less importance (ex. immediate needs in the congregation, maintaining a building, a particular worship style, meeting together in a special way, socializing, etc.)

How Does the Church Counteract the two dangers?

How Do We Defend Against Division and Mission Drift?

The book of Philippians is Paul’s answer to these two dangers to the church:

Humility – “Count others better than yourself.” (2:13)
Workout your salvation (2:12)
Avoid grumbling or disunity (2:14)
Be on the lookout for evil doers (specifically false teachers)
Forget what is behind; press on to what lies ahead (3:13)
Stand firm in the Lord (4:1)
Rejoice in the Lord, Always (4:4)
Prayer, supplication, thanksgiving (4:6)
Think on what is good, true, honorable (4:8)
Learn to be content in every circumstance (4:11)

In the upcoming weeks, we will look at each of these cures to the problems that many churches face every day. Stay with us for the journey. To get caught up with the founding of the church in Acts 16, click here for (part one) and click here for (part two)

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