Philippians 1- Paul’s Confidence

Imagine your church congregation receiving a letter directly from Paul the Apostle.

Well, we don’t have to imagine, as these letters are from Paul to us today.

But when we read the introduction and first part of this (and other letters) it is easy (for me at least) to think, that the Christians of Paul’s day were at a higher level, or higher understanding, or better at their practice of Christianity (or all of the above) than we are today. 

When I  watch or listen to a professional jazz saxophonist (with their excellent tone, timing, intonation and improvisation), I can easily think (and it is true) that they are at a much higher level of ability and practice than I am, as an amateur. Although this is certainly true regarding saxophonists, I suggest this is not true for Christians.

When Paul wrote his letter he named those to whom he was writing: the saints, together with the overseers and deacons. 

Does that exclude the ordinary church attenders? The new Christians?, or the ones who weren’t even sure if they had the credentials to be called Christians, even though they knew that the church was where they should be?

First of all, the “saints” is a term used for all who have been sanctified (made holy) by God. In the earlier traditions, in religious art, there are many paintings depicting “Saints” with halos, indicating their state of holiness.

But every Christian has been set apart by God; washed and sanctified. Every Christian, every believer! 

I know some disagree and believe that Christians sanctify themselves by living holy lives or lives dedicated to holiness, but I disagree; I agree that all Christians are drawn strongly to live lives worthy of the calling that we have received, and that it is best to pursue holiness (without which no-one will see the Lord) but I strongly hold that the only worthwhile holiness is received, not achieved, it is a gift of God the Holy Spirit who sets us apart as God’s precious possession, which is who we are as Christians, God’s precious possessions. His children. Behold what manner of love God lavishes on us, that we are called his children!!

                  That was the long way of saying that we who are Christians, believers, followers and lovers of the Lord Jesus, are all saints, and this letter is actually addressed to ordinary people in ordinary congregations, like us. All of us, newbies and oldies, beginners and professional, all of us. Christian = saint = believer.

The next and last point I wish to emphasize is that when Paul says that he is so thankful for our partnership in the gospel, we don’t have to turn around to look at the more professional Christians in our congregations, or the dedicated, selfless missionaries in faraway lands (God continue to bless their great work of love), but again, he is talking to every person mentioned above, us, ordinary people who turn up on Sundays, and don’t understand all the bible, and fail at life (especially Christian life)  fairly regularly, like every day. Here is a trustworthy saying, worthy of all our acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS. (All saints are sinners)

                  That’s who Paul is talking to (us) so don’t turn around thinking it’s someone else.

We are all partners with Paul in the gospel. Does that mean we all preach? We all evangelize? We all understand theology? What does it actually mean to be partners in the gospel?

Well, if the gospel were a bus, it means we are all passengers on that bus. If the gospel were a Roman galleon, we would all be chained to the oars helping to propel it.

But the gospel is the great action of God (his power) saving sinners across all places and all time by the cross of Christ. I could emphasize the information of the gospel, being the great news of God sending his wonderful Son to save sinners, but the gospel is more than information delivered accurately and succinctly, it is God’s powerful and mysterious action, working deep in the inner workings of a human being, realigning them from death to life, from haters of God to lovers of God and neighbour. I could go on. And Jesus does all of this by his life, death and resurrection. Amen

So yes, we are all partners with Paul, in the Gospel. Isn’t this wonderful? Paul is not simply being gracious and humble, being politely inclusive in how he addresses this congregation (and all others). He is being straight, direct, clear, factual; all believers are partners with Paul in the gospel.

Finally I want to enjoy that Paul is confident in us? Well not in us, but in him. By “him” who is Paul referring to? God the Father? Jesus? The Holy Spirit?

 

Yes.

Yes God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, will complete what he started in us. It is something Paul understands deeply, that God initiates and finishes everything good, which means we as Christians are in good hands (not our own). Our faith decisions are prompted by the Lord, they are initiated by him, and our walk as Christians is lovingly constrained and directed by the Lord himself. We never need to fear or panic. Yes we do have times of fear and panic and deep sorrow and suffering, but Paul is confident, and I am glad he is so confident that God is the one who will complete what he started.

Yes the dirty dish pile will get washed, the dilapidated building will get renovated, the assignment will be in on time, the strugglers and stragglers will make it through.

That is us of course. 

And we respond with grateful devotion to the Lord

Thanks be to God.

 

 

Hunger for Righteousness (pre-requisite for revival)

Revival is something many of us in the west long for.
Seeing many, even multitudes, coming to a sincere love of Jesus, and gratitude for his saving work on the cross. A changed life and the fellowship of believers, churches filling and going against the current trend. Old and young alike eager to be present together honouring the Lord and one another, eager to be under the word and built up in faith and looking forward to his return, together. Joining in prayer and praise and sings of worship willingly and thoughtfully, considering each other genuinely and in humility. 
How wonderful it is as in psalm 133 when the brethren agree in unity.

How does revival or even a single conversion come about? 
My answer at my current understanding as a Christian and reflecting in my own life is that at some point we must experience a hunger for righteousness.
I would also describe this as a need to be right with God and before God. Not for fear of punishment or a desire for reward (as Luther clearly stated) but simply due to an overwhelming understanding of the reality and holiness of God.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be satisfied.
If there is no hunger, then we will seek more elaborate tastier, but not necessarily healthier meals. 
But hunger for righteousness can never be satisfied.
Never.
Except for the cross.
At the cross all the hunger and thirst of all humanity was experienced by Jesus on our behalf. He experienced our hunger because all of our unrighteousness was taken on by he, himself. When he uttered “I thirst”, those present interpreted this as physical thirst. And no doubt, anyone suffering the effect of crucifixion would be one severely dehydrated and lead to an intense physical thirst. But I would suggest that at this point in his process of dying, carrying the sin of the world, he would have had a sense of not the reality of separation from the Father, and at that moment, the thirst that can only be quenched by the full and open armed presence of the Father in all his holy love, and in full fellowship was now present, and would consider this thirst as the greater for the obedient, Father- loving and now suffering Jesus. He also uttered “My God why have you abandoned me”. Again this supports the state of Jesus bearing a of us, sinful and rebellious humanity, in himself. This identification with our fallen-ness was also demonstrated powerfully in his baptism by John. At that point John recognised that Jesus had no need to be baptised, yet this obedient act by Jesus was the beginning of his ministry, and showed his willingness to take on our sin, even our imperfect baptism, and then completing this at the cross.
In Jesus’ suffering and death, the dividing wall of hostility, the brick wall curtain that separates us from God was destroyed, and we are made righteous, as a gift. A gift we could never earn or achieve or even hope to achieve, no matter how many prayers, fasts, self giving, self deprivation, acts of repentance, deep water baptisms, or any other attempt at becoming holy we might undertake.
Yes we can experience a hunger for righteousness. How terrible it is to be in the presence of the living God, with nothing but our sin and rebellion, our broken promises, our impure motives, our pretence at goodness unmasked, our human morality now putrid, our self righteousness a worthless whimper. What a blessing to hunger for true righteousness, the presence of God himself, fellowship in his kingdom, the kingdom of the son he loves.
This hunger is a blessing for God himself satisfies it. He satisfies it by sending his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.