Sermon for MHBC (19 September 2021). You can listen on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, or our website. Live at 11:00am on Sundays. Also available as a podcast here or by searching “Monument Heights Baptist Church” in your favorite podcast app.
On October 16, 1555, two men, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burnt at the stake in England due to their opposition of certain doctrines in the Roman Catholic Church. As the story goes, moments before their death, Latimer encouraged Ridley with these words: “Play the man, Ridley. We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” It’s a remarkable show of Christian encouragement and friendship.
In our text this morning, we see Paul’s remarkable affection for the believers in Philippi. Where does such affection come from? Christian relationships are forged in gospel partnership. It is the shared struggle for the sake of the gospel that produces deep relationships. Our text gives us insight into such relationships.
Let’s take a look at vv. 3–4. Paul writes: I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy. Notice his gratitude here. Every time he remembers the believers in Philippi, his heart swells with gratitude. This gratitude prompts prayer. And praying for them is joyful.
Let’s just stop and think about this for a moment. Can you name any Christian relationship that causes so much gratitude? That pushes you to pray in pure joy? We live in such an individualistic society that I expect this seems really foreign to us. I could be wrong about this, but I suspect few people would say they have friendships that prompt deep gratitude. And then take that a step further. That gratitude should lead to joy. So here we gain some insight into the beauty of Christian relationships.
Now why does Paul feel this way about them? The answer is in v. 5: because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Long partnership in the gospel produces gratitude and joy. The Philippians have been faithful from the beginning, and they continue to be faithful. Again, Christian relationships are forged in gospel partnership.
Let’s talk about this word translated partnership. Some translations have fellowship. The original work usually refers to a close relationship—a bond of sharing and unity. It could even be used for marital relations.[1] Paul uses the word throughout the NT to speak of the close relationship Christians have with each other and also with Christ. Notice what he says here. Their partnership or fellowship is in the gospel. Christian relationships are rooted in the gospel.
We have some concept of this because people rally together around shared interests all the time. One of the reasons CrossFit has been so popular over the last couple of decades is the community. Relationships are forged in a shared struggle—whether that struggle is in combat or competition, political parties or sports teams.
Now what we have in the gospel is a partnership in a cosmic plan. Yes, I said cosmic. The gospel is God’s action not just to get some people into heaven. It is God’s plan to liberate all of creation from the curses of sin, Satan, and death. And the Church, the people of God, have been brought into that plan.
A relevant application here is how we think about church membership. It really isn’t about meeting our needs. It isn’t about voting rights. It’s certainly not about power. Church membership is about partnership in the gospel. Our shared interest and common goal is the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the images that I find incredibly helpful for the book of Philippians is an embassy. We will talk more about this at the end of chapter one and in chapter three as well, but the church is a heavenly embassy in the world. We are aliens in a foreign land, representing the Kingdom of God. Make no mistake about it. The Church is political, but our politics are that of the Kingdom of God. That, by the way, is one reason, among others, that I am so adamant about the importance of our worship. Our gathered worship is a moment of formation. We step off the streets, out of the world, to practice our citizenship in God’s Kingdom. We aren’t here to promote the agendas of earthly empires or political parties.
So when you think about church membership, think in terms of partnership. We are partners in the gospel. It’s no secret that Southern Baptists have failed to take church membership seriously in the last few decades. On any given Sunday in the US, Southern Baptist churches only have one quarter of their membership in attendance. I’m not sure how anyone could read the NT and come away being at peace with that reality. Church is not joining a social club. It is partnership in the gospel.
And that partnership points to a hopeful future. Look at v. 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. Paul expresses confidence throughout this letter. That’s what the gospel does. Here, he says I am convinced that God will complete the work He began in you. The basis for his confidence is in their commitment to the gospel.
Look at v. 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. Again, the reason Paul feels such affection for them is because they are partakers or fellow-partners of grace. They have remained committed even when the heat was turned up with Paul going to jail. And they’ve remained committed in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. In other words, the pressure hasn’t swayed them. They have remained faithful in the shared struggle. Christian relationships are forged in gospel partnership.
Notice the connection to v. 8: For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. This is a simple but profound verse. Paul’s affection, which is literally translated by the KJV as bowels (i.e. the inner place of emotions), is produced by Christ and reminiscent of Christ’s own affection. Christ loves His Church. Christ’s people ought to love His Church. Paul will explain that in significant detail in chapter two.
Next, we see an example of this love in Paul’s prayer in vv. 9–11. What does it mean to love others? We have all sorts of ideas about this. Often, however, our ideas of love are informed more by our culture than Scripture. Paul’s affection is not an unbridled love that is unconcerned with truth. That’s clear in his prayer. Look at v. 9: And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment. The main part of his prayer is a continued increase in love. But this love is tempered by knowledge and discernment. What does he mean? As the reality and power of what God has done in Christ sinks into hearts and minds, it produces new affections—what the NT refers to as love. It is a love for God and a love for others, particularly other believers. Paul is praying here that they would have an experiential knowledge of the Christian life; that they would have deep communion with Christ through the gospel. And that deeper life of knowing Christ more produces more love.
And there’s a result to this. Again, it’s not an unbridled love that doesn’t concern itself with truth. Look at the result in v. 10: so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. The NT idea of love is deeper communion with Christ and with the Church. That communion fosters wisdom and holiness. Our intimacy with Christ produces wisdom and holiness. Likewise, our Christian growth is contingent on the Christian community. Our growth in wisdom and holiness requires the Christian community—the Church. A quote attributed to Augustine states this strongly, “A man possesses the Holy Spirit to the extent of his love for Christ’s Church.”[2]
The goal of the Christian life is expressed in v. 11: filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Notice once more, that righteousness is derived. It doesn’t come from within us. It comes through Christ. And the aim, the goal, the purpose, is the praise and glory of God.
Now I think there are some important takeaways for us in this passage. First, we need to prioritize gospel relationships. I do not say that because friendships that are not gospel-centered are problematic. You need those relationships. But gospel-centered relationships will enrich your life in a unique way. Friends that are desirous to know Jesus and to deepen that communion with Him and with His people are going to nourish you. That means that we must prioritize fellowship and partnership (not just membership or attendance) in a local congregation. Yes, you can attend a church event from a sofa in your pajamas. But gospel partnership is only possible through personal involvement. Remember, it is a shared struggle.
Second, we need to prioritize participation in gospel community. We have a number of ways to do that here at Monument Heights. Let me highlight some. As you know, we have rolled out a formation plan. It’s a big piece of the vision I’ve been casting. Why is it important? It’s important because as you look at a passage like this, it’s apparent that our calling is to be profoundly shaped (i.e. formed) by the gospel. Our educational ministries are one of the primary avenues where that shaping occurs. Currently, we have classes that meet on Sunday morning, Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Friday afternoons. The bulk of those are, of course, our Sunday School classes. These aim to deepen our knowledge of the faith. But they do this in the context of community.
Something new we are working on is directly intended to deepen your gospel friendships. Right now, on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, we have a family small group for those raising children of all ages. That meets here at the church. Other groups that will gather for Christian community are in the works. The purpose of such groups is to sharpen our faith through close and vulnerable relationships with other believers.
Look, I’m an introvert. I’m pretty content by myself. I learned the hard way Christianity cannot be practiced alone. The Church is vital. The community is indispensable. This doesn’t mean you must turn into an extrovert. It just means your faith cannot be confined to you and Jesus in a closet. Personal communion is indispensable, but your faith will never grow properly apart from other believers. You don’t have to involve yourself in everything. Just make a commitment to real gospel partnership.[3]
The Lord offers enrichment and nourishment through Christian relationships. These relationships are forged in gospel partnership. Our commitment to these relationships is an expression of our love for the Lord. A passage such as this one should greatly shape how we think about the Church.
[1] BDAG s. v. 1.
[2] Optatam Totus no. 9. The original reference appears to be in a sermon delivered on Pentecost: https://catholicism.org/st-augustine-pentecost.html
[3] Here is material in the first draft of this sermon. Now I’ve talked about our formation plan briefly. Most of you are familiar with it. We use three big words to define formation. We talk about orthodoxy (right belief), orthopraxy (right action), and orthopathy (right affections). Typically, as I’m preparing sermons, I’m thinking of all these things, so I want to share that with you this morning as I think it might be helpful.
Here’s how this passage touches on orthodoxy. The gospel changes our goals in life and recharacterizes our most fundamental relationships.
What should we do (orthopraxy) with that knowledge? We commit to the gospel by committing to gospel relationships and community. This means church partnership.
Finally, what affections does this passage promote (orthopathy)? This passage teaches us that we should ask God to produce deep love for other believers and that love is birthed out of our communion with Christ through the gospel.