Philippians 1:28-30; The Grace of Sufferiing ~ 20231015 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

10/15 Philippians 1:28-30; The Grace of Suffering; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20231015_philippians-1_28-30.mp3

Paul gives his gospel partners an update on his situation in prison and how God is using it to advance the gospel. He lets them know that his passion remains unshaken; to magnify Christ in his body whether by life or by death. Weighing the advantages of each, he longs to be with Christ, which is far better, but the needs of the churches press heavy on him, for their progress and joy in the faith.

Philippians 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Paul begins his instructions to the church in verse 27;

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Believers who follow Jesus can be encouraged by, but must not become dependent on, the presence or absence of any one who comes alongside to strengthen them.

Worthy, not in the sense of earning or deserving anything; that would be contrary to the very nature of the gospel as a grace-gift freely given to undeserving sinners. Rather live worthy of the gospel in the sense of living in step with the gospel, conduct corresponding to the gospel, lifestyle in line with the gospel. The good news comes first; good news for sinners who have no hope outside of the freely given grace of Christ. But the gospel transforms people. Sinners become saints by the work of the Holy Spirit. Our citizenship is now in heaven, and as such, our lifestyle aligns with those higher standards. This inward transformation creates a desire to live as citizens in step with the gospel.

This life appropriate to gospel-transformed people looks a certain way. And it will become evident to others. Paul expects that word will get back to him that the believers in Philippi are living as Spirit transformed citizens.

Gospel Unity

So what does the transformed life look like? A life in step with the gospel is characterized first by gospel unity. Being made one in the Spirit, becoming of one mind implies that this kind of unity did not before exist. We are not naturally unified. Unity among believers is a work of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel divides people. The metaphors used here are military and athletic. Standing firm is military language. Striving side by side pictures athletes on the same team. Soldiers must stand their ground when there is an aggressor who is attacking. Athletes compete together on the same team against those who wear different colors. The gospel creates unity among those who believe, but that by definition means that it also divides; believer and unbeliever, those for us and those against us.

But remember, we are standing firm in the Spirit, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. Unbelievers are not enemies; we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We strive for the faith by inviting people ensnared by the enemy to defect and embrace the faith, to believe. If you are an unbeliever here today, if you have not yet embraced the simple good news of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners like you, you are welcome here, welcome to seek, to ask questions, to investigate. We invite you to believe, to receive the free gift of God.

Gospel Fearlessness

Living as citizens in step with the gospel is characterized by gospel unity, and by gospel fearlessness.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. ...

There is a fearlessness created by the gospel. There are normal human phobias that we all share; fear of death, fear of pain, fear of the unknown, fear of the dark, fear of spiders or snakes. Paul uses an unusual word for fear; it means to be startled, caused to flee or fall, it is used of a horse being spooked to start a stampede.

There’s a great illustration of this gospel fearlessness in the book of Acts. Peter and John had healed a man, and they were giving all the glory to Jesus and telling the people to turn to Jesus to receive forgiveness of sins. The religious leaders arrested them and took them into custody. The next day, they were questioned before the high priest and the rulers and elders and scribes.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Seeing their boldness, and seeking to prevent them from spreading this message any further, they decided to warn them to speak no more in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

Gospel Evidence

A life consistent with the gospel is:

Philippians 1:28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Gospel fearlessness is evidence both to you and to those who persecute you. Gospel fearlessness is proof to the persecutors, whether they pay attention to the proof or not, of their destruction. Peter’s boldness was not arrogance or attitude; it was Holy Spirit fearlessness. To come against that Holy Spirit boldness is to set oneself against God, and nobody is able to win if they find themselves fighting against the Lord God Almighty! This is a sign of their destruction, unless they realize their foolishness and turn to God.

This is evidence to you of your salvation. Earlier (in verse 19), Paul looked at his own rejoicing in the face of those who preached out of selfish ambition, seeking to do him harm, as evidence of his own salvation. Here he encourages believers to see their Spirit wrought fearlessness as evidence of your salvation.

Notice there are only two categories; destruction or salvation. Either getting what you deserve, or being rescued from what you deserve. There is no merit, no earning, no saving yourself. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians, the gospel,

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There is no neutral category. Either the gospel sounds like foolishness to you, or you are experiencing its power to rescue. Either perishing or being saved. Either destruction or salvation, and that by God alone.

All From God

And he reminds us; all this is from God. Don’t pat yourself on the back for your fearlessness in the face of persecution. This is not from us; this kind of fearlessness, like our own salvation, is from God. God alone saves. Salvation is of the Lord. All this, our unity, our perseverance, our salvation, from start to finish is the work of God in us.

We are in a fight. A fight for unity, a fight for the faith. We are to stand our ground without fear, even in the face of persecution. This is not unusual or exceptional; this is typical of Christian citizenship. All this is from God. Persecution isn’t punishment for bad behavior. Persecution is normal for the follower of Jesus. Jesus said:

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Jesus said:

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The Grace-Gift of Suffering

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Paul gives the reason that standing firm and striving together in gospel unity, that gospel fearlessness in the face of persecution, is evidence of our salvation. But the reason he gives is at first startling. He points us to a grace-gift, a good freely given, undeserved.

It is a grace gift to believe in him; it is a grace gift not to see the gospel as foolishness. It is God’s grace to open blind eyes to see the light of the glory of the good news in the face of Jesus Christ (2Cor.4:6). Our faith is a gracious gift from God.

Here’s the startling part. Not only is faith a gift; suffering is a gift. We think of suffering as an evil to be avoided, not a good. But here Paul clearly tells us that suffering is God’s gracious gift to us. We didn’t earn it, we don’t deserve it; it’s a gift. And it’s a good gift.

Not that suffering is good it and of itself; it is not. Persecution is evil. Suffering is part of living in a fallen world. Otherwise God would not promise to one day wipe every tear from our eye.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul points us to the comfort that comes only in response to suffering, and the mutuality created in shared suffering and shared comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Suffering for the follower of Jesus is not meaningless. Suffering is ‘for the sake of Christ’. In 2 Corinthians 12, when Paul was praying for deliverance,

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul wants to be delivered from suffering. But if his suffering serves to magnify Christ, then he is willing to embrace suffering. In fact he is willing to boast in his weaknesses to display more clearly the power of Christ.

Peter also talks about the grace of suffering.

1 Peter 2:19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Peter warns not to suffer as an evil doer; but it is grace to suffer unjustly when doing good; it is fellowship with Christ. Paul will talk about the intimacy of knowing him in the ‘fellowship of his sufferings’ in Philippians 3:10.

In Acts 5, the apostles were again thrown in jail. This time an angel set them free to continue to preach about Jesus.

Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

They preached Jesus to them. The religious leaders were furious, but they decided not to kill them.

Acts 5:40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Faith is a gift. Do you count suffering to advance the cause of Christ also a gift? If your suffering serves to magnify Christ, are you willing to receive it as a good gift from God? What steps can you take to reshape your thinking in regard to suffering? Christ suffered for you, in your place, to save you. Are you willing to suffer for him, to bring him glory, to put his worth on display?

Common Contest

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Paul is engaged in conflict, in a great battle or contest. He is striving together for the faith. When he and Silas were thrown in jail in Philippi, they observed this. Now in prison in Rome they hear that he is still engaged in this conflict. They are partners with him not only in the gospel, but in his suffering to advance the gospel. They have experienced some of the same kinds of persecution, and Paul wants them to understand that suffering for Christ is truly a gift, a treasure of fellowship with Christ, a privilege to utilize suffering as a platform to point to the magnificence of Christ. Am I willing, do I consider it an honor and privilege, a gift of grace, whether by life or by death, to magnify Christ in my body?

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2023.10.15 Sermon Notes

Philippians 1:28-30; The Grace of Suffering

live consistent with the gospel

-gospel unity; stand firm; strive together

Philippians 1:27

-gospel fearlessness

Philippians 1:28; Acts 4:8-12, 18-21

-gospel evidence; the gospel divides

Philippians 1:28; 1 Corinthians 1:18

Everything (including persecution) is from God

John 15:19-20; 16:33

The grace-gift of faith and suffering

Philippians 1:29; 2 Corinthians 4:6

2 Corinthians 1:5-7; 12:9-10; 1 Peter 1:19-21

Philippians 3:10; Acts 5:27-29, 40-41

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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org