Phil 1:7,8
INTRO: In tenderness and degree the two verses we have read are without peer in this letter. From these verses we can feel so much of the special bond which existed between Paul and the Philippians. As I continue to delve into this little letter and feel even more with Paul as he writes, I keep thinking of Lydia, the little Greek slave girl and the Roman jailor ... these are representative of the people for whom the apostle had such deep affection. in these introductory verses and thoughts we can assuredly conclude that this is a Heart Felt letter.
I. PAUL HAD THE PHILIPPIANS IN HIS HEART
A. All of them were so addressed you all
1. compare 1 Cor 1:14,15 could not feel the same
2. or Gal 6:17 where nagging problems existed
3. what might having them in his heart mean?
B. He had them in memory (v.3)
1. in every prayer of mine always on his mind
2. people who touch our hearts are remembered
3. parents, friends, family ... time, distance nor death erase the memory of people in our hearts
C. He had them in affection (v.8)
1. bowels ancient Greeks located emotions of love, joy, pity, etc. in the stomach brain
2. it was not just business, not casual, not sterile
3. a genuine, intense affection was felt for them
D. He had a concern for them (v.24)
1. strangely, was not so concerned about his own plight
2. but he wanted these dear friends in Christ to prosper, to be comforted, to be filled with peace (v.28)
3. one of the great realities of people consciousness is the weight of concern one will ultimately feel it is not a negative factor, however
E. He was in sympathy with them (2:25,26)
1. he felt with them in their concern for Epaphroditus
2. sympathy is feeling with (note 2:17,18)
3. sympathy issues from tender heart ... in which others are (note they are partakers of Pauls bonds)
F. He desired to be present with them (v.8)
1. longed after them again, not just a passing thought
2. grief and separation are two realities in our lives with which we must often deal if we never formed heart felt relationships, wed not experience these feelings
3. Paul was separated from people whose company he longed again to enjoy (1:25,26)
II. TWO BASES FOR PAULS FEELINGS FOR THEM
A. They were unashamed of his bonds
1. 2 Tim 1:8 he was the prisoner of Jesus
2. his imprisonment was result of his preaching Christ crucified and risen ... no reason for shame in that!
3. when trouble came to their beloved Paul, they sought every practical means to relieve his distresses
4. his confident feelings had a tangible basis
B. They were vitally concerned about/in his labors
1. defense and confirmation of the gospel
2. these people did not do lip service to their discipleship; to their conviction ... they believed and did
3. they knew what Paul accomplished in Rome would have a great bearing of the gospel worldwide they were concerned
4. each of them no doubt has his own personal concerns but it seems that the gospel and the preaching of it was an overriding concern ... no wonder Paul was so confident in them (v.6)
CLOSE: We will move quickly into the very practical encouragement and teaching of this powerful letter. But as we do, we will not be able to forget that each word is truly heart felt!
Cecil A. Hutson
05 December 1999
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
You Must Believe
Hebrews 11:6
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You Must Repent
Acts 3:19
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You Must Confess
Romans 10:9
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)