CULTIVATING HUMILITY, UNITY AND JOY

Philippians 1:1-11 (NLT)

1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. It is written to all of God's people in Philippi, who believe in Christ Jesus, and to the elders and deacons. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy 5 because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. 7 It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

When I was in seminary I had to read countless of books for my classes. Now many books begin with a preface or introduction before chapter one. But, for the most part, I skip these sections and head straight to the first chapter. I figure there is nothing really significant written in these segments. Most of the time the author gives thanks to individuals that had inspired him or her to write the book. But, I do not want to read a list of "people of inspiration." I want to get to the heart of the book, and where better to start than in chapter one?

I was well into my second year of school when I learned something profound in my educational life. No, it did not come from my professors; I actually learned this valuable lesson from one of my teaching assistants. Rob told me that many times the essence or core of the book is not to be found within the chapters, but is actually discovered in the preface or introduction of the book. The author would provide a summary of what the book is all about in these sections. In the preface or introduction the writer will share with his or her readers why the book was written, the contents that will shape the form of the book, and the possible outcomes derived from the data. In a nutshell the preface or introduction offers the various themes and ideas that the chapters of the book will try to support.

When we read the letters of Paul in the Bible, many times we skip the introductory section of his letters and try to jump into the "meat" of his writing. We know that in the beginning of his letters Paul would normally introduce himself to his audience, give his status as an apostle of God, and give some sort of prayer of thanksgiving to his readers. The introduction to many of his letters is so similar that it is easy for us to skim through the words without giving them a second thought. We readily assume that the introduction has nothing worthwhile to say to us.

Of course we are dead wrong on such a grave assumption. I am reminded of Rob's challenge: there is a wealth of teaching that can be found in the introduction of a book or body of writing. This is definitely true in the letters of Paul as well.

We are embarking on a new preaching series on the book of Philippians. For the next two months we will discover the very heart and soul of this letter to the church at Philippi. But, we do not have to wait until the end of the letter to discover the core of Paul's writing. In fact, the very essence of Paul's words can bloom forth through a serious analysis of the letters' introduction. Three themes, in particular, can be discovered in Philippians 1:1-11. What is Paul teaching us in these first eleven verses?

The letter starts off with a common element, the writer of the letter introducing himself to the readers of the letter. Verse 1 states that the letter is from Paul and Timothy and it is written to all of God's people in the city of Philippi. But, if we read the whole letter carefully we will discover that in fact Paul is the sole author of this letter. For example, the letter depicts Paul's experience in prison. (Philippians 1:12-26, 30) Paul also describes a time when he was with the Philippian believers. (Philippians 2:12) The letter also speaks of Paul's plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus. (Philippians 2:19-30) Paul even speaks of himself and his goals in life in the letter. (Philippians 3:1-21) Hence, there is no doubt that Paul is the single author of the letter to the Philippians.

So, why is the letter acknowledged to come from both Paul and Timothy if Paul is the sole author of the letter? Some scholars believed that Timothy might have assisted Paul as a secretary to this letter. But, an underlying clue is found in Paul's description of himself - a "slave" of Jesus Christ.

It is common for Paul to address himself as an "apostle" of Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; and, 2 Timothy 1:1) Even in the two passages where Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ Jesus (Romans 1:1 and Titus 1:1) he also refers to himself as an apostle. This is a significant observation for this very reason: whereas the status of apostle signifies authority and spiritual power, the status of a slave denotes humility and meekness. An apostle speaks on behalf of God because the apostle is commissioned by God himself. But, the image of a slave is much different than an apostle. A slave "belongs" to a master in submission . Full obedience is expected from the slave; all honor and glory is given to the master alone. In Philippians Paul speaks of himself solely as a slave; Paul is emphasizing the cultivation of humility in the Christian life. Here is the first point of the message:

•  Humility does not promote status or self-importance . (v. 1)

•  Paul describes himself as a slave instead of an apostle .

Paul wants to highlight the value of humility in the believer's life. Paul has every right to call himself an apostle, but he chooses not to. Instead, the image he uses to portray himself is that of a slave. In spiritual submission Paul is compelled to accomplish the will of Jesus Christ. Paul now belongs to Christ and nobody else.

•  Honor is directed to his master, Jesus Christ.

As a slave of Christ, all honor is given over to the glory of Jesus. Paul is no longer important; in his eyes it is his Master, Jesus, that deserves all of creation's worship. In fact, later on in the letter, we will uncover what true humility is like through the life of Jesus. (see Philippians 2:1-11)

•  Paul and Timothy are equal in God's eyes.

Humility is not only expressed between human being and the divine; it is also lived out between one human being to another. Everybody knows that Paul has produced a greater spiritual impact in the life of the church than Timothy ever had accomplished. Yet, in humility, Paul "lowers" himself in the same status as that of Timothy. Both are slaves of Christ Jesus. Both are identical in God's kingdom. Paul is constructing a model of humility here by "equaling" Timothy as himself.  

The church today can learn something here from Paul. Humility is not one of our greatest spiritual assets. We try to promote ourselves and our ministries as the best that the church has to offer. We love to receive attention and we will do anything to lift ourselves up on any pedestal we can climb on.

But, this is not what Paul is trying to teach us. Yes, some of us play a significant role in the building up of God's kingdom. Yes, some of us make a strong impact in the sharing of God's love and the discipleship of God's people. Yes, some of us are considered by other believers as the "cream of the crop" in ministry.

But, Paul reminds us that we should still avoid the sin of self-promotion. Remember, we are slaves of Jesus Christ; there is no difference between any of us. All of us work together to build up God's kingdom, not ours! Even when the fruits of blessings are plentiful in our lives and ministries, we must remain in humble submission to the One who deserves all the glory, Jesus himself. If Paul is able to live in humility, the church today should be able to as well.

We have already seen in verse 1 that humility is one important theme presented in the introduction of Paul's letter to the Philippians. Another theme is also featured in verse 1, the theme of unity.

The letter is addressed to all of God's people in Philippi. The letter is also addressed to the elders and deacons of the church. The second point of the message is this:

•  Unity elevates the whole community . (v. 1)

•  The letter is written to all God's people.

The NLT writes verse 1 as such:

It is written to all of God's people in Philippi, who believe in Christ Jesus, and to the elders and deacons. (NLT)

But, a more proper translation is:

It is written to all [the saints] in Philippi, who believe in Christ Jesus, [together with] the elders and deacons.

You can see that Paul is addressing all believers as one and the same. It does not matter if one is a spiritual leader or a lay person of the church: the letter is directed to all the saints . All are saints through the salvation carried out in Christ Jesus.

•  Unity is mandatory because of God's grace of salvation for all of us. (v. 2)

In verse 2 Paul pronounces that may the grace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be upon all the saints in Philippi. Unity is enforced because all have experienced the same grace from God the Father. God's grace is given to believers through the atoning death of Jesus. Humans did not work for this grace; it was freely given by God to those who choose to receive. Because the grace of God is the same upon all people, all people are the same in God's eyes.

•  Peace in life is the result from such a grace. (v. 2)

Furthermore, peace becomes the natural outflow of such an unconditional grace. Individuals experience wholeness and harmony with God because of God's grace upon their lives. Grace is what God offers us through Jesus. Peace is what we experience from God's grace.

That is why Paul sees himself as equal to Timothy. That is why Paul speaks to all the saints at Philippi, which includes the church leaders. God's grace is meant for all people. Those who accept God's grace will also receive his peace. Unity is at the forefront of such a merciful experience.

Again, there should be no division within the body of Christ. All of us are slaves of Jesus; he is the Master and we are his servants. We may occupy different positions in ministry, but all of us work together to further God's work here on earth. It is God's grace that has saved us all, and it is his peace that we experience as a benefit of his grace. We must value and love one another for who we are, humbly sacrificing our self-importance for the greatest importance of all, the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We now enter the section of the letter's introduction known as the prayer of thanksgiving. (Philippians 1:3-8) Here is where we are introduced to the third theme of the letter - joy. The third point of the message is this:

•  Joy is the primary evidence of God's Spirit dwelling in our lives. (vv. 3-8)

The evidence of experiencing God's grace and peace in our lives is joy. This is what Paul makes clear in verses 3-8.

•  Joy raises the frequency of thanksgiving to God. (v. 3)

Note that the focus of Paul's thanksgiving is on God. Whenever he prays for them ("every time I think of you..." in NLT) he thanks the Lord. For Paul prayer and thanksgiving are combined together as one. The reason is because of joy. This is more evident in verse 4.

•  Prayer in joy promotes spiritual fullness. (v. 4)

When Paul prays for the Philippians he prays with a heart "full of joy." Paul does not allow his circumstances (Paul is in prison; Philippians 1:7, 13) dictate how he should pray; every time he prays for the Philippians, he prays with joy.

What a valuable lesson for us to learn today! How many of us allow our circumstances to influence our prayer? When our lives turn towards the negative, our prayers tend to be discouraging and powerless. But, Paul shows us that we can still pray with joy even in the most difficult of situations! If Paul could pray with joy in prison, why can't we pray with joy always as well?

Our joy is tied closely with the peace we experience through God's grace. (see again Philippians 1:2) Because the peace of God resides within those who have accepted God's grace of salvation, and because this peace is eternal and entrenched in God's presence, we are able to live in continued joy, no matter what our situations present us with. Paul is joyful even though he is in prison. We can be joyful as well, both in good and bad times.

•  The reason for joy: the constant goodness of God in the past, present and future. (vv. 5-6)

•  Joy brings believers together for one purpose: the spreading of the gospel. (v. 5)

The reason Paul is able to pray with joy is because the Philippians have been Paul's partners in spreading the gospel of good news. They have been participating with Paul "from the first time you first heard it until now." (v. 5) That is, this good work of the church began in the beginning when they first received salvation in Christ Jesus. From that moment to the present time, the church has served God faithfully through Paul's mission work. We also know from Philippians 4:15-16 that part of the church's good work included financial support for Paul's ministry:

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. (Philippians 4:15-16)

Hence, the Philippians have been generous and consistent in supporting Paul in ministry from the beginning to Paul's current situation.

And, there is no doubt in Paul's mind that it was God who started this good work in the lives of the Philippian believers and it is God who will bring this good work into completion when Jesus Christ comes back again. (v. 6) All honor is due to God: he offered salvation to the Philippians; he stirred the church to join Paul in partnership in mission; he motivated the church to offer financial support to Paul; and, he challenged the church to continue to partner with Paul. All the good work shown by the church is made possible through the constant goodness of God over the church. The result of such a great testimony is overwhelming joy that Paul is experiencing in his prayers. Who would not be joyful to partner with a church like the Philippian church who is so committed to God's work?

•  Joy surpasses any of life's circumstances. (v. 7)

Again, Paul is currently in prison when he writes this letter. Yet, his circumstances do not stop him from having a thankful and joyful heart. God's grace and peace, coupled with the Philippians' participation in sharing the gospel, encourages Paul to live life in fullness of joy.

Another application we learn here is the consistent support of the Philippians towards Paul's ministry. Paul's situations never distracted the church from faithfully supporting him, whether in finances or spreading the good news. Whether in good times ("defending the truth and telling others the Good News") or in bad times ("when I was in prison..."), the church continued to partner with Paul in furthering the kingdom of God. They never detached themselves from Paul when things were rough and hard. They remained in partnership with Paul because they understood their role in serving God. That is why the church holds a special place in Paul's heart. Who would not be joyful at having a church so faithful to God's work and to your ministry?

When we partner with people in ministry let us partner with them in faith. In times of triumph or times of trial, people are depending on us to be there for support and service. This is important to learn in a time when it is easy for people to church-hop. God does not want us to keep moving around; he wants us to commit to a local church and help build his church up to make an impact in the surrounding communities. We need to be like the church at Philippi who consistently partnered with Paul to see God's work come into fruition.

•  Joy exhibits unconditional love and compassion towards one another. (v. 8)

Paul's joy is further exemplified in his relationship with his Philippian brothers and sisters in Christ. The saints at Philippi hold a special place in Paul's hearts. They have shared God's blessings as a united community. The church willfully stood by Paul, whether he was in prison or proclaiming the gospel. Paul longs for the Philippians in compassion. The bottom line is this: in joy Paul passionately cares for the Philippian believers.

This is significant for the church today when it comes to pastoral care. Paul, the apostle of God, chooses to showcase himself as a slave instead. Though he could have called upon his God-given authority to challenge the church at Philippi, he instead demonstrates God's love by passionately loving back the church. Paul could have used his leadership power to shake up the church, but, he chooses to reveal compassion and love towards them.

The church today must reflect the same kind of love as Paul has exhibited to the Philippians. In joy we can embrace all through compassion and mercy. In joy we can unconditionally love even those whose behavior may not warrant such love. Pastoral care welcomes all just as God welcomes us all into his family.

Verses 3-8 of Philippians 1 center upon Paul's joy and thanksgiving in his prayers. But here in verses 9-11 Paul moves towards the substance of his prayers. It is here where we discover what humility, unity and joy's ultimate end or goal is to be. The last point of our message is this:

•  The ultimate goal of humility, unity and joy is to lift up the glory of God . (vv. 9-11)

Paul begins his exhortation with a challenge:

•  Challenge: Love for one another will overflow more and more. (v. 9)

What kind of love is Paul talking about? Is it the kind of affectionate love he displays to the church in verse 8? Possibly. But, the love must extend beyond just "mere feelings." It has to be concretely lived out. It is a kind of love that places great worth upon another person. It is a love that secures a benefit towards another person.

Love here must be the kind of transformational love revealed to us by Jesus on the cross. Love is the unconditional grace of salvation God freely offers to us. Love is the constant peace we experience in salvation. Love challenges us to care for one another equally in humility. Love teaches that no one person is greater than another. Love brings unity in the family of God. Joy is the proper evidence of this kind of love that can only come from God himself.

It is this kind of love that the Philippians must demonstrate towards one another, a love that "overflows more and more." It is a love that is unlimited, a love that knows no end. It keeps abounding in great supply full of richness and goodness. The kind of love Jesus exemplified to us on the cross is the same love we must minister towards one another.

Paul continues to challenge the Philippian church by defining this love further:

•  Challenge: This love will come with knowledge and full insight. (v. 9) ["knowledge and understanding" in NLT]

The love Paul wants to see the Philippians exhibit towards one another must not just overflow more and more; the love must also abound with "knowledge and full insight." Knowledge here does not mean the accumulation of facts or information. Instead, it is a personal understanding of who God is in relationship to humanity. Knowledge points to the character of God, God's righteousness, the distain of God towards sin, God's action of grace through Jesus, and God's perfect will for those who choose to follow him. This knowledge, therefore, targets spiritual knowledge generally. If the Philippians have true knowledge of who God is in each of their lives, they will properly display true love towards one another.

With this knowledge comes full insight. This is the ability to make the wise and practical decisions in life according to the purpose of God. It is the capability to make the right assessments in all circumstances. With full insight the Philippian believers will know how to love one another concretely and sensibly. Thus, their love for one another must demonstrate how to live under the will of God and how to make moral decisions based on obeying the Lord's will.

What is the benefit of loving someone with knowledge and full insight?

•  Result: To help the believer determine what is best. (v. 10) ["understand what really matters" in NLT]

To love with knowledge and full insight helps the believer to understand "what really matters" or to "determine what is best." This is the ability to decide what is true and reliable. In the Philippians' immediate context, to test what is true will take shape in the form of false teaching (see Philippians 3:1--4:1). Paul wants to make sure that the church at Philippi knows what is the truth of their faith and how to determine what is right according to God's ways and what is wrong according to human ways. A love that attaches itself to the knowledge of God's purpose will express itself in right moral actions by verifying what is best, what really counts in the kingdom of God.

And when the believer determines what is best, he or she will be "pure and blameless."

•  Result: The believer will be pure and blameless. (v. 10)

To be pure literally means "without spot." The illustration is that of a piece of clothing being brought out into the sun to see if there are any dirty spots on the garment. Thus, being pure focuses on moral purity.

To be blameless means not causing someone to stumble or fall. The picture we have here is putting a stone in front of a person to cause them to trip and fall.

Paul declares that if the church knows what is best because of the knowledge of God's will and the application of that knowledge in life, then she will be pure and blameless. She will be pure and clean in the eyes of the Lord and she will not cause anybody to stumble. The diligent application of humility, unity and joy in one's life promotes moral purity and blamelessness.

Yet, there is still another result to such a love that Paul proclaims:

•  Result: The believer will be full of the fruit of righteousness. (v. 11) [ "be filled with the fruit of your salvation" in NLT)

The "fruit of righteousness" is the right conduct lived out by the believer towards the community. It is being humble instead of living in vain arrogance. It is uplifting unity instead of creating division through selfishness. It is valuing the significance of other people rather than living a self-centered life. It is promoting joy in all circumstances. It is partnering with one another in consistency and in faith in sharing the good news.

But, the ultimate final goal in all this is:

•  Ultimate Result: All these results are for the glory and praise of God. (v. 11)

Everything is meant to offer glory and praise to God. The love the Philippians are to live out is the same love that God displayed through his son Jesus upon the cross. This is a love centered on righteousness, a love marked in humility, unity and joy. Therefore, when the church at Philippi reflects this righteous love towards one another, people will know where this love comes from and where this love points them to - God himself. It is a righteousness that gives all honor and glory back to the One who began the good work in people's lives and will bring the good work to completion.

In summary, what seems like barren words are in fact filled with ripe challenges. The introduction to the letter of Philippians guides us towards the major themes Paul will be presenting throughout his writing. Humility, unity and joy are personal traits Paul encourages believers to live faithfully to [1] in order to spread the gospel effectively, [2] build up the community of faith, [3] and ultimately, offer all glory and praise to the Maker of all things, God himself. May your spiritual journey in the study of this letter be one that bears great fruit for the kingdom of God. Remember, the good work that God started in your life he will bring to completion upon Christ's return!

© Arthur Hsu (2004)