HUMILITY IS SPELLED...

Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

3 Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4 Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.

9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When I was in eighth grade I participated in a school spelling bee, which was a contest to see who could spell the most words correctly. Each day I would memorize the spelling of multiple words. I thought I had a great chance to win the competition, but I ended up in third place. One of my good friends won the contest, and afterwards I asked her what her technique was for winning. She told me that besides memorizing how to spell a variety of words, she also memorized the meaning of each word. Knowing the meaning of each word helped my friend remember how to spell each word flawlessly.

It is one thing to know how to spell the word "humility," but it is another thing to know how to spell out "humility." To spell out something is to discern its meaning and bring out its significance. Spelling the word "humility" does not help me understand what "humility" really is. My friend was able to win the spelling bee because she was able to understand the meaning of each word, which helped her remember the spelling of the word.

In Philippians 1:1 Paul presents the theme of humility by identifying himself as a slave of Jesus Christ rather than as an apostle of Jesus Christ. The reason for this is because he is introducing and modeling for the Philippian believers what humility looks like: the lowering of oneself in favor of the elevation of Jesus and the elevation of others. But, Paul did not further elaborate what humility is all about; he saves the expansion of this theme for Philippians 2:1-11. Here Paul begins to spell out for us what humility is all about and its implications for our lives today, and he does so by associating humility with Jesus himself.

Philippians 1 ends with Paul challenging the church at Philippi to remain united as they endure suffering for their faith. Just as Paul is in jail because of his faith in Christ (Philippians 1:13, 17), no doubt the church will face similar persecution because of their obedience to Jesus as well. Paul reminds the believers that they are "citizens of heaven"; they belong to God and thus, must live in a manner that brings honor and glory to God. (Philippians 1:27) The church must stand united, fighting and defending the gospel as one, recognizing that the gift of suffering is intended to help them identify with Jesus' own suffering on the cross and to help them deepen their trust in Christ. Unity in the church is what will help advance the gospel to the nations of the world.

But, corporate unity does not come out of nowhere. It cannot be created instantly. Unity is formed through a lifestyle each believer must actively live out. For unity to develop in the body of Christ, each believer must first live in constant humility. Just like flowers come from seeds that have been planted and nurtured by water and sunlight, unity blooms out of seeds planted and nurtured in humility. Humility is the catalyst for unity.

In Philippians 2:1-11 Paul begins to spell out what humility is and its repercussions for the church at Philippi. The struggle to spread the gospel in the midst of suffering (Philippians 1:30) is directly connected to the unity Paul is seeking for at the Philippian church (Philippian 2:1); this connection is found through the word "therefore," a word the NLT fails to flesh out. What Philippians 2:1 should say is:

Therefore, is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?...

Hence, what Paul is driving at is this: he encourages the church to unite together in advancing the gospel. Despite facing persecution and obstacles, they must remain in the same spirit and fight for the Good News of Jesus. (Philippians 1:27-30) And the strength and wisdom the church possesses to keep this unity going comes from their relationship with Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:1) It is Jesus who encourages the church during times of trials, providing comfort to the believers through his merciful love. It is through the fellowship with the Holy Spirit that the church is empowered to persevere during periods of suffering. The hearts of the believers become tender and sympathetic even as they fight against the harassment they undergo because of their faith in Christ. Therefore, the answer to the questions Paul asks in Philippians 2:1 is rhetorical: the answer is an emphatic YES!

Because the answer is a resounding "yes," Paul makes a plea to the church to remain united by expressing that unity through humble sacrifices. The first principle we can learn here is this:

•  Humility is spelled out in self-sacrificing giving . (vv. 1-4)

To embrace unity the believers must humbly submit themselves as slaves to one another. They are to agree wholeheartedly with each other. They are to love one another. They are to work together with one heart and purpose. They are to get rid of their selfish desires; instead of working hard to promote their individual accomplishments, Paul exhorts them never to make a good impression on others. They are to be humble, considering others as better than themselves. Be interested in other people's lives; never be consumed with our own self-centered agendas. (vv. 2-4)

Note the relationship between unity and humility here:

For unity to take place, humility has to be expressed. When humility is being expressed concretely, the body of Christ will be united. Sacrifice and unending giving are spiritual truths that must be lived out for unity to take shape in the church. This is all done through the encouragement, comfort and wisdom of Jesus and the Spirit.

How can Paul make such a bold proclamation? This is exactly what Jesus has exemplified for the church at Philippi and for the church today.

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. (v. 5)

How should our attitude be in light of Jesus' attitude on humility? Here is the second principle from this passage:

•  Humility does not take advantage of one's position or identity . (vv. 5-8)

Jesus is the Son of God; in fact, Jesus is God. He is the King of Kings. He is sovereign over all things and has perfect knowledge over all circumstances. He is not bound by time; he exists everywhere.

Such a high description portrays Jesus as the One above all. At the very least he deserves to be treated with great dignity. That is his right. But, here in Philippians 2:5-8, Paul's depiction of Jesus is anything but. Just like Paul identifies himself as a slave instead of an apostle, here Jesus identifies himself not as the supreme divine King but as a meek human slave.

First, we learn that Jesus never demanded and clung to his rights as God, even though he could have. (v. 6) Jesus was equal to God in every divine quality, but he chose not to exploit or take advantage of his position. Amazingly, Jesus' identity to God guided him to portray himself as a humble servant, as we will see in the next few verses. Again, this is what Paul does when he calls himself a slave of Christ Jesus, even though everybody knows that Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Jesus described himself as not taking advantage of an identity that he had every right to exploit. Yes, he was the Son of God, but Jesus portrayed himself to humanity in a different light.

What is this identity that Jesus revealed to humanity? Jesus made himself nothing by appearing as a human being and humbling himself as a slave. (v. 7) The phrase "made himself nothing" literally means "he emptied himself." The emptying here has nothing to do with a loss of qualities of some sort. It is not like an empty gas tank or an empty refrigerator. The word "empty" is used in verse 7 figuratively, suggesting that something is of no account anymore. Jesus could have used his divine power to instantly change what was wrong in this sinful world and make things right again. But, he did not exploit his position as God's Son to accomplish such an instantaneous feat. Instead, he will make things right by going about as a humble human slave. That is, Jesus "emptied" himself by making of no account his position as the King of Kings; instead, he relied on another less authoritative position - that of a slave. No divine qualities of Jesus were taken away from him; they were just not taken advantage of. God was to use Jesus in a different set of way.

Why save the world in such a humble degrading position as a human slave? That was the best way humanity could identify with God in the most personal intimate way. To appear in human form meant humanity could recognize and approach Jesus much more easily and without barriers that could have been erected between God and humankind if Jesus identified himself in his powerful divinity. In human form humanity witnessed a sinless perfect man who brought a message of hope to them.

But, to come down in human likeness and become a slave is not enough. Jesus chose to humble himself even more by dying a criminal's death on a cross. (v. 8) Being a slave is bad enough in the first century world; being crucified was the worse way a person could die, reserved only for the most deceitful and evil people. Again, Jesus, the King of Kings, coming down as a perfect sinless man, was put to death in such a humiliating manner. From the most highest position to the most lowest position, humility is dramatically exemplified here in Jesus. Jesus chose to sacrifice his own rights as God's Son, taking the humble position of a human crucified slave, in order to reveal his unconditional love to the world.

Humility never justifies; it always sacrifices!

Many people would read this about Jesus' humility and respond in a disgusting way. If Jesus was the King of Kings how embarrassing is it to have to die in this manner. What a shame he could not save himself. Why would I believe in a savior that had no power and authority.

God's response, on the other hand, is very different than the one above. Here is the crux of the passage, something we normally do not associate humility with. The third principle from the text is:

•  It is God alone who exalts the humble. (vv. 9-11)

Humility should not mean being stepped upon. Humility should not mean being treated in an unjust way. Humility should not equate to being weak and frail.

Humility is a spiritual attribute God wants the church to possess; this is exemplified through the life of Jesus. God responded to Jesus' humble sacrifice in this way.

•  God raises the humble up from the lifeless.

First, God raised Jesus from the dead and lifted him up to the heights of heaven. (v. 9) If Jesus remained dead, then the proper response should be one of disgust. But, that was not the case. The raising of Jesus indicates that God is much greater than the power of death, and thus, God is the only one who has the right to exalt the humble.

To live in humility gives life to the church. God will affirm and lead us in all circumstances, but especially when we are in the middle of great storms. Humility does not mean we are defeated; it means trusting that God has our back. He loves to lift up the lowly who faithfully serve him.

•  God gives a new identity to the humble - "a child of God"

Second, God exalted Jesus by giving him the name that is above every other name. (v. 9) The name given to Jesus is "Lord." (v. 11) The humble servant crucified to death has been enthroned as the supreme God over all creation. It is Jesus in whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to in worship. (vv. 10-11) God defined the identity of Jesus. From such a humble position is where God molded the Lord of Lords.

God, too, gives us a new identity when we live in humility. We are called his children. Humility does not mean being buried under the dirt of uselessness and ineptitude. Being humble actually strengthens the church to effectively accomplish more for the Lord. It is when we are self-centered and selfish that the church fails to fulfill the purposes of God. When we squabble for prestige and notoriety rather than humbly serving the world, we miss the mark of proclaiming the goodness of Jesus to the nations. When the church concretely lives out humble behavior, the church will be united in sharing the love of Christ to this broken world.

•  The life of the humble points towards the glory of God.

Third, the exaltation of Jesus is for the glory of God the Father. (v. 11) The goal is not to be humble. Humility is one way in which all glory and honor will be given to God himself. The goal is that the humble life will point back to God himself. Jesus' death and resurrection point people back to God. Paul's life points people back to God. The church's expression of humility must point people back to God.

Philippians 2:1-11 provides a clear view on what humility truly looks like. It is irresponsible for the church to give simple definitions of what humility is about. The church must spell out the full significance of humility in light of the humble service found in the life of Jesus Christ. Paul actively lived out a humble life because Jesus modeled it for him. Jesus is modeling humility to us today. Let us base our humble service not in words or definitions, but in dynamic involvement in people's lives. It is through our love for one another and uplifting one another that God is looking for.

© Arthur Hsu (2004)

FORWARD...MARCH

Philippians 1:12-30 (NLT)

12 And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ.

15 Some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know the Lord brought me here to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will all turn out for my deliverance.

20 For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. 21 For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, 24 but it is better for you that I live. 25 I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 Then when I return to you, you will have even more reason to boast about what Christ Jesus has done for me.

27 But whatever happens to me, you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing side by side, fighting together for the Good News. 28 Don't be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle.

One of the traditions in Southern California is the Rose Parade that takes place every New Year's Day in Pasadena. This parade is known for their floats that are covered with a variety of roses and other flowers. The parade also includes bands and organizations that have been invited to march down Colorado Blvd. Millions of people each year tune in to their TV sets to watch this festive event. I remembered attending the Rose Parade twice. My friends and I would arrive the day before the parade and camp on the streets. We would stay awake the whole night and wait for the parade to begin. Being involved in the parade was an amazing experience.

A number of things caught my attention while watching the Rose Parade all of these years. First, all of the floats, bands and organizations moved in one direction. More specifically, they always moved forward. Not once have I seen a float choose to move opposite of the parade traffic. Everybody traveled from west to east.

Second, all of the floats, bands and organizations all ended up in the same place, on Sierra Madre Blvd. next to Pasadena High School. It was important that all of them moved in the same direction, but it was equally important for them to finish at the same location. Without an end or goal, the floats could very well keep on going towards Las Vegas! (Well, they probably would have emptied their gas tanks somewhere in Monrovia or something.)

Third, each year the Rose Parade has a theme that guides the message of the parade itself. Whether it was "Music, Music, Music" (2004) or "A World of Harmony" (1990), all the floats and organizations must in some way showcase the theme to the audience. Now I am sure that many companies that participate in the parade have other motives in their involvement, that is, this is a good public relations move and, they get to reveal their company to millions of people around the world. But, the companies cannot reveal their own business' mission statement; instead, they have to expose the theme or message of the Rose Parade, no exceptions accepted.

The church today can learn something from the Rose Parade, namely, the significance of working in unison, accomplishing an end-goal, and understanding whom she belongs to. We are called to march forward for Jesus Christ. As we continue our study on the letter to the Philippians, we will be addressing these very issues. Our text for today is Philippians 1:12-30.

Keep in mind that when we talk about marching forward for Jesus the themes of humility, unity and joy (established in Philippians 1:1-11) come into play. Thus, it is given that the reader of Philippians 1:12-30 would agree to this assumption.  

Paul begins this section by revealing that he is in prison. (vv. 13-14) The question to ask here is: If Paul is in prison, how does that affect the spreading of the gospel? (see Philippians 1:5, 7) This is a reasonable inquiry. If Paul is stuck in a jail cell, it is impossible for him to be in the synagogues and marketplaces defending and explaining the word of God to people. Because he is in prison why would churches such as the one at Philippi continue to support him, especially in financial provision? (see Philippians 4:15-17)

And yet in the midst of a difficult situation (Paul in prison), the good news of the gospel continues to spread unhindered. (v. 12) Here is the first principle of the passage:

•  God can use any situation to advance the Good News of Jesus. (vv. 12-19)

The end-goal of Paul's ministry is that the gospel will spread so that people will hear and accept the salvation message. That mission will never change. Just like in the Rose Parade, all of the floats must, in the end, finish near Pasadena High School. Even if there were distractions along the parade route, eventually everything will find its way at the school.

Ultimately, the gospel will continue to advance irregardless of Paul's situation. Prison will not hold back God's Spirit to penetrate the lives of people with the love of Jesus. In fact, God uses Paul's circumstances to further the salvation message. In God's unique mysterious way, Paul's imprisonment allowed the guards to fully comprehend Paul's mission in life to share the truth of God to all humankind.

•  Because of Paul's imprisonment many of the guards understood Paul's mission in life.

What is even more amazing is that the fellow Christians in the city where Paul was imprisoned became more bold and confident in telling others about Christ! (v. 14) The text does not elaborate how this took place, but the message is still clear: God's mission, through Paul's work, will advance forward. Nothing can prevent the blossoming and transforming love of Jesus Christ.

Now in verses 15-19 Paul writes about these fellow Christians who are preaching God's truth while he is in prison. Paul states that there are some who have pure motives in their proclamation. But, there are others that are preaching from wrong motives: they are full of jealousy and rivalry, selfish ambition, without sincerity, all for the purpose of making Paul's life in prison more strenuous and difficult. And yet, God continues to further the gospel.

•  Even personal motives can be used by God to spread the gospel.

In this context Paul is not concerned about people's motives. He is more interested in the advancement of the truth of God. We do not know the reasons why some believers are against Paul, but the silence of Paul in explaining this matter further tells us that these people's motives are not important at all. Paul does not even identify specifically who this group might be. Paul is joyful that even in evil circumstances the Good News of Jesus is being spread across the land. And he knows that in the end, with the prayers of the Philippian believers coupled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul will be vindicated, if not on earth, then definitely when he is in heaven. (v. 19) The end-goal is still the advancement of the gospel; nothing will prevent this mission from being accomplished.

This does not mean that Paul is not concerned about people's motives at all. In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Paul describes that his motives to preach the gospel are pure, and not swayed by greed or insincere commendation. In 2 Corinthians Paul targets the false apostles and the contents of their messages. But, Paul also points to their motives for preaching: [1] these preachers compare themselves to Paul in a boastful spirit, claiming that they are better speakers than Paul (2 Corinthians 11:6); [2] they claim that they can perform amazing exploits (2 Corinthians 12:12); [3] they even use questionable actions to attract people to join their groups (2 Corinthians 11:20). Thus, Paul is very concerned about the evil motives of people.

Paul is now in prison and he cannot do anything in regards to what people are saying about him outside of jail. Asking the Philippian church to do something about it would only put the focus upon Paul and not on the gospel. Thus, Paul believes that God is in control over his circumstances and that God will use this difficult time to further Jesus' message of salvation. Paul does not give up the mission of advancing the gospel despite his troublesome situation. The focus of the church must remain in the spreading of the Good News. Paul is concerned about motives, but he is also interested in the spreading of the gospel message: ultimately, Christ must be preached. (v. 18) With that end-goal, Paul will rejoice always.

•  What would our response be when we face difficult situations in life? Would we continue to advance the gospel or not? (v. 14)

This is the application for the church today. If we were Paul and we were in jail, would we allow our circumstances to stop us from furthering the preaching of Christ Jesus? Paul had every reason to quit, especially after suffering some personal attacks from fellow believers. Yet, he remained faithful to God and to God's mission. He understood that God's salvation message will continue to move forward, that the goal of the mission will be accomplished. Are we willing to completely trust God in all of our circumstances, whether good or bad, so that the Good News of Jesus will be preached throughout the nations of the world? We are the church united in God through Jesus Christ. If we claim that we belong on God's side, we need to allow him to do his work in and through our lives.

Paul continues in verse 20 by stating that it is his hope he will always be courageous for Christ. The second principle of this message is this:

•  Therefore, the church must continually be bold in advancing the Good News of Jesus. (vv. 20-26)

Because Paul knows God can use any given situation to advance the Good News of Jesus, he must therefore be bold in proclaiming Christ as well. Paul knows he belongs to God and he can depend on God for everything. That is why Paul eagerly hopes that as long as his life is for Jesus, he will never be put to shame.

•  You cannot be put to shame as long as your hope is in Jesus.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

(Psalm 25:3; NIV)

For Paul it does not matter whether he is found innocent or guilty of the charges brought against him. If he is found innocent by the court of law and he lives, his life will always honor Christ. If he is found guilty and he is sentenced to death, Paul will live his life in honor of Christ.

•  Whether in life or death, Jesus will be exalted.

In Paul's mind there is no difference between life and death; in either case he wants to live boldly for God's mission. If he is alive he can continue to achieve the end-goal of spreading the love of Jesus. But, if he dies, he will spend the rest of eternity with God. Both scenarios are good for Paul. He is very clear that when he puts his hope in God, he will never be put to shame. As long as he lives his life according to God's will, Jesus will always be exalted.

•  We are in the business of growing joyful faith! (v. 25)

But, Paul has determined that in his present context it is better for him to live so that he can minister to the church at Philippi and help her grow in the joy of her faith. Again, Paul is emphasizing his unity with God's church. They are united together in spreading the gospel of Christ Jesus in joyful faith.

Paul is living an example for the Philippians on what it means to follow Jesus. His own personal life is not what matters; it is the advancement of the gospel that is the most significant. His own life is not what counts; it is his humble service to others that makes the difference. And to be united in this way takes great joy in faith. God will determine whether Paul will physically live or die. As for Paul, he will always promote the gospel message.

This section of the text teaches us about our attitude when it comes to life and death and their relationship to the service of God. Paul is very clear that whether he is physically alive or not, he will bring honor to Jesus in humble service. In fact, for Paul, there is no difference between life or death. He will always rejoice in being with God.

Our perspective of life and death must be comparable to that of Paul. We so readily assume that life is very precious and thus we avoid death as much as possible. But, this forces us to never take risks for God. We are so consumed about preserving our lives that we become afraid to give it all up for Jesus. Paul never hindered in sacrificing his life for the work of God. We, too, must submit our whole totality of our human existence, whether that might be living or dying, to the mission of Jesus. Hold onto God in humility and unity, and live for Jesus in joy. For whatever the circumstances might be, God is in full control; we are his slaves and he is our Master. Remember, Jesus is more important than our very lives.

Paul hammers this point down in verse 27: because we are citizens of heaven, we must live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is the last principle of the message:

•  The church must stand united, in faith and conduct , in advancing the Good News of Jesus. (vv. 27-30)

•  The church belongs on the side of God.

As citizens of heaven we belong to God. This means that what we believe in and how we apply those beliefs must conform to the purposes of God. The Philippian church must understand this because they are also citizens of the Roman Empire. Paul wants to make it very clear that they must side with the kingdom of God always, even if it goes against that of the Roman Empire. God deserves our full allegiance. Everything else is of less priority.

It is like the Rose Parade. All participants belong to one group or another. But, to join in the parade, every organization must adhere to the creed and values of the parade itself. A group cannot promote its own agenda at will during the event; it must follow the guidelines the parade committee has set up. On the day of January 1 st of every year, all allegiance goes to the Rose Parade only.

Because we are citizens of heaven we must submit under God's sovereign authority. Our faith and conduct must measure up to his will. By humbly yielding ourselves to God, we will live according to God's purposes, that is, live in a manner worthy of the Good News of Jesus.

•  The church stands firm in the same spirit. (v. 27, "you are standing side by side" [NLT])

As citizens of heaven, then, the believers at Philippi must stand "side by side" and fight together for the Good News. The Greek text states that the church must stand firm "in the same spirit." That is, the church must stand united together in one spirit because they belong to the same Spirit of God. As citizens belonging to the Lord Jesus, the church must support, fight, and defend the truth of the Good News.

Again, Paul is affirming the unity of the community of believers. We belong to God. We are citizens of heaven. We must live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus. We stand firm together in the same spirit. We stand side by side. We must fight and work together for the Good News.

The church today has to embrace this spiritual closeness Paul demands of us. We should not allow such things as denominational competitions, gaps between church leaders and lay people, and comparisons between mission agencies bring division to the church. We are in this spiritual battle together; we are fighting for God's cause. Self-promotion must be wiped out in favor of humble service to God.

•  The church must embrace the cause of God as one community. (v. 30)

By being united, the church can combat the blows of her enemies. (v. 28) The opponents of the Philippian believers will recognize their destruction through the courage of the church in the midst of persecution. The enemies will also comprehend that the church will be saved because of her complete faith in the Lord.

But, more than the opposition perceiving all of this is the fact that the church, too, will understand all of these things. Paul is exhorting the church to remain faithful during times of persecution because they will be saved by God while their enemies will be destroyed. To already know the verdict of God gives the church today boldness to continue to fight for the gospel. We are able to stand firm in one spirit because God has already won the battles for us. We are to stand side by side to experience God's victory for us.

In fact, Paul says that suffering for Jesus is actually a privilege or gift given to the believer. (v. 29) Why is this so? By enduring suffering we can connect with the persecution Jesus had to undergo so that reconciliation and salvation can be offered to humanity. The death and resurrection of Jesus becomes more personal to us when we go through suffering because of our faith in Christ Jesus. By embracing one another as one community, we can fight these oppositions together and at the same time identify with Jesus' death and resurrection.

Plus, through suffering, our dependency upon Jesus may deepen in faith. We have to trust in him as we face suffering. The church has to focus on the strength of God in the midst of persecution. By trusting the almighty God, the church will unite together to spread the Good News of Jesus.

In America it is difficult to fathom what persecution is like. Because of the freedom of religion, we do not know how it feels to suffer for the gospel. But, there are many believers all over the world that are suffering for the cause of Christ Jesus. They are being systematically tortured because they are willing to put all of their allegiance on God alone.

A practical thing we can do is to be more sensitive to what suffering might look like. Notice how you are being treated at work, school, or even in your own family, because of your faith. Do not brush aside people's comments about you, but begin to understand why some would criticize your faith in God. How do you feel about such negative reaction from people? How would you react to them?

Now, multiply your experiences a million times and maybe you can get a glimpse of the persecution believers from other nations go through on a daily basis. Hopefully this will persuade the church in America to take more seriously about standing firm with the world-wide church of God, fighting together for the cause of the gospel, remembering our fellow brothers and sisters who are "in chains" because of their faith in Jesus. We need to remember in prayer those who are being persecuted for the gospel.

Philippians 1:12-30 focuses on the end-goal of advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter what circumstances or obstacles we face, God will use any given situation to spread the Good News. Therefore we can be bold in advancing the gospel as well. Whether in life or in death, Jesus will always be exalted. It is God and his message of salvation in which our whole allegiance goes to. In unity the church must live in faith and conduct consistent to the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

© Arthur Hsu (2004)

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)