Words for the Wise, The Christian's Maturity, Philippians 1 NIV

Philippians 1 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons[a]:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s chains advance the gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life worthy of the gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

CHRIST is enough!  From Elim Missions

Philippians 1

We all know someone today who is struggling with illness in their body. For some they are on the thresholds of eternity. Just in the last couple of weeks I was able to attend the memorial service of a Christian lady who only in a matter of a few months left this life for the next. The service was filled with the real hope that the lady continues to live.

We cannot read this chapter without pausing over the tremendous sentence of Paul in v21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

To live is Christ:

* To make Him known, this is the most important thing, v18.

* To see the purposes of God in the difficult things I go through, v19.

* To display Christ in my life for others to see, v20.

* To be an influence of others for the better, v25-26.

To die is gain:

* For people will see Christ in me as this life fades, v20.

* I will depart the struggles of this earth, I will be free, v23.

* I will be with Christ, v23.

* The next life is far better than this life, v23.

So whatever happens (v27), Christ in my living and Christ in my dying.

He has it all covered. Christ is enough!

NIV Application Commentary

Philippians 1v6

Paul’s second reason for joyful thankfulness to God is his confidence that God will complete the good work he has begun in the Philippians (v. 6). This work, which must be identified with the Philippians’ salvation, will reach its consummation only at “the day of Christ Jesus.” It is a work that God alone accomplishes, but the notion that it is not yet complete shows that it involves a progressive transformation of the lives of believers. The “good work” of salvation, then, includes God’s gift to believers both of the will and of the ability to do good works. The presence of these good works in turn provides evidence of real belief—evidence that God has begun and will complete the work of salvation in the person who displays them. Thus Paul says in 1:28 that the Philippians’ steadfastness in the midst of persecution serves as a sign of their future salvation, and in 2:12–13 that whereas the Philippians should “work out” their “salvation with fear and trembling,” God is the effective power behind this work. This thought also lies behind Paul’s confession in 3:12, that he presses on “to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” It is only because God in his grace has taken hold of believers and works within them to produce a life consistent with the gospel that they can in any sense “take hold” of salvation on “the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, those who will be saved in the future live holy lives in the present, but the holiness that characterizes their lives is God’s work from beginning to end.

If this represents a correct understanding of verse 6, then Paul’s first two reasons for joyful thanks to God are probably bound to one another by a profound theological truth. Paul thanks God for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel not only because of the practical assistance it provided for the advancement of the gospel but also because it stands as a confirmation that God is at work in the lives of the Philippians (cf. 4:17). Paul knows, moreover, that if God has begun a work of grace in the Philippians, he will complete it, for he has the power “to bring everything under his control” (3:21); he is thus confident that God will conduct the Philippians safely into the realm of salvation on the day of Christ Jesus. This, he feels, is reason enough to rejoice.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

The Philippians' Affairs: Exhortation to Steadfastness and Unity (1:27-2:18)

Nothing can frustrate the advance of the gospel more, both in a Christian community's effectiveness in their witness for Christ and in Christians' individual lives, than internal unrest among believers. The gospel is all about reconciliation, and unreconciled people do not advertise it well. Paul recognized this much more clearly than contemporary Christians seem to, and thus he devotes enormous energy to this matter in several of his letters (especially Rom and 1 Cor). Philippians is no exception. In now turning from his own circumstances (v. 12) to speak into the circumstances of his recipients (v. 27), he urges them to get their corporate act together (with a common mindset and mutual love) for the sake of the gospel in Philippi.

The previous section was mostly narrative; this one is mostly imperative. If 1:12-26 is the stuff of a letter of friendship, this is the stuff of a letter of exhortation (see introduction). Nonetheless the essential matter in both sections remains the same. Christ was the heart of the preceding narrative (vv. 21-23); the narrative of Christ's humiliation and exaltation (2:5-11) is the heart of this passage. Christ thus serves as the pattern for the opening appeal—that the Philippian believers live "worthy of the gospel of Christ" (1:27—2:4)—and as the basis for the concluding appeals—that they live as "children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe" (2:12-16).

Also laid out before us here is the evidence of opposition in Philippi (1:28), accompanied by suffering on their part (1:29-30; 2:17), plus the larger fact that their own community is not in full working order (1:27; 2:1-4, 12-16). For Paul, Christ is the obvious response to all of these concerns; hence he concludes once more on the note of rejoicing ("in the Lord" is implied; see on 3:1), urging them (2:18) to follow his own example in the face of opposition and suffering (1:18; 2:17).

The Bible Panorama

Philippians 1

V 1–2: PEOPLE Paul gives a brief but all-embracing description of the church to which he and Timothy write. ‘All the saints’ (which means every Christian) and ‘the bishops and deacons’ are the recipients of the letter. Paul prays that they will all receive God’s grace and peace. 

V 3–11: PRAYER Paul thankfully prays for the Christians. He is grateful for gospel fellowship with them and is confident of their salvation. He specifically prays that their love will abound in a knowledge and discernment that will help them to live holy lives. 

V 12–18: PREACHING Paul’s witness for Christ is as a prisoner in chains. Paradoxically, this helps some to preach more boldly. Although some preach from wrong motivation, Paul rejoices that Jesus Christ is proclaimed. 

V 19–26: PRIORITY With his Christian confidence that Paul will gain greatly when he dies, his priority is to live for Christ now. If the choice were his, he would find it hard to decide whether to be ‘with Christ, which is far better’ or whether to serve Him and His people on earth.

 V 27–30: PURPOSE He urges them to live lives worthy of the gospel and to strive together, taking persecution without fear by God’s grace.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

5904 maturity, spiritual

The development of Christlike character and behaviour in the Christian through a renewed mind and tested faith.

Christlikeness as the goal and model for spiritual maturity

Eph 4:13-15 See also Col 2:6-7; Heb 12:2

Marks of spiritual maturity

Spiritual understanding Col 2:2 See also Ro 15:14; 1Co 2:6; 1Co 14:20; Eph 1:17-18; Heb 5:12-6:1

Discernment of God’s will and changed behaviour Col 1:9-10 See also Ro 12:2; 1Co 3:1-3; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 4:22-23; Php 1:9-11; 2Th 1:3

Stability Col 4:12 See also Eph 4:14; 2Pe 3:17-18

Care for the weaker brother Ro 15:1 See also Gal 6:1-2

Maturity is to be the aim of the Christian

Php 3:13-15 See also Lk 8:14 a reason for spiritual immaturity; 2Co 7:1; 2Co 13:11; 1Ti 6:11

The process of maturity

God causes spiritual growth Php 1:6 See also Gal 3:3; Heb 10:14

Possessing gifts of ministry Eph 4:11-13 See also Ro 1:11

Being equipped by the word of God 2Ti 3:16-17 See also Ro 15:4; 1Pe 2:2; 1Jn 2:5

Persevering through trials Ro 5:3-5 See also Heb 2:10; Jas 1:3-4; 1Pe 5:10

The concern of the pastor is to help others to maturity

Col 1:28-29 See also 2Co 13:9-10; Gal 4:19

1.      Christlikeness as the goal and model for spiritual maturity

Colossians 2:6New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Spiritual fullness in Christ

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

2.    Spiritual understanding and Maturity

Romans 15:14New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Paul the minister to the Gentiles

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

Galatians 5:22-25New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

3.     Spiritual Maturity , Being equipped by the word of God

2 Timothy 3:14-17New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

“Christian maturity requires a radical reordering of one’s priorities, changing over from pleasing self to pleasing God and learning to obey God. The key to maturity is consistency, perseverance in doing those things we know will bring us closer to God. These practices are referred to as the spiritual disciplines, and include things such as Bible reading/study, prayer, fellowship, service, and stewardship. No matter how hard we might work on those things, however, none of this is possible without the enabling of the Holy Spirit within us. Galatians 5:16 tell us that we’re to “walk by the Spirit.” The Greek word used here for “walk” actually means to “walk with a purpose in view.” Further down in the same chapter, Paul tells us again that we’re to “walk by the Spirit.” Here, the word translated “walk” means “step by step, one step at a time.” It is learning to walk under the instruction of another—the Holy Spirit. Since believers are filled with the Spirit, we should also walk under His control. As we submit more and more to the Spirit’s control, we will also see an increase in the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). This is characteristic of spiritual maturity.”

From Gotquestions.org

Part 2 Words for the Wise, The Foundation of Fellowship, Philippians 2 NIV