Philippians 1:7-11

I've been on the road for work for a while, so when I returned to my Sunday school class I did a little review of the exposition of the first six verses of Philippians 1 (found here) that I taught back in August. After the review,  I was able to make it all the way to verse eleven. At this rate I should be done with Philippians sometime in 2013. Oh well, here it is.

Philippians 1:7-11

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

Paul is confident of the perseverance of the Philippian believers because they partake of the grace of God, with Paul, during times of persecution. The affliction of Paul’s imprisonment is a gift from God as noted by Christ in Matthew 5, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (v. 11) No unbeliever could see this persecution as anything other than a scandalous reproach, however, true believers have an eternal perspective on such things. 

Paul also notes the defense and confirmation of the gospel by this church. All believers are called to make a defense of their beliefs to anyone who asks. (1Peter 3:15) One of the signs of a saving faith is a desire to defend and proclaim the gospel to the world and Paul sees this in the Philippians as a sign of the grace of God working itself out in evangelism and apologetics.

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Paul makes a most serious oath of his affection for the church at Philippi. He raises this affection to the highest level possible in connecting it to the very affection of Christ for His church. 

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Next, Paul returns to the prayer he began in verse 3, moving from his thankfulness for them to his petition to God on their behalf. Paul prays that the love of the church would continue to grow, but not without knowledge and discernment. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes the statement that love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth” (13:6). True love is not the head in the clouds lust portrayed by Hollywood romance, but rather is a sober, divinely inspired, affection that sometimes hurts. When a Christian grows in love for God and their neighbor, a desire for the exposing of lies, and the propagation of truth will inevitably follow. 

Without this love, we will approve of things that are ungodly, so Paul connects this growth in truth exalting love with approval of what is excellent, leading to purity and righteousness. We see the approval of worldly passions daily in the culture. The truth of the gospel is always in constant conflict with this world, and whenever we find ourselves comfortable in the world, we should examine ourselves to be sure that we are pursuing holiness, in keeping with God’s truth. 

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The righteousness that proceeds from the love Paul speaks of comes only through union with Christ. Any righteousness we possess is alien to ourselves and comes, not from law-keeping or holy living, but rather from the imputed righteousness of Christ that we receive as a free gift. (Phil. 3:9) 

We must keep in view that the love, purity, blamelessness, righteousness, etc. are all from our relationship with Christ, and are not in ourselves by nature, but rather, are gifts of God given to His children by adoption, according to the divine purpose and decree of God, who works all things according to the council of His will. (Eph. 1:11)