Rsbc Sunday A.M.
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible
Text: Phil 1:1-30
Sermon # 52
Intro: The city of Philippi was given it’s name from Alexandria The Great’s Father Philip. It is the first know place where Paul and Silas preached the gospel in Europe. Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. This is the place that Paul received that vision to go to: Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. It was also the place where he had his first conversion of that part of the world. Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL”..VS 5
There is not but one gospel, it is old, it is the foundation that we build on. It is the source of knowledge of Christ, it is that which John the Baptist preached and Christ preached and the Apostles. It is not water down, it is not outdated, it is fresh as the new born baby. It is truth. It is truth un compromised, it truth un spotted, it is truth unwavering...
The word Fellowship is found 16 times in the Bible, in the Old Testament only twice, one time it means a pledge that has been made, and the other time it means to couple together... In the new testament it means to come together in union, to be able to agree together...
Paul thank the Lord that he that union with the Church at Philippi, and that union was the gospel of Christ, and in that very gospel he rejoiced.... Christ died for our sins according to the scripture and that he was buried and that he rose again accourding to the word of God... In the fellowship of the gospel... I want you to note with me a number of things... In the fellowship of the gospel there is a ...
I... “ A CONFIRMATION OF IT”...VS 6 & 7
When we confirm something we make it secure it, that is we see to it that it is right. A gospel that does not have for it’s central theme Jesus Christ is not the true gospel..
(1.) The work of God begins in the heart of a sinner..vs 6
(2.) The work of God continues in the heart of the sinners..vs 6
(3.) The work of God will consummate in our hearts..vs 6
1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
In the fellowship of it there is ...
II.. “ SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT”...VS 12-14
There is no mistake as to what Paul is talking about in this part of the chapter, it was his imprisonment. He was not in jail for some law he had broken, he was in jail so that sinners could hear the gospel of Christ.
It was in this place the Jailer at Philippi was saved..Acts 16:25-33
We need to look at the things that happen to us to see if we are suffering so that the Gospel can be heard by those attending us...what opportunities the Lord lays before us in all the things that happen to us..
Paul uses the word “furtherance” which means the progress of it and the advancement of it.
Philippians 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Sometimes the Lord will use persecution:
Acts 8 -1 ¶ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 ¶ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Stephen was killed, the church was persecuted, they were scattered except the Apostle and they went every where preaching the gospel...
I think about the millions that have been killed so that the furtherance of Gospel could be known. In this very country many die, many were put in jail, many were denied the comforts of life, now we are rewarded for preaching the gospel, shame if we don’t preach it with compassion, passion, in any and all situation we find ourselves in...
In the fellowship of the gospel
III... “ THERE IS A DEFENSE OF IT”..VS 17
The word defense, means, a verbal or reasoned statement. This was what Paul did, this is what I do when I preach the true gospel of Christ... Paul said some preached Christ out of even some out of strife, some out of good will..some out of love...he rejoiced that Christ was preached..
What is meant by defending the gospel?
(1.) It means that you received it therefore you understand it:
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15- 1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
(2.) That you verbally declared it:
Acts 17-2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Paul was sent for by Felix the governor
Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Note the temporal effects of the gospel on this politician. Some of you here today are no different. You tremble sometimes and walk away. You say next service, next time I will come to Christ. It is that way with sinners who have not be made alive.
In the fellowship of the gospel...
IV... “ A MANNER OF LIFE THAT IT IMPOSES ON ALL WHO EMBRACE IT...VS 27
The word “conversation” it means to conduct oneself as the gospel requires of one. It means that in the O T also David said: Psalms 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Paul relating this to the Church at Corinth:
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
(1.) We must love it: that is the gospel
(2.) We must live it: the gospel.
(3.) We must share it:
(4.) We must believe it with all our hearts by faith:
Conclude with this, this morning!
Note that he declares a “striving of the gospel together” As Jude puts it: 3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.