Sunday, November 7, 1999   

In these conversions, we have a Jewish proselytess, a Greek slave, a Roman jailer. We have female as well as male; bond, as well as free; Gentile and Jew.

What memories Paul had!

I. VERSE 1, DESCRIPTIONS OF DISTINCTION

      A. "Servants of Jesus Christ."

           1. Here is a title that Paul did lay claim to: servant (doulos) of Jesus Christ. The Greek word doulos means "a slave, bondman, one who gives himself to the will of another."

           2. The word used by Paul was familiar to the Philippians for many of them had or were slaves themselves.

           3. The word doulos has several meanings:

                a. A slave is one who has been bought and is the possession of another.

                     1) Paul was the possession of Jesus Christ.

                     2) I Corinthians 6:19-20, "Ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price...."

                b. The slaves will is lost in the will of another. He has no will of his own.

                     1) Paul had no will but Christ, no obedience but to his Lord and Savior.

                     2) Christian, His will is to be your will, His wish, your command.

                c. A slave is one who serves another with complete disregard for himself.

                     1) The slave wants to do what the master sees as best.

                     2) In the Christian life, joy and happiness only come in doing God's will.

                d. The bondslave loves his master and does not want to go free because he is well satisfied. Exodus 21:5: “I love my master... I will not go free."

           4. Christians, we have a good Master.

                a. Our Master is responsible for our needs. He feeds us, clothes us, houses us, and is concerned about us. Philippians 4:19 says: "My God shall supply all your need" (Matt 6:24-25).

                b. The Master is responsible for the duties of the slave.

                     1) We do not choose our own work; He does.

                     2) Isaiah said: "Here am I, send me" (Isaiah 6:8).

      B. "Saints."

           1. "Saints" is the Greek word hagios meaning "holy, set apart, different for other things."

                a. Positionally, all the saved have been set apart unto God and declared holy.

                b. Those who are positionally holy are expected to be practically holy.

           2. Romans 1:7 and I Corinthians 1:2 says we are "called to be saints." As soon as we are called saints, we are called to be saints, called to be different.

                a. In Leviticus 27:30,32, the tithe is declared to be "holy unto the Lord." The tenth is different from the other ninety percent. It belongs to God.

                b. Christians are the different ones, the holy ones.

                c. Christian be what you are called to be!

      C. "Bishops and deacons."

           1. These are the two ordained offices of the church.

           2. "Bishops" Greek episkopos an overseer responsible for the spiritual welfare of a local church.

           3. "Deacons" Greek diakonos servants who take care of the more secular affairs of the local church so the bishop, pastor can give himself to study of the Word and prayer.

II. Verse 1b, DWELLING PLACE OF THESE SAINTS

      A. Paul writes "to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi..."

      B. "Philippi." Founded by Philip, father of Alexander the Great.

           1. Geographically on the great high road between Europe and Asia, thus a strategic city. Luke called it a "chief city" (Acts 16:12).

           2. Naturally the surrounding land was of rich, fertile soil. God and silver mines were located in the area. Mines that had been worked by the Phoenicians.

           3. Historically, because Philippi is on the high road between Europe and Asia, one of the great battles of history was fought here. It was at Philippi that Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius deciding the future of the Roman Empire.

                a. Soon after this battle, Philippi became a Roman colony, founded by veteran soldiers of Rome.

                     1) Roman language was spoken.

                     2) Roman dress was worn.

                3) Roman customs observed.

                     4) They did not assimilate into the society into which they were placed.

      b. In Philippians 3:20, we read: "For our conversation is in heaven." That means we have our citizenship in heaven, but we are a colony of heaven here on earth.

                     1) We are never to forget we are Christians set as a colony in a heathen land.

                     2) We are called to duty in the world, but we are not of the world.

      C. It is also to be noted that Christians as "in Christ." This phrase is found forty times in the New Testament.

           1. We are "in Christ" because of the new birth.

           2. Those "in Christ" are new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17).

           3. To be "in Christ" is to dwell in Him and because of this they are different from those around them.

           4. In John 17:15, Jesus prayed for His disciples. He prayed that they would be kept from evil while here in the world. Yes, we are in the world, but more importantly we are "in Christ." Because of this, we are protected just as the message thrown in the sea is protected because it is sealed in a bottle.

                a. They were in Philippi with all its worldly influences, but "in Christ" they were secure.

                b. Are you "in Christ"?

III. Verse 2, DESIRE OF PAUL FOR THE SAINTS

      A. Paul weaves together two great words here: "grace and peace."

      1. Charis is the greeting with which Greek letters began.

      2. Eirene is the greeting of the Jews.

      B. "Charis" is translated grace, but has the idea of joy and pleasure, brightness and beauty. It is connected with the English word charm.

           1. When we think of grace, we think of unmerited favor from God. We find favor with Him because of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

           2. Out of grace comes the joy and pleasure of salvation.

      C. "Eirene"-- peace, no condemnation before God. You cannot have peace without first having grace. Peace is born of reconciliation.

      D. "From God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

           1. The Father is the source from whom grace and peace come.

           2. The Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator through whom they come.

CONCLUSION: Grace is God's unmerited favor in action resulting in peace through the blood shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20).