Sermon text: Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Philippi was a city in Macedonia — we know the area as the northern part of Greece. Philippi was established in 359 BC by the Greeks and was renamed for Philip II of Macedon in 356 BC. It was abandoned in the 14th century after the Ottoman conquest. If it helps, it was located on the northwest side of the Aegean Sea — think the Mediterranean, between Greece and Turkey.
Paul went to Philippi on his second missionary journey, when he crossed over from Asia Minor into Europe. Philippi was one of the first places Paul went to. Acts 16 records some of the events associated with that journey and that stop in Philippi: the conversion of Lydia, Paul and Silas’s time in jail, and the conversion of the Philippian jailer.
The church he planted there grew, and was very supportive of Paul’s missionary work and of Paul himself. Now ten years had passed. It was around 60 AD, and Paul is in prison again — this time in Rome. During his time in prison he writes letters to various congregations. The congregation at Philippi was one of them, and it is a thank-you letter for the support they had given him over the years, and an encouragement in the faith.
The Epistle to the Philippians is different from most of Paul’s letters — like, for example, 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians. Corinth was a congregation with a lot of problems; it was a dysfunctional church family. As for the church in Galatia, Paul’s epistle to them begins with one of the sharpest rebukes in the New Testament. He rebukes the Galatians for falling away from the Gospel and falling back into a religion of works-righteousness. The church in Philippi seemed to be a reasonably healthy congregation, not plagued with the theological and moral problems found so often in the other New Testament churches.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul is encouraging the congregation in their life of faith. The epistle communicates Paul’s affection toward, and joy in, the church at Philippi for remaining faithful and supportive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul also seems to be addressing a couple of concerns that the Philippians have, both for him and for Christ’s work. They are worried about Paul and his fate. They might also be concerned that his imprisonment, and possible death, might adversely affect the progress of the Gospel.
Paul doesn’t know what the outcome of his imprisonment will be. He could be released, or executed — it’s up to the Romans. Paul is ready, whichever way it goes. Live or die, all will turn out for the best, and the ministry of the Gospel will continue on.
Paul himself wrote: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”
Paul tells the Philippians they need not worry about him. Come what may, he’s going to be just fine.
As for the second concern, Paul has an answer for that too. Even as he sits in a Roman jail cell, Paul sees the Gospel accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent. Members of the Roman imperial guard are hearing the Gospel. Many of them are converted, and other Christians, seeing the fruit and taking courage from Paul’s circumstances and his work —
Chapter 1, verse 12: “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
If you know me, you know I like that word “progress.” Making progress in service of a good end is itself a good end. But the problem with progress is that progress sometimes wears different masks. Sometimes progress hides itself, and it often requires patience — and quite often you don’t get to see progress until you’re near the end.
Think of moving into a house. The moving truck leaves the driveway. You look at all the boxes, the furniture, the wall hangings, all the other stuff, and you think, “What a mess — what have I done to myself?” Then you start unpacking. And as you unpack, you make a bigger and messier mess. It doesn’t look like much progress at that point. According to one survey, it takes the average American 182 days to unpack the last box after moving into a new house. That’s just the average — it can take much longer, depending on the circumstances.
Sometimes progress looks like regression, and it can produce frustration and depression, exhaustion, regret, suffering, hopelessness. Progress is sometimes hard to make, and even harder to see — until that moment when it appears in all its glory.
Even sitting in a Roman prison, Paul looks with eyes of faith at his situation, and he sees progress being made in the Gospel. Not only does he see progress — he connects this progress to adversity. “My circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,” he wrote.
It sounds like Joseph and his brothers now, doesn’t it? Decades in Egypt — and only at the end did his brothers come to seek his forgiveness. Then, and only then, does Joseph come to see that the Lord was making progress toward saving His people and fulfilling His messianic promises. What the brothers meant for evil, God used for good, to save many people.
Paul also sees that his circumstances have contributed to the well-being of the Christians in Philippi. They’re making progress too. Verse 25: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith.”
That’s what the pastoral ministry is, in part, about. God places a pastor among the congregation to hear and to teach the Word of God, to preside over worship, to administer the Sacraments, so that the congregation — the people — make progress toward their heavenly home, and have the joy that is found only in the Christian faith.
And what does progress look like? Learning more and more of the doctrines and teachings of Christ Jesus — the teachings that bring you life and salvation, strengthen your faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And progress is in the equipping of you for good works toward your neighbor. God wants you to grow and mature in the faith. Ephesians 4:15: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Or 1 Peter 2:2: “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
In Hebrews, Paul addresses Christians who weren’t doing so well on that progress scale. He wrote: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.”
Growing in faith and understanding is a lifelong endeavor. It doesn’t stop when you’re baptized. It doesn’t stop when you’re confirmed. God intends that you grow and progress as a Christian throughout your whole life — progress as deepening your knowledge of Christian doctrine, and living out your faith with love and good works, in the best of times and in the worst of times. The pastoral office exists to provide you with what you need to make progress — progress as you move ever closer to your heavenly home.
The ministers of Christ are here for your progress, Paul writes, and for joy in the faith.
Joy is another dominant theme in the book of Philippians. In those four chapters, the words “joy” or “rejoice” occur fourteen times — and if you add the word “glad,” it’s sixteen times. The Christian faith brings with it Christ-centered joy, even in the midst of an unpleasant and downright painful experience. For Paul, that means finding joy even in prison.
Verse 25: “I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith.” He goes on to write in verse 27: “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
There’s a corporate and communal dimension to the Christian life. It’s not just you and Jesus, and that’s it. Christians aren’t created to go it alone. You are set apart from the world, and called to be a living and active part, a member of the body of Christ, which is called the Church. The Church is a necessary part of this plan.
As time moves on, our loved ones — our family members, our friends — they all die, and we are increasingly left feeling a sense of loss and loneliness. But we’re not alone. In His Church, God has given us brothers and sisters: a family, a church family that lives forever, both here in time and there in eternity.
The Apostle Paul is the Philippians’ father in the faith, and as he faces possible execution, Paul directs the Philippians away from himself — his own person, his likely death — to the Gospel: the progress of the Gospel, the fellowship of the Church, and the Word. Verse 27: that you “are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
Paul uses the plural form of “you” — as in “y’all,” as they say in the South — that you all are standing together, firm, of one mind. You can’t do that alone. You can’t make progress in the Christian faith alone. Instead, you are to strive side by side for the faith of the Gospel. You can’t strive side by side without having someone by your side.
Even your opponents, and the opponents of your Christian faith, are signs of progress, and they’re used by God. Verse 28: “in no way alarmed by your opponents — which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.”
As Western nations move further and further away from the religion and morality of the Bible, opposition toward the Church is increasing. There will be conflict. The Church has always faced these trials, and it is no different now. We live in a hostile culture. We see it in the news. We see it in our politics. We see it in our culture. But God strengthens His children through His Word and Sacrament ministry, and the presence and work of the Holy Spirit within us.
Verse 19: “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” — verse 20 — “that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
Paul is describing a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It reflects the great wonder and grace of God toward us. This is where we’re to find meaning, identity, and purpose for this life. Our life is tied up with Christ’s life — and that’s the best life there is. His life gives meaning to our life. His blood covers our sin. His resurrection guarantees our resurrection. Christ’s victory gives us courage, and guarantees victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil.
Today, Paul and I bring you God’s Word for your progress and joy in the faith. And you’re making progress. God is bringing you along, drawing you forward, even when it doesn’t look like it. And one day, you will move into your new home — a heavenly mansion that’s already furnished, already clean, already waiting for you. You don’t have to do anything. You just move in and live there, prepared for you by Jesus Christ Himself.
For to you, to live is Christ, and to die is gain, because your sins have been forgiven you. Amen.
May the peace that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.