Holy Spirit

A Truth Worth Thinking About

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8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

Paul has challenged the Philippian congregation to make unity a high priority. He has pleaded with them to ensure their behavior lines up with their belief so their lives fully complement their calling in Christ. That will require them to work out their salvation or, to put it another way, to put in the necessary effort so that their faith in Christ bears tangible fruit.

He has encouraged them to keep their faith steadfastly committed to the gospel message made possible through the death and resurrection of Christ. They were to share Christ’s attitude, choosing to follow His example of humility, selflessness, obedience, and sacrifice. And, like Paul, they were to find reason to rejoice, even in the face of opposition and oppression. If they did these things, Paul knew they would shine like bright lights in the darkness surrounding them in Philippi.

But before Paul closed out his letter, he offered one more word of wisdom. As if returning to his earlier admonition to have the mind of Christ, Paul tells them to “think about these things” (Philippians 4:8 ESV). The Greek word he uses is logizomai, meaning “to consider” or “to meditate” on something. But Paul leaves no uncertainty about what kinds of “things” they are to consider or set their minds on. He provides a very specific list of subjects on which to focus their thoughts and attentions.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8 NLT

The first item on his list is truth; they were to fill their minds with whatever is true and, therefore, trustworthy. Because Satan is the father of lies, we must constantly be on guard against the subtle falsehoods and deceptive half-truths he attempts to use against us. And since there is no greater truth than the gospel message, Christ followers must constantly focus their minds on the reality that they were once condemned sinners in need of a Savior. At one time, they had been indebted to God and incapable of satisfying His just and holy demands. Yet, He sent His Son to die in their place, and now they stood before Him as pure and holy, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Paul constantly reminded those under his care to consider the remarkable truth of their restored relationship with God.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. – Ephesians 2:1-2 NLT

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) – Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT

Paul adds “whatever is honorable” to his list, referring to anything worthy of veneration because of its character. In a sense, this is truth lived out; Christlikeness shows up in trustworthy conduct. Paul wanted the Philippians to think about the honorable character Christ exhibited and to follow His example. Back in Chapter 2, he stated, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT). But our attitude must show up in action. Yes, Paul reminded them not to be selfish or to waste time trying to impress others. He encouraged them to be humble, thinking of others as better than themselves. Rather than looking out for their own interests, they were to take an interest in others. But that all requires action; it has to show up in everyday life in practical ways. Jesus didn’t just have an attitude of humility; He lived it out.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
   he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

Next, Paul encouraged them to fill their minds with whatever is “right” or just. This has to do with righteousness, but according to God’s terms, not man’s. It carries the idea of living your life so that your way of thinking, feeling, and acting is fully conformed to God’s will.

It makes sense that Paul would follow right thoughts with right behavior in the form of moral purity because sexual sin is fully outside the revealed will of God. But it’s not just the actual act that can get us into trouble; even our thoughts can leave us impure and guilty before God. It was Jesus who said, “Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28 NLT). This is why Paul told the Corinthians. “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT).

Purity is a high priority for God. He not only expects it; He demands it. He has called us to be holy, just as He is holy, and we must fill our minds with those things that are pure,  undefiled, uncontaminated, and not contradictory to His will for us.

The next word on Paul’s list is “lovely.” This refers to purity lived out so that our conduct remains pleasing and acceptable to God. It was Peter who wrote, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12 ESV). When believers think about those things that bring pleasure to God, they tend to make them a priority, and when they do, the world takes notice.

Which brings us to the word “admirable.” We are to fill our minds with those kinds of things that are worthy of praise; not self-centered, ego-inflating praise, but praise that reflects on God and His power to transform our lives for the better. So much of what we spend our time thinking about is unworthy of praise and contains no redeeming value or worth. We can end up admiring the wrong people, showering praise on the wrong kind of conduct, and speaking highly of things God finds unworthy.

Throughout his letter, Paul has blended the ideas of belief and behavior. He was overjoyed with the thought of the Philippians’ newfound faith in Christ, but he knew that their spiritual journey was far from over. That is why he opened his letter with the words, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV). They needed to be in it for the long haul. Their walk with Christ would require effort and a commitment to live out their faith in practical, visible ways. They could not afford to stand pat, biding their time until the Lord returned. They had work to do, and they would have to cooperate with one another if they wanted to thrive, not just survive, in the hostile environment in which they found themselves.

The Christian life is not easy, but that does not mean it is impossible. The Philippians had the gospel message, the resurrection power of the Spirit of God, and one another. They also had Paul’s teaching to rely on, and he encouraged them to take what he had taught and put it into practice. He challenged them to look at his life and follow his example.

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9 NLT

Paul’s challenge to “think on these things” was more than a mind game. He wasn’t suggesting that they practice some form of positive motivational thinking; he was encouraging them to fill their minds and concentrate their thoughts on the kinds of things that truly matter. Our thoughts cannot be separated from our actions. We must desire what God desires and fill our minds with those things that God finds true, pure, right, just, and worthy of praise. One of the best ways to do that is by submitting ourselves to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. To have the mind of Christ and to think as He does, we must rely on the Spirit He has placed within us. This is why Paul told the Galatian believers to live in submission to the Spirit.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. – Galatians 5:16-17 NLT

The Spirit of God, promoting the will of God through the Word of God, transforms the people of God from the inside out. His indwelling presence and power give us the motivation and strength to think and live like Christ in a fallen world. The apostle Peter put it this way: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him…” (2 Peter 1:3 NLT). And that is a truth worth thinking about.

Father, Your Son gave His life not just to release us from slavery to sin and to preserve us for eternal life; He died so that we might be transformed in this life. Your plan was to place Your Spirit within us so that we might experience the kind of resurrection power that raised Jesus from death to life. The Spirit has the power to change our thoughts and our actions. He “gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires” (Galatians 5:17 NLT). He provides us with a new perspective and a neww capacity to live out our faith in practical forms of faithfulness. As Paul said, “letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NLT). When I listen to the Spirit and do what He says, I bring You pleasure, experience peace, and display the kind of fruit that ministers to all those around me. But if I want my outer actions to change, it has to begin on the inside. I have to refocus my mind to think on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” (Philippians 4:8 ESV). That doesn’t come naturally because my “sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants” (Galatians 5:17 NLT). So, I need the Spirit’s help to transform my way of thinking so that I desire what He desires. And I need the Spirit’s power to put my new thoughts into action. It’s not enough to think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable; I need to live it out in everyday life. And You have made it possible. Thank You. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Practical Pursuit of Peace

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1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:1-7 ESV

As Paul begins to draw his letter to a close, he repeats a phrase he used at the very beginning. He calls on his brothers and sisters in Philippi to stand firm in their faith together.

 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel… – Philippians 1:27 ESV

Paul bookended his letter with the same thought, using the Greek word stēkō to convey it. It is a word that carries the idea of remaining steadfastly committed, even in the face of adversity. Paul was encouraging his flock to persevere in their faith, no matter what happened around them. There would be opposition and obstacles, but they were to remain solidly dedicated to the cause of Christ, not just as individuals but as the body of Christ. Remember, Paul is addressing the whole community of believers because he knows that their ongoing unity and solidarity in the face of opposition will be the key to their growth and effectiveness.

This idea of standing firm was a staple of Paul’s letters, and its repeated use reveals his strong belief in its importance.

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. – 2 Thessalonians 2:15 NLT

So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. – 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 NLT

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT

Notice that Paul linked this perseverance to a variety of things. He described its foundation as being the clear, unadulterated teaching of the gospel, and that gospel message was to be based on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. Belief in the gospel message requires faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Here in chapter four, Paul reminds his readers to stand firm in the Lord. It was their faith in Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross that would fuel their perseverance and persistence in the face of ongoing difficulty. Any deviation or distraction from the pure gospel message of faith in Christ alone would leave them unstable and capable of anything, including disunity, immorality, and a failure to shine as lights “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation” (Philippians 2:15 ESV).

Having reiterated his call to perseverance, Paul turns his attention to a specific case within the local congregation where steadfast, persevering faith was desperately needed. Most likely, when Epaphroditus arrived in Rome to minister to Paul, he had informed the apostle of an ongoing problem between Euodia and Syntyche. Paul provides no clues about the nature of the issue between these two individuals, but they were clearly members of the local church family in Philippi and were experiencing an interpersonal conflict that was affecting the entire congregation. Perhaps others were taking sides, and the dispute between the two women was beginning to divide the church.

Regardless of the cause of their conflict, Paul calls them to “agree in the Lord.” On closer inspection, we can see that Paul is actually revisiting a phrase he used earlier in his letter, when he told the church to “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 ESV). Paul used the Greek words touto phroneō. Here in chapter 4, when addressing these two women, Paul used the same basic words, autos phroneō. He wanted them to share Christ’s attitude or mindset and called them to view their conflict as Christ would: with humility, selflessness, and a willingness to put others’ needs ahead of their own.

Paul points out that these two women had been key participants in spreading the gospel in Philippi. They had labored side by side with him during his time in the city, so their personal disagreement was negatively affecting the flock. Paul was concerned enough to mention these two women by name and solicited others to help mediate a solution. He specifically mentions someone whom he describes as syzygos, which can be translated as “true companion” or “loyal yoke-fellow.” We are not told who this individual was, and some translators believe that this designation should be translated as the proper name, Syzygus. Whoever this individual was, Paul wanted them to help resolve the dispute between Euodia and Syntyche. The unity of the body was at stake, and the cause of Christ was too important to allow this disagreement to continue.

Paul’s declaration that the names of these two women were written in “the book of life” indicates that he was convinced of their salvation. This seems to refer to a divine register of the faithful kept in heaven by God. Jesus referred to it when speaking to the 70 disciples who returned from their first missionary journey, boasting that the demons had been subject to them. Jesus replied, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:19-20 ESV). 

The Book of Revelation also mentions this heavenly record book of the faithful.

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. – Revelation 3:5 ESV

…nothing unclean will ever enter it [New Jerusalem], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. – Revelation 21:27 ESV

These were not two unbelievers bringing their conflict into the local body of Christ; they were two mature Christ-followers allowing their personal and, most likely, petty disagreement to disrupt the unity of the church. They were not exhibiting the mind of Christ or standing firm in the faith.

While the next verse seems to indicate that Paul was done addressing the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche, he appears to make a direct appeal to them. Rather than bickering and fighting with one another, Paul challenges them to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4 ESV). It is difficult to remain fixated on what you believe to be a personal slight when your eyes are focused on Jesus. It is almost impossible to see yourself as suffering injustice if you keep in mind all that Christ suffered on your behalf. Rejoicing in the Lord and arguing with your neighbor are impossible to do at the same time. Paul calls on these two women, and everyone else in the church, to practice “reasonableness.”

“The Greek word contains connotations of gentleness, yielding, kindness, patience, forbearance, leniency, and magnanimity.” – Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Philippians

Those characteristics are antithetical to a spirit of disagreement and disunity. Paul reminds these two women that their decision to seek unity will be a tangible demonstration of what it means to have the mind of Christ. Their choice to resolve their disagreement will bear witness to the resurrection power Paul spoke of earlier in this letter.

Again, while the words contained in these verses most certainly applied to the entire congregation, it seems likely that Paul was still addressing the situation between Euodia and Syntyche, and his message to them was clearly aimed at every believer in Philippi. He reminds them all that the Lord is at hand. In other words, His return is imminent, and they should live with their eyes fixed on that reality rather than on their petty disagreements and personal slights. They were to live as if the Lord could return at any moment, and Paul knew that if they did so, the cares of this world would lose their power over them. He also knew that their disagreement was most likely based on a fear of being taken advantage of. There was something personal driving the conflict between them. That is why Paul states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 ESV).

If they believed they were being taken advantage of, they should take the matter to God. Rather than disputing with one another, they should share their cares and concerns with God. Addressing the problem of lawsuits being filed between members of the church in Corinth, Paul asked, “Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7 NLT). Paul suggested that if someone suffered loss in the pursuit of peace and unity, they should take their need to God, not to the courts. Demanding your rights before men will never substitute for the joy of sharing your needs with God.  Winning an argument or a lawsuit will never bring peace or contentment.

Just a few verses later in this chapter, Paul shares his own personal experience with injustice and inequity.

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. – Philippians 4:11-12 NLT

Euodia and Syntyche could continue to pursue their disagreement, but the outcome would remain divisive and destructive. One might get the upper hand in the dispute, but no one would experience God’s blessing as a result. That is why Paul reminded the believers in Philippi that bringing their problems, cares, conflicts, and concerns to God always leads to a better outcome.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:7 NLT

Father, conflict seems inevitable in this life. Sin and selfishness seem to feed our inherent desire to get things our own way. Even in the church, disagreements and disunity seem to be par for the course. Yet, Your Son prayed that we would be unified and loving in our response to one another. He knew that true community requires unity and a spirit of selfless, sacrificial love. He told His disciples, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else” (Mark 9:35 NLT).. But we regularly find ways to disagree with one another, and, sometimes, our fissures and fractures are caused by the pettiest of issues. We tend to be thin-skinned and wear our feelings on our sleeves. We equate contentment with getting our way. But Your Son said, “I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will” (John 6:38 NLT). When I let my will get top billing, nothing good happens. When I demand my way, everyone suffers, including me. Give me the strength and determination to seek peace instead of personal satisfaction. I want to learn to pursue Your agenda instead of my own. I know I can’t do it in my own strength, so thank You for providing the Spirit and the body of Christ to make it possible. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Keep Your Eye On the Prize

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12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. – Philippians 3:12-21 ESV

Paul has just expressed the motivating factor behind his life: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection…” (Philippians 3:11 ESV). For Paul, this knowledge of Christ included a personal and tangible experience of the divine power that raised Jesus from the dead. This remarkable resource came in the form of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As Paul told the believers in Rome, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:11 NLT). The power made available by the Spirit of God was producing spiritual fruit in Paul’s life in the form of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities were the direct result of the Spirit’s presence and power, not Paul’s own self-effort.

But Paul knew that the resurrection power made available by the Holy Spirit had an even more significant aspect to it that he longed to experience: His own physical resurrection from the dead. Paul had a long-term, eternal perspective. He knew that there was much more to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ than our earthly experiences. Yes, Paul was fully aware that the resurrection power he coveted had short-term, in-this-lifetime ramifications; it produced spiritual fruit and provided the power needed to live distinctively different lives.

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. – Romans 6:4 NLT

But Paul longed to experience the full scope of that resurrection power in his life.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. – Romans 6:5 NLT

In his first letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul explained the implications of being physically resurrected just as Jesus was.

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT

Paul understood that there was a transitional state after death. Upon breathing his final breath on earth, his physical life would come to an end, but his eternal life would begin. He would enter into God’s Kingdom and be reunited with Jesus, the one who had commissioned him for his earthly ministry. But the question is, what kind of body will Paul have? According to the Scriptures, the resurrection of our bodies will not take place until Christ returns for His bride, the church. Paul wrote about this in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

…our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 NLT

So, in the intermediate state, after death and awaiting the Rapture of the church and the resurrection, it would seem that the saints in heaven are in spiritual/non-corporeal form. In his vision of heaven recorded in the Book of Revelation, the apostle provides a brief insight into this matter.

I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. – Revelatioon 6:9 NLT

John saw those who had come to faith during the Tribulation and been put to death by the Antichrist, just prior to the Second Coming of Christ. They were standing before the throne of God, but in a non-physical form. John refers to them as “souls.” They will receive their resurrected bodies after the final judgment. Jesus talked about this final resurrection.

Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. – John 5:28-29 NLT

But Paul knew that the day would come when all believers will receive a new glorified physical body, just as Jesus did at His resurrection. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples in bodily form, but that new body was significantly different than the one He had before. Jesus ate several meals with His disciples and interacted with them just as He had before His death. But according to the gospel accounts, Jesus’ new body was not limited by time or space. He was able to enter a locked room with no difficulty (John 20:19), and yet John indicates that Jesus’ body was the same one that died on the cross because “he showed them his hands and his side” (John 20:20 ESV). His physical wounds were still evident even in His glorified state.

The apostle John also confirms that we will one day have glorified bodies just as Jesus does, and while we cannot fully comprehend the nature of our final resurrected state, it is something for which we should eagerly long.

…we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him. – 1 John 3:2 NLT

So, Paul was striving to live in the power of the Spirit in this life, but longing to experience the transformative power of the Spirit that comes only after death. He maintained a delicate balance between his thoughts on the here and now and the hereafter.

Paul confessed to the Philippian believers that he was far from perfect. In other words, he had not yet attained all that he longed for; he was a work in progress. But he had an unflinching desire to pursue and experience all that Christ had died to make available to him.

But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. – Philippians 3:12 NLT

He used the Greek word, diōkō, which has a range of meanings. It carries the idea of physical exertion or effort and is far from a passive word. It could mean “to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing,” and could also refer to someone running in a race using all their available energy to reach the finish line. Paul wasn’t sitting back and waiting for heaven. But he also wasn’t waiting for the Holy Spirit to do all the work. He knew he had a part to play in the process of his spiritual transformation in this life.

Paul had a singular focus: To become like Christ. He wanted to “possess that perfection” that Christ had in mind for him. He wanted to experience all that his new life in Christ had to offer.  That is why he says, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14 NLT). Notice that his attention is fixed on the prize, the finish line. Paul is not insinuating that our glorification is somehow tied to self-effort in this life. He is not teaching that we have to earn our way into heaven; he is simply emphasizing that he desired what God wanted. He understood that God had an eternal reward in store for him, and he would not be satisfied with anything less. He would not allow himself to be distracted by the things of this earth, and he urged the Philippians to follow his example.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. – Philippians 3:17 NLT

Paul wasn’t bragging or holding himself up as some icon of spiritual virtue; he was simply encouraging them to live with the same focus on the finish line that he had. He warns them that there are other examples they could follow that would only leave them disappointed and defeated in their spiritual lives.

…there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. – Philippians 3:18-19 NLT

Notice his emphasis on conduct. As followers of Christ, we cannot attempt to separate our behavior from our beliefs; the two go hand in hand and are inseparable. Yet, Paul warned that there were those within the Philippian church whose conduct, if followed, would lead to destruction. The Greek word Paul used is apōleia, and while it can refer to damnation or eternal destruction, it can also be translated as “waste” or “ruin.” Keep in mind Paul’s metaphor of running a race. These were individuals who failed to finish the race well. They got distracted along the way and, rather than victory, they experienced defeat.

It seems unlikely that this is a reference to a loss of their salvation. Paul believed that salvation was the work of Jesus Christ alone. As he told the believers in Ephesus: “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:9 ESV). Jesus Himself promised, “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39 NLT).

What Paul seems to be referring to are those within the Philippian church who were living lives of licentiousness. They were what would later become known as antinomians, which simply means “anti-law.” They held a view that was diametrically opposed to the Judaizers. One group was made up of legalists, putting far too much weight on keeping the law; the other side simply said the law no longer mattered and taught that we could live however we wanted to live. This mindset had serious ramifications, and Paul points out the danger behind this anything-goes mentality.

Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. – Philippians 3:19 NLT

Jude had some strong words for this group as well.

…these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. – Jude 1:10 NLT

Paul pulls no punches when he states that their “conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18 NLT). Their conduct did not match their confession; their behavior didn’t line up with their expressed beliefs. They lived for the here and now, failing to focus their energies and attention on the long-term goal God had in mind.

And Paul leaves little doubt as to his point in all of this. He wants the Philippians to live with purpose and to conduct their lives according to their newfound status as citizens of the eternal Kingdom. That is their future home. That is their destiny.

…we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. – Philippians 3:20 NLT

Paul is not suggesting that they be so heavenly-minded that they end up being of no earthly good. He is not calling them to live with their heads in the sky, but to live with their eyes firmly fixed on the finish line. They are running a race that will require that they maintain their focus. They will have to strain and strive in this life, fight off exhaustion, and ignore the pain and suffering that comes along the way. And Paul brings it all full circle, reminding his brothers and sisters in Christ that the point of it all is the day when we will all experience the power of the resurrection.

He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. – Philippians 3:21 NLT

That’s the goal. That’s the prize. And that should be the very thing that keeps us running the race to win.

Father, there is a lot about the resurrection we will never understand until it takes place. I have a difficult time comprehending the nature of our resurrected bodies. I look forward to having a new-and-improved body that will be free from pain and suffering, and non-susceptible to the temptations of sin. But, in this fallen world, it is hard to imagine what that will be like. Yet, as Paul states, that is to be my focus. It is to be my motivation for running the race with determination. The finish line is the goal. The resurrection is the objective. Yet, how easy it is to pursue my best life in this life. How quick we are to try and make earth our heavenly home. But You have something far better in store for us. You have a future Kingdom prepared and a new heaven and a new earth in store that will make this one pale in comparison. That is where our citizenship is and that is where we will enjoy unbroken felloship with You and Your Son for eternity. Help me keep my eye on the prize. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Good Works Can Never Earn God’s Grace

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1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh — 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. – Philippians 3:1-4a ESV

Here, Paul raises a topic found in virtually all of his letters: the source of true righteousness. His reason for bringing it up is that the Philippian believers were undergoing intense opposition regarding the issue of circumcision, either from within their own fellowship or from the outside. As a Roman colony, Philippi would have had a large Gentile population and, therefore, the church in Philippi would have consisted primarily of Gentiles who had converted to Christianity from paganism.

In A.D. 50, when Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy had arrived in Philippi on their missionary journey, there would have been few Jewish residents in the city. But by the time Paul wrote this letter some 10-12 years later, the Jewish population could have grown, and there may have been Jewish converts to Christianity within the congregation at Philippi. The presence of Jews in the city and Jewish converts within the church had evidently raised an issue that had become a consistent point of contention for Paul: The rite of circumcision.

Paul opens this section with a reminder to rejoice, even in the face of opposition. This is in keeping with his message to them earlier in the letter.

…it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake. – Philippians 1:29 ESV

Paul used his own life as an example of joy while enduring suffering. After all, he was writing to them from house arrest in Rome, facing a trial before Nero and uncertainty about his fate. But he had been able to tell them. “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (Philippians 2:17-18 ESV).

Even though they faced opposition, they had every reason to rejoice because they were privileged to suffer for the sake of the gospel.

But it doesn’t take long for Paul’s tone to turn much more serious and sarcastic. He warns them to “Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved” (Philippians 3:2 NLT). Now, while this statement is intended to paint the opposition in an unflattering light, there is more going on here than meets our modern, western eyes. Three separate times in one verse, Paul uses the Greek word βλέπω (blepō), which most commonly refers to the sense of sight. But in this case, he uses it metaphorically so that they might see with their mind’s eye and  “discern mentally.” He wants them to approach this topic with their eyes wide open to the potential danger.

Writing his letter in Greek, Paul uses a play on words to describe those who were promoting the rite of circumcision within the church. He refers to them as “those who mutilate the flesh.” But that is a translation of a single Greek word, katatomē, which means “to cut up or mutilate.” In Leviticus 21:5, the priests of God were forbidden to “make any cuts on their body.” In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament Scriptures, the word katatomē was used to describe this forbidden practice.

Here is where Paul’s clever word-play and open hostility become evident. The Greek word normally used when speaking of the Jewish practice of circumcision was κατατομή (peritomē), and Paul uses it in verse 3.  He purposefully contrasts two similar Greek words, katatomē and peritomē, to compare the Jewish ritual of circumcision with the forbidden act of self-mutilation. But it’s important to remember the context; Paul is addressing a predominantly Gentile congregation. These former pagans had placed their faith in Christ, but now are being told that their faith was incomplete and insufficient.

They were being told that to be truly saved, they must be circumcised and keep all the Jewish laws and religious rituals. This message was common in the 1st Century and was propagated by a group that came to be known as Judaizers. Since Paul refers to these people as dogs and evildoers, it isn’t difficult to discern his opinion of them. His intense anger was fueled by their constant attempt to add to the gospel message he preached. Paul viewed them as purveyors of a false gospel that was undermining the work he had accomplished and causing confusion among the Gentiles. His words to the believers in Galatia illustrate his frustration and anger.

You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. – Galatians 1:6-9 NLT

Paul had strong words for the church in Corinth as well because they were being led away from the simple message of the gospel and buying into a false narrative that claimed true righteousness was based on a formula of Jesus + something = salvation.

I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. – 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 ESV

As far as Paul was concerned, the Judaizers were the enemy. Although they claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ, they were claiming that faith alone was not enough. These Jewish converts to Christianity were demanding that all the male members of the church in Philippi be circumcised and, essentially, convert to Judaism before their salvation could be considered complete. This left Paul in a state of rage, especially because he was unable to do anything about it while under house arrest in Rome. This explains the strong nature of his rhetoric.

He completely invalidates the message of the Judaizers by declaring the Gentile converts to Christianity as the true circumcision.

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort… – Philippians 3:3 NLT

This verse summarizes Paul’s view on the matter. To him, circumcision was nothing more than a work, an outward act that left the one circumcised with a false sense of spiritual well-being. For the Jews, it had become a symbol of their unique status as God’s chosen people. But in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul exposed the flaw behind the Jewish view of circumcision.

The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. – Romans 2:25 NLT

In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. – Romans 2:27 NLT

The problem lies in the dangerous misperception being perpetrated by the Judaizers. In their way of thinking, the rite of circumcision was the non-negotiable doorway one must enter to receive justification before God. But this teaching stood in direct opposition to the gospel message of salvation made possible by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The good news of salvation was that no other step was necessary; no additional works were required.  Paul clarified this point to the church in Ephesus.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. – Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

To add circumcision to the gospel message was to distort the good news and make it another gospel altogether. Rather than basing salvation on the gracious gift of God’s Son, the Judaizers were introducing a form of works-based salvation. They were making justification a matter of rule-keeping and self-effort, but Paul reminds the Philippian believers, “We put no confidence in human effort” (Philippians 3:3 NLT).

He goes on to expose the absurdity of the Judaizers’ argument. If they are going to make it all about human effort and rule-keeping, Paul was the poster boy for self-justification. He describes his relative merit as a good Jew who had all the criteria to make him a candidate for justification before God through works. But for Paul, this way of thinking was ridiculous and dangerous, and stood in direct opposition to the message of the gospel. I

In a direct attack against the pride-filled Judaizers, Paul sarcastically states: “I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!” (Philippians 3:4a NLT). He goes on to describe his so-called credentials for justification before God, but he knew that his curriculum vitae had nothing to do with his right standing before God. His salvation was not based on anything he had done or any perceived value he possessed; it was all the result of Christ’s finished work on the cross. Paul drove home that point in his letter to the Galatians.

…we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law. – Galatians 2:16 NLT

For Paul, the formula was quite simple and concise. Righteousness was made available by God through man’s faith in the finished work of Christ— no more, no less. So, in Paul’s estimation, circumcision was nothing more than self-mutilation when used as an attempt to earn favor with God. Law-keeping becomes disobedience to God when used as a means to justify oneself before God. For as Paul stated, no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law. Rule-keeping cannot produce righteousness. Merit is a false doorway to God’s mercy. Good works will never earn God’s grace. The gift of salvation is costly, yet free, and must be received in humility, faith, and total dependence. As the old hymn so eloquently put it, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling” (Rock of Ages, Augustus Montague Toplady).

Father, despite the passing of time, the problem Paul faced has not faded. In fact, it seems that man’s obsession with earning Your favor has actually increased rather than diminished. For some reason, we find it difficult to believe that salvation is a free gift. We have been raised on the mantras, “You don’t get something for nothing” and “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Maybe it’s our incessant need to feel important and to get credit for our accomplishments. But You have made it clear that “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6 ESV) and “no one living is righteous before you” (Psalm 143:2 ESV). Yet, we keep trying to earn Your favor through self-effort. When we screw up, we feel the need to do something to get back into Your good graces. When we don’t measure up, we think working harder will bring a smile to Your face. But as Paul said, we should “rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us” (Philippians 3:3 NLT), and nothing else. The gospel does not require my good works. Salvation is not the result of self-effort. And my pursuit of holiness will never be accomplished by perseverance or personal piety. But the temptation to rely on works is strong and the urge to pay my own way is difficult to escape. But, with the Spirit’s help, I know I can rest in truth that my righteousness before You was a gift and not a reward for the good things I have done. I was saved by grace, not self-effort. And for that, I am truly grateful. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Mind of Christ Made Practical

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12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. – Philippians 2:12-18 ESV

Paul has just provided the Philippian believers with a vivid portrait of Christ, intended to serve as an illustration of what it means to share His mindset and think as He would. Paul wants them to have the same attitude or outlook about life that Jesus had. For Paul, Jesus was the consummate example of humility and selflessness, even though He was the second person of the Trinity. When faced with the divine plan that required His incarnation and, ultimately, His crucifixion, Jesus didn’t cling to His divine status as the Son of God or demand exemption from such a demeaning assignment. He understood that when His holiness and worthiness were joined with human flesh, it would make Him the acceptable sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Jesus humbled Himself willingly and completely obeyed His Father’s will all the way to the point of suffering an excruciating and humiliating death on the cross. And He did it all out of love for sinful mankind. It was that selfless, sacrificial love that Paul wanted the Philippian believers to emulate. But that was also his desire for every congregation he had helped to start. He told the Ephesians: “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (Ephesians 5:2 NLT). And he expanded on this idea when writing to the Colossian believers.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:12-14 NLT

Notice that Paul describes an emulation of Christ that shows up in tangible, visible ways. When Paul speaks of having the mind of Christ, he is not describing a cognitive or purely intellectual exercise; it is an internal attitude that should result in external actions. That is why Paul told the Philippians to “work out your own salvation.” That phrase, “work out,” is a single word in Greek (katergazomai), which means “to do that from which something results.” Paul is not teaching salvation by self-effort, but he is clearly expecting the believers to whom he is writing to put energy and effort into living out the salvation freely provided to them by Christ. The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Work hard to show the results of your salvation.” 

The salvation provided by Christ’s selfless sacrifice of His life was intended to be transformational. It didn’t just provide a change in legal status from guilty and condemned to justified and forgiven. It was meant to result in our ongoing sanctification or transformation so that we might bear Christ’s likeness. Our salvation, provided free of charge by the grace of God alone through faith alone in Christ alone, was meant to produce in us a righteousness that mirrors that of Christ. In the opening chapter of this letter, Paul told the believers in Philippi. “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God” (Philippians 1:11 NLT).

That was Paul’s ongoing prayer for them because it was God’s ongoing will for them. Their coming to faith in Christ should result in them becoming increasingly more like Christ. That is why Paul reminds them that their efforts to produce the fruit of their salvation should be accompanied by fear and trembling. Paul explains what he means by this when he follows it up with the word, “for.” It could be read as “because” and is followed by that which should motivate our fear and trembling.

For [because] God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. – Philippians 2:13 NLT

Our spiritual transformation is the work of God made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s presence in our lives provides us with the power necessary for our sanctification. We don’t make it happen; God does, and it is a high priority for Him. Paul told the believers in Thessalonica, “God’s will is for you to be holy” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT). He saved us so that He might sanctify us and provided His Spirit as the fruit-producing, faith-inducing source of power to make it possible. The knowledge that God is personally working in and among us should produce in us a reverence and awe that drives us to cooperate with His efforts on our behalf. Otherwise, we will find ourselves working against the will of God for our lives.

That brings up an important point. This is a corporate message from Paul that is addressed to the entire congregation in Philippi. While there are certainly personal applications to glean from Paul’s words, he intended them for the body of Christ, not individual believers. So, when Paul says, “God is working in you,” he is speaking of the church as a whole. God was attempting to create among them the same sense of unity that He and the Son share. In fact, this was the very thing Jesus prayed for in the garden just hours before His arrest and trials.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” – John 17:21-23 ESV

Paul has been addressing the need for unity in the church, and has expressed his desire that they be of “the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2 ESV). Now, he is calling on them to experience the full extent of their salvation by allowing it to produce the character of Christ within them, evidenced by their unity and selfless love for one another.

But what does that look like in real life? In this case, Paul chose to describe what it doesn’t look like. It isn’t marked by grumbling, disputing, bickering, or backstabbing. In other words, it will be free from disunity. Getting along will be a high priority because the body of Christ is to reflect the very character of Christ. This brings us back to the model of Christ’s own life; He demonstrated humility, obedience, selflessness, and sacrifice.

Paul provides a few positive examples of what Christlikeness should look like in the church: Blamelessness and innocence. He is not suggesting perfection or sinlessness but is calling for the body of Christ to live with its sins confessed so no one can point a finger of blame. He is encouraging them to exhibit an innocence or moral purity that gives the outside world no cause to cast dispersions on their witness or the name of Christ.

The impact of the church on the unbelieving world is clearly Paul’s concern here. Notice that he calls on the Philippian congregation to be “children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15 ESV). The blemish to which he refers is the potential stain on their corporate witness due to disunity and internal conflict. It was King David who wrote: “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1 NLT). And Jesus echoed that sentiment when He said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).

Paul makes a personal appeal to the Philippians, asking them to hear what he is saying and to do it for his sake, out of love for him. Like a proud father, he wants to look back on his work among them and know that it was not in vain. He longs to see the fruit of righteousness in their lives. It would devastate Paul to learn that the Philippians had started strong but ended poorly. To learn that the church in Philippi had devolved into a community dominated by selfish, self-centered individuals would bring shame to Paul as an emissary of the gospel, and would end up denigrating the redemptive work of Christ.

That is why Paul pleaded with them, “Hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:16 NLT). He wanted them to cling to the message of the gospel, which included not only the good news of their salvation, but of their ongoing sanctification and future glorification. They were not to forget that God was working in their midst, transforming them into a bright light that was intended to shine God’s glory into the darkness of Philippi.

Paul was willing to die so that his life might be poured out as a drink offering to God, but he wanted his life to have made a difference. He deeply desired to know that the church in Philippi was embracing the mind of Christ and pursuing the character of Christ together. If their pursuit of Christlikeness brought suffering and sacrifice, Paul wanted them to rejoice alongside him for the privilege of serving God through obedience to His will. This was the same message the apostle Peter conveyed in his first pastoral letter.

If you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. – 1 Peter 2:20-21 NLT

Peter and Paul both embraced the idea that salvation was to be transformative.

…you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:9 NLT

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. – Philippians 2:15 NLT

Coming to faith in Christ doesn’t just secure our future eternal state; it provides the power to become increasingly more like Christ in this present life. But God designed that we do it together, not alone. Sanctification is a family affair that requires the Spirit of God and the body of Christ. Unity, community, harmony, and humility each play a role in God’s plan for our holiness, and they require that we have the mind of Christ.

Father, I am inherently a loner who thrives on my individuality and prefers working alone. But when it comes to my sanctification, that mindset doesn’t work. In fact, it’s antithetical to what it means to have the mind of Christ. He always put the needs of others first. He came to serve, not be served. He loved the unlovely and gave His life for the ungodly. He worked diligently to teach and train uneducated disciples, showing great patience as they struggled to understand His words and displayed their selfish desires for prominence and power. Jesus didn’t need them to accomplish His Father’s will, but He understood that they were the keys to the spread of the gospel once He was gone. So, He loved them, patiently taught them, occassionally rebuked them, and willing died for them so that they might be transformed into His Spirit-empowered emissaries for the future. Forgive me for the many times I have made it all about me. Continue to remind me that I do not exist in a vacuum or for my own self-satisfaction. You placed me in the body of Christ for a reason and my greatest growth and fruitfulness take place within that context. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Family Affair

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27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.– Philippians 1:27-2:4 ESV

Paul has expressed his desire to return to Philippi one day, and he has let them know that, while he would prefer to die and be with the Lord, he believed he would eventually be released from his house arrest in Rome. That would be a good thing because it would allow him to continue to preach the gospel and carry on his ministry of encouragement to all the churches he had helped to start.

But, at the moment, Paul’s greatest concern was the spiritual well-being of his brothers and sisters in Philippi. While he knew they would rejoice over the thought of him returning to see them one day, he had more pressing matters on his mind.  It would seem from the content of this next section of Paul’s letter that there was some serious disunity taking place in the congregation in Philippi. Paul is going to repeatedly stress the idea of oneness. Three times in eight verses, Paul will use the word “one.” He longs to hear that they are “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27 ESV).

Like any of the churches of that day, the Philippian congregation was relatively new and trying to hold its own while living in a pagan and sometimes hostile culture.  They were constantly facing outside opposition. As a Roman colony, Philippi was filled with a plethora of false gods. One of the keys to Rome’s successful domination of the world was its willingness to accommodate and tolerate the gods of the nations they conquered. The Romans allowed their subjects to continue the worship of their own particular deity(s). While this policy of religious tolerance made it much easier to manage Rome’s far-flung empire with its ethnically and religiously diverse populations, it could also create an atmosphere of polarization and antagonism. In the atmosphere of forced pluralism, each group would strive to maintain the distinctiveness of its religious traditions, resulting in a culture of conflict and competition.

And here was this fledgling congregation of relatively new believers trying to hold its own in an atmosphere that favored religious pluralism but actually fostered intolerance and open hostility. Christians were the new kids on the block and were usually unwelcome and misunderstood. Some viewed them as a sect of Judaism, while others tried to portray them as a dangerous cult. Every member of the Philippian congregation would have converted to Christianity from some other, much older faith system. In accepting Christ as their Savior, they had turned their backs on their former religion and, in doing so, alienated friends and family members who still held firmly to that ideology.

For Christians living in the 1st century, coming to faith in Christ was about much more than a decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. It could be a hazardous and potentially deadly choice that had long-term, life-altering implications. No one understood this better than Paul. His relationship with Christ had cost him dearly, and in his second letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul outlined all that he had suffered as a result of his faith.

Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. – 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 NLT

Being a follower of Christ was not easy, and Paul knew that the key to the Philippian church’s survival was going to be their unity. They had to see themselves as a family who were in this together and needed to view themselves as distinct and different from the culture around them. This is why he pleads with them to “live as citizens of heaven” and to conduct themselves “in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 NLT). This was a corporate call, addressing the entire congregation, not just individual believers. They were to do this together, not alone. Their display of unity in the face of adversity and hostility would strengthen their faith and spread the news of the life-transformative nature of the gospel. That this diverse group of people from all walks of life and a variety of religious backgrounds could live together with one mind and one spirit would be a testimony to the power of the gospel.

Paul commends them for “standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News” (Philippians 1:27 NLT). He had heard of their unity, but he knew that the enemy was always seeking to divide and conquer, and they must not allow that to happen. Paul flatly states, “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies” (Philippians 1:28 NLT). Outside forces were pressing in on this young congregation, and Paul wanted his brothers and sisters in Christ to remain unified in their love for one another and their commitment to the cause of Christ. This unwavering display of oneness in the face of opposition would be proof of the ultimate victory Christ-followers will enjoy. As Jesus promised Peter, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 ESV).

Suffering was going to be a normal part of their faith experience. In fact, Paul tells them they should see their suffering as a privilege, on equal footing with the privilege of trusting in Christ. For Paul, suffering was a necessary part of salvation; it came with the territory. Later in his letter, Paul boldly declares, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death” (Philippians 3:10 NLT).

This was not an isolated statement by Paul; he held this view throughout his life and shared it frequently. He wrote to the believers in Rome: “If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering” (Romans 8:17 NLT). He told the Colossian church, “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church” (Colossians 1:24 NLT). The apostle Peter shared Paul’s sentiments regarding suffering.

…be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.  – 1 Peter 4:13 NLT

Paul viewed the Christian life as a struggle that was never meant to be easy. We are aliens living in a strange land. We are emissaries for the King and have been sent to declare the message of His Kingdom to a world that stands opposed to Him. We have the good news regarding Jesus Christ, but the majority of those with whom we share it will find it unacceptable and simply reject it. Not only that, they will reject the ones who bring the message.

So, to survive in this hostile environment, the congregation in Philippi would need to remain unified and share a single-minded commitment to their mutual mission as the body of Christ. With all that they were facing, Paul wanted them to understand that their shared faith in Christ had real value. This is why he states, “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy” (Philippians 2:1 ESV). Paul is not raising doubts concerning the efficacy of faith in Christ; he is doing just the opposite. There IS encouragement in Christ. There IS comfort that comes from Christ-like love. There IS real value in living together in the power of the Holy Spirit. There IS true affection and sympathy to be found in this thing called the body of Christ.

But these things are only available when believers choose to accept the non-negotiable reality of their role as members of that body. This is why Paul encourages the Philippian believers to be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2 ESV). There was no place for selfishness or self-centeredness in the body of Christ. Pride was out of bounds and of no value. Conceit and ego were to be seen as deadly to unity.

To survive and thrive, the believers in Philippi would need to embrace a different kind of attitude about life. It was going to require a counter-cultural take on what it means to be successful. And, just so they wouldn’t miss his point, Paul spells it out for them.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. – Philippians 2:4 NLT

And in the very next verse, Paul provides them with the key to pulling all this off. It will not be accomplished in their own strength or according to their own standards of humility and unity. Christ was to be their model for living in Christ-likeness. He sets the standard for what it means to “live as citizens of heaven.”

Father, I want to thank You for the coming up with the whole idea of the church. Left to our own devices, we would never have chosen that model. As sinful human beings, we are inherently selfish and self-centered, and our self-obession makes it almost impossible for us to desire the kind of accountability and  vulnerability that living in true community demands. Your plan was to place us in an environment that would be conducive to our spiritual growth,. The church is meant to provide us with the fertile soil where our faith can take root and produce fruit that is mutually beneficial to all. You placed us in the body of Christ for a reason. It is within that context that our suffering becomes less isolating and demoralzing. Surrounded by those who love us, we find encouragement and moral support during the dark days of life. When the enemy attacks, we find ourselves surrounded by others who are willing to fight the good fight of faith by our side. We are not alone. We are part of a loving family that finds strength in unity and power in numbers. With the Spirit’s help, we are powrful force for good in the world. And it was all Your idea. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Conflicted, But Confident

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18 Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored 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 live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. – Philippians 1:18-26 ESV

Paul opens this section of his letter by reconfirming his determination to rejoice in his circumstances. While news of his imprisonment had disturbed the believers in Philippi, for Paul it had been just another God-ordained opportunity to spread the gospel. If others attempted to take advantage of his situation by serving as messengers in his absence, so be it. As long as Christ was being lifted up, Paul was perfectly okay with it all, even if some of these people were motivated by envy rather than a sincere love for the lost.

Paul knew that any success he enjoyed in his ministry had not been because of his powers of persuasion, but because of the power of the gospel. In writing to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul reminded them of the treatment he and Silas had suffered in Philippi because of their preaching of the gospel. Not long after their arrival there, they had cast out a demon from a young slave girl. With the exorcism of the demon, she lost her ability to act as a fortune teller for her masters, and they lost a much-needed source of revenue. In an act of revenge, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates of the city, where the two men were severely beaten and thrown in jail. Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that all of this had taken place just before he arrived in their town.

You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure. You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else. – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 NLT

Despite all that had happened in Philippi, Paul and his companions boldly declared the gospel in Thessalonica, even in the face of opposition. They did so, not for money or the praise of men, but to please God as His faithful messengers. So, Paul was unconcerned with the motives of others. As long as they were preaching salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, he was satisfied and could rejoice. He was not in the ministry for what he could get out of it. For him, it was a calling, not a job, and He never saw himself as a gifted spokesman using his talents to further the Kingdom of God. He even describes himself as nothing more than a fragile clay jar containing the treasure of the gospel message (2 Corinthians 4:7). When he wrote to the Corinthian believers, he reminded them that their conversions were due to the power of the Spirit, not his own eloquence.

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NLT

But as Paul wrote to the Philippian believers from his house arrest in Rome, he divulged the tremendous internal conflict he was having. It had nothing to do with a fear of death; he knew that was a possible outcome of his pending trial before Nero, and he was perfectly at peace with that. In fact, he flatly stated, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23 ESV). He saw death as a reward, not a punishment. But he also struggled with the desire to continue his ministry among the churches he had helped to start. As much as he longed to be with the Lord, he also felt that his work on Christ’s behalf was far from over. That’s why he told the Philippians, “I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith” (Philippians 1:25 NLT).

One thing motivated Paul’s actions and attitude: bringing glory to the name of Christ. If he could do that through deliverance from prison and a continuation of his ministry, so be it. But if his trial resulted in a death sentence, he saw that as a gracious deliverance by God from this sin-marred world. When all was said and done, Paul simply wanted to honor Christ in all that he did, which is why he stated, “I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die” (Philippians 1:20 NLT).

Paul was not making much of himself. He was not bragging about his superior spirituality or attempting to set himself up as an icon of righteousness and religious virtue. He was attempting to encourage the believers in Philippi to share his perspective on life. He didn’t view his arrest and imprisonment as a setback or a sign of God’s disfavor; he sincerely believed that it was all a part of God’s will for his life. By maintaining his focus on Christ and trusting God’s will, Paul had “learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11 NLT). That is why he could say, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12 NLT).

He knew the Philippian believers were facing their own set of difficulties. They would have to struggle in their faith journey, just as he had. He wanted them to stay strong, to remain committed to the cause of Christ, and to see God’s sovereign hand in all that happened in and around their lives.

Paul was convinced that he would be released and would one day see them again. But in the meantime, he wanted to encourage them to persevere. Later in this letter, Paul writes these powerful words of testimony and encouragement.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us… – Philippians 3:14 NLT

Then he follows up this statement of personal conviction and commitment with a call for them to follow his lead.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. – Philippians 3:17 NLT

In the verses that follow, Paul provides the Philippians with specific details concerning the conduct of all who claim heavenly citizenship as God’s children. Their journey of faith would be easy or trouble-free, but God had equipped each of them with the indwelling Holy Spirit and placed them in the body of Christ.  They had all the resources they needed to thrive, not just survive what lay ahead.

Paul was torn between two opinions; he was ready to see his Lord and Savior face to face, but he was also anxious to continue his ministry of exhortation and evangelization around the world. He was prepared to face the ongoing struggles of doing God’s will in a fallen world, but he considered death as a promotion, not a punishment. So, whether he faced a long life of service to God marked by pain, persecution, and opposition, or if his next step was heaven, he would rejoice because he was in God’s good and gracious hands.

Father, it’s difficult to understand how Paul could so calmly and confidently state his willingness to continue suffering for the cause of Christ or to face death by execution at the hands of the Romans. It makes him sound like some kind of super saint or, at worst, an overly zealous disciple with a death wish. But he was sincere and meant every word he said. I can’t imagine undergoing a fraction of what he suffered in serving You. I am quick to complain about the smallest setback and reluctant to do anything that might cause me the slightest inconvenience. Yet, as Paul suffered a prolonged confinement in Rome, he wrote some of his powerful and impactful letters. He regularly shared the gospel with all those he met, including the Roman guards who kept him imprisoned. He prayed, not for his release, but for the wellbeing of other believers as they attempted to navigate life in a fallen world. He was the consummate shepherd and a faithful messenger who took his role seriously. He loved life, not because of the personal pleasures it afforded him, but because of the opportunities it provided for sharing the gospel. He longed for death, not because it would provide an escape from the trials of this world but because it would reunite him with Your Son for eternity. Open my eyes, so that I might see life and death the way Paul did. I don’t want to simply admire his dedication and determination; I want to embrace it for as many days as You give me on this earth. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Agents of Change

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12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. – Colossians 3:12-17 ESV

In verse 5, Paul told the Colossians to put to death (nekroō) five things: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. Now, in verse 12, he tells them to put on (endyō) five things: compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

The first list represented traits that characterized their old natures before salvation. It was not intended to be an exhaustive list, and Paul did not suggest that each Colossian believer was guilty of committing each of these vices. He was simply pointing out the kinds of immoral behaviors that characterized their lives before coming to faith in Christ.

The first list seems to stress sins that are self-centered and focused on satisfying sexual passions or ungodly desires.

Sexual immorality (porneia) is a rather broad term that could refer to illicit sexual intercourse but was also used to cover such things as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, and intercourse with animals

Impurity (akatharsia) refers to uncleanness in any form but in a moral sense; the impurity of lustful, luxurious, and profligate living.

Passion (pathos) was a word the Greeks used that had both positive and negative connotations. But its presence on this list suggests that Paul was using it in reference to depraved or vile passions.

Evil desire (epithymian kaken) is a craving for something forbidden. It is a legitimate longing that chooses an illegitimate object as its focus.

Greed (pleonexian) is the desire to acquire more by fraudulent means. It is a form of dissatisfaction that constantly craves more of something, even at the expense of others.

Not only are these traits earthly and immoral, but they are also self-centered and completely void of concern for others. They represent a blatant disregard for God and a disdain for other people, which puts them at odds with the two commands of God that Jesus labeled as the greatest.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

Paul’s first list describes the me-focused state of fallen humanity. All those who have failed to experience a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ are incapable of loving God and others because their sinful natures are driven by an uncontrollable and insatiable love of self. Even followers of Christ must recognize that the sinful characteristics that marked their pre-salvation state have not all been eradicated. The old sin nature remains and must be dealt with decisively and repeatedly.

“The Christian must kill self-centeredness; he must regard as dead all private desires and ambitions. There must be in his life a radical transformation of the will, and a radical shift of the centre. Everything which would keep him from fully obeying God and fully surrendering to Christ must be surgically excised.” – William Barclay, The Letter to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. Daily Study Bible series

But there is more to the process than simply eliminating past bad habits. In a sense, Paul is telling the Colossians, “out with the old, in with the new.” They must replace the traits that characterized their former lives with godly alternatives, and Paul provides them with a list of five non-optional qualities that should mark their lives as God’s chosen people.

Compassionate hearts (splagchnon oiktirmos) can literally be translated as “bowels of mercy.” In the ancient world, compassion was associated with the bowels, but in our modern context, we associate that characteristic with the heart. It expresses a deep concern and care for those who are suffering.

Kindness (chrēstotēs) is a form of moral goodness that expresses itself in acts of selfless sacrifice for others.

Humility (tapeinophrosynē) refers to humbleness of mind or holding a humble opinion of oneself. Paul expressed it this way: “In humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ESV).

Meekness (praotēs) is another relational word that conveys the idea of gentleness toward others. It is the opposite of arrogance or self-assertiveness.

Patience (makrothymia) is “slowness in avenging wrongs.” It refers to one who willingly endures injustice and ill-treatment for the sake of others.

Each of these traits is other-focused. They are relational in nature and intended to put the needs of others first. Paul also provided concrete examples of what these godly characteristics should look like in everyday life.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. – Colossians 3:13 NLT

Notice his emphasis on others. The Christian life is not intended to be a solo sport but a team activity where brothers and sisters in Christ are expected to operate in a spirit of unity and cooperation so that, together, they reflect His goodness and glory. Paul was writing to a diverse congregation made up of Gentiles and Jews, the rich and the poor, slaves and freemen. But they were all one in Christ, and, as Paul told the congregation in Ephesus, their ability to achieve unity in the face of diversity was a reflection of God’s work among them.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. – Ephesians 2:19-21 NLT

For Paul, the most convincing proof of the Colossians’ Spirit-empowered transformation would be expressed in their love for one another. Rather than reverting back to their former self-centered and selfish behavior, they were to love as they had been loved (1 John 4:19). God sent His Son as a tangible expression of His love for them, and He ordained that His Son would sacrifice His life on the cross in their place. That selfless act of love was to be emulated and passed on from one believer to another.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:14 NLT

Love is the glue that binds the body of Christ together. But it must be a selfless, lay-it-all-on-the-line kind of love that expects nothing in return. Jesus clarified to His disciples the kind of love He expected them to have for one another.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 ESV

Paul is passing on that command to his flock in Colossae. He wanted them to know that their lives were to be marked by love, but they were also to be a people characterized by peace.

…let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. – Colossians 3:15 NLT

The Colossian believers were surrounded by a constant state of turmoil that produced in them a sense of anxiety. False teachers caused them to question their faith. Daily battles with old habits tempted them to doubt their salvation. Infighting and disunity plagued their fellowship. But Paul called them to live in peace, a particular kind of peace that comes from Christ Himself. Paul seems to be recalling the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples not long before His death.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14:27 ESV

Jesus spoke these words in conjunction with His promise to send the Holy Spirit. One of the primary functions of the Spirit of God would be to bring peace to the hearts of Christ’s followers after His departure. The Spirit’s presence within them would provide a sense of continuity and calm assurance that they had not been abandoned. Christ was still with them in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wants the Colossians to know that the Spirit is an ever-present reality in their lives, intended to be the source of peace and tranquility, even amid turmoil and distress. They are to be constantly thankful for the peace-producing presence of the Spirit of God and to keep their hearts and minds focused on the truth regarding Jesus Christ.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. – Colossians 3:16 NLT

That message needed no additions or addenda. The good news regarding Jesus required no “new” editions or updates. They were to teach it, sing about it, rest confidently on it, and constantly express their thanks to God for it.

Every aspect of their lives was to reflect their new relationship with Jesus Christ and their Spirit-empowered capacity to live godly lives in an ungodly world. There was to be no compartmentalization or secular/sacred split. No area of life was off limits to the transformative work of the Spirit. That is why Paul closed out this section of his letter with a powerful call for them to allow the Spirit to radically transform all they said and did.   

…whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. – Colossians 1:17 ESV

Father, Your plan for our salvation can be difficult to comprehend. Sometimes I find myself asking why You chose to save us but then left us in a place where living out our faith would be constantly tested. I have often wondered why You didn’t take us to be with You. I recall the story when Jesus told the crowd, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going” (John 8:21 NLT). They were confused by His answer and He responded, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins” (John 8:22-23 NLT). He had not yet gone to the cross, which means that their sins were not yet paid for and salvation was not yet available to them.

Even before His death, Your Son told His disciples, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2-3 NLT). They too, were confused by His words. And when He prayed to You in the garden, He asked, “Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are” (John 17:11 NLT).

It was always Your plan to leave us here, not because You don’t love us, but because You have commissioned us to be Your ambassadors and messengers of the gospel to the rest of the world. We are Your chosen change agents, tasked with telling others about the life-changing power of the good news ofJesus Christ. As Paul told the church in Corinth: “God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!”’A (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NLT).

So, while we are here, we have work to do and You have given us the power to do it until Your Son returns. Thank You! 

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New Life In Christ

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5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. – Colossians 3:5-11 ESV

How were the believers in Colossae supposed to set their minds on things that are above, instead of things that are on earth? Was Paul suggesting they be so heavenly-minded that they were no earthly good? Paul has just challenged them to adopt a Christ-focused perspective that highlights the eternal aspect of their relationship with Him. Christ is seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven, and one day He will return. His presence at His Father’s side demonstrates that He successfully completed the initial phase of His earthly mission. The apostle Peter addressed the significance of Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation when he delivered his first sermon to the crowds at Pentecost.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us…” – Acts 2:32-33 NLT

Jesus’ death was efficacious. In other words, it accomplished the will of His heavenly Father and required no supplemental aids or add-ons to increase its effectiveness. Paul assured the believers in Rome that because Jesus died and rose again, they were assured of eternal life with Him.

We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:9-11 NLT

Paul picks up the same theme with the believers in Colossae. He wants them to live according to their new status as spiritually transformed and fully adopted children of God. Jesus didn’t die so they could have their best life now but so that they might enjoy glorified life forever. However, Paul knew this future-focused mindset was challenging to maintain while living in the present. That’s why he provides them with practical guidance for navigating life in a fallen world. He is expanding the theme he began back in chapter two.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith… – Colossians 2:6-7 ESV

For Paul, it was always about faith. He firmly believed and persistently taught that faith was the key to our salvation and sanctification, and Jesus Christ is to be the sole focus of that faith. It is through Christ that we have access to the Father, and it is because of Christ that we have the assurance of eternal life. As Paul stated to the believers in Rome, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit was made possible because of Christ’s resurrection. Look closely at what Paul told the Roman believers.

Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:11 NLT

Their union with Christ gave them unprecedented power to live godly lives, even in the ungodly environment of Rome. The same thing was true for the Colossian Christians. Paul has already told them, “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world…” (Colossians 2:20 NLT).

Paul constantly admonished believers for their tendency to regress in their faith. They seemed to have no problem believing that Jesus could save them, but they had difficulty trusting that He could keep them saved and help them grow in godliness. So, they kept reverting to their old lifestyles based on human effort and self-righteousness.

So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? – Galatians 4:9 NLT

Paul was calling for complete separation from and dependence upon the things of this world. If Jesus was to be the believer’s sole source of salvation and sustenance, why were they continually turning to the world for satisfaction, fulfillment, significance, and hope? Their actions directly conflicted with their calling and their expressed commitment to Jesus Christ. Their behavior did not accurately reflect their belief in a transformed life. That is why Paul demands that they do an about-face, turning their backs on their former way of life and seeking things above.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. – Colossians 3:5 NLT

Paul was well aware that his flock in Colossae was struggling with the ongoing presence of their sinful natures. He was not exempt from this internal battle between godliness and wickedness. In his letter to the Romans, he divulged his own struggle with indwelling sin.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? – Romans 7:21-24 NLT

But Paul answered his own pleading question, joyfully declaring, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25 NLT). The solution to the problem of indwelling sin is Jesus. Because of Jesus, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to say no to sin and yes to God. His divine presence provides us with all we need to put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within us. Peter put it this way: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3 NLT).

Peter was addressing the power and presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Godly living wasn’t a matter of self-control, hard work, and a commitment to keeping a list of rules and religious rituals. Self-effort can only produce self-righteousness. But the kind of righteousness God demands can only be produced by the Spirit of God. That is why Paul told the Galatian church, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16 NLT). He went on to say, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there” (Galatians 5:24 NLT).

Because of their relationship with Christ, their former sinful habits had been nailed to the cross with Him. But every believer knows how easy it is to breathe life into those old, dead habits and “resurrect” them again. So, Paul demands that they “put to death” those things. But how? Is he suggesting that this is an ongoing, daily action? Is it the fate of every Christian to live their entire earthly existence in a daily struggle to put sin to death? The answer is found in the grammar of Paul’s statement. When he states, “put to death,” he uses the Aorist Active Imperative (AAM) tense. The action described by the verb indicates that it is a past event. In other words, it has already taken place. Paul is stating that our old sinful habits have already been put to death on the cross. So, we must constantly return them to their rightful place: the cross. Our present action is based on a past reality.

The action Paul commands is a natural byproduct of belief. If we truly believe that Jesus “canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NLT), then we should confidently return those sinful habits right where they belong. They are dead to us and no longer possess power over us. Paul is reminding the Colossians that their new life in Christ is meant to reflect a new way of living.

You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. – Colossians 3:7-8 NLT

They had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and were now clothed in His righteousness. Yet, metaphorically,  they were constantly going back to the closet of sin and picking out old, soiled garments to wear. That’s why Paul reminds them that they had already “put off the old self with its practices” (Colossians 3:9 ESV) and “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10 ESV). It was a past action that required constant repeating in the present. But they were guilty of putting on the old self. In a sense, they were reaching into the closet of their past life and selecting one of their old, comfortably fitting sins to wear in public. 

In this passage, Paul describes the ongoing nature of sanctification or spiritual growth. The Christian life is not meant to be static or stagnant. Once saved, always saved doesn’t mean that there is no ongoing transformation in the believer’s life. Peter indicates believers are to “grow into a full experience of salvation” (1 Peter 2:2 NLT). Paul told the Ephesians that they were to grow “in every way more and more like Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT).

Growth in Christlikeness is non-optional for the believer, but it is not a matter of hard work and determination. One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to assist Christians in their knowledge of Christ and their ongoing transformation into His likeness. This transformation is for all believers, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background. Each is to individually experience the Spirit’s transformative power so that, together, we might reflect the nature of Christ and bring glory to God the Father.

…you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. – 1 Peter 2:5 NLT

Jesus made our salvation possible and ensured our ongoing sanctification. Our transformation into His likeness is a supernatural work of God that requires our participation but not our power. We must willingly cooperate with the Spirit by submitting to His will and obeying His promptings. We put off the old nature in His power, not our own. We live to righteousness in His strength, not our own. Our ongoing renewal and reformation is His work, not ours.

Father, thank You for making the process of sanctification not only possible, but completely doable in Your power. I can’t make myself more holy and You don’t expect me to. I do not have the strength to manufacture godliness, but You have given me Your Holy Spirit to ensaure that my transformation into the likeness of Christ is achievable. What an incredibe gift You have given to Your children. Never let me take it for granted or try to take on the responsibility for my holiness on own. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Future-Focused Praying

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9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:9-14 ESV

Paul’s response upon hearing of the Colossians’ ongoing display of faith, hope, and love was to let them know that this was an answer to his prayers for them. He states that he and Timothy had regularly and zealously prayed that God would fill them with “the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9 ESV).

The prayers of Paul, many of which are recorded in his letters, reveal a shepherd’s heart for his dispersed and ever-increasing flock. These prayers provide a rare glimpse into the approach to ministry and discipleship of this great 1st-century apostle, missionary, and church planter. Paul had a passion for the gospel and a love for people that revealed itself in how he prayed for them. While it’s likely that he received many personal requests from Christians he met during his many journeys, his recorded prayers are more universal in nature and deal with the spiritual needs of the congregations to which he wrote. There is little doubt that he faithfully lifted up to the Lord the personal requests of individual believers, but his real passion for people went way beyond the surface needs, wants, and desires they may have had. While he took their physical needs seriously and cared deeply about their health and well-being, his real concern was for their spiritual lives and their relationship with God.

In the opening lines of his letter to the believers in Colossae, Paul encourages them by informing them of his constant prayers for them.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. – Colossians 1:3 ESV

…from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you. – Colossians 1:9 ESV

What a blessing it is to hear that someone has been praying for you. It is so encouraging to know that someone cares enough about you to lift you up before the throne of God.

Paul reveals to them the content of his prayers. This is where it gets interesting and revealing. Paul says that his request to God for them was that they would have a knowledge or awareness of His will. But he has been doing much more than asking; he has been begging. The Greek word, proseuchomai, carries much more force than our English word for prayer. It means “to pray earnestly for” and reflects Paul’s strong desire for God to provide the believers in Colossae with knowledge of His will for them. Not only that, he wants God to fill them with that knowledge.

Once again, the original Greek language is much richer and more forceful in its meaning. When Paul asks God to fill them, he means “to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim.” In other words, he is asking God to fill them so fully that there isn’t room for anything else, including their own wills. For the believer, knowing the will of God is essential because it is what directs our actions and influences our attitudes. As we live life in this world, we will be constantly influenced by our own sinful nature and the world around us. We will constantly be tempted to control our lives according to our own will.

Paul warned the believers in Rome, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2 NLT). So there is a sense in which we have to turn our attention from the things of this world and concentrate on God’s will as revealed in His Word. God is out to transform us by influencing our thinking and altering our behavior, from the inside out.

But Paul goes on to qualify his request. He says that he is asking that they be filled with a knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. In other words, God’s will must be spiritually discerned because it is not of this world. In fact, the wisdom of God will often, if not always, stand in conflict with worldly wisdom. It will make no sense from a human perspective and appear illogical. To know God’s will requires spiritual wisdom and understanding, which can only be provided by the Holy Spirit. Paul told the believers in Corinth, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). Then he reminded them, “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV). We have the mind of Christ because we have the Spirit of Christ living within us. We are spiritual creatures with a God-given capacity to understand and know His will. And Paul’s prayer was that his brothers and sisters in Christ be filled to overflowing with that knowledge.

But for Paul, to be aware of and filled with the knowledge of God was not enough. Knowing the will of God is useless if it is not put into action. That is why Paul states that his prayers for them had an objective. He wanted them “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10 ESV). The knowledge of God should produce obedience to God. Knowing His will should instill a desire to live it out in daily life.

While the Greek word, peripateō, can be translated as “walk,” it can also convey the idea of conducting one’s life. Paul is expressing his prayerful desire that the Colossians live their daily lives in submission to and in keeping with God’s will. Doing so will please the Father, produce a life of spiritual fruitfulness, and result in an even greater awareness of His will. Paul wanted them to know that, as they expended energy in doing God’s will, they would tap into an inexhaustible supply of power based on His “glorious might” (Colossians 1:11 ESV). Rather than growing weak or weary, they would find themselves with an overabundance of endurance and patience despite the trials of life. God would supply them with strength for the task and they would respond with joyful thanksgiving. 

Paul desperately desired for the Colossian believers to understand the magnitude of the gift they had received upon placing their faith in Jesus. Something truly remarkable had taken place when they accepted the free gift of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone. They had been immediately “delivered…from the domain of darkness and transferred…to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13 ESV). As a result, they shared in the inheritance of the saints in light. They had a permanent place reserved for them in God’s eternal kingdom. The apostle Peter expressed it this way:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. – 1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT

The author of Hebrews also wrote of this inheritance of the saints. In his great “Hall of Faith” in Chapter 11, he mentions such Old Testament luminaries as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, and describes how they were distinguished by their faith in God.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. – Hebrews 11:13-16 NLT

When Paul tells the Colossians that God has “delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13 ESV), he is letting them know that they are as good as there. The promises of God are so sure and certain that the Colossians can live in perfect peace in the present because their future has been guaranteed by God. They were already citizens of that eternal kingdom, even while living their lives here on earth.

And Paul lets them know that this future kingdom belongs to Jesus Christ, the one who made possible their redemption and forgiveness from sin. Jesus was not only their Savior but their coming King. Their redemption and justification would one day result in their glorification. That is why Paul’s ongoing prayer for them was that they might continue to grow in their knowledge of the full scope of God’s grand redemptive plan for them.

Paul’s prayer provides a powerful example of how we should be praying for one another. There is nothing wrong with praying for someone’s physical healing, their marriage, financial needs, or any other concern they may have. But how much more important it is to pray that they grow in their knowledge of God’s will. One of the problems believers face is understanding what it is we’re supposed to do in life. We need to know how we are to use our time, talents, and resources. When we face difficulties and trials, we need to discover what God is trying to teach us. How would God have us respond to the situations and circumstances in which we find ourselves? It is not difficult to discern our will; that comes easy. But knowing God’s will takes intention and requires listening to the Holy Spirit and patiently waiting to hear God speak. So, what greater prayer could anyone pray for a friend or family member than that God would fill them with a knowledge of His will, His good, pleasing, and perfect will?

Father, we tend to pray surface prayers that are temporal in nature and focus on the external needs of others. Even when praying for ourselves, we place far more emphasis on those things that we believe are hindering our happiness or affecting our comfort. We seem to believe that if the trial would just go away, everything would be better. Yet, as Paul seems to indicate, You are far less concerned about removing the difficulties of life than in making us more dependent upon You and using them to transform us into the likeness of Your Son. As You told Paul, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness..(2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). According to Paul, You are “able to make all grace abound…so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,” we “may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV). When we pray for ourselves and others, we need to place more emphasis on internal and eternal matters. I am reminded of Paul’s words to the believers in Rome: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:3-5 NLT). Help me to pray for others with my eyes fixed on the hope that we have in Christ. It is not that it is wrong for me to pray for the physical needs of others, but that their spiritual well-being is far more important to their long-term joy, peace, and contentment. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.