Enjoying Grace and Peace in the Realm of the Gospel

Introduction

The book of Philippians has three positive characteristics. It is remarkably pure, focused, and joyful. Every time we come to the book of Philippians we must remember these three things. First, it is pure. If we have an impure motive when we read this book, then this book won't be opened to us. It is written only for those who are pure, who have no motive or desire but Christ Himself. Second, it is focused. Each chapter of Philippians is focused on Christ. This book reminds us that Christ Himself should become the unique focus in our lives. Third, this book is joyful. It is full of rejoicing. If we are pure without any motive, and focused only on Christ, we will become very joyful people.

Paul Greeted the Saints "in Christ Jesus" Who Were in the Local Church in Philippi

The book of Philippians begins with two kinds of persons: the apostle and the saints. "Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons" (Phil. 1:1). Both the apostle and the saints were "in Christ Jesus." When the apostle spoke about himself and his co-worker, he said they were "slaves of Christ Jesus." When he addressed the saints, he called them "the saints in Christ Jesus." This shows us that to be a Christian is to be in Christ Jesus. Then as we grow in the Christian life, we will eventually become those who are of Christ Jesus. "In" Christ Jesus is a matter of position, while "of" is a matter of practicality. If we are born again, we already have the status and position of being in Christ Jesus. But as we grow in life through the process of salvation, we should become those who belong to the Lord and serve the Lord practically. Then we will be of Christ Jesus.

These saints who were "in Christ Jesus" were also in the physical city of Philippi. This shows that in the process of salvation we must be in a local church. Paul never despised the matter of the local church. In this epistle he appreciated all the dear saints who were in Christ Jesus, but he also said that they were in Philippi. The healthy experience of salvation is fully related to being in a local church. Paul also acknowledged the overseers and deacons in the church in Philippi. We need to realize that in the church life there are overseers. These are the elders who oversee and shepherd the church. Then there are also the deacons. These are the administrating saints who practically serve the church. We must appreciate, respect, and honor the brothers who are overseers and deacons in our local church. The local church in which the Lord has placed us is essential for us to grow in life. It is in our local church that we can grow from being "in Christ Jesus" to being "of Christ Jesus."

Grace Is the Deep Enjoyment of a Living Person, Christ Himself

Paul greeted the Philippians by saying, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 2). Paul loved these two words, "grace" and "peace." He used them in almost every letter he wrote. What do these two words mean? Grace is a matter of enjoyment according to Christ, and peace is the issue of grace. These two elements must be applied to us on a daily basis. Grace means that there is a living person who appeals to you and brings you into a realm of satisfaction. That realm, that status, is grace. For example, a husband can be grace to his wife, and a wife can be grace to her husband. When parents hold their young children there is a real satisfaction. That satisfaction is called grace. Many Christians refer to grace as "unmerited favor" or God's material blessing. But grace is very different from favor and from outward things. Grace is a matter of a high status, and that status comes from a living person. In that status there is something so soothing, so tender, so satisfying, and so encouraging. When we enjoy Christ, we experience this grace.

Again, the best example is that of a family. When a father holds his child for the first time, his whole person becomes a person of grace. He cannot believe that it is possible to attain such a status. There is so much love that it is overwhelming. When we are with our parents, or our brothers and sisters in our family, or with saints that we are close to, we sense a kind of joy. We sense love, peace, and rest. This enjoyment is grace, coming from people who love us. But these are only human examples. The highest and truest grace is from our Lord Jesus. Grace means that Christ has come to us, and He has come with enjoyment.

When you spent time with the Lord this morning, did you have any grace? Or did you get distracted with all your other concerns? Did you touch the living person of Christ by singing a hymn, or by opening your heart in prayer, or by enjoying the Bible? Did you experience something so profound that it reached your spirit and reached your heart? When you experience grace in this way, you become entranced. You forget who you are, and you forget where you are. You just feel so satisfied. You feel that your Christian life is so valuable and so worthy. Grace means that Christ comes to you for your enjoyment. This doesn't merely give you a sense of happiness, but rather a deep and profound satisfaction.

Paul would say to the Philippians, "Who are you? You are the saints. You are the holy ones, the joyful ones, the feasting and celebrating ones who are in Christ Jesus. Who am I? I am just a slave of Christ Jesus. What should our lives be? Whether we are saints or slaves, we must have grace and peace. We must be enjoying Christ. We must be brought into the deep enjoyment of a Person, Christ Jesus. When that Person operates within us, it brings us such a deep satisfaction. The Christian life is so marvelous, because it is the enjoyment of a living Person, Christ Himself, as grace!"

The Enjoyment of Grace Issues in Peace

Peace is the issue of grace. If one day grace disappears, then peace disappears also. For example, a husband and wife enjoy each other as grace. This produces peace between them. But when an argument or disagreement comes, there is no grace, and then the peace is gone. This may cause you to realize something regarding your own Christian life. Why are you sometimes not entirely peaceful before the Lord? Because you haven't enjoyed grace sufficiently. Peace comes from grace. When you enjoy grace, the Lord comes to you and touches your heart and your spirit. He renders you true satisfaction. He becomes so soothing and so comforting. There is something bright and buoyant in your heart. Then the issue is peace. You are entirely at peace with the Lord from your enjoyment of His grace. You also become peaceful with the saints.

If you live in a brothers' house, it can sometimes seem like a "flesh center." There are so many difficulties, causing so many angry reactions. All the brothers annoy each other and get on each other's nerves. But when you pray together, you touch grace. All of a sudden the brothers become so sweet. It seems impossible, but you love the brothers who used to annoy you. This is because peace is the issue and outcome of grace. You not only have peace with the Lord, but you also have peace with the brothers.

Paul Remembered the Saints with Joy and Thankfulness

After greeting the Philippians, Paul began to share his burden with them. His burden began in such a sweet way. "I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, always in my every petition on behalf of you all, making my petition with joy" (vv. 3-4). These two verses are profound. We would probably say, "I thank God whenever I think of you," but that would imply that we sometimes don't think of them. Paul was much stronger. He was saying, "You dear saints are so much in my heart! You occupy my heart all the time. I am possessed by you. I am always thinking of you. I thank my God all the time concerning you!" In Paul's Christian living of union and communion with Christ, the saints in Philippi were always with him.

This is hard for us to believe. Is there any person that we think of in this way, except perhaps the Lord Jesus Himself? When we think of the other saints, do we say, "Thank God for them"? When we think of particular brothers and sisters, are we always thankful? Usually when we pray, we do so with the hope of changing the person we are praying for. We critique the saints in our prayers rather than thanking God for them. Suppose there are three brothers. Brother A prays for Brother B, "Lord, he is too strong. Please help him become more sensitive." Brother B prays for Brother A, "Lord, he is too timid. Please help him become more aggressive." And Brother C prays for them both, "Lord, they are too argumentative. Please balance the two of them together." Each brother assumes that he knows what the Lord should do. There is very little thankfulness.

The church in Philippi had problems, but Paul would say, "I don't see the problems. I am just thanking God all the time for these dear saints. I make my petitions with joy." We pray for people according to our concepts and expectations. Suppose we pray for a brother because we think he should be different. The Lord might ask us, "What are you saying? Doesn't this brother love Me? Isn't that enough? What more do you want?" Many times when we pray, we are almost working with Satan, because Satan is the accuser of the brethren and we become accusers too. When we see something wrong with a brother according to our view we pray, "Lord, change him." This is very different from Paul. Paul would say, "I see the wonderful church in Philippi. The church there is so pure, so focused, and so joyful. Yes, the church has shortcomings, but I don't see the shortcomings. All I can do is thank God for the church and for all the precious saints. I am so joyful when I intercede on their behalf!"

Paul Loved the Saints with a Parent's Love

We are very aware of other people's problems. Does a brother really have a problem? It all depends on how we look at it. Sometimes we even think, "This kind of brother - Lord, why did You even save him?" But we should try praying in another way. "Thank You, Lord. At least this brother loves You. At least he sometimes meets with the saints." Paul was an effective servant of the Lord because whenever he looked at a situation, he saw something to be appreciated. When he saw any saint he saw someone to be thankful for. He had discernment, yet at the same time he didn't see the problems so clearly. He didn't pray our kinds of prayers.

Do we have the ability to appreciate even the weakest and most backslidden saints? If we can learn this, then a lot of positive things will happen. We will become very effective in our operation. Paul could say, "You Philippians are so much in my heart. I pray for you all the time. I thank God for you. I intercede for you with joy." Paul's love for them was like a parent's love. Every parent thinks that his child is the best, and that other children are not as good. It is not that the parents are wrong. There is just so much love that they only see the best in their child. They always have hope for their child, even when things are not so encouraging. This was Paul's attitude. He had so much love and care for the saints in Philippi that he was constantly joyful when he thought of them.

Word Studies

Philippians 1:4
Petition, deesis
A healthy petition is not only a request but an outflow of a healthy inner life according to an understanding of the divine revelations received and according to a co-laboring with the Lord's move, such as in the cases with Zachariah, Anna and Paul (Luke 1:13,2:37).

Joy, chara
This word is related to the word charis, grace. Its verb form is chairo. See verse 18.

Philippians 1:5
Fellowship, Koinonia
The Greek word, koinonia, means fellowship, share, partnership, or participation. Through a healthy fellowship, what I have becomes yours and what you have becomes mine. Furthermore, the word fellowship emphasizes both its process and its nature. Its process must be a process of mutual enjoyment and participation through our touching the Lord and through His touching us. The nature of such a fellowship is that it is a fellowship in the divine attributes. This fellowship has only one center, Christ. It has only one enjoyment, Christ. Additionally, this fellowshipping living has only one support, Christ. Christ is everything of this fellowship. He is the element of the fellowship. He is the content of the fellowship. He is the process of the fellowship. Eventually, He is the result of the fellowship.