The Fellowship of the Gospel
Philippians 1:1-6

October 1, 2006
by C.W. Powell

Introduction.

Philippi was a Roman Colony (Acts 16:12), named after Phillip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. It became a Roman colony after Octavian (Augustus) defeated Antony and Cleopatra. Acts 16:12ff gives the history of the founding of the church. Wise people have a sense of history and move in terms of history. These are the details:

A. The Origin of the Church. It began with a woman's prayer meeting: Jewish women meeting by the riverside. It was a regular thing with them. God bless praying women! Thank God for them. Much is made of gossiping women, of troublesome women, of busybodies, scheming and destructive women--and there are some of those; almost as destructive as gossiping, troublesome, meddling, and scheming men! But we must thank God for those godly women who have given themselves to God and to prayer. What a wonderful thing! This church in Philippi began with a women's prayer meeting.

B. Marvelous Conversions:

1. Lydia. She was a merchant-lady, a seller of purple. She was probably a proselyte to Judaism. Women enjoyed high status in Philippi, which was located in Macedonia. "If Macedonia produced perhaps the most competent group of men the world had yet seen, the women were in all respects the men's counterparts; they played a large part in affairs, received envoys and obtained concessions for them from their husbands, built temples, founded cities, engaged mercenaries, commanded armies, held fortresses, and acted on occasion as regents or even co-rulers." I would hold to two Biblical principles concerning women:

a. In the World: The woman is under the authority of her husband.

b. In the Church: She is not to have pastoral authority in the church.

The cure for modern apostate feminism is not a campaign to "keep women in their places" but for men to take their God-given place. When men raise their level, the entire level will rise. We never raise ourselves by debasing others; men do not elevate themselves by debasing women; and women do not elevate themselves by debasing men. No one on earth can keep you from doing the work that God has given you to do. If you are having trouble "reaching fulfillment" the problem is not your time in history, your national heritage, or the social conditions. The problem is your relationship with God, and your submission to His will; for He is the cause of all things. Your gifts that have been given you by God are supremely fitted for the time and place that He determined for you to be born and to live. It is absolutely essential, however, for you to be in submission to His will and to give yourself up to him.

2. A Slave girl. This wonderful conversion is recorded in Acts 16:16-18. Christ shows His power over all the power of the devil by delivering this girl through the ministry of the apostle. Just as He had demonstrated His power over all principalities and powers while on the earth, He now demonstrated that the Gospel would continue to dominate unclean spirits. Satan is chained that he can deceive the nations no more, but all things have been put under the authority of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 2; Ephesians 1)

3. A Jailor. His conversion is in Acts 16:19-34. The Holy Spirit greatly moved in the heart of man through the witness of the missionaries, and he and his house were baptized. A different kind of power is demonstrated: the power of the gospel over unbelief and ungodliness.

C. Composition of this church. The church was originally based on Lydia and the women (Acts 16:40). But soon others came. Phil. 2:25 and 4:2,3 records members whose names indicate pagan origins. It is possible that Luke stayed behind to help in the founding of this church. As a prominent Gentile Christian and leader he would be suitable for this church. His account of Paul's travels does not include "we" again until Acts 20:6.

D. Written from Rome. Their pastor, Epaphroditus brought gifts to Paul, and this is the thank-you note. Its authorship and authority are beyond dispute. But let us look at the words of our text.

E. This book is about Christian Fellowship. What does it mean to have Christian fellowship? We are not supposed to just make stuff up when it comes to definitions in the bible. The word is used three times in this book:

1. 1:5. “Fellowship in the Gospel” What it is?
2. 2:1. “Fellowship in the Spirit” How it is?
3. 3:10 “Fellowship in the sufferings of Christ” The exercise of it?

“1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Php 1:1-6 av)

vs. 1,2: Paul's customary Greeting

Paul calls himself the servant of Christ. His first loyalty is to Jesus Christ, but he knew that to serve Jesus Christ he must serve the church of Jesus Christ. We serve Christ by serving His church; in washing one another's feet. The nature of church office is service, not self-glory or personal gain. A servant's heart is the first requirement for ministry. Bishops were the same as elders or presbyters. They had oversight of the church. In Israel elders were the heads of clans, but not in the church. Church officers are men who are gifted by Christ for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4).

Three things can be noted in Paul's greeting.

a. Grace. This is the inward work of the Holy Spirit, based upon the work of Christ on the Cross, communicated by the preaching of Gospel; received by faith.

b. Peace. This rests upon grace. There is no peace where there is no grace. This peace is personal, for where there is no peace in the heart and mind there will be no peace with others (James 4). It is by justification by faith that we have this personal peace with God (Romans 5) In the church, we are to treat one another with grace in our hearts: forgiving one another, forbearing one another. A troubled, envious, rebellious heart cannot know peace.

c. In the third place, this peace and grace are "from God," from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Grace comes from God. There is no peace for the godless, the wicked and rebellious. Peace is the gift of God.

vs. 3,4: Thanksgiving for the Church, Paul could not give thanks for all the churches to whom he wrote: Galatians, for instance.

Thanksgiving is fundamental Christian grace. I have forced myself to ask this question: What are people's thoughts when they think of me? I want them to pray for me: is it a pleasant thing for them to do? do they give thanks? or is it a terrible chore? Is there a feeling of desperation when they pray for their pastor. What a wonderful witness the Philippians had, for it was a pleasant thing for Paul to remember them. It was a joyful thing for Paul to pray for them, and this says something about Paul, that prayer was a joy to him.

vs. 5Fellowship in the Gospel

The Gospel is "Good news." I John 1:1-4 explains the nature of this fellowship. "Fellowship" is a unique Christian word. It begins in the Godhead, in the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was extended to the apostles by Christ Himself, when He gathered His apostolic group together, teaching them and confirming them. It was deepened by the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is extended throughout the world to those who believe. The purpose of the Gospel is twofold:

1. Fellowship.

a. It is he result of justification, for we are counted righteous so that we can be engrafted into Christ.

b. Salvation in its wholeness is the result of this fellowship, and cannot be obtained without it. We have been predestined to this fellowship by the Father, redeemed for this fellowship by the blood of Christ, and baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit. To be a Christian is to be engrafted into the vine, into the body of Christ, into the church of Jesus Christ. Christ has no disassociated body parts.

See John 17:3: "That they might know thee, and Jesus Christ." To become a Christian is to become a part of the Heavenly Conversation.

c. I John 1:3 tells us that John preached for his purpose, to bring men into fellowship with the apostles and their this fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. What a wonderful privilege!

d. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (1Jo 1:1-4 av)

2. Joy. This fellowship results in Christian joy. It is fellowship in the word and spirit of the Gospel. In both I John 1 and in John 17:8, this fellowship and, hence, this joy, is the result of the message given to the apostles. John 17:8: "I gave them the words...." I John 1:3 "declare we unto you..." Philippians 1:5 "fellowship in the gospel" the "good news"

There are great enemies of this fellowship and joy:

a. False doctrine. To corrupt the message is to corrupt the fellowship. there is one faith, one Lord, one baptism. Practice flows from doctrine. Satan is the father of lies, and his lies disrupt the conversation and fellowship of the saints.

b. Whispers and backbiting:

c. Lying to one another, not dealing in truth with one another. There are two ways that language is used. The Gospel method of using language is to convey truth. The ungodly was is to manipulate by lying and misrepresentation.

d. Proverbs 6:16 Six things the Lord hates; seven are an abomination to him: "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

i. The fellowship of the saints is a conversation, a way of life based upon commonly held ideas. Satan destroyed the fellowship in the Garden of Eden by his lies. He is the father of lies, for every lie is the work of the devil. He is also the source of all slander and backbiting, for he is the accuser of the brethren, being a liar and a murderer from the beginning. Those who lie and slander are doing the devil's work.

ii. Put Away Lying, for We Are Members One of Another

iii. This is the reason that the Holy Spirit requires us to quit lying, for we are members of each other. (Ephesians 4:20-25). The physical body can only function properly if the nerves are sending true messages from the brain to the members. It is the same with the body of Christ. False doctrine, lies, misrepresentation, pride, ambition, and other sins of the flesh disrupt the body and destroy the fellowship of the saints, and are to be resisted and hated by us.

vs. 6 The Work of the Holy Spirit:

1. This fellowship is not the work of the flesh and cannot be accomplished by the work of the flesh. There are good and legitimate social activities that you may or may not engage in with the ungodly. You may enjoy Air Force football; a game of horseshoes, or then thousand other good and legitimate things, but these things are not the fellowship of the saints.

2. It is the work of the Holy Spirit working faith and love in the hearts of the children of God. This work is begun in this life and will continue until it is perfected in the day of Jesus Christ.

3. This effectual working of the Spirit causes us to will and to do of his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13), and binds the church together in love (Eph. 4:16).

4. Every Christian contributes something to this fellowship, and by this effectual working of the Holy Spirit the church increases and grows up into Christ in all things (Eph. 4:15,16).

“16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,” (Eph 4:16-17)

This truth is clearly set forth in the H. C. concerning the Lord’s Supper:

Q76: What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?

A76: It means not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the forgiveness of sins and life eternal;[1] but moreover, also, to be so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy Spirit,[2] who dwells both in Christ and in us, that, although He is in heaven [3] and we on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone,[4] and live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are governed by one soul.[5]

What a beautiful figure: that as the physical body is the communion of many parts into one union directed by the soul, so are all believers united under that direction of our Lord, Jesus Christ who is in Heaven!

5. The world and the flesh knows nothing at all of this fellowship and this conversation, but walks in darkness and death. Because they have rejected the gospel, there is no light in them, they have not the Spirit of God, and remain among the congregation of the dead. (Prov. 21:16)

6. On the other hand, how glorious is the condition of those who hear and receive the Gospel. Jesus said it best: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

Application:

1. Let us study to know what the fellowship of the saints is, so that we be not carried away into other fellowships and communions.

2. Let us rejoice in the fellowship of the saints and seek always to be seek the good of the saints, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:2-4

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

3. Beware of words that are not the words of God: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2Co 11:3 av)

4. Beware of any spirit that is not the Spirit of God: There are a great many things that could be said, and I intend to say many of them over the next months. But it is sufficient now wo say these things:

a. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of adoption.
b. He is the spirit of holiness.
c. He is the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
d. He is the spirit of Christ and the Father
e. He is the spirit who inspired the prophets and gave us the Holy Scriptures. Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
f. He is the same spirit who works in all the people of God.

Amen and Amen.