As we begin this study,
let us look at who Paul is writing to. The church in Philippi was
founded by the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. He had a
very close relationship with this church and they had offered financial
gifts to support Paul's ministry. The main theme of this letter is JOY.
Philippians
1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints
in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
Two
words I want to expound on in this verse, the first one is :
Bondservants, a bondservant has a different position in the master's
house than just a servant. Often times in the culture and customs of
their day the servants, we would call slaves. Some were bought from
slave traders, often victims of wars, while owed debt and would sell
themselves into servitude until the debt was paid. When the debt was met
then they were released by their master and given their freedom. Here
is where the bondservant comes in; at times the servant by his own free
will, will desire to stay and continue to serve his master. Having made
that decision, the master would take the servant to the doorpost and
pierce his ear with a ring that identified him as a bondservant. But
also he becomes a part of the family and sits with the family for meals.
Do you see the comparison for a Christian? The moment we receive Christ
we are now positioned as a bondservant, we having received the seal of
the Holy Spirit now serve along our Lord and Master Jesus Christ for the
kingdom of God. We are BONDSERVANTS a position of service, not bondage
but serving.
Jesus taught
us in John 13 that we were to serve one another. In Luke 22:24 the
disciples were discussing among themselves who would be the greatest
this took place right before the Last Supper. Now the custom of their
day was the least of the servants would wash the feet of all the guests
as they would enter for a meal, yet none had done this for each other or
for Jesus. So at the end of the meal, Jesus girded Himself with a towel
and began to wash the disciples feet. Hear what Jesus said:
John
13:13-14 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for I am. If I
then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you then ought to
wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you
should do as I have done to you.
Also in Philippians 2:7 it tells us that Jesus, Himself took on the form of a bondservant. We will talk about this verse later.
The
second word in this verse we want to look at is: SAINTS, who are the
saints is often been a theological discussion. Yet the scriptures teach
that the word "saint" refers to one set apart, one of holiness. Some
teach that one has to earn sainthood and is given to them after their
death, if they have fulfilled the qualifications that their traditions
require for one to be called a saint, this is not founded in scripture.
It is our "position" in Christ that qualifies us as saints. Because of
His holiness at our salvation we were made holy "in Him" and set apart
from the world "in Him", this is our positional state of holiness and
being set apart qualifying us to be saints.
Jude
1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men also,
saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints.....
Now
Jude has been talking about the apostates of the last days, but what I
wanted to look at is the last part of this verse; when we read ten
thousands this is an amount that cannot be put into our vocabulary.
These are the believers in Christ throughout the church age who will
come with Christ in the final battle recorded in Revelation 19:11-16.
Ephesians
1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love
Though
we have been given a position of holiness in Christ, which is how God
the Father views us, it does in no way excuse us from living unholy
lifes.
1Peter 1:15-16 but
as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
1John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure
Going
back to Philippians Paul goes on in that verse to speak of the Bishops
and Deacons, these are the pastors and church leadership to also include
the elders spoken of many times in the Epistles. All the letters
written in the New Testament were to be read to the whole body and
passed from church to church and town to town. Therefore the letters of
the Apostles were written to and for everyone.
I will close this out for now this was just an introductory to the study. Looking forward to next week's session.
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