Reverend’s Corner
Rev. Joanna Vessella
September 21, 2008
Philippians 1:21-
“The Living Gospel”
In today’s Epistle lesson we find Paul a tired man, Imprisoned in a Roman jail, probably suffering pains from a scarred and broken body from repeated stoning and beatings. And yet, his thoughts were on the congregation in Philippi which had struggled with persecution for ten years. Paul’s dilemma was that although he was an old man and looked forward to going on to his death and a chance to meet Jesus, he knew the churches needed him. But whether he stayed here or went on to paradise, Christ was his love and joy.
Paul declares that it isn’t only about struggle. He points to the joy he anticipates in hearing that his friends are standing firm with one common purpose and one common desire to live in the way of Christ. His struggles have had their success, and as his life has borne fruit of the gospel, so will theirs by their own wiliness to live the gospel.
Paul reminds the Philippians of the different standard of citizenship that is theirs as people living in the realm of God. He calls them to stand out in the crowd by living in a manner worthy of the gospel. It’s not good enough to blend into prevailing culture. People should be able to see Jesus in those who claim to be Christians. When I ask people why they don’t come to church, particularly in my generation, they almost always include in their list of excuses that the people in church are hypocrites. Although I feel that should not keep anyone from going to church it’s a sad commentary. Many people feel, if you are going to talk the talk you should walk the walk.
Paul has found that his relationship with the Philippians has given him reason to go on living. He encourages the Philippians to find new meaning and purpose in their own response to God’s grace in their lives. Citizens of ancient Philippi and Rome, citizens of contemporary New York, Vancouver, Belgrade, Sydney, Pahrump and any other city can live in a manner worthy of the gospel.
God’s abundant grace in Jesus Christ is offered to all people. But not everyone knows that and it is our responsibility, as Christians, to reach out to those who don’t know Christ. Some don’t want to know Christ and we can’t beat it into them but there are plenty who would love to have what we have.
Because Paul was in prison, it would appear that the enemy had won, but the imprisonment of the apostle made the gospel known where it would not have otherwise been preached, in the high places of Rome.
The normal condition of the assembly is that the Spirit of God acts in the members of the body. Christ’ triumph over Satan fills with his own Spirit those whom he has delivered out of the hand of that enemy. They constituted the army and the testimony of God in this world against the enemy. Paul could not labor in the way he had before. He spent many years in jail. But he could not be deprived of God or his teachings to the congregations. The apostle could do little but he could see the gospel preached without him. More and more people became emboldened. Christ’ and even souls were more precious to Paul than the works being carried on by himself. God was carrying it on: and therefore it would be the triumph of Paul, who linked himself with the purposes of God.
Now if Christ is all this for Paul and the church, Paul desires that the assembly should be that which it ought to be for Christ, and thereby for his own heart to which Christ was everything. The joy of the Philippians would be abundant through Paul’s return to them; only let their conduct, whether he came or not, be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul was able to return to Philippi.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a treasure to be shared widely and generously, even as God’s grace and goodness have been widely shared with us. Aware of the treasure that is ours, let us live worthy. Amen.