The four step process to experience love that yields joy from Philippians 1:1-11:
1)Believe the gospel.
2)Love the gospel.
3)Devote your resources to the gospel.
4)Devote yourself to the gospel.
Now let me unpack this and convince you that this process is your only hope to experience love that yields joy.
What the passage says:
Verse 1: Paul is the writer. He was a harasser, torturer, and murderer of Christians whom God converted to become one of the most important church planters in history. He wrote this letter while in prison.
Verses 3-4: Even though he’s suffering in prison, he’s joyful because of the Philippian Christians.
Verses 7-8: His joy is connected with the deep love he feels for them.
Verses 5 and 7: This joyful love stems from their participation in the gospel.
Verses 9-11: The purpose for this section of the letter is that their love would abound based on real knowledge and discernment.
Participation in the gospel is the root of all this love and joy; so that is where we must focus.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus was God’s Son, lived the perfect life, and died the death we deserved to take the punishment we earned so that we could be reconciled to God.
How did the Philippian Christians participate in the gospel?
They Believed It
Paul planted the Philippian church 10 years earlier with just three converts: a business woman, a former demon-possessed slave girl, and a jailer. These three believed the gospel and were reconciled to God (Acts 16).
They Loved It
They didn’t just believe it, they built their lives around it as indicated by Paul’s joy over their involvement in it, the fact that the church was still around 10 years later when Paul wrote this letter, and the following two points.
They Devoted Their Resources to ItThey gave financially to help Paul travel around communicating the gospel (Philippians 4:15-16).
They Devoted Themselves to It
The use of money reveals personal devotion (Matthew 6:21). These Christians gave to advance the gospel, even when no one else was willing.
How does participation in the gospel produce love that yields joy?
1.There is no love without God (1 John 4:8).
2.There is no way to God but through the gospel (John 14:6).
3.Therefore, to find true love, one must participate in the gospel.
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
5 Questions to Determine if You're Participating in the Gospel
Of all the churches connected to Paul's ministry, what made the one in Philippi so special anyway?
Glad you asked. They participated in the gospel, while many churches did not.
The Roman believers hypocritically judged others, refused to repent (turn from their sin), and had constant dissensions. They were about selfish ambition rather than gospel ambition.
The Corinthian church was full of division and perpetually immature Christians. There were many there who acted like they didn't know Jesus at all, let alone love Him.
The Galatian church kept forgetting the gospel. They would just try to be good on their own.
Based on all this, here are some questions to help you discern if you're participating in the gospel:
1. Do you often notice what other people are doing wrong; but rarely experience the need to repent of your own sinful ways?
Gospel participants see their own sin more clearly than anyone else's.
2. When you make decisions, do you lean first toward what is best for you, or what will advance the gospel, make it known, communicate it, etc.?
3. Does your presence bring disunity or unity when you're in a group of Christians?
Gossip and the tendency to stir up trouble where there is none brings gospel participation to a halt.
4. Is your faith stronger, your knowledge of God greater, your love for others deeper than it was at this time last year?
Participation will bring growth.
5. Do you think you can be good apart from the gospel?
To weigh in on what the gospel is and how to participate in it, visit our Facebook discussions.
Enjoy your day!
Glad you asked. They participated in the gospel, while many churches did not.
The Roman believers hypocritically judged others, refused to repent (turn from their sin), and had constant dissensions. They were about selfish ambition rather than gospel ambition.
The Corinthian church was full of division and perpetually immature Christians. There were many there who acted like they didn't know Jesus at all, let alone love Him.
The Galatian church kept forgetting the gospel. They would just try to be good on their own.
Based on all this, here are some questions to help you discern if you're participating in the gospel:
1. Do you often notice what other people are doing wrong; but rarely experience the need to repent of your own sinful ways?
Gospel participants see their own sin more clearly than anyone else's.
2. When you make decisions, do you lean first toward what is best for you, or what will advance the gospel, make it known, communicate it, etc.?
3. Does your presence bring disunity or unity when you're in a group of Christians?
Gossip and the tendency to stir up trouble where there is none brings gospel participation to a halt.
4. Is your faith stronger, your knowledge of God greater, your love for others deeper than it was at this time last year?
Participation will bring growth.
5. Do you think you can be good apart from the gospel?
To weigh in on what the gospel is and how to participate in it, visit our Facebook discussions.
Enjoy your day!
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