HOW TO BE A SAINT
PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11
TODAY IS THE FIRST SERVICE FOR 2019 AND IT IS FITTING THAT IT INVOLVES A COMMUNION SERVICE. A QUESTION THAT IS OFTEN ASKED THOUGH IS WHO CAN TAKE PART IN IT?
NOT ALL BAPTISTS HAVE THE SAME STANDARDS AS TO WHO MAY TAKE PART IN COMMUNION. SOME FOLLOW WHAT IS CALLED CLOSED COMMUNION, IN WHICH ONLY MEMBERS OF THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH, WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTAKE OF THE SERVICE.
OTHER CHURCHS FOLLOW A MORE OPEN STANDARD WHICH ALLOWS ANYONE WHO HAS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOUR TO TAKE PART. THEY COULD BE FROM A DIFFERENT DENOMINATION BUT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, THEY ARE WELCOME TO THE TABLE.
THIS THEN LEADS TO THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN OR AS WE ARE SOMETIMES CALLED SAINTS? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD?
SOMETIMES THERE IS CONFUSION WITH THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WHEN WE REFER TO CHRISTIANS AS SAINTS. I ASSURE YOU THAT THE MEANING IS DIFFERENT IN BOTH SITUATIONS.
THE GREEK WORD FOR SAINT MEANS “HOLY”, OR TO BE SEPARATED FROM SIN AND SET APART TO GOD. THIS WAS A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF FIRST-CENTURY CHRISTIANS, BUT CAN WE SAY THIS ABOUT CHRISTIANS NOW. DO WE STAND OUT FROM AMONGST THE WORLD, AND IF SO HOW.
PAUL IS WRITING THIS LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ATTENDING BIBLE STUDY ARE GOING TO HAVE A HEAD START ON THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS.
THIS LETTER IS SENT AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT BY PAUL TO THE “SAINTS” AND LEADERS OF THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI. THIS ENCOURAGEMENT CAN BE SEEN IN THREE WAYS:
POINT ONE: AS SAINTS, CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE SOMETHING.
Philippians 1:1-2:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
THREE IMPORTANT STATEMENTS ARE MADE BY PAUL HERE THAT TELL US THIS IS ONLY FOR THE SAINTS AT PHILIPPI. THESE ARE STATEMENTS THAT TEACH US ABOUT WHAT CHRISTIANS ARE:
1. THE USE OF THE TERM SERVANTS. PAUL SAYS THAT HE AND TIMOTHY ARE “SERVANTS” OF JESUS CHRIST.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE WORD USED FOR “SLAVE” OR “SERVANT” WAS USED TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO SERVED YAHWEH.
NUMBERS 12:7-8:
But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.
HERE GOD IS SPEAKING ABOUT MOSES AND THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE BECAUSE MOSES SUBMITS TO GOD AND DOES HIS BIDDING. THE TERM “SERVANT” THEN BECOMES A TITLE OF HONOR, BECAUSE IT BELONGED TO ONE WHO WAS COMMISSIONED BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL TASK.
PAUL DOES NOT USE THIS TERM OFTEN, BUT HIS USE OF THE TERM HERE INDICATES THAT HE FEELS THAT HE AND TIMOTHY HAVE A SPECIAL GOD-GIVEN APPOINTMENT OR MISSION WITH ALL THE SAINTS AT PHILIPPI
2. TO ALL GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE. PAUL IS ADDRESSING THOSE IN THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES TO A LIFE OF COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO GOD. THE RECEPIENTS OF THIS LETTER ARE “HOLY PEOPLE”. WHAT MAKES A PERSON HOLY?
TO BE “HOLY” MEANS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT FROM OUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO NO LONGER PARTICIPATE IN THINGS THAT WE KNOW GO CONTRARY TO GOD’S LAW.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-17:
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD FOR SOME PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED. THERE ARE SOME SINS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY INTICING FOR US.
HEBREWS 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles
WHEN I WAS A CHILD I USED TO HELP MY MOTHER MAKE HER BALLS OF YARN TO KNIT WITH. SHE WOULD TAKE A SCANE AND I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD IT BETWEEN MY TWO ARMS, CONSTANTLY MOVING MY HANDS AS SHE MADE THE BALL. THE TELEVISION WAS NEARBY AND EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD TWO CHANNELS AND ONE OF THEM WAS SNOWY, IT COULD EASILY DISTRACT ME AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW, THERE WAS A TANGLE IN THE YARN. IT WAS SO EASY TO HAPPEN AND TOOK A LONG TIME TO CORRECT.
THE POINT IS THIS. SATAN KNOWS FULL WELL THE BEST WAY TO DISTRACT US FROM SERVING THE LORD, AND CAN EASILY CREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO ENTANGLE US. WHEN WE BECOME CHRISTIANS OR SAINTS, WE ARE TO WALK AND LIVE IN A NEW LIFESTYLE, CONSCIOUSLY SAYING NO TO THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW GOD WOULD NOT BE HAPPY WITH.
WE MUST BE GOD’S PEOPLE FOLKS OR WE ARE SATAN’S. THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND. WHEN HE HAD HIS CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS JESUS SAID PLAINLY:
JOHN 3:5-7:
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
YOU CAN ONLY BE A SAINT AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN BORN-AGAIN BY THE GRACE AND MERCY OF JESUS CHRIST.
3. THE USE OF THE WORDS GRACE AND PEACE. HERE I WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT PAUL IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE ORDER HE PRESENTS THESE IN. WE CANNOT HAVE PEACE IN OUR LIVES WITHOUT FIRST HAVING THE GRACE OF GOD APPLIED TO OUR LIVES.
PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE LOOKING FOR PEACE AND NOT FINDING IT. THEY SEARCH IN MANY AREAS BUT IT ELUDES THEM. THERE IS A REASON FOR THIS. IN ORDER TO FIND THE LASTING PEACE THAT JESUS CAN BRING, THE PEACE THAT ONLY SAINTS CAN HAVE, IS FOUND FIRST THOUGH THE GRACE AND MERCY OF THE LORD.
WHEN WE ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR AND LIVE BY MAKING HIM LORD OF OUR LIVES, THEN NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, WE SHALL KNOW THE PEACE THAT PAUL DESCRIBES IN PHILIPPIANS AS:
PHILLIPIANS 4:7:And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
THIS PEACE IS AN INDIVIDUAL BLESSING OF GOD THAT CANNOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE ELSE, BUT IT IS A PEACE THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY ANYONE WHO IS A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN. IT IS GOD MINISTERING TO YOU DURING YOUR DEEPEST STRUGGLE IN A WAY THAT JUST BLOWS YOUR MIND, AND GUARDS YOUR HEART AND MIND, OUR MOST VULNERABLE PLACES DURING TIMES OF TRIAL, AND ALLOW US TO CONCENTRATE ON JESUS.
AS CHRISTIANS OR SAINTS WE ARE CALLED TO BE SERVANTS, SEPARATE CALLED OUT ONES, WHO BY LIVING FOR CHRIST WILL KNOW GOD’S PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
POINT TWO: AS SAINTS CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
PHILIPPIANS 1-8:
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
PAUL IS GRATEFUL FOR THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAS WITH THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY SAINTS CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND. THEIR LIVES ARE CENTERED IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST AND IT BRINGS THEM CLOSER TOGETHER. THINK OF A TRIANGLE AS AN ILLUSTRATION.
PAUL’S LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THE PHILIPPIAN SAINTS ARE MARKED BY THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS: GRACE
PEACE
STRENGTH OF CHARACTER
PURPOSE
LOVE
THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS THAT PAUL RECEIVED THESE SAME THINGS FROM THE CHURCH THAT HE GAVE TO THE CHURCH. THIS IS WHAT SAINTS AND ONLY SAINTS CAN SHARE WITH EACH OTHER.
THE RESULT IS: V3. : THANKFULNESS
V4.: JOY
V6.: CONFIDENCE
PAUL IS THANKFUL FOR A CHURCH LIKE PHILIPPI, WITH SAINTS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO AND SUBMITTED TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST. I CAN JUST HEAR PAUL’S PRAYER. OH LORD LOOK AT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN PHILIPPI. AND THEN HE STARTS TALKING ABOUT THE SAINTS AND HE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH OF A BLESSING THEY ARE.
HIS SPIRITS LIFT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THEY WILL NOT FALTER IN THEIR COMMITMENT. HE PRAYS IN JOY FOR THEM. IT CHANGES HIS ATTITUDE AND GIVES HIM HOPE.
WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL IF WE COULD HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK OF FIRST BAPTIST JUST LIKE PAUL DID. IT CAN HAPPEN, BUT OUR CHURCH HAS TO COMMIT TO THE LORD THE SAME WAY THAT THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH DID.
YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN HERE, BUT LOOK AT THE CONFIDENCE THAT PAUL PRAYS IN. HE KNOWS THAT THE WORK IS NOT COMPLETED IN HIS LIFE OR IN THEIRS.
PHILIPPIANS 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
PAUL WAS LOOKING AT A CHURCH IN IT’S INFANCY, BUT HE ALSO KNEW THAT THE CHURCH MUST PUT THEIR FAITH AND BE MOTIVATED IN WHAT THEY DO BY CHRIST, AND NOT BY HIM. I’VE SEEN CHURCHES GROW BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE OF PASTORS, AND WATCHED THEM FALL APART WHEN THE PASTOR LEFT. IT WAS ALL BECAUSE THE PEOPLE’S EYES WERE ON THE MAN, AND NOT ON CHRIST.
CHRIST HAD THE POWER TO SAVE YOU. CHRIST HAS THE POWER TO LEAD YOU. CHRIST HAS THE POWER TO HOLD ON TO YOU UNTIL YOU ARE IN HIS PRESENCE. THIS IS A CONFIDENCE THAT ONLY THE SAINTS OF CHRIST CAN SHARE.
POINT THREE: AS SAINTS CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR A PURPOSE
SAINTS OF GOD ARE NOT CALLED TO BE DIFFERENT JUST TO BE ODD OR WEIRD. WE ARE CALLED TO EXEMPLIFY GOD TO THE WORLD AND THROUGH THE WAY WE LIVE OUR DAILY LIVES DRAW PEOPLE TO HIM. THE EXPRESSION “ I WOULD RATHER SEE A SERMON THAN HEAR ONE” IS TRUE.
PAUL ADDRESSES THIS IN Vv. 9-11 OF OUR PASSAGE.
PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11:
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
PAUL IS BEING VERY SPECIFIC WHEN HE STATES LET YOUR LOVE ABOUND. HE EMPHASIZES THIS BY SAYING MORE AND MORE MEANING POUR IT OUT ON PEOPLE, DON’T HOLD IT BACK. THE GREEK WORD FOR ABOUND HERE IS (PERISSEUE) AND MEANS “TO BE PRESENT IN ABUNDANCE. IT’S LIKE GRAVY FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER. YOU DON’T JUST DRIBBLE IT ON. IF THERE IS SOMETHING ON YOUR PLATE NOT COVERED YOU’RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT.
WE ARE SAINTS AND WE LIVE WITH A PURPOSE AND THAT PURPOSE IS TO POUR OUT GOD’S LOVE ON A HURT AND LOST WORLD. IT IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS, THAT’S GODS. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESENT GOD’S LOVE. HERE’S THE HARD PART, EVEN IF IT IS NOT RETURNED. WE SHOW GOD’S LOVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM, AND IN GRATITUDE TO HIM FOR THE LOVE HE SHOWED US. OUR PURPOSE IS FOUND IN HIM.
CONCLUSION:
A LITTLE GIRL WENT WITH HER MOTHER TO CHURCH ONE DAY. SHE ASKED HER MOTHER ABOUT THE FIGURES IN THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS. HER MOTHER REPLIED THAT THEY WERE SAINTS. THEN LATER IN THE WEEK SHE VISITED AN OLDER WOMAN WITH HER MOTHER. AS THEY LEFT THE HOUSE, THE MOTHER SAID, “YOU HAVE SEEN A SAINT TODAY.” TRYING TO PUT THE TWO TOGETHER, SHE FINALLY SAID, “OH I KNOW WHAT A SAINT IS. A SAINT IS SOMEONE WHO LETS THE LIGHT SHINE THROUGH.”
MAY GOD HELP US TO LET THE LIGHT SHINE THROUGH TO OUR WORLD TODAY.
