Philippians 1:1-2

Well, 2021 has been a year already full of oddities of various kinds.

! We've had a lot of folks in our church sick and out.

We've had a lot of musicians out.

I'm thankful for the plethora of musicians that we do have that can help and fill in.

We found ourselves the first Sunday of the year with me leading us a cappella,

which was the strangest of oddities this year.

We've had a lot of our regular folks out, unable to be with us.

And then as a wonderful oddity, we've had a lot of guests here with us.

For some time now, we've been preaching expositional sermons from various texts

throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, which is an oddity for us.

Because our habit for the past 12 years has been to preach verse-by-verse expositional sermons

through a book of the Bible.

Well, typically a New Testament book than an Old Testament book and back and forth like that.

And so, it's with great joy that I'll ask you to turn with me this morning to Paul's letter to the Philippians

as we begin, once again and Lord willing, a 15-week exposition of this wonderful book.

Our plan is, across the next 15 weeks, to walk ourselves through Paul's letter to the Philippians.

As a very brief reminder to you, we purchase and have handy these ESV scripture journals.

I just want to make one more little pitch to you.

They're extremely helpful for me in my study.

I use them to read through the entire letter, in this case, and make notes off on the note page and mark it up.

I'm not marking in my Bible any longer because it gets terribly messy, but I'm doing that.

If you would like one of these, they're actually back on the rail of the sound booth.

They're just five bucks.

You can owe us.

So, if you want to run back there and grab one, no one here will mind if you do that.

There's a little stack of them back there for you if you'd like to follow along and keep notes in that way.

You can also find them all over the internet.

You can purchase them if you'd like to do that as well.

Our text for this morning will be Philippians chapter 1, verses 1 and 2.

Philippians 1:1

And I do promise that we're going to spend some time with these two verses, but I would first like to do two things.

Number one, I'm going to give you seven reasons that Christians should study the book of Philippians,

which should give us some bearing on the themes of this letter.

And secondly, we will read the entirety of Paul's address to the Philippian believers as this would have been his intent in its writing.

It is the way that the Philippian believers would have first heard it,

and doing so should help us think about its thematic content.

It'll take about 10 to 12 minutes to do that together.

So, because we have some ground to cover, let's get right into it.

And first, consider seven reasons Christians should study the book of Philippians.

Number one, Philippians is a purposely relational book.

It's a purposely relational book.

God intends for us to be in relationship with one another.

We are meant to be saved to a people.

We need each other.

And in a culture where relationship is being fractured, right?

We have a sense of knowing more people than we've ever known before,

but yet know fewer people deeply as we should.

It's good for us to consider the relational nature of this book.

But these are not unaimed relationships.

These are not relationships for the sake of relationship,

but they are aimed.

These relationships are to be for the magnification of the gospel to the glory of God.

I'll show you two examples.

Philippians chapter 4 and verse 1.

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

Paul writes,

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for,

my joy and crown,

stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Just a single verse packed full of Paul's affection for these Christians.

His brothers.

He loves them and he longs for them.

He calls them his joy and his crown.

And then finally, his beloved in that single verse.

Then in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27,

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

another example of an exhortation toward relationship.

Paul writes,

These things being of one spirit and one mind,

striving together, side by side,

does not happen without purposeful relationship.

Second reason,

Philippians is a gospel-oriented book.

This is always a good thing,

and this is true of the scripture in totality.

While this letter does not contain an explicit gospel presentation,

it does contain much gospel application.

Paul makes mention of the gospel repeatedly in chapter 1

and on occasion in chapters 2 and chapter 4.

Philippians chapter 1 and verse 5,

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

verse 7,

verse 12,

verse 16,

and verse 27.

He mentions the gospel in each of those verses.

And then chapter 2 and verse 22,

chapter 5,

excuse me,

chapter 4,

verse 3,

and verse 15.

We will not be able to wade into the waters of Philippians

without making the gospel abundantly clear.

Otherwise,

the letter would make no sense.

As we strive together to work out all of those applications,

we're going to have to,

again and again and again,

make the gospel abundantly clear.

It will be foundational to our understanding of Philippians

to know that apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ,

we are enemies of God and deserve his just punishment.

But by grace alone,

through faith alone,

in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone,

we can be granted the salvation of our souls.

So Philippians is a gospel-oriented book.

Third,

Philippians is a doctrinally rich book.

We discover in Philippians great theological truths, right?

In its few verses,

it is just packed full.

Let me give you two quick examples.

We see the incarnation of Christ

for the purpose of propitiation.

Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2:6

verse 6 and following.

Who,

though he was in the form of God,

did not account equality with God,

a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself

by taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

It is going to be a joy

to unpack these verses together.

We also see the exaltation of Christ

to the right hand of God.

There in Philippians 2,

Philippians 2:9

verse 9 and following.

Therefore,

God has highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

that is above every name.

So that the name of Jesus,

every knee should bow in heaven

and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father.

We're going to have such opportunity

to discover and explore

many other grand theological truths

as we study Philippians together.

Fourth,

Philippians is a prayer-producing book.

If we learn from the example of Paul,

our prayer lives will be deepened

as we study Philippians.

Paul expresses heartfelt prayer

for the Philippian believers

in chapter 1, verses 3 through 11.

Just a sampling of that,

beginning in verse 3.

I thank my God

in all my remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine for you,

all making my prayer with joy

because of your partnership in the gospel

from the first day until now.

And he encourages the Philippians to pray

if they are to avoid anxiety

and experience peace.

Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 and 7.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything,

by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus.

Paul, rightly,

is going to be encouraging us

to pray

as we study the book of Philippians.

Fifth,

Philippians is a holiness-growing book.

This letter has much to say

about how we are to live

the Christian life.

It speaks to the part

that we play in our growth in holiness,

and it reminds us

of the part that God plays,

the prominent part that God plays.

Just as an example,

Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

beginning verse 12,

Therefore, my beloved,

as you have always obeyed,

so now,

not only as in my presence,

but much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

For it is God who works in you,

both to will and to work

for his good pleasure.

Sixth,

Philippians is an eternity-gazing book.

book.

Christians need to think more

on eternity.

We think far too much

about the present state of things.

We need to think much more

about the eternal state of things.

We need to have our minds drawn

to the world to come

to give us hope

for today.

Again,

Philippians chapter 3,

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

here's verse 20 and 21.

Paul says,

But our citizenship

is in heaven,

and from it we await

a Savior,

the Lord Jesus Christ,

who will transform

our lowly body

to be like

his glorious body

by the power

that enables him

even

to subject

all things

to himself.

That ought to just

birth hope in you

thinking about it.

And lastly,

Philippians

is a joy-producing

book.

We see the theme

of joy

repeated in this work

more than any other,

and we live in a moment

where many Christians

are learning,

many for the very first time,

what it means

to fight

for joy.

Joy has just come

easy and natural

as we've lived

a life of ease,

but many Christians

now are finding

their world

upset

and rocked

for all sorts

of reasons

and are having

to learn what it means.

How is it that we have

an abiding joy

that's rooted in

an unchangeable

Christ?

This will be good

and instructive

for us.

And you see this theme

over and over again.

Chapter 1

and verse 4,

verse 18,

verse 25,

chapter 2 and verse 2,

verses 17 and 18,

28 and 29,

chapter 3 and verse 1

and chapter 4

and verse 10.

We see this idea

of joy and rejoicing

over and over

and over.

One example

to read out loud to you,

Philippians chapter 4

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

and verse 4.

Paul exhorts

them

and us

to rejoice

in the Lord

always.

Again,

I will say

rejoice.

Not based on

your circumstances,

right?

Not rejoice in the Lord

when it's easy

to rejoice,

but rejoice

in the Lord

always.

Again,

I will say

rejoice.

So,

I hope

that sets up

a framework for you,

a platform

for you to go,

man,

this is going

to be good.

I hope you're eager,

expectant,

looking forward to

our time together

in this

short letter.

So,

I'm going to read it now.

I'm going to read

the letter

as I guess

I would imagine.

Of course,

it would have been

read in Greek,

not in English,

but as it would have

been opened

to a church,

right?

It would have been

received.

And if you could

just imagine

for a moment

what that would

have been like,

right?

The Apostle Paul,

right?

The man who came

and preached the gospel

in this city

and started this church

is now,

many years later,

writing back

to this church,

this church that's been

in partnership

with him financially

in his mission efforts.

in the world

and he writes to them

a letter.

One of their elders

announces to them

that they've received

this letter

and opens it up

and reads it.

Before I read it,

I want to remind you,

beloved,

that this is God's word

to us,

written for his glory

and our good.

We would all do well

to listen to it

in order to believe

its promises

and obey

its commands.

So,

chapter 1,

beginning in verse 1.

Paul and Timothy,

servants,

of Christ Jesus,

to all the saints

in Christ Jesus

who are at Philippi

with the overseers

and deacons,

grace to you

and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God

in all my remembrance

of you,

always in every prayer

of mine for you,

all making my prayer

with joy

because of your partnership

in the gospel

from the first day

until now.

And I am sure of this,

that he who began

a good work in you

will bring it to completion

at the day

of Jesus Christ.

It is right for me

to feel this way

about you all

because I told you

in my heart

for you are all

partakers with me

of grace.

I hold you in my heart

because you are all

partakers with me

of grace

both in my imprisonment

and in the defense

and confirmation

of the gospel.

For God is my witness

how I yearn for you all

with the affection

of Christ Jesus.

And it is my prayer

that your love

may abound more

and more

with knowledge

and all discernment

so that you may approve

what is excellent

and so be pure

and brainless

for the day

of Christ.

filled with the fruit

of righteousness

that comes

through Jesus Christ

to the glory

and praise of God.

I want you to know

brothers that what

has happened to me

has really served

to advance the gospel

so that it has become

known throughout

the whole imperial guard

and to all the rest

that my imprisonment

is for Christ.

And most of the brothers

having become confident

in the Lord

by my imprisonment

are much more bold

to speak the word

without fear.

Some indeed

preach Christ

from envy

and rivalry

but others

from good will.

the latter do it

out of love

knowing that I am

put here

for the defense

of the gospel.

The former

proclaim Christ

out of selfish ambition

not sincerely

but thinking

to afflict me

in my imprisonment.

What then?

Only that in every way

whether in pretense

or in truth

Christ is proclaimed

and in that

I rejoice.

Yes

and I will rejoice

for I know

that through your prayers

and the help

of the spirit

of Jesus Christ

this will turn out

for my deliverance

as it is my eager

expectation and hope

that I will not be

at all ashamed

but that will

with full courage

now as always

Christ will be honored

in my body

whether by life

or by death.

For to me

to live is Christ

and to die is gain.

If I am to live

in the flesh

that means fruitful labor

for me

yet which shall I choose

I cannot tell.

I am hard pressed

between the two.

My desire is to depart

and be with Christ

for that is far better.

But to remain

in the flesh

is more necessary

on your account.

Convinced of this

I know that I will remain

and continue with you all

for your progress

and joy in the faith

so that in me

you may have ample cause

to glory in Christ Jesus

because of my coming

to you again.

Only let your manner

of life be worthy

of the gospel of Christ

so that whether I come

and see you

or am absent

I may hear of you

that you are standing

firm in one spirit

with one mind

striving side by side

for the faith

of the gospel

and not frightened

in anything

by your opponents.

This is a clear sign

to them of their destruction

but of your salvation

and that from God.

For it has been granted

to you that for the sake

of Christ

you should not only

believe in him

but also suffer

for his sake.

Engage in the same conflict

that you saw I had

and now hear

that I still have.

So if there is any

encouragement in Christ

any comfort from love

any participation

in the spirit

any affection

and sympathy

complete my joy

by being of the same mind

having the same love

being in full accord

and of one mind.

Do nothing from

selfish ambition

or conceit

but in humility

count others

more significant

than yourselves.

Let each of you

look not only

to his own interest

but also to the

interests of others.

Have this mind

among yourself

which is yours

in Christ Jesus

who though he was

in the form of God

did not account

equality with God

a thing to be grasped

but emptied himself

by taking the form

of a servant

being born

in the likeness

of men

and being found

in human form

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient

to the point of death

even death

on a cross.

Therefore God

has highly exalted him

and bestowed on him

the name that is above

every name

so the name of Jesus

every knee should bow

in heaven and on earth

and under the earth

and every tongue

confess that Jesus Christ

is Lord

to the glory of God

the Father.

Therefore my beloved

as you have always obeyed

so now not only

in my presence

but much more

in my absence

work out your own salvation

with fear

and trembling

for it is God

who works in you

both to will

and to work

for his good pleasure.

Do all things

without grumbling

or disputing

that you may be

blameless and innocent

children of God

without blemish

in the midst

of a crooked

and twisted generation

among whom you shine

as lights in the world

holding fast

to the word of life

so that in a day

of Christ

I may be proud

that I did not run

in vain

or labor in vain

even if I am

to be poured out

as a drink offering

upon the sacrificial

offering of your faith

I am glad

and rejoice

with you all

likewise

you also

should be glad

and rejoice

with me

I hope in the Lord Jesus

to send Timothy

to you soon

so that I too

may be cheered

by news of you

for I have no one

like him

who will be genuinely

concerned for your welfare

for they all seek

their own interests

not those

of Jesus Christ

but you know

Timothy's proven worth

how as a son

with a father

he has served me

in the gospel

I hope therefore

to send him

just as soon

as I see

how it will go

with me

and I trust

in the Lord

that shortly

I myself

will come also

I have thought

it necessary

to send to you

Epaphroditus

my brother

and fellow worker

and fellow soldier

and your messenger

and minister

to my need

for he has been

longing for you all

and has been distressed

because you heard

that he was ill

indeed he was ill

near to death

but God had mercy

on him

and not only

on him

but on me also

lest I should

have sorrow

upon sorrow

I am the more

eager to send him

therefore

that you may rejoice

at seeing him again

and that I may be

less anxious

so receive him

the Lord

with all joy

and honor such men

for he nearly died

for the work of Christ

risking his life

to complete

what was lacking

in your service

to me

finally my brothers

rejoice in the Lord

to write the same thing

to you

as no trouble to me

and it is safe for you

look out for the dogs

look out for the evildoers

look out for those

who mutilate the flesh

for we are the circumcision

who worship by the spirit of God

and glory in Christ Jesus

and put no confidence

in the flesh

though I myself

have reason for confidence

in the flesh also

if anyone else thinks

he has reason for confidence

in the flesh

I have more

circumcised on the eighth day

of the people of Israel

of the tribe of Benjamin

a Hebrew of Hebrews

as to the law

a Pharisee

as to zeal

a persecutor of the church

as to righteousness

under the law

blameless

but whatever gain I had

I counted as loss

for the sake of Christ

indeed I count everything

as loss

because of the surpassing worth

of knowing Christ Jesus

my Lord

for his sake

I have suffered the loss

of all things

and count them as rubbish

in order that I may gain Christ

and be found in him

not having a righteousness

of my own

that comes from the law

but that which comes

through faith in Christ

the righteousness from God

that depends on faith

that I may know him

and the power of his resurrection

and may share his sufferings

becoming like him

in his death

that by any means possible

I may attain

the resurrection

from the dead

not that I have already

obtained this

or am already perfect

but I press on

to make it my own

because Christ Jesus

had made me his own

brothers

I do not consider

that I have made it my own

but one thing I do

forgetting what lies behind

and straining forward

to what lies ahead

I press on toward the goal

for the prize

of the upward call of God

in Christ Jesus

let those of us

who are mature

think this way

and if anything

you think otherwise

God will reveal that

also to you

only let us hold true

to what we have attained

brothers

join in imitating me

and keep your eyes

on those who walk

according to the example

you have in us

for many of whom

I have often told you

and now tell you

even with tears

walk as enemies

of the cross of Christ

their end is destruction

their God is their belly

and they glory

in their shame

with minds set

on earthly things

but our citizenship

is in heaven

and from it

we await a savior

the Lord Jesus Christ

who will transform

our lowly body

to be like his glorious body

by the power

that enables him

even to subject

all things

to himself

therefore my brothers

whom I love

and long for

my joy and crowned

stand firm thus

in the Lord

my beloved

I entreat

Yodia

and I entreat

Cintiq

to agree in the Lord

yes I also ask you

true companion

help these women

who have labored

side by side

with me

in the gospel

together with

the Clement

and the rest

of my fellow workers

whose names

are in the book

of life

rejoice in the Lord

always

again I will say

rejoice

let your reasonableness

be known to everyone

the Lord

is at hand

do not be anxious

about anything

but in everything

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your request

be made known

to God

and the peace

of God

which surpasses

all understanding

will guard your hearts

and your minds

in Christ Jesus

finally brothers

whatever is true

whatever is honorable

whatever is just

whatever is pure

whatever is lovely

whatever is commendable

there is any

sorry

if there is any

excellence

if there is anything

worthy of praise

think about these things

what you have learned

and received

and heard

and seen in me

practice these things

and the God of peace

will be with you

I rejoice

the Lord greatly

that now at length

you have revived

your concern for me

you were indeed

concerned for me

but you had no opportunity

not that I am speaking

of being in need

for I have learned

in whatever situation

I am

to be content

I know how to be brought low

and I know how to abound

in any and every circumstance

I have learned

the secret

of facing plenty

and hunger

abundance

and need

I can do all things

through him

who strengthens me

that it was kind of you

to share my trouble

and you Philippians

yourselves know

that in the beginning

of the gospel

when I left Macedonia

no church entered

an apartage with me

in giving and receiving

except you only

even at Thessalonica

you sent me help

for my needs

once and again

not that I seek

the gift

but I seek the fruit

that increases

to your credit

I have received

full payment

and more

I am well supplied

having received

from Epaphroditus

the gifts you sent

a fragrant offering

a sacrifice

acceptable and pleasing

to God

and my God

will supply

every need of yours

according to his riches

in glory

in Christ Jesus

to our God and Father

be glory

forever and ever

amen

greet every saint

in Christ Jesus

the brothers who are with me

greet you

all the saints greet you

especially those

of Caesar's household

the grace of the Lord

Jesus Christ

be with your spirit

and then I imagine

that the Philippian believers

spent much more

than 15 weeks

trying to understand

everything that Paul

was trying to say

to them

in that time

so that's the work

that we'll be about

and we're going to begin

this morning

with the first

two verses

and I hope that we're

setting us up

for the rest of our study

to be fruitful

so verse

one

and two

in order to look

briefly at these

two verses

I want to draw

your attention

to two

titles

first

Paul refers

to himself

and his compatriot

Timothy

as servants

of Christ Jesus

some of your

translations

may say

bond servants

which I applaud

this is a wonderful

way to translate

that Greek word

the Greek word

doulos

this signified

a person

who was owned

by someone else

and was entirely

dependent

on their owner

for their livelihood

a doulos

was different

than someone

who served

as a servant

in a household

who would have

a household

of their own

who would come

and do work

and then go

home to their home

not a particular

task that they

accomplished

a doulos

a bond servant

had no ownership

of their own

they were entirely

owned

by their master

and anything

that they got

for their own

livelihood

came from

their master

in many of Paul's

other writing

he will remind

his readers

of his

apostolic standing

he starts out

as declaring

that he is

an apostle

but he sees

no need

to do so

here

the Philippian

believers do not

seem to need

a reminder

of Paul's

leadership status

amongst the church

but he does

see fit

to remind them

of his

subservient

status

to the Lord

Jesus Christ

he is reminding

them that the

Christian goes

and does

and says

what he is

commanded

by God

and that every

ounce of our

being is derived

from him

he introduces

Timothy in the

same way as he

is commending

Timothy to them

he is hoping

to send

Timothy

to them

we see that

in chapter 2

in verse 19

it is contextually

important to note

at the outset

of our study

of this letter

that it was

written

from a Roman

prison

this is mentioned

there in

chapter 1

it was most likely

delivered in the

early 60s

somewhere around

62

Paul's bond

service to

Christ Jesus

found him

jailed

and

we will make

mention of this

often as we

explore the

themes

of this book

remember the

prominent theme

of joy

Paul does not

find himself

in a condition

that any of us

would wish

on ourselves

and yet

this prominent

theme emerges

again and

again and

again

beloved

Jesus has not

asked for us

to be admirers

he has asked

for us to be

followers

I wonder how

many of us

are as keenly

aware as we

should be

of the

reality

that we

are in

Christ

and that we

belong to

him and we

depend on

him entirely

for our

livelihood

I wonder

how our

lives

how the

culture of

our church

and how

our broader

community

might look

different

if we also

consider ourselves

bond servants

of Christ

Jesus

doing everything

at the will

of his

command

recognizing

that we

receive

everything

by his

good pleasure

so this is the

first title I

wanted us to

note this

morning

second

Paul addresses

the letter

to all the

saints

in Christ

Jesus

who are

at Philippi

with the

overseers

and the

deacons

notice first

that while

Paul

recognizes

that the

church at

Philippi

was properly

ordered

with the

biblical

offices

of

overseers

or elders

and deacons

he's commending

that

good for the

church at

Philippi

they had

both

overseers

and

deacons

he's being

very careful

to address

this letter

to all

the saints

in Christ

Jesus

who are

at Philippi

he's being

very inclusive

and we do

well to

understand

that this

was a

letter

written by

a man

to a

group

of people

these were

real people

they existed

in time

and in

space

right

and this

letter had

a purpose

right

Paul had

something in

his mind

that he's

trying to

communicate

to these

people

as he

wrote it

but also

this letter

was inspired

by the

spirit of

Christ

and therefore

is also

addressed

to us

and to

all who

have believed

or who

will ever

believe

in

Christ

but to

get the

mind

of

Paul

we have

to

remember

that

he's

a

real

person

writing

a

real

letter

to

a

real

group

of

people

and then

we get

to

receive

the

wonderful

benefit

of

this

letter

written

between

these

saints

right

he's

thinking

of

all

the

saints

in

Christ

Jesus

who

are

at

Philippi

but

the

spirit

as

he

inspires

the

text

has

us

in

mind

has

you

in

mind

has

me

in

mind

as

we

sit

under

this

word

that's

why

on

Sunday

mornings

before

I read

the text

for the

morning

I

remind

you

beloved

this

is

God's

word

to

us

it

has

bearing

and

meaning

for

us

today

right

while

it

has

its

context

its

historical

context

it

means

something

for

us

today

and

it

was

written

for

his

glory

and

our

good

and

because

of

that

right

we

would

do

well

to

listen

to

it

to

believe

its

promises

and

to

obey

its

commands

now

Paul

gives

these

people

and

us

a

very

specific

title

what

does

he

call

them

saints

he

calls

them

saints

this

title

refers

to

someone

who

is

set

apart

for

God

and

not

the

way

the

Catholics

treat

that

special

sainthood

Paul

saying

all

Christians

anyone

who

is

found

in

Christ

is

a

saint

has

been

set

apart

for

God

the

Greek

word

is

which

is

often

translated

holy

so

when

we

see

the

word

saints

we

can

also

read

holy

ones

people

set

apart

for

God

Paul

is

referring

to

their

status

in

Christ

Jesus

when

God

saves

us

he

changes

us

fundamentally

we

become

different

we're

not

changed

in

degree

you

don't

become

a

little

bit

better

you

are

changed

in

kind

you

are

regenerate

you

are

made

new

and

then

because

we

are

changed

in

kind

we

can

be

changed

in

degree

to

be

more

like

God

who

has

declared

we

are

we

are

changed

in

kind

fundamentally

we

are

now

given

the

title

saint

we're

not

becoming

saints

we

are

saints

we're

very

often

not

saintly

we

do

still

sin

but

we

are

saints

that

is

why

Paul

has

the

moxie

to say

in

chapter

1

in

verse

6

I

am

sure

of

this

that

he

who

began

a

good

work

in

you

will

bring

it

to

completion

at

the

day

of

Christ

saying

you

you

saints

because

God

made

you

saints

he's

going

to

work

that

out

he's

going

to

bring

that

to

completion

your

sanctification

at the

day

of

Christ

not

by

any

plan

it

was

wonderful

that

this

morning's

new

city

catechism

question

was about

justification

and

sanctification

right

justification

declares

us

righteous

before

God

sanctification

is the

gradual

outworking

of us

becoming

more

like

Christ

significantly

Paul

says of

these

people

and us

that

we

are

saints

but

saints

in

Christ

Jesus

we

cannot

be

saints

apart

from

Christ

Jesus

we

cannot

be

set

apart

for

God

without

the

saving

work

of

Christ

Jesus

on

our

behalf

that's

why

Peter

declares

in

Acts

Acts 4 · chapter mention

chapter

4

and

verse

12

there

is

salvation

in

no

one

else

for

there

is

no

other

name

under

heaven

given

among

men

by

which

we

must

be

saved

Paul's

doing

something

very

significant

when he

calls

them

saints

in

Christ

Jesus

there's

no

other

way

to

be

set

apart

for

God

than

in

Christ

so

we

can only

be

set

apart

for

God

with

Christ

but

Paul

doesn't

say

saints

with

Christ

he

says

saints

in

Christ

Jesus

Paul

uses

this

phrase

in

Christ

Jesus

or

some

variation

of it

like

in

Christ

or

in

the

Lord

124

times

in

his

writing

that's

a lot

you're

going to

see

this

you start

to

pay

attention

in

your

New

Testament

reading

these

types

of

phrase

in

Jesus

Christ

in

Christ

Jesus

in

Christ

or

in

the

Lord