Philippians: Portrait of a Mature Christian
Part 2
17th May 2014
Last week, we started to look at Paul's letter to the Philippians to see what we could learn about Paul as an example of a mature Christian. The week, we'll start with these words:
Philippians 1v18b-19
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to
me will turn out for my deliverance.
In his jail, Paul didn't know if he would be executed or set free. He was determined to rejoice anyway. He relied on other people's prayers and was confident that God would send the Spirit of Jesus Christ - the Holy Spirit - to help him. He said that he knew that this imprisonment would result in his deliverance. The Greek word translated deliverance is soterian which is almost always translated salvation. We usually think of salvation as being saved from our sins and qualified for heaven but it can also mean safety or health or well-being. Paul was really saying, "I know that... what has happened to me is good for me." When you're in one of Nero's prisons, that's faith indeed! But Paul believed that everything that happens to Christians is good for us (see Romans 8:28)
Paul wrote:
Philippians 1v20
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as
always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
As we said, Paul didn't know if he'd be executed or set free. It seems he wasn't too concerned either way. His hope was that whether he lived or died, he would glorify God. And his expectation was that the Holy Spirit would enable him to do so. If he was to live, he would dedicate his remaining days to God's glory. If he was to die, he would endeavour to die faithfully, praying that his martyrdom would serve to inspire Christians to be faithful and bold, and inspire non-Christians to seek God for themselves.
This dedication to God and to God's work is a hallmark of the mature Christian. The mature Christian knows that the only things that matter are (1) God and (2) people, and gives his every breath to help people to find God. That's why Paul could say:
Philippians 1v21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
For most Christians to say that would be preposterous. But Paul, and other mature Christians, can say it genuinely. Mature Christians don't mind dying, because dying takes us to heaven. And Mature Christians don't mind living, because they live for Jesus and the work of getting the Good News about Jesus to as many people as possible, and they know how important that work is. Paul explained:
Philippians 1v22-24
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not
know!
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
And then he wrote:
Philippians 1v25-26
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in
the faith,
so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Paul decided that it would be better for others if he were to continue to live. Despite his preference for dying and going to be with God, he rejoiced that he would remain on earth, because that would benefit the churches for which he was responsible.
The mature Christian wants whatever is best for his brothers and sisters in Christ, even in the matter of his own life and death.