DAVID FRAMPTON
Philippians 1:8-11
1.The goal of this study: to learn to pray more biblically. Christians should pray for themselves and others an increased supply of grace so that "their eyes may perceive more clearly the inestimable value of divine things and have their hearts set upon them more constantly, in order that the fruits of righteousness may abound in their lives." [Pink, p. 200]
2.Outline of this prayer:
[1] Its spring. 1:8
[2] Its petition. 1:9
[3] Its reason. 1:10-11
3.Its spring. What motivated Paul to pray for the Philippians as he did? The affection of Christ Jesus which was working in his soul. By this he probably means that he longed for them with the same kind of desire that Christ did. Paul was displaying the reality of 2 Pt 1:4. His participation in God s characteristics was shown by this longing.
4.How does this passage demonstrate the change that had occurred in the heart of Paul? Compare Ac 8:3; 9:1. Let us consider what God s grace is able to accomplish even in the most hardened of sinners. Where God exercises his grace, there is hope!
5.Notice also the universality of his affections: "for all of you." We are to love all our brothers and sisters in the Lord. This can be a truly challenging experience at times. Cross-country skiing in the Adirondacks for many miles seems to be an easy task in comparison.
To live in love with saints in love
That will indeed be glory;
But to live below with some saints I know,
Well, that s a different story.
6.Paul does not question the fact that the Philippians had love, but he does perceive the need for its increase, especially an increase in love that at the same time conforms to God s truth. Later verses in the letter point to this need among those people. 1:27; 2:2-3; 4:2-3
Point: True Christians have problems with loving as God would have us to love. It is our duty to pray about this as we observe the need arise. As we pray we need spiritual wisdom to discern where the people involved need to make spiritual progress.
7.Paul wants them to have a love that overflows. The standard for love is to have the kind of love that cannot be contained. "A spring flows naturally and spontaneously, and not by the mechanical efforts of men. Such is the divine love in the soul: it operates freely and not by constraint, it works readily, and requires no urging from without. Where Christ is known to the soul, the heart cannot help being drawn out unto Him and delighting in Him." [Pink, p. 202] cf. Jn 6:44-45; 1 Th 4:9. Love for Christ is fueled by our knowledge of the love of Christ for us. Lk 7:36ff.
8.The kind of love that Paul prays for is a love abounding in knowledge and insight. Both are essential to Biblical love. Why is knowledge necessary to love? It is essential because the emotion of love can be misdirected to perform horrible evils, if it is not controlled by the truth.
[1] It can lead to worship of a false god. 1 Ki 18:25-29
[2] It can lead to false worship of the true God. Rm 10:2; Jn 16:2
[3] It can lead to sexual immorality. 2 Sm 13:1
Point: Love fulfills the law, but love does not determine the content of the law. The holy God alone determines what is right and what is wrong. Rm 13:8-10
9."The world says that love is blind, but the love of a Christian should be enlightened, well instructed, and directed in all its exercise, effects, and manifestations by the Scriptures." [Pink, p. 203] 2 Jn 1:1,5-6.
Example: The apostles love and zeal were misdirected. Lk 9:54,55. Love must be instructed if it is to be placed on legitimate objects and restrained from nonpermissible ones, if it is to be rightly exercised on all occasions." [Pink] Importance - S.S. 8:6-7.
10.Along with knowledge as an important factor in love, we also need "depth of insight" ( ). This word means "moral discrimination" [TDNT, p. 29] or "discernment" [DNTT, 2.391]. it is the quality which is necessary to distinguish between good and evil and to judge accordingly; "it is the employment of the faculty which makes a person able to make a moral decision." [Martin] cf. Heb 5:14.
11."Many are wise in the general principle and in the letter of the Word, but err grievously in the applying of those principles in detail. There is a vast variety of circumstances in our lives. These call for much prudence in dealing with them aright." [Pink]
Apply: A person can know a great deal of the Scriptures, and yet be spiritually immature. The truth hasn t controlled his mind in such a way that what he practices is commensurate to what he knows. While knowledge of the truth is essential to spiritual maturity, it is not equivalent with spiritual maturity.
12."The things of God are first cognized and apprehended by faith, and then by experience - by personal contact and more intimate acquaintance with them. By God s effectual working in them that believe (1 Thess. 2:13), the saints find that what the Word affirms of them is true. This experimental knowledge of the Lord is spoken of as a testing of Him. (1 Peter 2:3) - which is something even more convincing and satisfying than sight. To taste His goodness, to feel His power, to experience His tender compassion, is to have real proof within ourselves… As we become proficient scholars by our studies at school, so we become proficient believers by experimental knowledge - gained by exercising the faculties of our souls." [Pink]
Point: Paul not only wants their love to be controlled by knowledge, but also by a spiritual discernment that makes the right moral choices. He wants them to have a love which knows what is right and chooses to do what is right.
13."These two Christian qualities were necessary in a community where a tendency to disunity and fault-finding was present… and needed to be put right. So Paul makes this his earnest prayer before proceeding to admonition and correction. Christians, it seems, are slow to learn this valuable lesson: the most effective way to influence another is to pray for him, and if a word of rebuke or correction has to be spoken let it be prayed over first, and then spoken in love." [Martin]
14.Now we come to the third part of this prayer. Paul discloses his reasons for the request he has made. If their love greatly abounds in knowledge and depth of insight, two results will occur.
15.First, they will be able to discern what is best. When they put things to the test, they will know what really matters. "The fulfillment of the apostle s prayer will be that his friends will have the ability to discern, and then to practice in their Christian living, the really important issues in their corporate life as a believing Christian community… Such things would certainly include a closer harmony and cultivation of a brotherly spirit, replacing bickering and dissension." [Martin]
Point: As each one in a particular gathering of believers focuses on what is best, there will be a desire to unite to achieve the common goal. cf. 1:27c.
Apply: What are some of the best things a Christian should desire? Christ (1 Pt 2:7); the people of God (Ps 16:3); and the Scriptures (Ps 119:72).
16.Second, if such love is operating in them, they will "be pure and blameless until the day of Christ." Whether we translate the Greek as "pure" or "sincere," the idea is the same: to have unmixed spiritual motives. "Sincerity is the opposite of counterfeit and dishonesty, of pretense and imposture. To be sincere is to be genuine, to be in reality what we are in appearance - frank, true, unfeigned, conscientious. It is one of the characteristic marks which distinguish the regenerate from empty professors." [Pink] To be sincere or pure is to strive to please God the Father, and not to attempt to mix pleasing of self and sin with pleasing God.
17.How this purity comes from the request that Paul has made:
[1] As God is the object of our love, so our desire will be to please him.
[2] As we know more of God s majesty, we will want to be more holy before his holy majesty.
[3] As we experience the difference between good and evil in our discernment, we will prize the good more and more. Ps 119:97
18.Not only will there be purity of motive, but also blamelessness before men. Note: blameless is not the same as sinless. See Js 3:2; 1 Jn 1:8. What then does it mean to be blameless?
[1] To avoid carefully those ways that might induce sin in other saints. 1 Cor 8:13; 10:32
[2] To abstain from any action that is contrary to Biblical doctrine already known. Gal 2:11-16
[3] To live as to keep a clear conscience before God and men. Ac 24:16
19.The day of Christ is Christ s coming in glory. Ac 17:31; 2 Th 1:7-10
20.The final result is that they will be "filled with the fruit of righteousness." In this case, the righteousness is not that of justification, for that is secure and constant in Christ our righteousness, but it is the righteousness of sanctification - the growth of the saint into greater conformity with Christ. We should note that abounding love that is controlled by knowledge and insight leads to this result. This "fruit of righteousness" is conformity with the law of Christ (as declared by Christ and his apostles).
21.God s desire is that we may be filled with such fruit. Jn 15:8; Mt 5:16. Three aspects of being filled:
[1] The whole life is productive, not just certain areas.
[2] All sorts of good works are produced. Col 1:10; Eph 5:9; 2 Pt 1:5-7
[3] Consistency of production, not working "overtime" one week or month and then standing idle the next.
22.These fruits are produced only through our union and communion with Christ. Jn 15:4-5; Rm 7:4-6
23.The great goal is the glory and praise of God: that our lives are a demonstration of his greatness, which leads others to honor him. The purpose of the Christian life is not personal pleasure but the glory of God.
Illus.: "Chariots of Fire" - "When I run, I feel his pleasure."
24.Why is this phrase, "to the glory and praise of God," important?
[1] It speaks of a purpose, of a meaning to what exists.
[2] It shows people as significant contributors to this purpose.
[3] It supplies us with an understanding of what our goal in life ought to be. There is more to life than being happy and having all our difficulties removed.
Point: We ought to remember this purpose in our prayers.
1.The goal of this study: to learn to pray more biblically. Christians should pray for themselves and others an increased supply of grace so that "their eyes may perceive more clearly the inestimable value of divine things and have their hearts set upon them more constantly, in order that the fruits of righteousness may abound in their lives." [Pink, p. 200]
2.Outline of this prayer:
[1] Its spring. 1:8
[2] Its petition. 1:9
[3] Its reason. 1:10-11
3.Its spring. What motivated Paul to pray for the Philippians as he did? The affection of Christ Jesus which was working in his soul. By this he probably means that he longed for them with the same kind of desire that Christ did. Paul was displaying the reality of 2 Pt 1:4. His participation in God s characteristics was shown by this longing.
4.How does this passage demonstrate the change that had occurred in the heart of Paul? Compare Ac 8:3; 9:1. Let us consider what God s grace is able to accomplish even in the most hardened of sinners. Where God exercises his grace, there is hope!
5.Notice also the universality of his affections: "for all of you." We are to love all our brothers and sisters in the Lord. This can be a truly challenging experience at times. Cross-country skiing in the Adirondacks for many miles seems to be an easy task in comparison.
To live in love with saints in love
That will indeed be glory;
But to live below with some saints I know,
Well, that s a different story.
6.Paul does not question the fact that the Philippians had love, but he does perceive the need for its increase, especially an increase in love that at the same time conforms to God s truth. Later verses in the letter point to this need among those people. 1:27; 2:2-3; 4:2-3
Point: True Christians have problems with loving as God would have us to love. It is our duty to pray about this as we observe the need arise. As we pray we need spiritual wisdom to discern where the people involved need to make spiritual progress.
7.Paul wants them to have a love that overflows. The standard for love is to have the kind of love that cannot be contained. "A spring flows naturally and spontaneously, and not by the mechanical efforts of men. Such is the divine love in the soul: it operates freely and not by constraint, it works readily, and requires no urging from without. Where Christ is known to the soul, the heart cannot help being drawn out unto Him and delighting in Him." [Pink, p. 202] cf. Jn 6:44-45; 1 Th 4:9. Love for Christ is fueled by our knowledge of the love of Christ for us. Lk 7:36ff.
8.The kind of love that Paul prays for is a love abounding in knowledge and insight. Both are essential to Biblical love. Why is knowledge necessary to love? It is essential because the emotion of love can be misdirected to perform horrible evils, if it is not controlled by the truth.
[1] It can lead to worship of a false god. 1 Ki 18:25-29
[2] It can lead to false worship of the true God. Rm 10:2; Jn 16:2
[3] It can lead to sexual immorality. 2 Sm 13:1
Point: Love fulfills the law, but love does not determine the content of the law. The holy God alone determines what is right and what is wrong. Rm 13:8-10
9."The world says that love is blind, but the love of a Christian should be enlightened, well instructed, and directed in all its exercise, effects, and manifestations by the Scriptures." [Pink, p. 203] 2 Jn 1:1,5-6.
Example: The apostles love and zeal were misdirected. Lk 9:54,55. Love must be instructed if it is to be placed on legitimate objects and restrained from nonpermissible ones, if it is to be rightly exercised on all occasions." [Pink] Importance - S.S. 8:6-7.
10.Along with knowledge as an important factor in love, we also need "depth of insight" ( ). This word means "moral discrimination" [TDNT, p. 29] or "discernment" [DNTT, 2.391]. it is the quality which is necessary to distinguish between good and evil and to judge accordingly; "it is the employment of the faculty which makes a person able to make a moral decision." [Martin] cf. Heb 5:14.
11."Many are wise in the general principle and in the letter of the Word, but err grievously in the applying of those principles in detail. There is a vast variety of circumstances in our lives. These call for much prudence in dealing with them aright." [Pink]
Apply: A person can know a great deal of the Scriptures, and yet be spiritually immature. The truth hasn t controlled his mind in such a way that what he practices is commensurate to what he knows. While knowledge of the truth is essential to spiritual maturity, it is not equivalent with spiritual maturity.
12."The things of God are first cognized and apprehended by faith, and then by experience - by personal contact and more intimate acquaintance with them. By God s effectual working in them that believe (1 Thess. 2:13), the saints find that what the Word affirms of them is true. This experimental knowledge of the Lord is spoken of as a testing of Him. (1 Peter 2:3) - which is something even more convincing and satisfying than sight. To taste His goodness, to feel His power, to experience His tender compassion, is to have real proof within ourselves… As we become proficient scholars by our studies at school, so we become proficient believers by experimental knowledge - gained by exercising the faculties of our souls." [Pink]
Point: Paul not only wants their love to be controlled by knowledge, but also by a spiritual discernment that makes the right moral choices. He wants them to have a love which knows what is right and chooses to do what is right.
13."These two Christian qualities were necessary in a community where a tendency to disunity and fault-finding was present… and needed to be put right. So Paul makes this his earnest prayer before proceeding to admonition and correction. Christians, it seems, are slow to learn this valuable lesson: the most effective way to influence another is to pray for him, and if a word of rebuke or correction has to be spoken let it be prayed over first, and then spoken in love." [Martin]
14.Now we come to the third part of this prayer. Paul discloses his reasons for the request he has made. If their love greatly abounds in knowledge and depth of insight, two results will occur.
15.First, they will be able to discern what is best. When they put things to the test, they will know what really matters. "The fulfillment of the apostle s prayer will be that his friends will have the ability to discern, and then to practice in their Christian living, the really important issues in their corporate life as a believing Christian community… Such things would certainly include a closer harmony and cultivation of a brotherly spirit, replacing bickering and dissension." [Martin]
Point: As each one in a particular gathering of believers focuses on what is best, there will be a desire to unite to achieve the common goal. cf. 1:27c.
Apply: What are some of the best things a Christian should desire? Christ (1 Pt 2:7); the people of God (Ps 16:3); and the Scriptures (Ps 119:72).
16.Second, if such love is operating in them, they will "be pure and blameless until the day of Christ." Whether we translate the Greek as "pure" or "sincere," the idea is the same: to have unmixed spiritual motives. "Sincerity is the opposite of counterfeit and dishonesty, of pretense and imposture. To be sincere is to be genuine, to be in reality what we are in appearance - frank, true, unfeigned, conscientious. It is one of the characteristic marks which distinguish the regenerate from empty professors." [Pink] To be sincere or pure is to strive to please God the Father, and not to attempt to mix pleasing of self and sin with pleasing God.
17.How this purity comes from the request that Paul has made:
[1] As God is the object of our love, so our desire will be to please him.
[2] As we know more of God s majesty, we will want to be more holy before his holy majesty.
[3] As we experience the difference between good and evil in our discernment, we will prize the good more and more. Ps 119:97
18.Not only will there be purity of motive, but also blamelessness before men. Note: blameless is not the same as sinless. See Js 3:2; 1 Jn 1:8. What then does it mean to be blameless?
[1] To avoid carefully those ways that might induce sin in other saints. 1 Cor 8:13; 10:32
[2] To abstain from any action that is contrary to Biblical doctrine already known. Gal 2:11-16
[3] To live as to keep a clear conscience before God and men. Ac 24:16
19.The day of Christ is Christ s coming in glory. Ac 17:31; 2 Th 1:7-10
20.The final result is that they will be "filled with the fruit of righteousness." In this case, the righteousness is not that of justification, for that is secure and constant in Christ our righteousness, but it is the righteousness of sanctification - the growth of the saint into greater conformity with Christ. We should note that abounding love that is controlled by knowledge and insight leads to this result. This "fruit of righteousness" is conformity with the law of Christ (as declared by Christ and his apostles).
21.God s desire is that we may be filled with such fruit. Jn 15:8; Mt 5:16. Three aspects of being filled:
[1] The whole life is productive, not just certain areas.
[2] All sorts of good works are produced. Col 1:10; Eph 5:9; 2 Pt 1:5-7
[3] Consistency of production, not working "overtime" one week or month and then standing idle the next.
22.These fruits are produced only through our union and communion with Christ. Jn 15:4-5; Rm 7:4-6
23.The great goal is the glory and praise of God: that our lives are a demonstration of his greatness, which leads others to honor him. The purpose of the Christian life is not personal pleasure but the glory of God.
Illus.: "Chariots of Fire" - "When I run, I feel his pleasure."
24.Why is this phrase, "to the glory and praise of God," important?
[1] It speaks of a purpose, of a meaning to what exists.
[2] It shows people as significant contributors to this purpose.
[3] It supplies us with an understanding of what our goal in life ought to be. There is more to life than being happy and having all our difficulties removed.
Point: We ought to remember this purpose in our prayers.