Responding to the Carmen Christi ("An Ode to Joy" A series on Philippians)

RESPONDING TO THE CARMEN CHRISTI

 

I must confess that preaching on the Carmen Christi (The Song of Christ – Philippians 2:5-11) was a high point, a mountain-top experience. The confession aspect is that it is difficult to follow that up with “another sermon.” When you reach a high, everything else seems downhill from there. 

            What’s next? What follows an amazing spiritual experience in your life? This is the problem with revivals – when a people become so filled with the Spirit and the wonders of God, what do you do with it? Do you go back to your normal work-a-day lives? Or do you sell everything and give to the poor? Does God want you to become a missionary or move to the inner city? What happens next? 

            I learned a new word this week – athleisure. It refers to clothing intended for the purpose of working out. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, a woman who likes to buy athletic apparel enjoys wearing yoga pants around town but seldom has time to actually work out. She said, “When you put on your workout apparel, you think, ‘Huh, maybe I should think about working out today.’” Athleisure means wearing clothes designed for workouts for other purposes that don’t involve working out. 

            You have been clothed with a garment of salvation, the demonstration of God’s love on the cross of Christ. What’s next? You work it out! 

            Following the Carmen Christi there is a “therefore” alert. Paul doesn’t end with the exaltation of Christ – he has a “therefore” for us. Paul tells us what’s next.

 

1. A Response That Requires Action (2:12-13)

 

You are familiar with oxymorons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech, usually one or two words, which seem contradictory. Some examples: jumbo shrimp, paper towel, deafening silence, exact estimate, found missing. 

            Paul has given us a sentence that fits the contradictory nature of an oxymoron. He says, “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,”(12-13).

            The problem we see in this statement has to do with our understanding of salvation. It is a free gift from God no one can earn. Now Paul says to work out “your own salvation.” That’s contradictory in itself. Add to that the next thought that as you work it out, God works in you. Why do I have to do anything if God does all the work? Paul’s oxymoron sounds like this: work out your salvation while God works in you. Let’s look at this closer…

            We are to “work out our own salvation.” Each of us needs to wrestle with it on our own to a degree. “Work out” doesn’t mean “earn” or “achieve,” however, it means “do.” Salvation is a gift earned solely by Jesus Christ for us. But there are implications with this gift. If you are in hospital and unable to get out of bed and a brilliant doctor finds the cause and helps to heal you, what do you do? Stay in bed? You get up and walk. If someone gives you a 2026 Corvette, do you keep it in the garage and just revel in possessing a fancy car? No, you drive it. 

            Jesus has saved you. He has saved you from your sins but also saved you to live a new life. The privilege of salvation is to be enjoyed. Walk the new path; don’t just study the map.

            Perhaps that’s why Paul adds “with fear and trembling.” Not that we should live in fear of punishment for walking the new walk incorrectly. No, it means living in the realization that God has given us an unfathomable gift. In the OT when God appeared to people in all his glory, they were filled with “fear and trembling.” It was a natural reaction to encountering the Almighty. 

            And isn’t it encouraging that as we work out our salvation, God is working too? The very desire we have to work out our salvation comes from God – he does that in us. Paul shared this same thought with the Ephesians, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them,” (2:10). 

            So, the Carmen Christi, the gift of God in Christ, requires action. But what action do we take?

 

2. A Response of Gratitude (2:14-16)

 

The first practical thing Paul says is a little odd: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing…” He doesn’t ask for some grand gesture; in fact, it seems rather mundane. Why would Paul not press for a more extravagant response?

            The key is in the words he uses grumbling, blameless, children of God without blemish, crooked and twisted generation. Paul is building his argument using terms that should make us think of the children of Israel in their wilderness experience. But how does that help? 

            Think of the exodus from Egypt. The children of Israel were witnesses to the most amazing miracle of salvation ever seen up until that time: the crossing of the Red Sea. Their backs were up against the proverbial hard place. Egyptian soldiers were bearing down on them, and they had nowhere to go. Then God opens up the Sea for them to walk through.

            Three days later, the children of Israel started grumbling (Ex. 15:22-24) because there was no water to drink. God tells Moses to strike a rock and they get water. Next, they grumble because they are hungry and want to go back to Egypt where they had food (Ex. 16:2). Then God gives them manna and quail. Then they’re thirsty again (Ex. 17:3). 

            The God who opened the Sea for them and saved them surely would provide for them. Right? But no, following a great salvation, the human tendency is to grumble. Moses wrote of them saying, “They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation,” (Deut. 32:5).

            You see what Paul is saying in this “mundane” challenge? Don’t take salvation for granted. Live it out in faith and obedience. This chapter in Philippians began with a call to think of others as better than ourselves, then gives us Christ who emptied himself for others. Then reminds us of the ingratitude of Israel and how it affected the community.

            Grumbling is a secret displeasure in the heart, and a sullen discontent that leads to criticism. CS Lewis said, “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others…but you are still distinct from it. You may even criticize it in yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then there will be no you left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine,” (Mere Christianity). The opposite of grumbling is gratitude…

            Last week I told you about my parking lot issue. My spot had been given away, and I decided to submit. I parked this Monday in a spot further away from the college. But I was unsettled because I may have taken someone else’s spot. I checked my email and wondered where S211 was. So, I asked someone in the office. She didn’t know exactly. Okay, I thought. But then she said there was a general parking area in such and such a zone open to everyone. Why didn’t I park there, she said. I went out and moved my truck to that spot. I am now closer to the college than ever before. I feel blessed. 

            When we shine as lights in a dark world and hold fast to the word of life (working it out; living it), God blesses us in ways we cannot imagine.

 

3. A Response of Joy (2:17-18)

 

It may sound in these next verses that Paul is expecting to be executed. I don’t think that’s what he has in mind when he says he is going to be “poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith.” 

            Paul is talking about giving his all for Jesus by pouring himself into the Philippian believers. A “drink offering” in the OT was something done by a priest; he would pour out a pitcher of wine on the ground or pour it over a meat offering. Paul compares his life to such a sacrifice – he is glad, it brings him joy, to empty his life for the sake of their faith. That word “empty” is nothing less than what Jesus did for us when he left his “glory” and took on being a man. In essence, “I’ll do whatever it takes to help your faith.” He is happy to do this.

            When we think of salvation – forgiveness of sins, the new life, the gift of the Holy Spirit – are we zeroed in on this new direction? Don’t we have a better idea of what life is for? That it’s not about money or pleasure or comfort or entertainment? We are invited to enjoy the gift. As Marc Sims said, “You can use a violin as a tennis racket or to paddle a canoe, but you will never experience the highest joy of a violin until you sit down and play it, until you use it the way it was designed.” 

            Our lives are made for God. Only by walking in the steps of Jesus do we begin to understand what life is for. Your life is not meant to be hoarded but poured out for others. Parents, do you pour out your lives for your children? Husbands and wives, is it your aim to serve each other in your marriages so that your partner experiences the full joy of life in Christ? Young adults, are you living to fulfill a career goal or someone else’s hopes for your life? 

            Our lives are made for God and when we find our joy in him, we find the greater satisfaction.

 

What is our response to the Carmen Christi? 

            Work out your salvation!

            Lehman Strauss says, “God has assumed the responsibility for the inworking, we are responsible for the outworking.” There is no oxymoron in this. This is participation (koinonia) in the life of Christ being lived out in you.

            Work out your salvation with fear and trembling!

            John Ortberg compares it to crossing the ocean. If we set out in a rowboat by ourselves, we’ll never cross that ocean. We don’t have what it takes. But if we just drift, expecting God to blow us across the ocean, that won’t work either.

Neither trying nor drifting are effective in bringing about spiritual transformation. A better image is the sailboat, which if it moves at all, it’s a gift of the wind. We can’t control the wind, but a good sailor discerns where the wind is blowing and adjusts the sails accordingly.

God works, and then we work out what God is working in us.

Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus! Work out your saved life in Jesus!

 

                        AMEN

Have this Mind ("An Ode to Joy" series on Philippians)

HAVE THIS MIND

 

Last week Monday, I went to the college to teach my course as per usual. I spent the morning talking about Jesus and the Holy Spirit with my students and the nature of Scripture. It was a typical Monday morning for me. 

            When my last student left, I walked out to my truck, put my stuff away and got ready to head for lunch. Just as I was about to put the truck in reverse and leave, I noticed a sticky note under my wiper. I got out and discovered a note that read, “Good morning, I think we may have been assigned the same staff parking spot (S217). If so, please let me know and I’ll get it changed. Thanks! Kim Eichorst.” 

            My first reaction: I laughed. When I arrived that morning, there were five empty spots to my left and five empty spots to my right. But my spot was the coveted spot. Now there was a car to my left. I thought, what’s the big deal? 

            The situation started to gnaw at me. I emailed the secretary and explained the humorous predicament and said that I had been parking in that spot for 8 years and never had a problem. Now this. The secretary promptly replied apologizing (but not) and wrote that the SCS has been hiring more teachers, and they needed more parking spots. Period. Then my pride was hurt. I’m just an adjunct professor. I’m a college professor with no pull at my school. I’m not important. I’ve put in my time and have my degrees, but I’m nothing. Cast aside. What would you think? Would you fight for your privileges? Would you press your case?

            I immediately thought of the passage that I was about to preach to you today and thought “Have this mind.” Ugh! Jesus! I was stricken by the words, “who though he was in the form of God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…” I preach about following Jesus, was I prepared to be like him in this situation? 

            If I claim to have my attitude in life shaped by Jesus, this text (2:5-11) illustrates what that looks like.

The Bridge (2:5)

 

Michael unpacked Paul’s challenge to the Philippian believers to live in unity. The appeal of 2:1-4 was to put aside selfish ambition and conceit and to consider others as more important than ourselves. We are to embrace self-sacrificial humility for the sake of the unity of the church. 

            Verse 5 is a bridge or transition between that thought and the example of Christ in the Carmen Christi. When we look at different translations, we see that they interpret the text rather than give it to us directly (see trans.). We are going to go with the ESV that says, “Have this mind…” Think like Jesus, not just in your relationships, but in all situations. 

            To “have this mind” is then underlined heavily in the Carmen Christi – that’s a fancy name for 2:6-11 meaning, “Song of Christ” or “hymn of Christ.” It is probably the most beautiful song/poem ever written about who Christ is and what he did for us. I invite you to worship Jesus as we study this song.

 

1. The Humiliation of Christ (2:6-8)

 

Though he was God – Verse 6 begins a descent, a downward movement that should shock you. “…who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped…” (6). Jesus was in the “form of God.” What does that mean? It could mean that he was exactly God. He was the divine essence, in very nature God himself. He was surrounded by glory; his very appearance was of visible splendor. We are not at this point talking about his inner character or attributes, but about the unapproachable brilliance of his being as God. In the OT, people could not see God directly, but they could see representations of his glory. 

            Now it says that Jesus did not consider this “equality” with God something to be grasped. That is, to be taken advantage of – Jesus did not consider holding onto this position that he already possessed. He was willing to let it go and rather set it aside. You could say, Jesus did not regard equality with God to be an excuse to keep him from saving humankind through suffering. 

He became a servant – The astonishing word Paul uses next is “emptied.” “…but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men…” (7). I like how Marc Sims puts it: Does this mean that when Jesus became a man, He un-God-ed himself? When Jesus became a man, did he cease to be God? No, of course not. It seems that Jesus took off the “form” of God to take on the “form” of man; he emptied himself of the Shekinah glory of God (like a robe) and put on the clothing of a man. Even though Jesus was God, he did not take advantage of being God, we might say. Or, rather than say, “though he was in the form of God,” we should say, “because he was in the form of God.” Christ did not cease to be in the form of God when he emptied himself and took the form of a servant (slave); it was in fact because he was in the form of God that impelled him to take on the form of a slave. Why? Because it is the very essence of God’s character to give himself away. Christ emptying himself is exactly who God is – giving himself away is his true self. 

            So, Jesus becomes a servant, a slave actually. Philippians would know how degrading being a slave would be; how powerless, how taken advantage of. Jesus went from a position of total power, to utter powerlessness; from glory to shame; from the rights of being God, to having no rights at all. Paul is not making this up; Jesus taught this to his disciples (Mark 10:43-45) and demonstrated it (John 13). 

John 13

The Footwashing

 

·      Knowing he had come from God, Jesus rises from the table and lays aside his outer garment.

·      Jesus clothes himself with a towel

·      Jesus performs a menial task reserved for slaves – washing feet

·      When finished, Jesus again takes his outer garments and puts them on

 

·      Jesus resumes his place at the table

 

·      Jesus says, “you call me teacher and Lord and you are right, for so I am.

 

Philippians 2:6-11

Carmen Christi

 

·      From his position of eternal, pre-existent equality with God, Jesus…lays aside the garment of his visible glory 

·      Clothes himself with human nature

·      Jesus takes the form of a slave and serves others

·      After his work on earth is finished, Jesus returns to the visible glory he shared with the Father before time

·      Jesus is exalted by the Father and sits down on his heavenly throne

·      Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (credit: Sam Storms)

He became a man – Jesus didn’t just look like a man; he was a man. “…being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form…” In the OT, the debate is whether the angel of the LORD or the fourth man in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, was the pre-existent Jesus. If it was, those were occasions where Jesus just showed up. When Jesus broke into history in “human form,” he fully and entirely took on human nature to the degree that he was born! Jesus became an infant going through the microscopic stages of being a zygote in his mother’s womb till he was born in the typical contractions and pain of any birth. He was born into poverty and servitude – at the whim of his “betters.” 

He humbled himself to death – Please note this carefully: Jesus humbled himself. No one humbled him; he did it. You and I are often humbled by others when we are cut down to size. Jesus did this himself: “…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross…” (8). 

            To speak of crucifixion is to speak of a slave’s death. He didn’t just die, Jesus died a horrible, torturous death. Crucifixion was designed to be the ultimate insult to injury – the removal of all dignity. It was humiliating and demoralizing. Degradation was the point. A victim was executed publicly at a major crossroads (like Portage and Main), stripped of all clothing, left to be eaten by birds and rats, ridiculed by passersby. Why would Jesus humble himself to be treated so grossly? 

            Remember, Jesus was in the form of God. Being God, he did not take advantage of it. BECAUSE he was God! Jesus did not renounce his being God, he EXPRESSED supremely who God is, ON THE CROSS! 

            These first three stanzas do not lift our eyes up to heaven to see the wonders of creation; they do not even lift up our hearts by showing us wonderful miracles; no, they take us down, down, down, to the deepest, darkest hell-hole in human history to see the horrific torture and unspeakable abuse, and bloody execution of a slave on a cross (Hansen, PNTC). 

 

2. The Exaltation of Christ (2:9-11)

 

“Therefore…” – What is the “therefore” there for? It connects what we just read to what happens next. We read that Christ humbled himself with the causal result that the Father responds by exalting Jesus, his Son. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” And Jesus said, “If you want to be first, you must be last and the servant of all,” (Mk 9:35). 

            The preacher at my friend’s funeral said something profound: when Dennis entered into the presence of Jesus, Jesus gave him a crown. And Dennis took that crown and threw it down at Jesus’ feet. If we pursue honor before humility we get nothing; if we pursue humility like Jesus, we find more than we expected. Much more.

He is given the “Name” – The giving of a name in the Bible marks a new stage in that person’s life. Abram became Abraham when he received the promise of God (Gen 17). Jacob became Israel when God began a new relationship with him (Gen 32). We get a new name when we overcome the world through Jesus (Rev. 2:17). What is Christ’s new name?

            LORD! Jesus came to be known in the early church as Lord. It was revolutionary, even treasonous. Only Roman emperors were called “lord”, and the Philippians knew how dangerous it was to give this honor to anyone else. It was blasphemous to the Jews to call Jesus “Lord” because to them it was the most holy name, a name they dared not utter. But in this song, Jesus is called LORD – Yahweh! 

Every knee will bow – At this name Jesus has been given, “…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.” It is a remarkable thing that this song reflects exactly Isaiah’s prophecy where the God of Israel is alone worthy of the title Lord (Isaiah 45:22-23). 

“Assemble yourselves and come;
    draw near together,
    you survivors of the nations!
They have no knowledge
    who carry about their wooden idols,
and keep on praying to a god
    that cannot save.
21 Declare and present your case;
    let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
    Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
    there is none besides me.

22 “Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ (Isaiah 45:20-23)

Do you see what Paul is saying? How is Jesus worthy of this honor and this glory?

            The startling reality is that this Jesus, our Jesus, humbled himself and was crucified, and God raised him up and gave him this highest of names – a name like no other. He is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory because he said, “Hey, that’s my parking spot!” He reached the highest heavens because he stepped on others and climbed his way to the top! He discovered his purpose in life and said, “Me first. I have to take care of myself before I take care of others.” No – he is exalted to the highest place because he chose to lose everything, to die, to go to the lowest place a human being could go. 

            This goes against everything our world tells you. The way to win is to gather the most, to get on top, look out for number one, love yourself first, and “unfriend” those who hurt you or don’t affirm you. But Jesus shows us a different way – a path of lowliness and service. A path that goes against the flow and honestly seems illogical. In God’s book of life, that’s the path to the highest place. 

 

Have this mind…

            My son thinks that I’m weird because I hold the door open for others, or when I let others go first. He thinks I’m too nice to strangers at times. I’m not bragging to you; I’m trying to show him and others that I am working at having this mind – the mind of Christ. 

            “Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus…” Carmen Christi is a restatement of 2:1-4. It is the basis and reason for Paul saying, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” 

            Having this mind, this mind of Christ, gives us peace when we are last, when we are brought low in the esteem of others, when we are forced to be servants – or choose to be – because we know that we are living the V-shaped life. Like Jesus, we can draw the downward stroke of the V and trust God to draw the up stroke. We need to learn to trust God that when we choose the lowest place and serve others, that he will affirm us and lift us up. 

            Have this mind…

            I have to say again, Jesus did not stop being God when he became a human being and took on the lowly servant role. No, in fact he showed us exactly what God is like by bending down and loving us right to the cross.

            If you know Jesus, this all makes sense. We can have this mind because it is already ours in Christ Jesus. He calls us to participate in this downward life for the sake of others. 

            If this Jesus is foreign to you, then I invite you to get to know him. Pray over this Carmen Christi and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the path he walked in the Gospel narratives. He was not a doormat. He was not kicked to the corner. Jesus chose to be a servant and God exalted him.

            Choose to be a servant and trust God to lift you up.

            Have this mind…

 

                                                AMEN

 

Are We Worthy? ("An Ode to Joy" Sermon Series on Philippians)

ARE WE WORTHY?

 

Evaluations are an ongoing part of our shopping experience. You are often asked to rate how the store did in meeting your expectations. I purchased some material from a store recently and received an online survey asking me to rate from 1-10 how likely it is that I would recommend this store to others. And when you buy off of Amazon, you are asked how many stars you would give for the product and its delivery. 

            Imagine then, if we were to rate our church. On a scale of 1-10, how likely is it that you would recommend our church to a friend? How many stars would you give to RFC? 

            That’s uncomfortable. We know we fall short. We know that there is room for growth. We know that there are people who have fallen through the cracks and whom we have not sufficiently embraced in our community. 

            So, the question posed, “Are we worthy of the gospel of Christ?” is unfair. The Bible tells us and preachers have long taught us that we are not worthy of the gospel of Jesus, and we never have been. We cannot earn our salvation, and we cannot live up to the grace that has been shown us in Christ. Why then would Paul instruct the church at Philippi (and us by extension) to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel”? Are we worthy? NO! All our good deeds are like filthy rags according to the prophet.

            Let’s not misunderstand what Paul is proposing. He knows we cannot live up to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is not suggesting we earn our salvation. He is not talking about living in such a way that we earn the benefits of the gospel. What Paul is asking of the church is that we live in such a way that we reflect the reality that God has forgiven you in Christ. 

            It is true – we contribute nothing to our salvation. But Paul believed and taught that the gospel changes our lives and that we are no longer the same. We are not perfect, but we are repenting – turning from the old life and turning to the new. What is a life worthy of the gospel and why does it matter?

1. What it means to be gospel-worthy (1:27-28a)

 

After Paul wrestled with the question of life and death, whether to stay alive and teach or to die be with Christ, he says this, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,” (27a). 

            Eugene Peterson in the Message words it like this, “Live in such a way that you are a credit to the message of Christ.” That’s fine, except he leaves out an unusual and important word that is found nowhere else in scripture. The ESV can only translate it as “manner of life.” It’s a word in Greek that gives us the word “politics.” 

            The word means “to live as a citizen of a free state” and implies that you take an active part in the state. But why is Paul using it here? Because the Philippians as a whole were very proud of their status as a Roman colony. Outside of the Italian boot, they were the only colony that had the right to live as if they were Romans. 

            You know I grew up in Winnipeg. I cheer for the Bombers and Jets. I know the city’s history. I’m pretty loyal to my city. When the CBC show, Murdoch Mysteries, completely dissed Winnipeg in one of its episodes, I stopped watching. 

            Paul appeals to that loyalty in Philippi saying, “Think about your feelings for the city of Philippi and the loyalty you feel towards Rome. Then remember this, you are actually citizens of a heavenly city-state, the New Jerusalem.” Your true loyalty is to the Kingdom of God. That’s where your citizenship lies so live like it. Conduct your lives in such a way that people know where you come from and who your King is.

            This way of living is then unpacked in three ways. Paul writes, “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you,” (27b-28a). What does it mean to be worthy? 

a) It means to stand firm – There are a couple of word-pictures that help us to grasp standing firm. One is having your feet solidly planted on a rolling ship. As the ship bobs in the fifty foot waves of the sea, you are not rolling all over the deck but standing firm in the security maintained by the Spirit’s grip on you. You can face the adversities of life with the maturity that comes from knowing God is with you.

            The other picture describes a Roman military formation with the soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder and back-to-back with their shields and spears outward. I always picture that scene from the movie Gladiator where Maximus tells the others that they need to fight together. Stand as one versus standing alone. When the church stands together, when we are united, we stand firm. Paul says that we stand firm in one Spirit, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only in that power that individuals with little in common can be intimately connected in Christ.

b) It means striving together – To strive or “contend” for the faith does not mean personal subjective belief but the gospel truths we all share from the Bible. There are secondary teachings that we may disagree about, but we must agree that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died and rose again. We are saved by grace through faith. To “strive” comes from the athletic world – think of a running back straining to get the ball across the goal line. We exert maximum effort for the gospel.

c) It means being fearless – the word for “fear” that Paul uses describes a herd of stampeding horses, wild and out of control in their panic. Horses be crazy. I love them, but they have strange minds. If they look into a puddle and see the sky, they think they’re falling. A horse is a prey animal so when it feels threatened by something in its environment, it is hardwired to run away first and ask questions later. 

            The reality for the Christian and the church is that you will be opposed. We are going to run into opposition but stand your ground and hold on to the gospel. Keep speaking Jesus. Even as we cherish certain values like traditional marriage and the dignity of the unborn child, we will face resistance. We must not let fear sway us on the matter of our convictions or cave to the popular opinions of our society.

Stand firm.

Strive together.

Don't be afraid of those who oppose us and threaten us with changing laws or customs. 

2. How Suffering is a Gift from God (1:28b-30)

 

So, to live worthy of the gospel of Christ, we need to stand firm in the Spirit together, strive for the gospel truths which have convicted us, and fearlessly speak the gospel. Okay. What’s Paul getting at? 

            Living for Jesus means expecting opposition. And opposition comes with a heaping side dish of suffering. Isn’t that strange? It’s strange that a gospel of love and forgiveness should reap opposition from our unbelieving neighbors. Why is that?

            I read a quote from Miroslav Volf this week (a Croatian theologian) where he said that we forgive because God is a forgiving God. So, we extend forgiveness to those who sin against us. We offer Christ’s forgiveness to a sinful world. But forgiveness names the other as a criminal. It claims an injustice. If we say that people need the forgiveness of God, we point out that they are imperfect, insufficient, helpless to better themselves. They don’t like that. This is why we suffer.

            And Paul makes a gift out of the suffering. He said, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have,” (29-30). 

            The phrase “it has been granted” comes from the word “grace.” Paul is saying that God has graciously given us a gift as an expression of love and favor. Just as Jesus graciously gave sight to the blind or he graciously forgives sin, we have been given the gift of believing in Jesus and suffering for Jesus. Great gifts, eh?

            A gift is something you are typically happy to receive. If it’s given out of love you say, “thank you.” Suffering is a gift of God’s grace. It’s not punishment for sin. It’s not because you failed in your Christian walk. It’s a gift! Are you serious? 

            Actually, the Bible does teach that suffering is a gift that Jesus might be glorified in our lives. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Tim. 3:12). And Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” (John 15:20). But make no mistake, we take no pleasure in pain; God is not expecting us to go, “Oh yay, more pain!” We give thanks to God not for what suffering is but for what it does.

            First, the gift of suffering does something in you. James wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” (1:2-4). Did you see what he said about “trials of various kinds”? Not just opposition for the gospel; trials that cover a broad range of health, personal, work and other issues we face are the training ground for perfection.

            Second, the gift of suffering does something in you for others. When we go through tough times, we grow in our understanding of what others suffer. As Paul shared with the Corinthians, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too,” (2 Cor. 1:3-5). 

            Recently I met with Daniel from Indonesia through an Engage Today representative. Something Daniel said impacted me in terms of "comfort." He said that when Westerners who love Jesus come and visit the Indonesian church, the hearts of the people are encouraged and comforted to know that there are others in the world who believe in Jesus too. It never really occurred to me how important visiting these churches was for them; I had only thought in terms of what it meant for me. My thought previously had been, why spend so much money to visit halfway around the world and speak through an interpreter when sending money is more efficient? But this is where being present in the flesh brings a message of fellowship (koinonia) to the brothers and sisters in far off places.

            And third, the gift of suffering does something in us for the glory of Jesus. Verse 29 says “for the sake of Christ” or “on behalf of Christ.” Paul testified that the troubles he faced led almost to his death, but God used those trials as an opportunity to save him and to show Paul and his team that they can hope in God (2 Cor. 1:8-11). In our weakness and in our inability to heal ourselves, help ourselves, or climb out of the hole we are in, we learn the truth about ourselves and Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” (2 Cor. 12:9). We can boast in our weakness as a result. Not that we celebrate being helpless, but that Jesus makes up the deficit in my life; where I lack strength or ability, or where I am just not enough for others, Christ Jesus fills in my weakness with his power. 

            I don’t enjoy suffering. I’m sure you will agree that suffering is the last thing you wish for or want for others. Pain is to be avoided. But pain and suffering will come. And part of our pain comes because we love Jesus and believe he is the way, the truth, and the life. The gift of suffering for his sake is not about proving how tough we are or to show how committed we are to Jesus. Suffering is a gift from God given to grow in us a childlike faith and a belief that he fulfills his promises. 

 

Last week when I led you in our benediction, we declared together, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” It was a declaration of commitment saying, “I’m all in” when it comes to Jesus. Everything I am and have belongs to Christ. 

            Many if not all of us spoke these words. Did you consider the suffering part? We didn’t get to that until this morning. Are you still “in”? 

            Maybe as a church we would not get five stars or a 10 on the line that asks if someone would recommend RFC to a friend. Are we worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? The question does not ask for perfection in that sense. It asks rather, “Are you heading in that direction? Are we standing firm together for the gospel values of the Bible? Are we striving towards Jesus? Are we full of courage even when we read of new legislation that is woke, or progressive, or alienates Christians? Or are we skittish horses? That’s what its asking: Are we aiming for the kingdom of God in Jesus? 

            If yes, then get ready to experience turbulence when we tell people they are forgiven and God loves them. And count it all joy when we suffer the name of Jesus.

            Are you all in?

                                                            AMEN

"I'm All In" ("An Ode to Joy" A Series on Philippians)

“I’M ALL IN”

 

You are familiar with the expression, “I’m all in.” It is used by lovers of their beloved to say, “I’m committed to you for life. Marry me!” For those of you who play poker (Texas Hold’em), “I’m all in” expresses the confidence that you hold the winning cards and the assurance that you will win the pot. In this case it is a risk. You are putting everything you have into those cards. There’s no turning back. If you are wrong, you lose everything. If you are right, you win it all. 

            “I’m all in” came to mind as I thought of one of Paul’s most quoted declarations: “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” We have talked much of his condition, being in prison, dealing with envious preachers, facing his own execution. He is about to lose everything; his critics would say he already has. But for Paul, he has pushed all his chips to the center of the table and has said of Jesus Christ, “I’m all in.” Let it ride. I am confident that this will all turn out for the glory of God.

            More than an inspirational quote to plaster on a coffee cup, “To live is Christ and to die is gain,” is Paul’s life goal. It is more than a catchy slogan that we casually respond to as “cool.” Paul passionately entrusted his life and death to God and believed that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

            I want to unpack this little verse in its context and examine what it means with you. Then I will invite you to consider upon this reflection if you are willing to say, “I’m all in.” 

 

A Decision to Make?

 

Every religion has to answer two questions: What is life? What is death? Buddhism says, “To live is to achieve good Karma, and to die to is to hope for a better reincarnation.” Islam teaches, “To live is to obey Allah, and if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, death is to achieve a personal paradise.” The average Canadian would say, “To live is self and to die is loss.” Paul stares life and death in their faces and makes it sound like he has a decision to make.

            Whether he lives or dies was never in his hands, yet Paul philosophically reflects on the options. Here’s an image of his “Decision Matrix” (thanks to Darryl Dash).

            Paul considered the questions of his life and death like this: 

            What will honor Jesus more? Could Jesus be lifted up if Paul lived and continued to planting churches? Yes. Could Jesus be glorified in the death of Paul who suffers and dies for his faith in Jesus? Yes. So, it’s a tie. Either way Jesus is glorified. 

            What is better for Paul? He’s endured a lot of troubles and trials, he’s older, tired, and churches continue to have issues. If he dies, there’s Jesus. So, more labor, headaches, or Jesus? Paul declares that for him it is better to die and be with Jesus. That is so much better. I admire and respect those who look at death this way and confess that they just want to go and be with Jesus when their lives have been poured out.

            But which one is better for the church? Sure, to be with Jesus is better, but the church at Philippi still needs Paul. As if he had a say in the matter, Paul concedes that he will stay alive and live to serve and teach a little longer. 

            What matters for Paul is not whether he lives or dies, but that Jesus is proclaimed and believed in. 

 

1. To Live is Christ…

 

What does it mean? I have often struggled to explain exactly what it means. It is so deep that words fail to capture it all. I guess you could simply ask, “What do you live for?” 

            If someone were to ask you out of the blue to finish this sentence, “To live is _____” how would you respond? Questions like this in casual conversation take us off guard. Honestly, we may respond in the typical categories:

Comfort – If “To live is comfort” is your declaration you will avoid stress and troubles and prize freedom. Your nightmares are stress and demands. You avoid difficult situations.

Approval – You love affirmation. You want love. You want relationship. Your greatest nightmare is rejection. You need to be recognized and thought of in the best possible terms.

Control – You value self-discipline, certainty, standards, rules, order. Your greatest nightmare is chaos and confusion; people not making good decisions (in your opinion). You worry a lot.

Power – You love success and winning. Your joy is having the ability to influence others and their decisions. You can’t handle humiliation and the feeling of helplessness. 

            When these goals are at the centre of your universe and everything revolves around you, “To live is self.” To live is my comfort. To live is to be affirmed. To live is have control. To live is to hold all the power. But Paul said, “To live is Christ.” 

            To live is Christ is Paul’s all-consuming passion. Jesus is at the centre of his universe, and everything revolves around Jesus. A great commentary on “To live is Christ” is found in Gal. 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” In this scenario I am no longer the centre of my own universe, Jesus is. I no longer seek that which comforts me because Christ is greater than comfort. He comforts me better than any “thing.” 

            The craving for approval? I struggle with this one. The truth is that if you want approval and affirmation, think on this: Christ died for you when you were at your worst. When no one else thinks much of you, Jesus chooses you. When no one else applauds your service, Jesus says, “Well done.” 

            To live is Christ! How can I explain it? When we surrender control of our circumstances to Jesus, we will find the space to rejoice. Paul said, “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance…” He’s not talking about getting out of jail, but of being vindicated…you know…proven right…for trusting in Jesus and going “all in.”

 

2. To Die is Gain

 

Are you afraid of death?

            We said the average Canadian says, “To live is self and to die is loss.” In this case, if you die, you lose something. To live this way will kill you. People who live by this mantra will be killed by it because to live for self alone defies the created order of life. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is not just some verse in the Bible – the God who created the harmony and order of the universe has ordained that this is how life works best. This is life. To ignore this order is death without God and thus without hope.

            For Paul, however, death is gain. Paul fully expected that with death everything would get better. Why? Because he would gain Christ. Between life and death, Paul was torn. He said, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…” (23).

            The word “depart” is used in other Greek writings to describe a ship being released from its moorings. As a ship would weigh anchor and sail off into the sea, so Paul envisioned death. He saw his duties and responsibilities of ministry as a rope that kept him fastened to the dock of life in this present world. When the waves of the sea swelled and pulled on those ropes, he felt the tug of his heart to set sail and go home to Jesus. 

            I had a friend who has now gone on to be with Jesus. Early on in his mission work he had a vision from God, he said. The Lord told him that tonight he would die and go home to Jesus. He was so excited, he put on his best suit and lay down on his bed and waited. His wife was not thrilled, but she too waited. Then the Lord spoke to him again and blessed my friend for his willingness to wait in such expectation. You may think it crazy – we did when we heard the story – but you cannot fault a man for loving Jesus so much. 

            Paul had that beautiful sense of abandon. It made him invincible. It can make us invincible too. Take my comfort. Take my power. Take my control. Take my money. Beat me. Take my life. I’ve got Jesus. And I’m going to live in the presence of Jesus forever. That’s real freedom. I’m free because to live is Christ. My life isn’t based on those things; it’s based on Jesus Christ who died and rose again and took away my sin. 

            Josiah Queen has a great anthem for this truth:

Can’t steal my joy

What the world couldn’t give, no, it can’t take away

Sorrow may come but it can’t steal my joy

In the high highs, in the low lows

You fill my cup; you fill it up until it overflows

I remember, I’ll keep holding on to hope

‘Cause you’re the King of rolling stone. 

Can’t steal my joy

 

There are three words we have left off Paul’s motto: “For to me…” Those three words make it a personal conviction. 

            “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 

            This is what drives his life. And that is why he can look at prison and suffering and death and say, “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…” and “I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” 

            This is an invitation to give up the world’s motto “To live is self” and to declare “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” And with that declaration to receive the joy that Jesus wants to give. 

            Do you crave such a joy? I have no formula for knowing this joy, but I can pray that we all receive joy.

            Will you say with me to Jesus, “I’m all in”? 

AMEN