Hello, I'm Clive Nash. Welcome to Let God Speak. In our present series, we have been looking at St.
Paul's letters to the churches at Philippi and Colossae. Before we move on to the letter to the Colossians, we take a last look today at the closing thoughts in the letter to the Philippians. It has many good counsels for daily living.
Life is not always easy. It does not always go the way we plan or hope for. But the here and now and the future are in God's hands.
I'm especially thinking of heaven, where the Christian citizenship lies. As members of God's heavenly kingdom, we have privileges and responsibilities. So let's take a look at Paul's closing words.
Our panel will do that in just a moment. On our panel today we have Lena Yoon and Daniel Vokurka. Good to have you with us today.
I'm looking forward to our discussion, but before we do that, let's take time to pray. Our loving Father in heaven, we just want to thank you that you have given the Holy Spirit to guide our minds through life, not only for this life, but also for the life to come. We thank you for inspiring the words of St.
Paul so long ago. They speak to us today. And we pray that as we discuss these closing thoughts in the letter to the Philippians, that not only will be blessed here on the panel, but also all who are listening or watching.
And I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Well, to begin, in Philippians 3:17, Paul encouraged the Philippians to follow his example.
Lino, why did you say that? To follow his example. Yes. So before we actually answer this question, we're going to go and read the Philippians, chapter 3, verse 18 first.
So here it says for many walk of whom I have told you often and I now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. So here unfortunately, Greece at that time was corrupt, immoral and evil. And it sounds like a lot, you know, like a world today, doesn't it? And you might say also what really has changed.
And also what is interesting here is in verse 18, the enemies of the cross. And if they actually denied Christ, it would not be so dangerous to the church. But they profess to be God followers of Christ, but they showed that they were the strangers to the power of Gospel.
And also in chapter three, verses two and three, you know, the earlier verses here, you know, we can see those who claimed perfection through circumcision, but in actual fact, you know, they were immoral and greedy in it was all because you know their minds were on the earthly things rather than heavenly. And we know that the friendship or the love of the world is the enmity with God. So now, over to you, Daniel.
Was this an emotional issue for Paul, do you think? Well, if we read again just a little bit more of verse 18, it says there that he says now tell you, even weeping. Sorry, I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping. So we see here that the enemies of Christ caused sorrow for Paul, and rightly so.
And when we see some family members of ours going the wrong way that are not following God, that causes sorrow for us. And this caused sorrow for Paul because, of course, he wants everyone to be saved, everyone to follow Jesus. And so we can definitely see that this was an emotional issue for him.
Okay, so he was kind of like a spiritual father to the church as he raised up, wasn't he? Lina, did Paul any advice following his example? Not really. And actually, Paul was aware of the fact that there are many other faithful followers of Christ in his time, and even their example was also worthy of duplication. But, you know, if I paraphrase Paul's message here, it is like this.
Stick with me, my friends. You know, keep track of those you see running. That's, you know, on the same track, or course.
Or, you know, the new King James virgin also expresses this. Join in following my example and note those. So walk.
And also Paul mentioned or, you know, gave a warning to the Romans in his letter. And so we can find this in Romans, chapter 16, 17. So now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
So obviously we are to avoid getting into controversy with such people. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks, Lena.
I noticed what he goes on to say in the very next verse in Romans, chapter 16, verse 18. Yep. For those who are such, do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
What do you make about these words? What do you make of them, Daniel? Well, actually, it's interesting because here it says, you know, they do not serve our Lord, but serve their own belly. So it's like they are. They're doing their own thing.
They're being selfish in a way. You know, they're serving themselves. But also, if we go to Romans 14:17, it says, Therefore the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
And so the kingdom of God isn't just about, you know, serving. Well, it's not about serving yourself, but it is righteousness and joy and peace. And also this is similar to what Paul said in Philippians 3:19.
And really, if we think that he is being harsh, he really wanted people to just make sure that they follow good advice and to follow good examples. Okay? To be a good role model, in other words. Actually Philippians I'm going to read Now Philippians chapter 3 and verse 20 which says, and we come now to the title of our study today, for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
So Lina, how does this concept of citizenship in heaven contrast with the thought of the day, you know, amongst maybe the Hebrews and maybe the Greeks and Romans? What do you think? Yeah, so there may have been identity crisis for the early Christians in their time. So if they were Jew and you know, the physical signs were marks of circumcision would be irrelevant. And Paul also, we know that he actually stressed the importance of circumcision of the heart and so belonging to spiritual Israel.
And so if the new believer was a non Jew or Gentile, citizenship of Rome was not as important as citizenship in heaven. And so also the Andrew studies Bible observes here says, you know, the early Gentile Christians were aliens rejected by virtually all cultures. We can see from Andrew's Bible page 1558.
And when a person is traveling in foreign countries, it's not unusual to be looking forward to going home. Right. The Christian believer longs for his or her heavenly home rather than this earthly.
And we also sometimes hear or sing, you know, this world is not my home, but I'm just passing through. And so therefore Paul here says eagerly wait for the Saviour. Yeah.
Now Daniel, getting ready for our heavenly home, do we need some patching up work to be done on us? Oh, it's not just a patch up job. So if we read in verse 21 of Philippians chapter 3, it says, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body according to the working by which he is able to subdue all things to himself. And so there are really two ideas here.
There's something transformation and there's glorification. So our bodies, they're going to be completely different. They're going to be made like his glorious body.
Which is an amazing thing to think about. But not only that, our minds also need to be transformed as well so that our thinking is like the, like the heavenly society. Well, my body's a bit older than yours.
Daniel. So I'm looking forward to that transformation. I want to go back to the Old Testament now and have a look at something that Job had to say.
In Job, chapter 19 and verses 25 to 27. There's a wonderful, wonderful forecast here, or prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ, his redeemer. Job 19, 25, 27.
For I know. So he was, madam. He was quite confident.
I know that my Redeemer lives, and he shall stand at last on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, this I know that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another, how my heart yearns within me. He says, so Job was inspired to write about life after death and this bodily resurrection at last.
Or as the New American Standard Bible says, at the last. There's a definite article in there. So, Lina, how do New Testament writers add to this thought about.
Of Jobs? Yeah, so Paul wrote about our resurrection on several different occasions. So I'll tell you one of them here. We can find it in First Corinthians, chapter 15, verses from 42 to 44.
Here he says, so also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption, it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory, it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, it is sown a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body.
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. So basically, our body will be incorruptible. So the progression is quite amazing here.
Here it says, we already read. It's raising incorruption in glory, in power, and finally a spiritual body. And also Paul goes on to actually add more about the end of death.
So we can find this in the same chapter, First Corinthians, chapter 15, chapter 15, verses from 50 to 54. Now, this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery.
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. That's a Wonderful thought, isn't it, Daniel? This redemption and glorification of the saints wasn't just Paul's gold, it was the gold of Jesus and the Godhead too, wasn't it? Yes. Yes, it was.
And you know, originally, when God created man, when he created Adam and Eve, they were not meant to die, they were meant to live forever. But of course, this was unconditional. However, the sin of Adam and Eve did not catch the Godhead unprepared.
So if we go to Genesis 3 and chapter 15, we can read some very encouraging words. So it says there, and this is God speaking, and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. And this is God talking to the serpent, the serpent that was responsible for deceiving Eve.
And he says, I will put enmity. So this is like an. This is like a battle talk.
It is battle talk between you and the woman. And there's a promise, because this sinful state is not going to go on forever. It says there, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel.
Now bruising a heel, that can be unpleasant, but bruising the head, that's. Can be mortal. Yeah, that's mortal.
And also we see this in John 3:16. Now we know, we all know this text very, very well. It's a beautiful, beautiful text.
This is where Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and is telling them all of these wonderful things and says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. So we see here that this, whoever it is, anyone, absolutely anyone, if they believe in Jesus, if they accept what he has done for them, they have everlasting life. In Philippians chapter 4, verses 2 and 3, Paul mentions some names there, names such as Euodia, Syntyche, Clement.
We don't know anything about these people, but he says their names are in the book Lamb's Walk of Life. So that's good news. And I guess there are millions of others who we don't know in a similar situation.
But then in verse four, I'm going to read Philippians four. Four, Paul says, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I would say rejoice.
Lina. Is that easy to do? Oh, no, it's not easy to do in our own strength, but it's only possible when we trust in the Lord. And you know, the definition of rejoice is to feel or shows you know, great.
Not just happiness, but great happiness about something, as per Cambridge Dictionary. And also the Greek word for rejoice, hiero, actually appears 29 times in Paul's letters altogether, but nine of those instances are found in the Philippines. So we can now conclude that, you know, it is such an important repeated theme in Philippines.
So also we can say the opposite quality would be worry. So we're going to go and say what? Jesus actually talks about this in Matthew, chapter 6, verse 25 and 34. So therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing. And 34. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. So even Jesus reminded us that he even cares for the sparrows, how much more valuable we are than the sparrows. And also we have other encouraging words from Peter.
And in First Peter, chapter 5, verse 7, Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. So you know what an encouraging promise. And so therefore we have so many good promises and reasons for rejoicing all the time.
Yes, certainly. That's one for a promise box, isn't it? That verse there from Peter, according to Paul, in Philippians 4, 6, Daniel, what is one antidote for anxiety? Yes. Well, according to verse 6, I really love these words.
Be anxious for nothing. Don't worry about anything. Why? But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So prayer, asking God, talking to him, like talking to a friend. But then not only that, also being thankful. That's the key.
Yeah, in verse seven, I'm going to read that one, Philippians 4, 7, he says, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Lina, do you rejoice in the peace of God that passes all understanding? Of course. I always will try to do it.
And this is, of course, amazing promise. So peace, we all know that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ through knowing him as our personal Savior, and also the Savior of this world. And also we might remember the words of angels to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus Christ.
You know, they said on earth, peace, good will toward men. And we're going to go and read John, chapter 14, verse 27, here. Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your Heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. So again, you know, it is Jesus Christ who gives us peace, not this world.
Sadly, this world actually, you know, will never know peace, you know, namely, the absence of strife or war till Jesus comes again. And so therefore, you know, like, we can have our inner peace through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes, I remember quite some years ago, one political commentator saying, peace is breaking out all over the world.
He wouldn't say that today, I don't think. Let's move on to the Christian virtues that Paul outlines in chapter four of Philippians. And I'm going to read verses eight and nine.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do. And the God of peace be with you.
So what do you think of the first two of these virtues, Daniel, to be true and noble? What do you think of those? Oh, look, that's just it, you know, whatever is true, whatever things are noble. I guess in the world that we live in today, there's a lot of false things. What is true news, what is not true news, those sorts of things and some things that people say of other things.
Is this true? Is this not true? But anyway, Paul here is saying, meditate on things that are true that you know are true, things that are noble, because these are things to think about. Other things might, you know, cause us issues. Lina, can you comment on the next two qualities? Yeah, sure.
Just or right comes from the Greek word dikaia or dikaios in a singular form meaning righteous. So this virtue is defined by God's righteous character. So we also remember the counsels to Israel.
We can find this in Deuteronomy, chapter 16, verses from 18 to 20. Here he says, you shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you according to your tribes. And they shall judge the people with just judgment.
You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe. For a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you. So both judges and people were to follow what was just or right. And when it comes to pure, so pure is a thought and action, you know, flowing from God's righteousness by Faith.
So you know, we, Jesus is our role model, as we know. And we can find this in First John, chapter three, verse three. Here it says that everyone, everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is.
So Jesus is our role model and it is by beholding that we become changed. And Daniel, the last two qualities, what have you got to say about those? Well, yes, so whatever is lovely and whatever is of good report, there's a lot of beauty even in this sin sick world. And you know, when we meditate on these things, on things that are lovely, on things that are of good report, that's actually helpful for us.
And also, I just also want to go back to the first two, whatever is true because Jesus is the truth, that's what he says. So meditate on him, on his truth. And so if we meditate on these things, then we'll actually feel better.
This will actually be helpful and helpful to us. Now Lena, in Philippians 4:11, Paul says we should be content or as the new living translation says, to get along happily. There seem to be a lot of discontented people in the world today, aren't there? What does Paul give to you to be contented? Yes, Paul was thankful regardless of his circumstances or what happened.
And, and a spirit of thanksgiving is vital for us. So I'm going to go read Philippians chapter 4, verses 12 and 13. I know how to be abased.
I know how to abound everywhere and in all things. I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So you know, in life it's quite easy to be content when you know things are going well around us. But it takes a lofty spirit to be content when life is not fair to us. You've got to remember that.
But you know, as verse 13 says, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We have to remember this promise. Yeah, well, I see the clock is against us.
I wish we had more time for these discussions. And I want to thank my guests today who are Lena Yoon and Daniel Vickercher, for being with us. And my name is Clive Nash.
You know, today we've looked at the closing thoughts in Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. We've noted several points. We began today with good role models.
Thank you Daniel, for that. And we've talked about our citizenship in heaven. We covered the six virtues to meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report.
There is so much more we could say about the closing thoughts in Philippians 3. 4. If only we had the time.
Why not delve into the letter for yourself? Spend some thought, thoughtful and prayerful time with Paul. Then his closing thoughts will be yours. Namely, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen. Well, we're glad you joined us today on Let God Speak. If you were blessed by this program, why not tell your friends? Remember, all past programs plus teacher's notes are available on our website, 3abnaustralia.org.au.
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God bless.
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