Philippians 4: Contentment, Peace of God & Strength in Christ

Pastor Luther Walker resumes the study of Philippians with the intention of completing the letter. He notes that the next book under consideration is Matthew, which, though not predominantly for Christians today because it is under law, must still be understood. Returning to Philippians 4, he revisits the peace of God that surpasses the mind and guards the heart and the conclusions of the mind, producing an unruffled state even when others are stressed, because the believer knows who God is and what He will do. The terms “mind” and “understanding” share the same root. Believers are to reason upon whatever is true, noble (worthy of respect), just, pure (uncontaminated by guilt or defilement), lovely (related to fondness), of good report (having a good reputation), and praiseworthy. They are to practice the things learned, received, heard, and seen in Paul, so that the God of peace is generally associated with them. Anxiety is an attack from Satan; instead, requests are to be made known to God by worship and supplication after thanksgiving. Gentleness (sweet reasonableness) is to be known to all. Citizenship is in the heavens—the results of one’s politics—so the stresses of earthly politics should not dominate; the direction of the world system is already revealed, and prayer for leaders is for a peaceful life in which believers can manifest who they are in Christ. Those who walk according to the apostolic pattern are to be carefully noted, because many walk as enemies of the cross by adding works such as confessing sins or making Jesus Lord of one’s life in order to obtain salvation, contrary to the pure gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 that salvation is by believing that Christ died for our sins and was raised the third day. Living according to the level of maturity already attained, the believer presses according to the goal on the basis of the already-possessed prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, not in order to earn it. Righteousness is Christ’s, not one’s own from law; the believer acts rightly because of who he is in Christ. Working out one’s own salvation with fear (respect) and trembling means applying and living out the salvation already received, knowing that God is not mocked and that one reaps what is sown. The proper frame of mind sets the boundaries of thought so that one’s opinion of self aligns with God’s: the believer is a saint, not merely “a sinner saved by grace,” and therefore stops sinning and does God’s desirous will. Nothing is to be done from selfish ambition; in humility others are to be esteemed better, their interests scoped out, and love expressed, so that conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul rejoices that the Philippians’ care (frame of mind) for him has flourished again while he is in prison; he has learned to be content in whatever state he is—whether abased (humbled) or abounding, full or hungry—because God’s grace is sufficient and His strength is made mature in weakness, as illustrated in 2 Corinthians 12. Philippians 4:13 is correctly rendered as possessing potential strength by the one who strengthens in Christ; the one who strengthens is the Holy Spirit, who teaches the believer how to abide in Christ in all things through the internal desire to do what is right. Pastors supply the information for victory over the sin nature, Satan, and the world system; the Spirit enables personal application. Only the Philippians shared with Paul in giving and receiving at the beginning of the gospel after he left Macedonia, even sending aid while he was briefly in Thessalonica. The historical background includes the spirit of Pythia in Philippi (Acts 16), the illegal beating of the Roman citizens Paul and Silas, and the subsequent ministry in Thessalonica. Paul seeks not the gift itself but the fruit that abounds to the Philippians’ account through their fellowship; the gift is a sweet-smelling sacrifice well-pleasing to God and part of priestly service. Giving is not a tithe but from what remains after one’s own household is cared for, and it is to be done cheerfully. God shall supply all needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Glory is a proper opinion of God. The letter closes with greetings to every saint in Christ Jesus, including those of Caesar’s household who believed through Paul’s bonds among the praetorian guard, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ generally associated with all.