Who's Your Master?
Faithful Living: The Book of Philippians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 48 viewsIn a brief phrase, Paul informs the Philippians of his position and his desires for the people of Philippi.
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1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Slaves of Christ experience freedom in their life.
1. Slaves of Christ experience freedom in their life.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.”
Paul refers to himself as a δοῦλος which is translated as slave or servant.
δοῦλος
Used over 120 times in the New Testament.
Paul writes in
10 For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
“For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
We are not able to please people and God. We cannot be a true servant of God and strive to please people.
tells us that
“16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, 18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.”
16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over,
18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
When we walk in the will of the Lord, we show others that we are followers of Christ. However, when we live lives of hypocrisy, we tell others we do not serve God but sin.
Nor can a servant of God be someone who causes fighting.
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,
25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Furthermore, followers of Christ are to proclaim Christ and submit ourselves as servants to others.
5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.
“For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.”
Why are we supposed to be slaves of Christ?
helps us understand why,
21 Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.
22 For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.
1 Corinthains 7:21-23
21 Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. 22 For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.
Christ purchased us with his blood. Therefore, we are to serve him as faithful servants. We have been set from from our slavery to sin and have become slaves to the one worthy of our praise and worship. Jesus.
In addition to communicating his position of servanthood to Jesus, Paul greats all the saints in the church, including the leadership.
2. Slaves of Christ experience grace in their life.
2. Slaves of Christ experience grace in their life.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
χάρις: Grace, wishing goodwill towards another person.
χάρις: Grace, wishing goodwill towards another person.
Paul takes the time to let the Philippians know that he has good desires for them and their church. He isn’t writing to harm or break them. Instead, his purpose in writing is to bring them closer to God.
3. Slaves of Christ experience peace in their life.
3. Slaves of Christ experience peace in their life.
εἰρήνη: Peace, a state of well-being
Not only is Paul letting them know he has goodwill towards them, he knows that God has granted them a state of well-being relationally with God. It is important to remember that this does not mean they do not need to receive correction or encouragement. Instead, we should know that we have experienced the grace needed for salvation through our believe and confession of Jesus as Lord which then provides peace with God.