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| Phil. 1:7-8 |
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Lesson # Phil. 1:7-8 Study Material - Phil. 1:7-8 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Phil. 1:7-8 7 Even as [kathos] it is [esti] meet [dikaios] for me [emoi] to think [phroneo] this [touto] of [huper] you [humon] all [pas], because [dia] I have [echo] you [humas] in [en] my [me] heart [kardia]; inasmuch as both [te] in [en] my [mou] bonds [desmon], and [kai] in the defence [apologia] and [kai] confirmation [bebaiosis] of the gospel [euaggelion], ye [humas] all [pas] are [on] partakers [sugkoinonos] of my [mou] grace [charis]. 8 For [gar] God [theos] is [esti] my [mou] record [martus], how [hos] greatly I long after [epipotheo] you [humas] all [pas] in [en] the bowels [splagchnon] of Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos]. KJV-Interlinear 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. NASB Paul expresses his affections and hopes. not only because the readers of his letter are believers and are living examples of Gods faith and future of all believers, as we covered in yesterdays lesson, but there is yet another reason for Paul's gratitude, and that is because people diid not abandon him. Paul had a history, prior to his own salvation. He was a Pharisee with a passion of decimating Christians. He pursued them and persecuted them even to the point of their being stoned to death. Paul was as self righteous as they come. He would stop at nothing, even the action of murder, but murder in the name of his own defined morals, therefore he felt justified in it. Many a person died at the stake after being branded a witch. Without basis and without evidence, murder was committed by good people, who were simply misguided in their extreme self righteousness. Many acts of violence and property destruction occur today in the name of good. Arrogance, which is the granddaddy of all sin breeds self righteousness and when there in no truth to place it in check, sin runs rampant to the point of justifying criminal acts. Paul was such a person until Christ placed him in check. Then Paul had a tremendous turn around. From one of the most corrupt people in the world to the greatest writer of scripture in the New Testament. Most self righteous people fake their turn around. Paul's was genuine. In addition, now Paul was in prison, and there would be no shortage of people with the opinion that this was what he deserved because of all the acts of violence he did prior to his salvation. People are the most unforgiving creatures. People can be very subjective and not want to be associated with anyone who has run into bad luck, as it were. If someone gets a divorce, in trouble with the law, in trouble in the office gossip circles, otherwise gets a bad reputation for whatever reason whether true or not, then people are quick to condemn and do not want to allow a second chance. God in contrast give many second chances. That is grace. God certainly observes and tests the soul to measure ones true heart content, which we can only observe, but judgment is not our concern when it comes to dealing with people in general. People without doctrine are or can be very cruel. But people who are growing up in doctrine, and have some orientation to grace, are objective, and think of the word first. The reputation of another person is irrelevant. People addressed in this letter were loyal to Paul despite his incarceration, despite the public outcry for his death. People who are advancing in their spiritual lives look to doctrine for answers. They ignore public opinion. Opinions that change with the weather, or the next political poll. Public opinion does not sway the thinking of the mature believer. Doctrine gives light to every question and the answer is generally very near or obvious. Paul's situation was his imprisonment, a place that we are all in by virtue of the sin nature is each of us. No one can escape their prison apart from Gods help through Christ. Here again Paul refers to his defense and confirmation in the gospel, which all believers have shared. Our belief in Christ delivered us from our prison, regardless of our situation in this world. The Holy Spirit's indwelling in us is the sealing of and confirmation of that freedom. Though many circumstances in life may face us and our friends, we need to look to doctrine for our answers, not public opinion, and not the peer pressure of the day. Jesus Christ went to the Cross for us despite the disgusting nature of humanity. He could have easily turned His nose up and said, 'forget it'. But He did not do that. He was faithful and reliable in doctrine and fulfilled the promises of God for our benefit. God is the only true witness, knowing all the facts and knowing all the right solutions. Being in the presence of mature believers, people who do not compete with deceit, who are relaxed in their minds and in life, who are not filled with anxiousness or instabilities, but have poise and courtesy and compassion and empathy for others. Believers who are fair minded and not selfish, and oriented to life. That is what Paul longed to see. Those who have the affection of Jesus Christ, an unselfish love and tolerance for others, based on Bible doctrine.
Now is the time to post a prayer. End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. |
