Multifaceted Ministry of Christ in Philippians
Paul wrote to the Philippians as a prisoner in Rome. They were an assembly of believers for whom he had tremendous feelings of affection, having seen that assembly planted (Act 16). He wrote particularly to thank them for practical fellowship they had sent to him by the hand of one of their own, Epaphroditus (Php 4:14-16). There were no specific doctrinal matters that required his apostolic correction, but he constantly appealed for unity and harmonious fellowship, and that they strive together in service for God. To promote that spirit of togetherness, there are constant references to the person of Christ and the gospel of Christ. Ministry that will edify a local assembly and change the lives of believers practically must be centred around Christ.
Living For Christ – Phil. 1
Christ is the principle for the believer’s life, the primary purpose of living: “For to me to live is Christ” (v21).1 Christ as our life is the answer to all discouragement, and gives us the same desire as the apostle, that “Christ shall be magnified in my body” (v20).
Learning Of Christ – Phil. 2
Christ is the pattern for the believer’s life: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (v5). Christ as our example is the answer to strife and disunity among believers as we emulate the great humility and selflessness He displayed by coming down from heaven, moving as a bondservant in this world, ultimately to be obedient unto the death of the cross. We must seek to work out such practical humility “with fear and trembling” (v12).
Looking To Christ – Phil. 3
Christ is the prize for the believer’s life, the One we are occupied with: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (v10). Christ as our goal is the answer to any reliance upon self and the sinful flesh. Everything that God seeks to do in the believer’s life from the day of salvation is with a view to greater conformity to His own Son, through an increasing knowledge of Christ.
Leaning On Christ – Phil. 4
Christ is the power for the believer’s life, the One who sustains in every situation: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (v13). Christ as our strength is the answer to all Christian adversity, and our constant source of contentment. Paul, the prisoner for Christ Jesus, had “learned, in whatsoever state I am … to be content” (v11).
Spiritual Maturity by Looking to Christ
In Philippians 3:15, Paul exhorts, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” The perfection in view is not present sinless perfection but a full grown mature spiritual state. If there is the selfless humility exemplified by the mind of Christ, coupled with the spiritual maturity produced by looking always to Christ, and being made increasingly conformed to His person, it will promote Christian unity of mind and orderliness in our walk together. “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule [in the same steps, JND], let us mind the same thing” (v16).
In verses 4-14, the apostle writes entirely in the first person, giving his personal spiritual autobiography. He speaks of his past experience before conversion as Saul of Tarsus: “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh …” (v4). There was then his dramatic Damascus Road conversion experience, when he immediately recognized that “what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (v7). He then tells us of his present personal spiritual ambitions and desires: “That I might know Him …” (v10); and his one great spiritual priority was this: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (v14). That ultimate prize will be perfect conformity to God’s own Son.
As we look primarily to Christ in Philippians 3, we see how this was all being worked out in the life and spiritual experience of the apostle Paul, and we are looking at Paul as he was looking always to Christ. There would be tremendous lessons for us from the apostle’s exemplary Christ-centred life, hence his further exhortation, “Brethren, be followers [imitators, Newberry] together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (v17).
We can be imitators of the apostle Paul as he was looking back to Christ, in terms of his past salvation (vv7-8), the blessing of justification, and the perfect righteousness he had obtained “through the faith of Christ” (v9). We learn how Paul was looking presently to Christ in worshipful adoration, glorying only in Him (v3), and for personal sanctification, with a view to his life being increasingly morally conformed to the Lord Jesus (vv10-14). We see Paul looking forward to Christ and the expectation of His future coming forth from heaven as the Saviour to achieve the believer’s bodily redemption and eternal glorification (vv20-21).
That work of salvation will not be thwarted or opposed by any other force: “according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (v21). The desire would be that if there has been increasing moral conformity to Christ throughout our Christian lives, when our Saviour comes again the only significant change required will be for mortal bodies to be made physically conformed to Christ’s glorious body. We will then be fully fitted for heaven, according to God’s eternal purpose: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:29).
Every reference to Christ in Philippians 3 emphasizes ways in which we can be looking to Him. God willing, the series of articles to follow will elaborate on looking to Christ as our:
- Constant joy (v1) – whatever our earthly circumstances, our joy in Christ will never fail.
- Only glory (v3) – Christ alone is our confident trust as we worship God in the Spirit.
- Assured recompense (vv7-8) – He is the One for whom it is worth losing everything of this world.
- Perfect righteousness (v9) – faith in Christ is the only basis of righteous acceptance before God.
- Supreme object (v10) – knowing more of Christ with the desire of being increasingly morally conformed to His person.
- Blessed Master (v12) – the significant implications of having been apprehended by Christ.
- Ultimate prize (v14) – striving towards that future perfect conformity to Christ.
- Coming Deliverer (vv20-21) – the Saviour and Redeemer of our mortal bodies.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
