Philippians:1

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Verse 1-7 - The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is , to be servants of Christ . And those who are not really saints on earth , never will be saints in heaven . Out of Christ , the best saints are sinners , and unable to stand before God . There is no peace without grace . Inward peace springs from a sense of Divine favour . And there is no grace and peace but from God our Father , the fountain and origin of all blessings . At Philippi the apostle was evil entreated , and saw little fruit of his labour ; yet he remembers Philippi with joy . We must thank our God for the graces and comforts , gifts and usefulness of others , as we receive the benefit , and God receives the glory . The work of grace will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ , the day of his appearance . But we may always be confident God will perform his good work , in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration ; though we must not trust in outward appearances , nor in any thing but a new creation to holiness . People are dear to their ministers , when they receive benefit by their ministry . Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be dear one to another . * Verse 8-11 - Shall not we pity and love those souls whom Christ loves and pities ? Those who abound in any grace , need to abound more . Try things which differ ; that we may approve the things which are excellent . The truths and laws of Christ are excellent ; and they recommend themselves as such to any attentive mind . Sincerity is that in which we should have our conversation in the world , and it is the glory of all our graces . Christians should not be apt to take offence , and should be very careful not to offend God or the brethren . The things which most honour God will most benefit us . Let us not leave it doubtful whether any good fruit is found in us or not . A small measure of Christian love , knowledge , and fruitfulness should not satisfy any . * Verse 12-20 - The apostle was a prisoner at Rome ; and to take off the offence of the cross , he shows the wisdom and goodness of God in his sufferings . These things made him known , where he would never have otherwise been known ; and led some to inquire after the gospel . He suffered from false friends , as well as from enemies . How wretched the temper of those who preached Christ out of envy and contention , and to add affliction to the bonds that oppressed this best of men ! The apostle was easy in the midst of all . Since our troubles may tend to the good of many , we ought to rejoice . Whatever turns to our salvation , is by the Spirit of Christ ; and prayer is the appointed means of seeking for it . Our earnest expectation and hope should not be to be honoured of men , or to escape the cross , but to be upheld amidst temptation , contempt , and affliction . Let us leave it to Christ , which way he will make us serviceable to his glory , whether by labour or suffering , by diligence or patience , by living to his honour in working for him , or dying to his honour in suffering for him . * Verse 21-26 - Death is a great loss to a carnal , worldly man , for he loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes ; but to a true believer it is gain , for it is the end of all his weakness and misery . It delivers him from all the evils of life , and brings him to possess the chief good . The apostle 's difficulty was not between living in this world and living in heaven ; between these two there is no comparison ; but between serving Christ in this world and enjoying him in another . Not between two evil things , but between two good things ; living to Christ and being with him . See the power of faith and of Divine grace ; it can make us willing to die . In this world we are compassed with sin ; but when with Christ , we shall escape sin and temptation , sorrow and death , for ever . But those who have most reason to desire to depart , should be willing to remain in the world as long as God has any work for them to do . And the more unexpected mercies are before they come , the more of God will be seen in them . * Verse 27-30 - Those who profess the gospel of Christ , should live as becomes those who believe gospel truths , submit to gospel laws , and depend upon gospel promises . The original word "conversation " denotes the conduct of citizens who seek the credit , safety , peace , and prosperity of their city . There is that in the faith of the gospel , which is worth striving for ; there is much opposition , and there is need of striving . A man may sleep and go to hell ; but he who would go to heaven , must look about him and be diligent . There may be oneness of heart and affection among Christians , where there is diversity of judgment about many things . Faith is God 's gift on the behalf of Christ ; the ability and disposition to believe are from God . And if we suffer reproach and loss for Christ , we are to reckon them a gift , and prize them accordingly . Yet salvation must not be ascribed to bodily afflictions , as though afflictions and worldly persecutions deserved it ; but from God only is salvation : faith and patience are his gifts . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

---