Paul the apostle's desire
for the church members in Philippi was that they continue in their
relationship with Jesus Christ and then exemplify their relationship
to others. By being united and striving together for the gospel,
those around them would see there was a difference in their lives. In
chapter one and verse twenty-eight of Philippians Paul told the
church how they should respond to their adversaries where he wrote:
And in nothing
terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of
perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
The
verse begins, “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries:”
If the church in Philippi maintained their unity and forged
together when sharing the gospel, they would have “adversaries”
which means “those who oppose, are adverse with or withstand”.
They were not to be “terrified” or “be frightened or
affright” in anything by those who would opposed them.
The
verse goes on to say, “which is to them an evident token of
perdition,” When the “adversaries” persecute those
who are sharing the gospel, their persecution becomes “an
evident token” or condemning proof that they were opposed to
the gospel. This proof will lead to their eventual “perdition”
which means “destroying, utter destruction or the destruction which
consists of eternal misery in hell”. Though the Philippians could
not eliminate the persecution of their “adversaries”,
those who opposed them would eventually pay an eternal price for
their actions.
Finally
the verse says, “but to you of salvation, and that of
God.” Although the
“adversaries” would pay a
condemning and eternal price for their actions, those who were
persecuted, “the Philippians, would enjoy “salvation”
which means “deliverance,
preservation, and safety”. This “salvation”
would not be just a regular type of saving, but would be “that
of God”. Because the
Philippian church members would suffer persecution for the gospel's
sake, they were promised the eternal salvation of God.
As
we consider the conditions that Paul the apostle puts before the
Philippians, we might want to consider our own lives. Have we or do
we suffer persecution from those who are “adversaries”?
Are there people who are providing evidence against themselves
because they oppose the gospel we represent? Do we live our lives in
a manner in which people desire to come against us for our faith in
Jesus Christ? If we have “adversaries”
let us hear Paul's words once again, “in nothing
terrified”, and if we do not
have “adversaries”
perhaps we should examine our lives and begin to conduct ourselves in
a way that exemplifies the gospel of Jesus Christ to others who are
around us.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians how they may suffer for the gospel's
sake, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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