Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:1-2

I. The author:  Paul with Timothy, around 61 A.D., a prison epistle.

1. The founding of the church at Philippi:  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us:  whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts 16:14
2. A 'thank you' note expressing gratitude for the church's gift to Paul conveyed by Epaphroditus.
3. Servants of Jesus Christ.

 

II. The recipients.

1. All the saints (hagioi:  those separated unto Christ) with the bishops (presbuteroi) and deacons.
2. In Christ Jesus:  the status and privilege of believers.  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Cor. 5:17
3. "To be in Christ is the common scriptural phrase to express the saving connection or union between Him and His people.  This union is transforming.  It imparts a new life.  It effects a new creation.  This expression indicates not only the greatness and radical nature of the change effected, but also its divine origin.  It is a divine work, one due to the mighty power of God.  It is therefore also called a creation, the commencement of a new state of being.  If we are united to Him so as to be interested in the merits of His death, we must also be partakers of His life.  In the Old Testament, the effects to be produced by the coming of the Messiah are described as making all things new.  The apostle therefore says that if any man is in Christ he experiences a change analogous to that protected by the prophets, and like to that which we still anticipate when earth shall become heaven.  Old opinions, views, plans, desires, principles and affections are passed away; new views of truth, new principles, new apprehensions of the destiny of man, and new affections and purposes fill and govern the soul."  Charles Hodge

 

III.  The invocation of grace.

1. Grace is "the free and unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him."  Noah Webster
2. Eph. 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
3. Our response to this amazing and abounding grace must be gratitude--gratitude proportional to the greatness of the blessing received.  Doctrine is grace, and ethics is gratitude.
4. Grace is the declaration that God is for us, that He has undertaken for us, that He has done things for us which we could never do for ourselves.
5. "Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected."  Jonathan Edwards
6. "It is a sure mark of grace to desire more."  Robert Murray McCheyne

 

IV. The invocation of peace.

1. The great Hebrew Old Testament word 'shalom' conveys a multitude of blessings:  to be safe, to be well, to be happy and prosperous and in good health.
2. The equally great Greek New Testament word 'eirene' implies completeness, soundness, wholeness, contentment, safety, welfare, happiness, security, health, prosperity, freedom from internal and external strife.
3. Rom. 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. "The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatever sort that is." Joseph Thayer
5. "A state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation."  Noah Webster
6. Eph. 2:13-17, But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
7. "Thou hast made us for Thyself; and our hearts are restless, until they rest in Thee."  Augustine

 

V. The Source of grace and peace:  from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Note the personal pronoun.  "Christianity is a religion of personal pronouns.  Note especially the pronoun 'our' and its significance."  Martin Luther
2. I Jn. 3:1-2, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
3. Rom. 8:15, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." 
4. II Cor. 6:17-18, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
5. "The adoption of the believer into the family of God is so great a privilege, involving blessings so immense, for beings so sinful and in all respects unworthy, that, if their heavenly Father did not assure them by His own immediate testimony of its truth, no other witness would suffice to remove their doubts, quiet their fears, and satisfy them as to their real sonship."  Octavius Winslow
6. "All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have His name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by Him, as by a father:  yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption; and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation."  Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 12
7. "Above all contradiction and controversy, that great and glorious act whereby God makes us of His family and unites us to Jesus Christ as our covenant head so that we may be His children is an act of pure grace."  Charles Spurgeon