A study on Philippians

Philippians 1:12-20 “But I would that you should understand, brethren, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation (for understanding of this turn to 1Peter 1:7-9*) through your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (is increased), according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body (and yours), whether it be by life, or by death.”

*1Peter 1:7-9 for this I will begin at verse 3 and carry it through verse 16; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith and to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to the praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, you love; In Whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they did minister the things, which are now reported to you by them that have preached the (proclaimed this) gospel to you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance (in vain imaginations and reasonings of mind): But as He Who has called you is Holy, so be you Holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be you Holy; for I am Holy.”

To this I will continue on with what 1Peter 1:17 which states the following; “If you call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning (as an alien) here in fear (in terror of our surroundings as being hostile to us): Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (former life style in corruption) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: But the word of the LORD endures forever. And this is the word which by this gospel is preached to you.”

This Gospel is the good news of our total redemption which leads us to His salvation when heard and seen in the right way. This right way is an action on His part not ours as the scriptures bear witness to when properly delineated as with a sharp two edged sword which divides.

Philippians 1:21-26 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Galatians 2:20, this could also be Psalm 37:18, as we have become His inheritance (possession), this is also revealed in Psalm 2). But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (gain*): Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
*Our greatest gain is to be so totally perfected or matured in Christ and He in us that we are in essence lost in Christ, being One. This happens in our being raised as He was raised, in His likeness.

Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you (the perfecting) of salvation, and that of God. For to you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe Him, but also to suffer (no easy road of health, wealth and prosperity spoken of here) for His sake; Having the same conflict (as in the Olympic games, the struggles of life*) which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

*These are the struggles of God's good and truth being restored within the redeemed person verses the natural good of mere natural man. The only good that can be passed down from parents to the children. Even mans natural love pales in comparison to God's agape Love which always seeks the others good above its own.