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.
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