Phillipians 1:Partnership In The Gospel

Phil 1:5-8 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

One of the things that gives Paul joy is given to us in verse 5, where we learn that the church in Philippi, which Paul had founded ten years prior to the letter, was partners with him in the gospel. What did this partnership look like?

Well, we know that Phillipi was a supportive church. In fact it was the only church from whom Paul received financial help in the early days.

Phil 4:15-17 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

They had a history of provision for Paul from the time that Lydia had given the apostles a place to live, to the present. The Phillipians were always helpful to Paul.

But the Philippian partnership went far beyond the pocketbook. In 2:25 we learn that they sent one of their own, Epaphroditus, as their messenger to represent them and to stay with Paul for a while and be of any practical help he could.

And their partnership went even farther than this. They didn't just participate in the gospel at a distance through other people—as important as that kind of participation is. They didn't stop there, they themselves LIVED for the advancement of the gospel in their own neighborhoods and at their own work places.

They had joined together in a common task. They were "partakers" of God's grace. Paul stressed the commonality that was between him and the saints--namely, the gospel--the mission. They were sharers in the gospel. The were committed to the furtherance of the gospel.

The church is to share in this activity. Every one of us as believers shares in common in the furtherance of the gospel.

How does God want us to participate as partners in the gospel? Am I a spectator or a participant?

"He who began a good work in you"

Their participation in the gospel was a proof that God was involved in their lives. That is an evidence to Paul that God will bring the work to completion, because it was a supernatural work. Paul has confidence of God working in the lives of the Phillipians because they are bearing the evidence or the fruit of that grace. So this is not an unconditional promise but a conditional one. We have a right to expect the faithful work of God in our lives because we participate-- because we bear fruit. God is faithful.