| CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DOCTRINE | July 1994 |
Our Partnership in the Gospel
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” —Philippians 1:3-6
IN OUR TEXT the word fellowship translates a Greek word which includes the thought of ‘partnership’. The Apostle John used the same Greek word when he wrote, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship [partnership] with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Christ Jesus.”—I John 1:3
This partnership with the Father and with his Son is very real, as evidenced by Jesus’ prayer which John recorded: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” Again, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gayest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”—John 17:17,18,21,22
To the Church at Corinth Paul wrote, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, … and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (II Cor. 5:19,20) The ‘word of reconciliation’ which has been given to the consecrated followers of the Master is the Gospel, the good tidings of God’s plan for the reconciling of the world, and we have a partnership in this plan, or, as Paul states it in our text, a ‘fellowship in the Gospel’.
COMPANIONSHIP
There are various aspects to our partnership in the Gospel, and all of them important. One of these is a blessed companionship with the Father and with the Son, and with those of like precious faith. How precious indeed is the privilege of communing with our Heavenly Father through our beloved Advocate and Elder Brother, Christ Jesus! And, as the old hymn resoundingly proclaims, “What a friend we have in Jesus!” How utterly meaningless life would be without the consciousness that we are constantly overshadowed by divine love.
Second only in importance to the companionship we enjoy with the Father and the Son is the friendship of our brethren. Paul appreciated this very much, and how beautifully he expressed it to the brethren at Philippi when he wrote, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, … for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil. 1:3-5) Here is the outpouring of thanks to God for what the companionship and partnership of the Philippian brethren had meant to the great Apostle Paul. His every remembrance of them brought him comfort and encouragement.
Paul speaks of ‘the first days’ of his fellowship with the brethren at Philippi. This is a reference to the time when this ecclesia was established. And this was indeed a ‘first day’ long to be remembered. It was during the course of Paul’s second missionary journey when Silas of Antioch was his official traveling companion and helper. Timothy joined them at Derbe and Lystra, and, seemingly, also Luke at Troas. (Acts 16:1-3) Beginning at Troas, Luke included himself in the party through his use of the words “us” and “we.”—vss. 10,11
It was at Troas that Paul, in a vision, heard the call, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” (vs. 9) It was in response to this call that they went to Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia. They remained in Philippi a few days, and then, as Luke records, “On the Sabbath Day we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.”—Acts 16:13, Margin
Evidently it was a very informal gathering, and the women assembled at this place of prayer were glad to hear what Paul had to say. Among them was “a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God.” Luke says that the Lord opened her heart, and that “she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” (vs. 14) Lydia’s interest in the Gospel was more than a casual one, for she ‘attended unto the things which were spoken’.
Lydia’s interest deepened, and she was baptized. Not only so, but those of her household also. Her interest was further demonstrated by her invitation to Paul and his companions to be guests at her home. How beautifully she extended this invitation—“If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there.” (vs. 15) To this Luke adds, “and she constrained us.”
What an encouragement this must have been to Paul and his co-workers! And how humble Lydia was in offering her hospitality. She could not be an evangelist or a pastor, but she could care for the material needs of those who were thus serving, and this she gladly did. When the complete record is known concerning all the details involved in the “bride” making herself ready (Rev. 21:2), how many Marys and Marthas and Lydias will be recognized for the important, though almost unnoticed, services they contributed to this great work!
TROUBLE
As was true in practically every place Paul visited, trouble arose in Philippi. Here it came in connection with “a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination.” (Acts 16:16) For several days she kept announcing concerning Paul and his companions, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.” (vs. 17) Paul knew that this was not a genuine recognition, but a ruse prompted by Satan through a fallen angel, so he commanded the ‘spirit’ to come out of her.
The spirit obeyed, and this meant that the damsel was no longer of profit to her masters, who complained to the authorities, and Paul and Silas were imprisoned. At midnight, these two servants of the Lord were singing and praying when suddenly an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, throwing open the doors. The keeper of the prison was awakened, and seeing the doors of the prison open, supposed that all the prisoners had escaped. Paul reassured him that this was not the case. The prison keeper was so impressed that it led to his acceptance of the Gospel.
With the coming of morning the magistrates sent word that Paul and Silas should be released. Paul, claiming the rights which were his as a Roman citizen, demanded that those who had imprisoned him unjustly now appear and personally lead them out of prison, which they did. They suggested that in the best interests of all concerned it would be well for them to leave the city. Paul agreed to this, but before departing, went to the home of Lydia for a farewell meeting with the brethren who had gathered there.
In a general way it was doubtless this entire visit to Philippi which Paul refers to in our text as that ‘first day’. And what a blessed ‘day’ it was! While it was only a brief visit, the first ecclesia in Europe had been established, and Paul had secured Lydia and the others, including the jailer, as friends and brethren in Christ for the rest of his life. No wonder he thanked God upon every remembrance of them!
CONFIDENT
In our text Paul expresses his confidence that the Lord—who had begun the good work in the hearts and lives of these faithful brethren at Philippi—would complete that work. Paul was not sure when he wrote, whether or not he would ever again have the opportunity of seeing the brethren at Philippi, so we can think of his epistle to them as a sort of farewell message. And in this light, how meaningful his assurance that the Lord would be abundantly able to complete in them the good work which had been started.
Paul took himself out of the picture, so to speak, and gave all the glory to the Lord. It was God who had begun the work. God was able to complete it. True, the Lord used Paul that memorable Sabbath Day by the riverside when, together with his fellow-workers, he sat down and told the devout women assembled there about the Gospel of Christ. But he could have used someone else. Luke tells us that it was the Lord who opened Lydia’s heart. That was true of all the others who made up the ecclesia which met in her home. And while all these loved Paul, he wanted them to realize that if it were the Lord’s will, they could get along as New Creatures without his personal fellowship.
In this understandable manner, Paul set forth one of the very fundamental aspects of true Christian fellowship. We have the blessed privilege of being used of the Lord to assist one another in the narrow way. Our relationship to the Lord should be so vital, and our faith in him so strong, that, if need be, we will be able to stand without the direct and personal help of any of our brethren in Christ.
True, the Lord does use his people to assist and strengthen one another. While we are to work out our own salvation, with confidence that God is working in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, we are to recognize that he has his own way of working in and for us. (Phil. 2:12,13) He has provided prophets, and apostles, and pastors, and teachers, and evangelists for this purpose. He uses each and all of his ‘little ones’, as opportunity affords, to comfort and strengthen others of like precious faith. We cannot deliberately isolate ourselves from the Lord’s people, expecting to grow strong spiritually, and to make our calling and election sure.
We are to accept these helps as from the Lord, and to lean upon him, not upon those whom he may use to give us spiritual assistance. Just as Paul desired that the brethren at Philippi realize that the Lord could and would help them even though he should be put to death in a Roman prison, so we, too, should keep in mind that God is able to work in us by any means, and through whomsoever he may choose. This is one of the rich blessings which accrue to those in partnership with the Lord.
IN LOVE
Our fellowship in the Gospel is motivated by love. Paul continues, “This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent [Margin, ‘try things that differ’] that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”—Phil. 1:9-11
Paul knew that the hearts of the Philippian brethren were filled with love for the Lord and for his people. He knew that they held a special place in their hearts for him. Paul did not want them to make the mistake of supposing that Christian love is without principle. Those who are truly motivated by Christian love also have discernment. They are able to ‘approve things that are excellent’, and by the same token stand against that which they know to be contrary to the divine will.
Paul wanted the Philippian brethren to abound in the kind of love he described in I Corinthians, 13th chapter. This is a love that “suffereth long, and is kind.” It is a love that “envieth not,” that “vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth [Strong’s Greek Dictionary, ‘covereth’] all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”—I Cor. 13:4-7
In his letter to the brethren at Philippi, Paul describes how the outworking of love should manifest itself in their fellowship with one another. We quote: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”—Phil. 2:1-4
Those who abound in true Christian love, that love which is able to ‘approve things which are excellent’, will be ‘of one accord, of one mind’. Their discernment will enable them to determine the really important things, and will not insist that the brethren all agree with them on matters of minor importance. There can be true fellowship of the Spirit.
But where there is strife, true fellowship is destroyed. If in our association with the Lord’s people we are always seeking ways and means of forwarding our own interests, we lose the spirit of true fellowship. ‘Love … seeketh not her own’. If we would rather see others favored than ourselves, then we have the true spirit of Christian love. And when all in an ecclesia hold this viewpoint, the “fellowship of kindred minds” is indeed “like to that above.”—“Hymns of Dawn,” #23
Fellowship, or partnership, in the Gospel involves a yielding to the spirit of the Gospel, which is the spirit of love. We might think of love as being a sum total of the fruits of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22 Paul refers to love as a fruit of the Spirit, and ‘growing’ this ‘fruit’ is an essential aspect of our partnership in the Gospel. “If these things be in you, and abound,” Peter wrote, “they make you that ye shall neither be barren [Margin, ‘idle’] nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”—II Pet. 1:4-8
WITNESSING
Another essential aspect of fellowship in the Gospel is to be active in bearing witness to the truth, and Paul reminds the brethren at Philippi of this. He explains that as a result of his imprisonment “many of the brethren in the Lord … are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” To this he added, “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will.” Paul did not approve preaching the Gospel through envy and strife, but he did rejoice that the Gospel was preached, and wrote, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”—Phil. 1:13-18
In the next chapter Paul writes, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless [Margin, ‘sincere’], the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”—Phil. 2:14-16
Paul rejoiced greatly that the Gospel was then being preached. He was doing all he could to proclaim the message even while chained to a prison guard. He told the brethren at Philippi that if they continued faithful in holding forth the Word, he would rejoice “in the day of Christ,” for it would be evidence that his ministry in the flesh had not been in vain. He would be assured that there had been at least some brethren who had caught the real meaning of their fellowship in the Gospel. Hence these would continue faithfully to make known the glad tidings for the blessing of others.
“STRIVING TOGETHER”
The fellowship in the Gospel also involves the need for the Lord’s people to work together, even “striving together for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:27) We are to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) It is a mistaken notion that to abound in love implies a lack of desire to stand for the great fundamental principles of the truth. Love will not be contentious, but it will contend; yea, love will give life itself for the defense of the truth. Those who are unwilling to strive ‘together for the faith of the Gospel’ are lacking in the true spirit of our blessed fellowship in the Gospel.
How zealous Paul was in striving for the Gospel! Referring to some who were attempting to bring the brethren under the bondage of the Law, he wrote, “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you.” (Gal. 2:5) When the Thessalonian brethren became somewhat confused concerning the second coming of Christ, he wrote an epistle especially to clarify the subject for them. He did not take the attitude that it made no difference what they believed.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”—II Tim. 2:15-18
SUFFERING WITH CHRIST
Fellowship in the Gospel includes the privilege of suffering for and with Christ. Paul wrote, “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” (Phil. 1:29) Paul wrote from experience. He was informed at the beginning of his discipleship that he would be called upon to endure much suffering for the name of Christ, and how true it had been.—Acts 9:15,16
In presenting evidence to the brethren at Corinth that his ministry was approved by the Lord, Paul wrote, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”—II Cor. 11:24-27
Conditions in the world now are different than they were in Paul’s day. Yet some of the ways in which he suffered as part of his fellowship in the Gospel are still possible. He mentions, for example, ‘journeyings’, also ‘weariness and painfulness’. Are we willing to ‘journey’ for the Lord, even though at great cost to ourselves? Are we willing to devote sufficient time and strength in the service of the Lord to make us truly weary, a weariness, perchance, which might be accompanied by some ‘painfulness’?
In many parts of the world today there is very little outright persecution of the Lord’s people, and at times the brethren wonder just how they can suffer with Christ, and for his name’s sake. But we can all give up some of the comforts of life, and give ourselves so wholeheartedly to the carrying out of the terms of our consecration that we will experience some weariness and painfulness. And, after all, it is only voluntary sacrifice and suffering that are acceptable to the Lord.
What an inspiring example of Christian suffering we have in Paul! Writing further to the brethren at Philippi on this aspect of fellowship in the Gospel, he said, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”—Phil. 3:7-11
Yes, it is our privilege to have fellowship in Christ’s sufferings, not by waiting for some sinister form of government to come into power and inflict persecution, but by voluntarily carrying out the terms of our consecration in laying down our lives as witnesses for Jesus and for the Word of God. Conditions around us might change so that the Lord’s people would be persecuted, but we can be assured that the Lord would give us strength for whatever may come. And he will also give us strength today to continue faithfully laying down our lives in his service day after day.
Only those who are faithful in the use of all their opportunities today will be prepared for the experiences of tomorrow. And to use our opportunities of fellowship in the Gospel, with all its blessed implications, involves the necessity of maintaining the viewpoint expressed by Paul when he wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 3:13,14