New Testament / Philippians

  • Servants of the Lord

    Philippians 1:1–2

    Scripture places a high premium on our love for other believers. Simply put, loving other Christians and treating them with respect is not optional. If we do not treat them well and love them, then we do not know God ...Read More

  • Servants of the Lord

    Philippians 1:1

    That we are all servants of the same Lord and master forbids us from ever thinking that certain people or deeds are beneath us. It also means that whatever we do, we must do it unto the Lord with our ...Read More

  • Sitting on a Suitcase

    Philippians 1:18b–26

    When a believer dies, it is natural for the friends and family of the deceased to feel a profound sense of loss. But the deceased, if a Christian, feels no pain since he is ushered immediately into the presence of ...Read More

  • Standing Firm in the Lord

    Philippians 4:1

    Reformed theology has always taught that God works through means, using secondary agents to keep us in the narrow way of Christ. We are familiar with His use of the preached Word of God and the sacraments to accomplish such ...Read More

  • Strength in Christ

    Philippians 4:13

    If we depend on our own power and character in the midst of storms, we will by no means find lasting peace. But when we trust in Christ and seek to do everything in Him, we can serve Him faithfully ...Read More

  • The Advance of the Gospel

    Philippians 1:12–13

    Our suffering for the sake of Jesus is actually an occasion for great joy, not for the pain in itself but because it is at our weakest points that God decides to show Himself the strongest. As we consider those ...Read More

  • The Blessing of Repetition

    Philippians 3:1

    God is gracious to us in our weaknesses, and, understanding that we are quick to forget, repeats Himself often in Scripture. In many ways, the Bible is a very repetitive book, and that is a good thing. Thus, we should ...Read More

  • The Christian’s Conflicting Desires

    Philippians 1:21–24

    One commentator has wondered what it would mean for the church if we really acted on the reality that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” What if we more consistently conducted ourselves as if true life meant ...Read More

  • The Church in Rome Arises

    Philippians 1:14

    Seeing the truth of God’s Word confirmed can make us more bold in the proclamation of His gospel. As our doubts are assuaged, we see that we have given our lives to One who is absolutely trustworthy, and we ...Read More

  • The Enemies of the Cross of Christ

    Philippians 3:18–19

    Although we are rightly distressed when we see professing Christians pervert the grace of God into an excuse for sin, we should not be surprised that such things happen. After all, if people could glory in their shame while the ...Read More

  • The Exaltation of Christ

    Philippians 2:9–11

    If Jesus’ path to glory involves humbling Himself for the sake of His people, then one of the greatest ways we can bring Him glory is to remind the world of the clearest evidence of His humiliation — His death on ...Read More

  • The Form of God

    Philippians 2:5–6

    At the very beginning of Paul’s hymn to Christ, we have a powerful assertion of the deity of our Lord and Savior. The Jesus whom we serve is not just another man among men or one great teacher among ...Read More

  • The God Who Finishes What He Starts

    Philippians 1:6

    Perseverance of the saints and the doctrine of unconditional election go hand in hand. The comfort we find in the security we possess in Christ is also an inherent part of the biblical view of God’s sovereign, electing grace ...Read More

  • The Incarnation of the Son of God

    Philippians 2:7–8

    Advocates of a kenotic Christology say the Son of God set aside certain divine attributes when He became incarnate. Such is impossible, for then He would not be fully God and could not save us. John Calvin comments, “Christ, indeed ...Read More

  • The Proven Worth of Timothy

    Philippians 2:21–24

    Paul could be confident in Timothy’s worth as a fellow minister because of the ways he had proven his character over time (Phil. 2:22). As we consider our service in the church, we should also be aware that ...Read More