PASTORAL GREETINGS (Phillippians 1:1-11)

A. The letter is addressed to all the saints in Christ Jesus.

1. The word translated saint is hagios - when we use the word saint it gives a false impression to people.

2. To modern ears, it paints a picture of almost unworldly piety.

3. It's connection is more often with stain glass windows than with the market place.

4. It is not easy to translate the word hagios

B. Hagios and its Hebrew equivalent kadosh are usually translated holy.

1. In Hebrew the basic idea is that it is different from other things, they are set apart.

2. To better understand this let's look at the O.T. (Lev 21:6)

3. This deals with regulations regarding the priesthood, note ' they shall be holy to their God"

4. The priests were different from other men for they were set apart for a special purpose.

5. The tithe was the tenth part of all their harvest it is laid down in Lev 27:30,32 - the tithe shall be holy to the Lord

because it is the Lord's.

6. The tithe was different from other money because it was set apart to be used for the Lord's work.

7 The word holy was used of the entire nation of Israel Ex. 19:6 says; You are a holy nation unto Me.

8. God had severed them from other nations that they might be His for they had a special place in the purpose of God 9 But they failed in that purpose and God has since for this dispensation given them to the Church.

10. Just as the Jews are holy to the Lord as Christians we are now holy unto the Lord.

C. To say Christians are holy means that they are different from other people and are set apart to be used by Him. II Cor. 6:14 - 18

1. Paul addresses them as saints in Christ Jesus.

2. Vincent says for a Christian to be in Christ is like a bird being in the air, a fish in the water, the roots of a tree in

the soil.

3. what makes a Christian different is the fact that he is always and everywhere conscious of the- encircling power and presence of Jesus Christ. He is your source of life.

4. That is what every Christian should be.

II. The All Inclusive Greeting (1:1-2) Grace and Peace

A. when Paul put these two words together he was doing something very unique.

1. He was taking the normal greetings of two great nations and molding them into one.

2. Charis is the greeting with which the Greeks began their letters.

3. Shalom is the greeting which Jews give to each other, the Greek from of that was eirene.

B. Charis is a beautiful word; the basic ideas in it are joy and pleasure, brightness and beauty.

1. Charis is connected with our English word charm.

2. With Christ life becomes lovely - it is meant to be a life of joy and beauty.

C. Eirene or Shalom is a comprehensive word, we translate it peace but it never refers to a negative peace by that I mean the absence of trouble.

1. It means a total well being, it is connected with the word eirene which means to join, to weave together.

2. It refers to a peace that has come about through reconciliation. It hadn't always existed.

3. It is a peace that has resulted from reconciliation with God.

4. And a peace that has resulted because of a reconciliation with our fellow human beings.

5. The background of this book is that the peace of the church had been ruptured through the conflict of two women

4:2-3

6. Everyone is affected when even two people in the church are at odds.

7. They need peace, the peace that comes when two people are rejoined - reconciled to each other.

8. No wonder Paul says; Grace and peace be unto you.

III. The Marks of A Christian Life

A. It is marked by joyous prayer for others (1:3)

1. He prayed for them because of the evidence of their interest in his ministry (4-5)

2. He prayed for them because he wanted them to become mature, complete and ready for the Lord's return. (6)

B. It is Marked by a Growing Love for each other

1. He prayed that their love for each other would increase. (9)

2. He is praying their love would run over like a bucket standing underneath a pouring fountain.

IV. It is Marked by a New Moral Sensitivity (9-10)

A Life of Discrimination

a. The words "all judgment" translate a Greek word that means 'Ta sensitive moral perception"

b. Dr. Kenneth Weist - all judgment refers to quickness of ethical tact. We want to be kind and considerate of others yet we seem to say the wrong words or do the wrong thing. We lack that delicate ability to express ourselves

correctly. We desire that gentle wise way which would convey what we want to say in the most discriminating manner.

c. This moral sensitivity ties us to the opening words of verse 10 - approve things that are excellent.

d. Most of us know how difficult it is to ascertain what is the highest and best in life.

e. Paul is not praying for them to discern between good and bad, for it requires no unusual keenness to discriminate between right and wrong, but rather that they should know how to choose the highest, the noblest, the things that transcend.

f. Most commentators agree the phrase "approve the things that are excellent" literally means "to test the things that differ".