CHURCH BODY ‘GREETINGS’ – Philippians 4:21-23
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on November 11, 2012 under 2012 |
Preached Sunday, November 11, 2012 from Philippians 4:14-17
Theme: Paul highlights the ‘dynamics’ and ‘directions’ of a genuinely welcoming affection in the body of Christ.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
When we read Paul’s letters, we sometimes rush past the opening section and the closing section. But we shouldn’t do that. The opening of a letter from Paul often gives us clues as to the great theme he’ll be developing in that letter; and in the closing, he often gives us clues as to how that great theme is to be applied. And I believe that’s very true of his letter to the Philippians.
The great theme of this letter, suggested at the very beginning and developed all the way through, has been “joy”—how to experience the joy of Jesus Christ in everyday life. It’s a joy that is the gracious gift of Christ to all who belong to Him. And a mutual sharing of that joy should display itself through a genuine affection for one another. So, at the end of the letter, Paul writes this final word of instruction—words that sound very much like the closing of many of his other letters; but that have special significance in the context of this particular letter:
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Philippians 4:21-23).
Three times in these three verses, you find the word “greet”. In the original language of Paul’s letter, the root meaning of the word that he uses is to “draw” something to one’s self. To “greet” then, in the sense that Paul means it, is much more than to simply say a casual ‘hello’ to one another when we walk in the door. It means to warmly welcome each other to one’s self in a way that expresses a deep, genuine, brotherly affection.
That’s what Paul means by this closing command to “greet” one another.
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Earlier this week, I was laying in bed at night—having one of my ‘lay-awake-and-think-about-deep-and-profound-things’ moments. They don’t last too long; but I enjoy them when they happen. And a thought came to my mind that might help illustrate what this passage is talking about. I hope that I can express it adequately.
I was thinking about the bond I feel with my precious wife. I want to say this with due sensitivity; because I realize that not everyone has the blessing that I have. But I am very grateful to have a spouse with whom I share a common bond of love for the Lord Jesus Christ. We of course enjoy the love together of a husband and wife; but there is a tie that binds us together that is far deeper and more profound than even that love. I love her for the fact that she loves the Lord Jesus Christ. And she loves me for the fact that I love the same Lord that she loves. The secret to our deep love for each other is that we both love Someone else more than we love each other—and since that Someone loves us both very much, we cannot help but love each other all the more.
And what I was thinking about in all this—and what I am so very grateful for—is that, in this relationship of mutual love that we share together for the Lord Jesus, I know and am confident that I am accepted by her and fully welcomed to be drawn into her very self, just as I am welcomed and accepted by Jesus Himself. And she, likewise, is accepted and fully welcomed by me. You might say that, because of our common bond in Jesus Christ, she continually “greets” me; and I continually “greet” her. I know that if I blow it in some way—and I often do—she will still accept and love me. I know that, because of our common bond in Christ, her love for me and my love for her is as constant as His love is for us both. She wants me in her world and I want her in mine—certainly as husband and wife; but even more, as sharers together in the grace of Jesus Christ. We both earnestly desire God’s very best for each other.
And as I reflected on this with respect to Marilyn, I thought further about how I share something of that same dynamic with many others here in this church family—and many other believers that I know who are in other church families. I know that some folks talk all the time about the negative experiences that they’ve had in churches. They often say that that’s why they don’t go to a church anymore. But I always have to tell them that—as sorry as I am for whatever their sad experience was—I can’t relate to it. I have a wonderful church home, and serve with a warm and loving church family. Sure we have difficulties. Sure we have differences at times. But we share a common bond of love with Jesus Christ that ultimately transcends whatever differences and distinctions their may be between us. When we see each other again, we pick up right were we left off—and the love hasn’t diminished one bit. We are among each others circle of best and dearest friends. We truly prefer to be with one another. We warmly welcome each other with genuine brotherly and sisterly affection. We “greet” each other.
I am amazed at how much the Lord Jesus has ‘greeted’ us and has drawn us into His life. That’s really where our spirit of “greeting” toward each other has its beginning point—in the way that He has fully welcomed us to Himself. In His great prayer for us in John 17—just before He went to the cross and paid the debt of our sin for us—He said;
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
Just think of that! He welcomes us to be sharers with Him in His heavenly glory throughout eternity; and even desires for us to be there with Him so much that He willingly died on the cross to ensure that we will be there! And if that’s how much He “greets” us—if we have, each one of us, become the recipients of such a glorious “welcome”—then how can we not have a spirit of mutual affection for each other?
That spirit of mutual affection is expressed often in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Just listen to how he begins this letter. In Philippians 1:3-11, he writes;
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:3-11).
That was the love Paul felt for these Philippian brothers and sisters—these who were partakers with Him of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. He longed for them ‘with the affection of Jesus Christ’. And what’s more, he wanted them to have that same mutual love for one another. In Philippians 2:1-5, he wrote;
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus . . . (2:1-5).
Is it any wonder then that, at the close of this letter, he wrote those words? Let me read them to you again;
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (4:21-23).
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So; let’s draw out some of the details of these closing words of “greeting”. As we do so, I suggest that we will see two things: the ‘dynamics’ and the ‘directions’ of genuine affection in the body of Christ.
First, let’s consider . . .
1. THE THREE DYNAMICS OF CHURCH-BODY ‘GREETING’.
First, notice the word “saints”. It appears twice in this passage. “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus”, he writes in verse 21. And in verse 22, he says, “All the saints greet you . . .” In other words, one of the dynamics of our “greeting” of one another is that we are to regard each other as “saints”.
Now you might be thinking that that’s a bit extreme. But that’s because we’re used to thinking of the word “saint” as only applicable to someone who is outstandingly holy and sacrificial. We’re used to thinking of the way the Catholic church has officially canonized certain remarkable individuals in its history as “saints”. But really, the word simply refers to anyone who is ‘set apart’ by God as belonging to Him.
If you’ll look at the beginning of Paul’s letter, you’ll see that he has addressed it to “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). I would certainly expect that the bishops [that is, the 'overseers'] and deacons were “saintly”, wouldn’t you? But Paul uses the word “saints” to describe all the other believers in the church who was under the spiritual care of those bishops and deacons. That’s how Paul addressed his brothers and sisters in Christ in almost every letter he wrote—as “saints”. In 1 Corinthians 1:2, he wrote to the believers—very disobedient believers, by the way—as “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints [or more literally, “called saints”], with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours”.
And that’s how we should regard each other—as a people set apart by faith in Christ as belonging to God. We may not always act like what we truly are. And we should always encourage each other to behave more like what God’s word says that we truly are. But nevertheless, because of God’s call upon us, we are truly “saints”. If we regard each other that way—as people whom God loves, and has set apart for Himself, and who are destined for eternal glory—then we will truly “greet” each other differently. We will see each other as a special, called-out people—a people upon whom God has placed His eternal love and has destined for glory. We will enjoy each other for what God has made us to be. As King David put it in Psalm 16:3; “As for the saints who are on the earth, ‘They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight’”.
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Now; that’s how we are to regard each other—as “saints”. But notice next how we are to relate to each other—”in Christ Jesus”. As Paul wrote, “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.”
This has to do with what we might call the “sphere” in which we are to relate to each other. We shouldn’t relate to God’s special, called-out people in the power of the flesh. We should relate to such people “in” Christ—that is, in close dependency upon Christ; taking our stand in the grace of Christ; as people who are redeemed in Christ, who are united to Christ, and who now live by Christ; toward other people who are likewise redeemed in Christ, who are united to Christ, and who now live by Christ. Those who are saints can only be—as Paul says in Philippians 1:1—”saints in Christ Jesus”; and so, we should only “greet every saint in Christ Jesus”.
I think here of what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians 5;
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:14-17).
When you look at me as your brother in Christ, you will see all my faults and failures. But if you see me that way “in Christ”—rather than from the perspective of the flesh—you’ll see me as Christ Himself sees me. And what’s more; if you thus relate to me in the power of Christ yourself, rather than in the power of the flesh, you’ll love me as Christ Himself loves me. And I’ll do the same for you.
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So; we are to regard each other as “saints”, and we are to relate to each other “in Christ”. And notice thirdly that we are to rejoice together in the blessing of “grace”. Paul says, in verse 23, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (or, as some translations have it, “be with your spirit”).
“Grace” refers to God’s unmerited favor—the acceptance in which we stand before Him as a free gift of His love—through Jesus Christ. By grace, through our faith in Jesus, all of our sins have been washed away; and we stand before God as 100% acceptable in His sight. By grace, we have been freely given all that we need for life and godliness through the immeasurable supply of God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus. By grace, we are guaranteed a share in the inheritance of Christ Himself; and will reign with Him forever in eternal glory. When Paul says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all”, he’s basically praying that we will receive, rest in, and rejoice forever over everything that God freely gives us through His Son Jesus Christ.
I think here of what Paul wrote in Romans 5:1-2;
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
None of us—not even the very best of us—can earn that. We can only receive it by faith. But it is poured out upon each of us equally as a free gift of grace. And if that’s how God so richly receives and blesses us—that is, by His grace—then that’s how we need to receive and welcome each other. We need to be a people who truly celebrate the blessings of grace together. We need to be ready and eager to forgive each other. We need to be generous in our love and care for one another. We need to encourage each other to take our stand in God’s grace, and to rejoice together in the rich bounty that is ours by grace.
What a wonderful thing it is to be a part of a community of people who are prevailingly characterized by God’s grace—both in the way they see each other and in the way they treat each other! Regarding each other as “saints”; relating to each other “in Christ”; rejoicing together in God’s “grace”—these are the dynamics that are to characterize our warm welcome and affectionate attitude of “greeting” toward one another!
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Now; as we look further into these three verses, we also see . . .
2. THE THREE DIRECTIONS OF CHURCH BODY ‘GREETING’.
You see; after having established the theological ‘basis’ of our prevailing ‘welcome’ to one another in the body of Christ, we need to go on to put that welcome into action. And Paul expresses the “direction” that “greeting” is sent out in three ways.
First, it’s a greeting that is to go from us to others in the body of Christ. In verse 21, Paul writes to the Philippian believers and says, “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.” The warm attitude of welcome and genuine brotherly affection is to be exhibited by us toward each other here in this body—and indeed, toward all who are in Christ Jesus.
You know; if I may speak frankly, there may be some “saints” around here that you don’t particularly get along with very well. I’m not talking, of course, about issues of sin. If a professing brother or sister in Christ is actively embracing sin, it’s your duty to go to them and graciously confront it. But there might be some brothers or sisters with whom you disagree on lessor issues. You may not particularly like their politics. Or you may not particularly like their personality style. It may be that you disagree with them on some of the “gray areas” of Christian living—practices, or foods, or leisure activities that they feel a liberty before God to enjoy; but that you don’t happen to share. It may even be that the skin color or ethnicity of another brother or sister gets in your way. Well; the Holy Spirit, in His wisdom and in His great love for us, moved the apostle Paul to include that word “every”—”Greet every saint in Christ Jesus”.
This was something that the Philippian believers probably needed to hear. Apparently, there was a problem within that church of two wonderful Christian women—faithful servants of the Lord—who, for whatever reason, were not getting along with each other. Paul had to write to them in Philippians 4:2-3—and perhaps specifically to the pastor of the church—and say;
I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
May God help us to be sure that we are obeying this command ‘at home’; and are truly extending the church body ‘greeting’ from ourselves to others within the body.
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Second, notice that it’s a greeting that is also to go from others to us. In the second half of verse 21, Paul wrote, “The brethren who are with me greet you.” Now; Paul wrote these words while he sat in a prison cell in Rome. And because he goes on to speak of other “saints” who sent their greetings, I take this to mean that Paul was speaking of those in Rome who were faithfully laboring with him in his gospel work and who were serving his needs while he was in prison. This would, no doubt, include Timothy; who was mentioned at the beginning of this letter; but it probably included many whose names we do not know.
And then comes what must have been an amazing and delightful surprise. He goes on to say in verse 22, “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.” Imagine that! Some members of Caesar’s household staff—and here, we’re talking by the way of Nero; the very Caesar in whose prison Paul sat and who would later order Paul to be beheaded—had become believers in Jesus Christ and were now among the saints who sent their greeting! Early on in this letter—in Philippians 1:12-14—Paul wrote;
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
It may be that members of Nero’s imperial household—and perhaps possibly even members of his own family—had heard the gospel and believed! And as Paul wrote down this letter, some of them came along and said, “Paul; would you please also send them our love too?” I think Paul deliberately saved this surprise for last!
And there’s two things to learn from this. First is how we can be the conduit of “greeting” from one group of saints to another. Paul, it seemed, was thrilled to be able to pass on to the Philippian believers the warm welcome and greetings of other believers who loved them. That’s something that we should do as well. And second is how we should not only be ready to greet others warmly in Christ, but also to receive that love from others in the body.
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So; the church body “greeting” is to go from us to others, and from others to us. And finally—and most important of all—it is to go from Jesus Christ to us. Paul—as his closing affirmation at the very end of his letter—says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (v. 23).
Truly, there can be no better wish we could wish upon one another than that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. And indeed; our warm, affectionate, loving spirit of brotherly “greeting” toward each other can never happen unless the grace of our Lord be with us all first.
It’s the desire of our Lord that this attitude of “greeting” prevail among us. In fact, it’s His way of declaring Himself to an unbelieving world. Remember His “new commandment” to us? In John 13—just after He demonstrated His love by washing the disciples feet; and just before He demonstrated it in an even greater way by dying on the cross for us—our Lord said;
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
May we truly demonstrate that we belong to Him by putting Paul’s command into action: “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.”
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HTAE