THE PATTERN, PRACTICE, & PROMISE OF PEACE

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on May 21, 2025 under AM Bible Study |

Wednesday AM Bible Study; May 21, 2025 from Philippians 4:8

Theme: Following the apostle Paul’s example in Christian faith and life will lead to peace.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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The New Testament Book of Philippians is a book that teaches us how we can experience the very joy of Jesus Christ Himself as an ongoing reality in our lives. And Philippians 4:4-9 describes how to put that joy into practical application in daily living. In verses 4-8, Paul wrote;

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things (Philippians 4:4-8).

And in verse 9—as a sort of summary call at the end of that passage—we find these remarkable words. If they aren’t true, then they’re among the most outlandish words ever written. But if they are true, then they provide us with a source of great hope and encouragement. Paul wrote,

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:4-9).

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Now; most sincere Christians would probably be more inclined to say, “If you want to experience the fullness of joy in your life, don’t do what I do! I’m far too imperfect!” But in all honesty, there is a sense in which an older and more mature Christian, who has walked faithfully with the Lord Jesus for many years, would admit that others in the faith do indeed look up to them—watching their life as an example to be followed. And if that’s the case, then out of humble love toward their younger brothers and sisters, and in complete reverence toward the Lord Jesus, they’d take up their role as an example consciously and seriously. There wouldn’t actually be anything prideful about that. As the apostle Peter once wrote to pastors, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3). In Philippians 3:17, Paul even included the example of others when he wrote, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

Nevertheless, there was definitely something special about the example of the apostle Paul that was biblically affirmed to us. In the providence of God, the man formerly known as Saul of Tarsus was uniquely presented to us as the example above all other examples of what it looks like to be a redeemed sinner who walks in this fallen world with Jesus Christ.

Consider that this man Paul wrote at least thirteen letters that the Holy Spirit saw fit to preserve for us in our Bibles as authoritative Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). (Some scholars believe he wrote the Book of Hebrews, which then would make fourteen.) Over two-thirds of the biblical record of the history of the apostolic era in the Book of Acts was devoted to the life, teaching, and ministry of Paul. One of the Gospels—the Gospel of Luke—was written by the missionary companion and historical chronicler of Paul’s ministry. The apostle Peter urged his readers to consider what they had been taught, “as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you” (2 Peter 3:15). The greatest proportion of the inspired content of apostolic theology and Christian conduct that the church has believed and proclaimed over the past two-thousand years has come to us through the life and writings of the apostle Paul.

And what’s more, it seems that Paul himself was very aware of his God-appointed role as our example. He himself once wrote;

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life (1 Timothy 1:12-16).

He wrote to the Christians in the church of Ancient Corinth and told them that,

… though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:15-17).

And this wasn’t because he thought that he was worthy to be considered an example in and of himself. He clearly said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

We should certainly look to the many mature believers that God has put into our lives and imitate their godly examples. And where we can, we should also seek to be godly examples that others can follow. But we’re meant to take Paul’s words in Philippians 4:9 literally. We’re meant to see him uniquely as the God-authorized example of what it looks like for a redeemed sinner to live for Jesus Christ.

As the words of this one verse teach us, following the apostle Paul’s example in Christian faith and life will lead to peace.

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Now; this verse isn’t merely giving us a suggestion. It should be understood as a gentle command. And we can understand this command in three aspects: (1) its pattern, (2) its practice, and (3) its promise.

So, first, let’s consider …

1. THE PATTERN OF THIS COMMAND.

The pattern of this command is presented to us through the experience of Paul himself. He wrote to the Philippians concerning the things “which you learned and received and heard and saw in me …” And so, here are four things—in two broad categories—that the Philippian believers witnessed in the life of Paul as a pattern to follow.

First, he mentioned the things which they “learned”. The word that Paul uses is one that speaks of learning doctrinal content about the Christian life in an intentional way—that is, something that is taught in such a way as to become an acquired custom or habit. There’s a difference, for example, between learning from a menu that such a thing as ‘good cooking’ exists and learning under the apprenticeship of a master chief how actually to be ‘a good cook’. This would constitute Paul’s direct instructions to them concerning the matters of the Christian life.

And second, he mentions the things which they “received”. This would involve the things that he received as revelation from God for him to pass on to the people of God in his apostolic role. As he said in 1 Corinthians 11:23, concerning the Lord’s supper, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you …”; as he wrote later in 1 Corinthians 15:3 with respect to the gospel he preached, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received …” Paul was careful to say, in Galatians 1:11-12, “ But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

When he puts these first two things together—that is, whatever things they “learned” and “received” from him—he gives us what we might call the ‘classroom-lecture’ matters of the Christian life. But it’s really not enough for us to learn only from a lecture in the classroom. We also need to see live demonstrations of what we’re taught. And so, he goes on to mention the ‘let-me-show-you’ matters—that is, the things that he actually demonstrated to them in practical action.

First, he reminded them of whatever things they “heard” of him. These would have been the things that had been reported concerning his doings by those who had given a report of them. And second, he reminded them of the things that they had actually “seen” in him when he was in their presence. In Philippians 1:29-30 for example, he urged the Christians in Philippi to be patient in their suffering, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”

In Paul’s life, there was no contradiction between the ‘classroom lectures’ and the ‘let-me-show-you’ examples. He actually did what he taught. He actually practiced what he preached. The Philippian believers not only “learned” and “received” things from him in instruction, but they also “heard” and “seen” the same things lived out by him in action. This was what has made Paul such a great example to all Christians throughout the centuries of what it means to be a poor redeemed sinner who follows Jesus. What things we can learn or receive or hear or see in Paul provide us with the pattern of this command.

Next, notice …

2. THE PRACTICE OF THIS COMMAND.

He wrote, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do …” These aren’t bits and pieces of ‘classroom-lecture’ and ‘let-me-show-you’ matters that are simply to be kept stored away in our spiritual notebooks. They are to be put into action in the arena of daily living.

The main verb of command that Paul used in this verse is one that referred to putting something into practice in an ongoing manner. In the previous verse, he told his brothers and sisters what to ‘meditate’ on—things that they were to give ‘focused consideration’ to. But Paul didn’t just tell his brothers and sisters to think on these things. He actually demonstrated them in his own life so they could put those things into practice and perform them as a regular habit of life.

What might those things have been? With a man like Paul, a full list would be impossible. But consider at least a few suggestions:

• For example, in the first chapter of his letter, Paul wrote about how God was using his time of imprisonment to spread the gospel. He rejoiced in the fact that “the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel …” (1:12). What an example he gave us of having confidence in the sovereignty of God to work through our trials! We’re to do as he did in our own trials.

• As he sat in prison, he didn’t know for certain whether he would be released from prison, or would be executed. But he had great confidence in Christ that if he lived he’d be able to serve God’s people; and that if he were put to death he’d go to be with the Lord. And so he could say, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). He maintained a victorious outlook in suffering. We’re to do as he did in our own times of suffering.

• In Chapter 2, he talked about following the self-sacrificing example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus submitted Himself to the death of the cross in order to be our Redeemer; and so, Paul was able to say, “Yes, and if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (2:17). Paul was willing, like his Lord, to be completely poured out of his rights and comforts—and even of his life—in order to advance the faith of his brethren. We’re to do as he did, and be willing to be poured out sacrificially for the progress of one another’s faith in Jesus.

• In Chapter 3, he talked about how he used to boast in his own works of righteousness. But he went on to explain how he forsook all those works and counted them loss for Christ. He wrote, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith …” (3:8-9). We’re to do as he did, and keep our faith in God’s grace through Christ alone.

• Also in Chapter 3, he spoke of how he didn’t consider himself to have been perfected yet. He knew he hadn’t arrived. But as he said in 3:13-14, “one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He strove daily to lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of him. We’re to do as he did, and keep pressing on to maturity.

We could go on to speak of Paul’s example of devotion to Scripture, his faithfulness in prayer, his preaching in the face of danger, and his sacrifice in service to God’s people. If we want to respond rightly to the things that Paul’s example sets before us, we must take them out of the realm of theory alone, and put them to work in the realm of practice. As he himself emphasized to his readers, we must “do” them.

And finally, look at why. The reason that Paul would have wanted his readers to imitate his walk was not so that they would experience him; but rather so that they would experience Someone else. This leads us, finally, to consider …

3. THE PROMISE OF THIS COMMAND.

He wrote, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do …”; and the result would be, “and the God of peace will be with you.” In verse 7, he told his readers that if they would let their concerns be known to God, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” But here, he tells them that they won’t just experience “peace” as a thing in and of itself. He promises that the God of peace Himself—the very God who gives peace, and who is the source of all peace—will be with them to give that peace to them, to fulfill it in them, and to protect it for them. It’s as if our wonderful Savior and Lord gives us His own peace; and then stays right there with us to make sure we keep on experiencing that unending supply of peace that only He can minister to us. As He Himself said,

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

If we do as Paul did, then we will experience the presence of the very God of peace as he himself so victoriously experienced it.

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; following the example that God has set before us through His servant Paul isn’t really an optional matter. It’s a command. It’s a gentle command given in love; but it is nevertheless a command. Paul has been given by God to us poor, weak, fallen, redeemed sinners as the authoritative pattern of the Christian life. And if we do as he has urged us to do, and put his own example to us into practice through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we will experience in our own daily lives the very peace of Jesus Christ that Paul himself experienced.

May God help us to be good students—and more than that, good practitioners—of Paul’s example of life to us. And as a result, may the blessing he once uttered be true of us:

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (Romans 15:33).

AE