A Shared Vision for the Gospel-Worthy Life: Lessons from Philippians 1:1–2

Written by Joshua Mills

At a Banner of Truth conference, there was once a Whitefield Cup soccer tournament. One team arrived in full gear, fully equipped and ready for the field. Our team, however, had no gear at all. Yet what we did have was a coach who gave us a “shared vision” of how we were to play together as a team. That is Paul’s aim in the letter to the Philippian church.

Before we dive into Philippians 1:1–2, it is helpful to briefly set before us Paul’s burden in the context of this letter. D. A. Carson describes it as a “self-sacrificing conformity to a shared vision.” This “shared vision,” as Carson highlights, is a resolution to “put the Gospel first” in four specific areas:

• Put the fellowship of the gospel at the center of your relationships with believers.
• Put the priorities of the gospel at the center of your prayer life.
• Put the advancement of the gospel at the center of your aspirations.
• Put the converts of the gospel at the center of your principled self-denial.

The whole structure and flow of Philippians is built around two major bookends centered upon the word “only.” If we look at Philippians 1:27 and 3:16–17, we discover that everything before, between, and after these verses hangs upon them. The burden of this epistle is how the gospel worthy life is lived out in the life of the local church. The question naturally follows: What does this life look like among the people of God?

We need to remember that this is a life never lived in our own strength. The source and power of the Christian life is found in looking unto Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Indeed, the whole letter to the Philippians is a portrait of what the life of Christ looks like in the life of Christ’s people.

Notice how Paul begins his letter in verses 1–2. In only two verses, he mentions Christ three times. In these opening lines, Paul sets before us three realities that we must grasp and remember:

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Remember Who We Are

Have you ever “name dropped” before? Perhaps you are in a conversation and someone mentions R. C. Sproul, and another replies, “Oh yes, R. C. and I were best friends!” Name dropping often does two things. First, it almost elevates the person spoken of into a kind of superhuman figure. Second, it attempts to elevate ourselves onto that same level.

Yet when Paul wrote this letter with Timothy at his side, he did not “name drop.” In other epistles, Paul rightfully reminded the churches that he was an apostle, set apart by Christ and for Christ. But as he wrote to the Philippians, he simply reminded them that he is but a servant of Christ:

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:1).

To be more literal, Paul called himself a slave of Christ. He was but a lowly servant for Christ in the Church of Christ. This man Paul was no lone ranger. He understood that the Christian life requires companions. He realized that he would be more effective in the Kingdom of God with others laboring alongside him.

Even the title he gave himself in verse 1 reflected the spirit of humble fellowship. One man once observed that “the absence of Paul’s title of ‘apostle’ is evidence of the warm love that he had for those in Philippi.” We catch a glimpse of this love in Philippians 1:7–8. Paul loved Christ, and Christ was his life. Because he loved Christ, he also possessed a deep love for Christ’s bride.

Paul longed to serve the Philippian church for their “progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:25). The gospel is powerfully displayed and advanced when each believer is resolved to labor for the “progress and joy in the faith” of those around them. We are servants of Jesus Christ, and we are servants of one another.

Beloved, this is the highest calling. Once we were slaves to sin, but now, by the grace of God, we are slaves of Jesus Christ.

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:43–45

We serve Jesus Christ who bled and died for us, and we serve His blood-bought bride. May each of us be able to look upon every person in the church and say with Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:24, “We work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.” We must remember who we are. We are a church that labors for the glory of God and the joy of all His people.

Remember Who You Are

Second, it is as though Paul said: Remember who you are.

Paul gave a specific reminder to every Christian within the local church. Notice who Paul addressed in this letter:

“To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons” (Philippians 1:1).

The church was founded in the city of Philippi, a Roman colony in the province of Macedonia. In Acts 16, we are shown how the Philippian church was planted. Paul received the Macedonian call in Acts 16:9–10. The first convert in Philippi was a woman named Lydia. Later, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, yet the Lord sovereignly saved the Philippian jailer. By Acts 16:40, the believers had begun gathering together in Lydia’s home.

When Paul wrote this letter, he found himself imprisoned. The church had recently sent him a financial gift through Epaphroditus (Philippians 4:18). Yet during this same season, false teachers known as the Judaizers had entered the scene. Within the church there were growing tensions. Envy, jealousy, anxiety, disagreement, and distrust had begun to mark the fellowship.

How relevant that sounds for many churches today. In an age of comparison, division, personality-driven ministry culture, and self-promotion, the church must once again remember that our unity is found not in personalities, preferences, or platforms, but in Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Yet it is remarkable to consider the title Paul still gives to these believers:

“To all the saints in Christ Jesus.”

Paul used the Greek word hagiois to describe the Christians in Philippi. The word means “holy ones.”

How can sinners such as we be called holy ones? Isaiah 64:6 reveals the true condition of our fallen nature:

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”

The word “saint” is not being used here in the same manner as it is often used in Roman Catholic teaching. Rather, Paul grounds this holiness in union with Christ. Notice the little preposition “in.” We are saints in Christ Jesus. Christ Himself is our righteousness. Christ in us is our holiness.

Al Martin once illustrated union with Christ in this way. Imagine a belt fastened around your waist. We enter this world united to Adam. Bound to him, we are united to sin, death, and unholiness. We cannot get out of this union on our own.

But here is the hope of the gospel. By grace alone, through faith alone, God unites sinners to Himself. By grace, through faith, we are united to the holy Son of God, Jesus Christ. There is an unbreakable and unshakeable belt of love wrapped around you now in Christ.

The moment a sinner looks to Christ, his filthy rags of sin are imputed to Christ as though they were Christ’s own, though He committed no sin. Also, Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to the sinner as though it were his own, though the sinner never committed a righteous deed on his own.

How wonderful! Beloved, if you are trusting in Jesus Christ, you are justified by grace alone. Though indwelling sin still remains until glory, Paul draws our attention to the new identity we now possess in Christ.

John Piper wrote: “Paul calls Christians saints — that is, holy ones, consecrated ones, set-apart ones, being-made-holy ones…”

John Bunyan once said, “My name was once ‘Grace-less,’ but now it is Christian.” How can this be? Only because of our union with Jesus Christ. Remember who you are in Christ.

Remember Who God Is

Finally, in Paul’s opening greeting, it is as though Paul said to the Philippians: Remember who God is.

Paul closed his greeting with these familiar words:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:2).

This warm-hearted greeting serves a twofold purpose.

First, we see God in His converting grace and peace. Paul reminds us how we became Christians. Not by might, nor by power, but by the grace of God — a free and undeserved gift. Through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are no longer at war with God, but now possess peace with God.

Second, we see God in His sustaining grace and peace for our daily Christian living. We cannot live the Christian life without God’s enabling grace. When we are troubled and cast down, we need the peace of God to flood our souls.

John Newton once said:
“Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.”

Such truths remind us that the Christian life, from beginning to end, is wholly dependent upon the grace of God in Christ. We are weak, feeble, frail children of dust on our own. We must lean upon His everlasting arms each day for grace and peace, power and strength.

Reflection Questions

• Am I laboring for the joy and spiritual growth of other believers?
• Do I view myself primarily as a servant of Christ?
• Is my identity shaped more by my failures or by my union with Christ?
• Am I depending daily upon God’s sustaining grace and peace?

Further Study

• Philippians 1
• Hebrews 12:1–2
• Mark 10:43–45
• Romans 5
• D. A. Carson — Basics for Believers

Conclusion

Have you caught the heartbeat of Paul’s letter to the Philippians? The only way we will have a shared vision of the gospel worthy life is if our hearts are set upon the God of the gospel.

Though the opening verses of Philippians are brief, each verse is profound. In them, Paul lovingly called the church to remember three foundational realities: remember who we are, remember who you are, and remember who God is.

A church captivated by Christ will be a church united in humility, joy, service, and gospel purpose. Only then shall we live together in joyful conformity to a shared gospel vision.

For more from Joshua Mills visit his page here or at our YouTube.