Think On These Things
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 27th September service and hymns are below.
_________________________________
Our principal verses are:
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Think On These Things
Despite again commencing our passage today with a ‘Finally’, the Apostle’s intention is not to bring his epistle to an end, at least not quite yet. Rather, he is bringing to an end his words of direction for living in the joy of the Lord, living out the peace of God amongst our fellow believers, and witnessing to those around us in the world. Paul is stirring up those gospel principles of truth and holiness implanted in the hearts of redeemed men and women who have been transformed by grace and converted to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Old to new
Pleasing and serving ourself is the natural state of fallen sinners in this world. Even when we are born again by grace, lingering sinful passions continue to attack the new spiritual man. Our flesh will never be completely rid of its old desires until it, too, is renewed by Christ in the resurrection. Nevertheless, all who know by faith that their names are written in the Book of Life aspire to live at peace with their brethren, rejoicing in the Lord’s mercy, moderating their behaviour in this world according to the example of the Saviour and His apostles.
What we are in Christ
It is a delight to observe how the Apostle Paul steers clear of laying down rules of conduct while inspiring high principles of godly behaviour. The Apostle never commands us to ‘do’ in order to ‘become’. Instead, he reminds us of our new life in Christ and the nearness of the Saviour to us. He emphasises what we are already by our union together with Christ. He encourages us to live accordingly, as Christ’s church and people. He promotes service for the glory of God, the honour of the Saviour and the support and relief of our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Eight high ideals
The Apostle would have the Philippians think upon a number of high ideals which he lists for their guidance and improvement. These are things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, reputable, virtuous and praiseworthy. However, we must not imagine Paul is promoting some kind of man-centred morality. It is the peace of God, the peace borne of salvation in Jesus Christ, that keep our hearts and minds properly focused upon those spiritual qualities that flow from Christ and are to be worked out in gospel service. As we saw in a previous chapter, it is the mind of Christ in a believer that enables us to love one another and esteem one another better than ourselves.
Christ the fountain
It is only in the Lord Jesus that we discover the full beauty and perfection of these spiritual virtues. Only Christ is the Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The purest truth amongst men always carries a degree of falsehood. Every claim of honesty ever made by a man springs from a heart that is innately deceitful and desperately wicked. In this world all justice is partial; all purity is besmirched. From Eden to Calvary, when natural men and women find something perfect they either corrupt it or crucify it. Sin always makes ugly what God first made good.
Good tree means good fruit
All knowledge of that which is virtuous and praiseworthy flows from Christ alone and can be known only in Him. It is to Him we must look and upon Him we must meditate. Only when a child of God is called by grace and quickened by the Holy Ghost is he able to know what is holy and true. Only by faith and the indwelling power of Jesus Christ can the life, walk and conversation of a sinner be sanctified, purified and converted. First the change, then the consequence. First the transformation, then the fruit. The Lord Jesus told us, ‘every good tree bringeth forth good fruit’. He has made the tree good, and therefore its fruit good.
Follow the faithful
Paul closes this short section by reminding the Philippians of ‘Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard’. He is speaking about the gospel preached to them by the Apostle himself and lived out before them by his pattern of conduct. He encourages God’s people to follow his example and do what he does. That is, to trust in Jesus Christ alone for all salvation, forgiveness and righteousness. It is only in trusting Christ that ‘the God of peace shall be with you’.
Amen
Hymn 24
The Witnessing and Sealing Spirit. Rom. 8. 14, 16
I. Watts C.M.
1
Why should the children of a King
Go mourning all their days?
Great Comforter! descend and bring
Some tokens of thy grace.
2
Dost thou not dwell in all the saints,
And seal them heirs of heaven?
When wilt thou banish my complaints,
And show my sins forgiven?
3
Assure my conscience of her part
In the Redeemer’s blood;
And bear thy witness with my heart,
That I am born of God.
4
Thou art the earnest of his love,
The pledge of joys to come;
And thy soft wings, celestial Dove,
Will safe convey me home.
Hymn 60
Chosen to Salvation. Rom. 11. 5; 2 Thess. 2. 13
R. Burnham 148th
1
All the elected train
Were chosen in their Head,
To all eternal good,
Before the worlds were made;
Chosen to know the Prince of Peace,
And taste the riches of his grace.
2
Chosen to faith and hope,
To purity and love,
To all the life of God,
To all the things above;
Chosen to prove salvation sure;
Chosen to reign for evermore.
3
Nothing but grace appears
In this eternal choice;
It charms the humble saint,
And makes the soul rejoice;
Its endless glories shine so bright,
It makes obedience all delight.
4
Now, Lord, to us reveal
The all-confirming grace;
And may we all pursue
The shining paths of peace;
Run in the way to joys above,
And ever sing electing love.
The Apostle Paul directs the Lord's people to think upon the Lord Jesus Christ for He, alone, is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, reputable, virtuous and worthy of praise.