The Fruits Of Righteousness
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 17th May service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Php 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Php 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The Fruits Of Righteousness
The Apostle Paul was frequently in prayer for his brothers and sisters in Philippi. He rejoiced over them for their faith in Jesus Christ. He believed the Lord had begun the good work of grace in their souls. He was confident this work would be continued until the day of Christ’s return. Paul gave thanks to God for the Philippian believers’ joint fellowship with him in the gospel. He rejoiced over them. He believed they were genuinely saved and thanked God for their testimony – and yet he persisted in prayer. Prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ is a precious and continuing privilege.
Promise of grace
Paul had good reason to feel positive concerning his friends’ spiritual state. It was meet, he says, it was appropriate, for him to do so. His assurance was not wishful thinking. It was a suitable response to their professed trust in the Lord Jesus. They had confessed Christ as Saviour – remember Lydia and the Philippian Jailor. Paul believed, as every convicted sinner should believe, that all who come by faith to Christ shall be saved. All who come are secure in the palm of God’s hand for time and eternity.
The love of Christ
The Apostle’s confidence rested upon the faithfulness of God and the deep, deep love of Jesus, what Paul calls ‘the bowels of Christ’. This is Christ’s heartfelt and tender affection for His people. This is the deep fountain of divine love from which we all may draw personal assurance. There is no greater love than that a man lays down his life for his friends and Paul believed Christ had died for these men and women. His own love for the Philippians and theirs for him grew out of Christ’s love for them both. Brotherly love is a spiritual grace laid up in believers’ hearts by Christ Himself.
Evidence of grace
Yet, too, the attitude and conduct of the Philippians also supplied the Apostle with great encouragement and evidence for the genuine spiritual transformation that marked the lives of these people. He testifies with a strong oath, calling on God as his witness, for the bond of love he felt for them. They were partakers of the same grace Paul possessed; they laboured in the same work to support, defend and affirm the same gospel; they were bound to the same Lord and united in the same cause.
Thanksgiving with requests
And so Paul prayed. Because these men and women were his brothers and sisters in Christ, because he was confident of their spiritual standing and because he loved them in all sincerity in Christ he prayed for their practical needs and greater spiritual growth. He prayed that their love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in judgment, that is, that their special knowledge of Christ would deepen as they learned more of Him and His great work. He prayed that their judgment might develop, that their spiritual senses might be sharper, more attuned to discern and promote the truth.
Spiritual growth
Further, Paul asked that the Lord might enhance their ability to approve things that are excellent. It is a mark of spiritual maturity to be able to discern right and wrong, good and bad and distinguish between those things that prosper a believer’s soul and those that hinder a Christian’s walk and testimony. The apostle will return to this thought in chapter four when he encourages the Philippians to think on such things as are honest, pure, virtuous and of good report so that their lives may be sincere and without offence toward God and men.
Practical good works
But this is not all, still the Apostle prayed. He asked the Lord to fill his brethren with the fruits of righteousness, that their lives might be characterised by generosity, filled with a bounty of kindness, a harvest of good works. This is not mere altruism and the philanthropy of the rich. It is our Christ-inspired ministry to the Lord’s people and service to our neighbours. It is literally the fruit of God’s righteousness in the soul of a believer and it is practical. It is working out the life of Christ in our own lives for the glory of God and good of those around us. It is kindness without, inspired by Christ within.
First the root then the fruit
Paul’s wishes for his friends are both spiritual and practical. Good works are the fruit, not the source, not the cause of righteousness. Paul prayed for these things out of sincere love and a desire for the spiritual good of his friends in Philippi. But ultimately Paul prayed for the greater glory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s grace and gifts to His people motivate and facilitate our service for the cause of Christ. They inspire love for our neighbours unto the glory and praise of God.
Amen
Hymn 198
Faith’s View. Eph. 2. 4-8; 1 Chron. 17. 16, 17
J. Newton C.M.
1
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
2
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
3
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
4
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.
5
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine:
But God, who called me here below,
Will be for ever mine.
Hymn 1082
“That your love may abound yet more and more.” Phil. 1. 9
J. Swain C.M.
1
How sweet, how heavenly is the sight,
When those that love the Lord,
In one another’s peace delight,
And so fulfil his word!
2
When each can feel his brother’s sigh,
And with him bear a part;
When sorrow flows from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart.
3
When free from envy, scorn, and pride,
Our wishes all above,
Each can his brother’s failings hide,
And show a brother’s love.
4
When love in one delightful stream
Through every bosom flows;
When union sweet and dear esteem,
In every action glows!
5
Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above;
And he’s an heir of heaven that finds
His bosom glow with love.
The Apostle Paul prayed for his friends in Philippi that they might grow in gospel knowledge and spiritual judgment. He prayed they might learn to approve things that are excellent. He prayed they might be filled with the fruits of God’s righteousness in their hearts. What he prayed for them is a prayer of us all. Let us add our Amens!