Our upcoming Bible passage is:

Php 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Php 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

Php 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

An introduction to this week’s sermon:

The Book Of Life

It is a sure gospel promise; soon, ‘the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ … shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body’. Believing this gives Christ’s church hope and confidence for what lies ahead, notwithstanding the various hindrances we encounter in our Christian life. Paul begins our portion today with a ‘therefore’, calling you and me to stand fast, stay strong and persevere in faith, knowing that Christ’s promises of eternal glory will soon be realised.

Dearly beloved

The church at Philippi was near to Paul’s heart and he expresses his love multiple times in the clearest terms. These were his brethren in Christ, brothers and sisters of a spiritual kind, loved dearly by the Apostle. They were men and women who had been converted under the Apostle’s preaching and who afterwards had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in his ministry. He longed to be with them again that they might renew fellowship and share in the joy of the Lord. These people were precious to him, being both an enduring testimony to the gospel of grace and a seal, or hallmark, of his personal ministry.

Real people

Here we are introduced to several members of the Philippian congregation; Euodias, Syntyche and Clemens. The first two names appear to be women, the third a man. Paul also speaks of one whom he calls, ‘yokefellow’ who may be another worker or Epaphroditus the messenger sent by the church to Paul at Rome and bearer of this return letter to the church. All these were committed, dedicated believers who had laboured with Paul in the gospel. It is delightful to note the personal warmth of Paul’s affection towards these folk.

Doctrinally sound

There appears to have been no serious doctrinal errors at Philippi. Paul’s letter contains no censure or rebuke, no instruction to rectify a deviation from the true gospel, no direction to correct a point of confusion. Only here do we discover a slight breeze of disturbance. Some personal contention had arisen amongst a few key members all with whom Paul had previously worked closely, perhaps concerning some church practice or priorities for ministry and service.

Living in peace

It is not clear if the women mentioned were at odds with each other or with the church in general but the disagreement had lasted some time and news of the division was serious enough to have been mentioned to the Apostle in Rome. He appeals to those concerned to resolve their dispute amicably and ‘to be of the same mind in the Lord’. No doubt the lesson here is that in matters of practice where differences in opinion are held, efforts should be made to resolve issues speedily with each party willing to compromise for the sake of unity and peace. All concerned are called upon to aid in the work of reconciliation.

The Book of Life

Paul advocates for unity of mind and purpose in the Lord Jesus by sweetly reminding these brethren that their ‘names are in the book of life’. It is a powerful and precious argument. Our interest in the covenant of grace and our salvation by Christ’s redeeming work is the source of all the church’s peace and happiness. To have our names recorded in the Lamb’s book of life reveals us to be objects of God’s mercy and heirs of everlasting life. All we are in this world and everything we do in our service for Christ ought to be measured by this privilege. Gospel, not law, is the great motivator of God’s people.

A metaphor for electing grace

I am sure Paul’s phrase concerning ‘the book of life’ is shorthand for the doctrine of election which Paul had preached during his time among these believers at Philippi. He was reminding them of the source of all their blessedness, namely, God’s personal, individual choice of them in Christ before the foundation of the world. The book of life is a metaphor for God’s ordaining purpose by which regenerating life, new life and eternal life are freely bestowed upon the Father’s chosen people in Jesus Christ by God the Holy Ghost.

Amen