Philippians 1:1 - Part 4 - Perspective


Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:“ Philippians 1:1 NIV

In the previous three devotions, I looked at the following thoughts in the first sentence in verse 1:

  • Paul and Timothy - The Posture
  • Servants - The Position
  • Servants of Christ Jesus - The Privilege.
I am still not able to take my mind off verse one. There is one more thought that strikes me as important.

God's holy people - The Perspective or rather God's Perspective

God sees us as holy in Christ. The city of Philippi was entrenched in various form of idol worship and deep in syncretism. Emperor worship ws in the forefront as many Romans occupied this city. In Acts 16 , we read about how Paul delivered a demon possessed girl. The worship of the goddess Diana was also prevalent in this city. And of course immorality also prevailed.

Most of the believers in the Philippi church came from these sinful, evil practices. They, like us, were from the kingdom of darkness. The Apostle Paul describes the people of these kingdom in Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 

Yet, Paul describes them as "holy people". This is how God look at us. The moment we come into the union with Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are a new creation. God looks at us through the work of His son on the cross. We are justified by faith. We are made the righteousness of God and as Peter says is 1 Peter 2:9, we area holy nation. 

No matter what our past can be, no matter what people think of us, no matter what we think of our selves, in the eyes of God, we are a holy people. Hallelujah. 

That's our position in His presence. And having been declared holy, we have the responsibility to walk in Holiness as 1 Peter 1:16 says  - because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Now that is a tall order. Is this even humanly possible? Not in our strength but with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthened me"

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