COMMENTARY ON PHILIPPIANS
LESSON #06
T E X T
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ . . . ” (Phil 1:9-10, NKJV)
INTRODUCTION
The heart of the Lord Jesus was resident in the apostle. Jesus prayed for those who would believe on Him through the word of His Apostles (John 17:20-21). Now Paul joins that prayer, providing details not revealed in Christ’s supplication. The reason for the elaboration is obvious. Paul is not only relating how he prays, he is teaching the saints where to place their focus, and what to expect. In this prayer we are at the very heart of the Kingdom. We are being exposed to the purpose of God, the objective of salvation, and the effectiveness of grace. In short, these words reflect the real meaning of walking in the Spirit and living by faith.
ABOUNDING LOVE
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more . . . ”(KJV). In salvation, the love of God is “shed abroad,” or poured, into our hearts (Rom 5:5). That love, however, is “perfected,” or brought to maturity, in the believer (1 John 2:5). This is a principle of the Kingdom that must not escape our attention. What we receive from God does not remain static within us, but increases. For example, faith is “obtained” (2 Pet 1:1), and is to be“increased” (1 Cor 10:15). We “receive” Christ (John 1:12), and yet He is“formed” within us, causing us to become increasingly like Him (Gal 4:19). In the parables of the “talents” and the “pounds,” the Lord revealed the necessity of this Kingdom increase (Matt 25:15-28; Lk 19:13-25). A professing Christian that is not growing, is drawing back to perdition (Heb 10:38-39). Spiritual life is manifested in root going downward and fruit upward (Isa 37:31). Where this does not take place, there is no hope of being conformed to the image of Christ, an absolute requisite for glory.
The expression of this verse is impressively strong. There is nothing casual about it. The love they have received from God is said to be their love because they are stewards of it. For the same reason, faith is called “your faith” (Rom 1:8), fruit is called “your fruit” (Rom 6:22), and righteousness is called “your righteousness” (2 Cor 9:10). Believers have entered into the matter of salvation with the God of salvation.
Because “love is of God” (1 John 4:7), Paul prays that it would “abound yet more and more.” Love is a Divine quality that will never find a leveling-off point in the believer. Further, it is not simply to be found in us, but to abound, excel, increase, and be found in abundance. The power of this “love”is seen in the following statement concerning faith. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (Gal 5:6). Love, in this case, is the vehicle through which faith works, or is productive. An abounding love, therefore, becomes the occasion for the effective expression of faith.
Paul does not simply exhort the Philippians to abound in love, he PRAYS they will do so. The phrase “more and more” denotes the increasing quality found in all spiritual graces. It speaks of ever increasing enlargement. It is another way of saying “grow up into Him into all things” (Eph 4;15). This is the process involved in being “changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18), or going “from strength to strength” (Psa 84:7).
This love includes, but involves more than, brotherly affiliations. This is primarily our love for God (1 John 4:21)–a robust craving for God Himself. It also includes “the love of the truth” (2 Thess 2:10)–a hearty appetite and preference for the truth of God. It also includes the love “of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 6:24)–a fervent longing to know Him and be with Him.
The objects of such love are like a vast and unfathomable ocean–without limit. They cry for more of us, more of our affection, and more of our devotion. There is no place in spiritual life for settling down–no place where love ceases to abound, or becomes listless and monotonous. Let us join in this prayer by supplication for others, and abounding in love ourselves.
KNOWLEDGE, JUDGMENT, AND APPROVAL
“ . . . in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent . . . ” (KJV). The results of an abounding love show the exceeding greatness of this prayer. Here is an observation of which flesh is not capable. The desired result of abounding love is not found the realm of emotion. It is not even found in the area of good deeds. Both of these will be present, but neither of them is dominant. The objective desired is“knowledge” and “all judgment,” or discernment.
The “knowledge” of reference is not academic, but spiritual. It is called in Colossians, “the knowledge of His will” (Col 1:9). This is nothing less than an acquaintance with the Person and purpose of God as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul referred to this when he spoke of his unrelenting quest to“know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). This is produced by the abounding love for which Paul prays.
Here is another way of saying we will not appropriate the required knowledge if we do not love it and pursue it. There is no Kingdom advance that is not preceded by a fervent longing for the same. It is not possible to lay hold on the knowledge if our love does not “abound more and more.” The explanation for Scriptural and spiritual illiteracy within the professed church is found at this point. Their love for God, Christ, and the truth is deficient.
Still, there is a reason why this knowledge is required–why the outline of Divine purpose must be seen. Because we are in a hostile world, facing a cunning adversary, we must be able to discern or judge what is around us. We cannot be “ignorant” of Satan’s “devices,” or unable to recognize the hand of the Lord. Solemnly we are admonished, “Be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph 5:17). The Apostle did not set up a workshop to teach people how to avoid being unwise. Rather, he prayed their love would “abound yet more and more.” Defective hearts are the cause for all spiritual deficiency.
Now we come to the bottom line, so to speak. The prayer for abounding love was in order to the obtainment of knowledge and discernment. However, that learning and perception would equip them to “approve the things that are excellent.” The word “approve” means more than mere acquiescence or intellectual sanction. To “approve” something is to test it and find it to be good. The experience is like that of Jonathan, who tasted a little of the forbidden honey, and found it to enlighten his eyes (1 Sam 14:29).
Elsewhere Scripture refers to this same process in these words. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:2). All aorund us are “things” provided by the Lord. They are necessary to wage a successful warfare and run a victorious race. The procurement of them, however, requires an abounding love, discernment, and a preference for them. It is not possible to approve of them if we do not see them. Too, it is not possible to see them if we do not love them. Additionally, it is not possible to have a heart for them without possessing abounding love.
SINCERE AND WITHOUT OFFENSE
“ . . . that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ”(KJV). The gravity of our text is seen in the expression of ultimate desire: Sincerity and without offense till the day of Christ. The word “sincerity”literally means judged by sunlight, or tested as genuine. The idea is that of holding a bottle of liquid up to the sunlight to see if any contaminants are visible. Joshua admonished the Israelites to be “in sincerity and in truth”(Josh 24:14). Paul exhorted the Corinthians to serve the Lord “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor 5:8). This is “godly sincerity” and is confirmed by a good conscience (2 Cor 1:12). If one questions the validity of sincerity, remember a special blessing is pronounced upon “all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Eph 6:24).
The expression “without offense” touches the heart. It will not allow for an indifferent attitude toward sin, or the possession of a cold and lifeless heart. You may recall the time when Jesus rebuked Peter, saying he was “an offense” unto Him” (Matt 16:23). Too, it was a single “offense” that plunged the entire human race into sin (Rom 5:15,17,18,20). How marvelous!-- to be“without offense” for any length of time. No mark against us, no Divine displeasure, nothing in us with which the Lord is annoyed or disturbed!
Do you remember when David sinned with Bathsheba, also having her husband sent to his death? It is written, “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Sam 11:27). Zechariah spoke to Israel of God being“sore displeased with your fathers” (Zech 1:2). The opposite of displeasing the Lord is being “without offense.” It should be stated here that salvation makes full provision for this condition. “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
The duration of this blessed state is “till the day of Christ.” That means as long as we are in this world, or until Jesus comes, it is possible to offend the Lord–to be found outside the circumference of His approval. “The day of Christ” is the day of His appearing (1 Tim 6:14), revelation (2 Thess 1:7), and showing (1 Tim 6:15). Until then, we must commit ourselves to resisting the devil and knowing the Lord.
The prayer of the Apostle reveals something of the intricacies related to maintaining a soul that can stand up under Divine scrutiny, and being without offense. This will be accomplished to the precise degree that our love abounds yet more and more. It will come only as we are adept at approving what is excellent–what will stand the test of eternity. “Knowledge and judgment”must be strengths of we are to survive.
One final word. The fact that Paul prays for these things confirms they really come from God. They are not the products of mere human activity, although such involvement is essential. It is ever true, “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psa 127:1). Unless a wave of Divine activity comes over the child of God, he will not be equal to the challenges he faces. Knowing this, Paulo prayed as zealously as he preached. He supplicated as eagerly as he exhorted. He knew the nature of salvation, as well as the intensity of the battle into which it thrusts us.
HoMeScHoOlInG qUeStIoNs - Philippians 1:1
1. In our text, Paul prays that our love would abound still _____________
and ________________________.
2. Name two things we should love (page 1, paragraph 5) ____________ and ___________________.
3. Our love is to abound more and more “in _________________ and all judgment.
4. After reading this lesson, what do you think “judgment” is __________
________________________________________________________
5. Our text refers to us ________________________ things that are “excellent.”
6. What are some “excellent things”? ___________________________
_______________________________________________________
7. According to our lesson, what is “sincerity” (page 4, paragraph 1). ___
________________________________________________________
8. We are to be _________________ offense until the ______ of Christ. What does that mean to you? ________________________________
_______________________________________________________
HoMeScHoOlInG qUeStIoNs - Philippians 1:1
1. In our text, Paul prays that our love would abound still _____________
and ________________________.
2. Name two things we should love (page 1, paragraph 5) ____________ and ___________________.
3. Our love is to abound more and more “in _________________ and all judgment.
4. After reading this lesson, what do you think “judgment” is __________
________________________________________________________
5. Our text refers to us ________________________ things that are “excellent.”
6. What are some “excellent things”? ___________________________
_______________________________________________________
7. According to our lesson, what is “sincerity” (page 4, paragraph 1). ___
________________________________________________________
8. We are to be _________________ offense until the ______ of Christ. What does that mean to you? ________________________________
_______________________________________________________