INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Background to Philippians…
The Apostle Paul wrote the epistle (personal letter) (1:1) to the Philippian church, probably during his imprisonment in Rome. The letter was written from a heart of love and concern for the Philippians. Due to Paul’s imprisonment, he could not personally visit with the church so he sent this letter with Timothy to encourage them and bring back news of their condition to Paul. (2:19).
Some of the main divisions of the book include:
1. Introduction to the book: 1:1-2
2. Paul’s thankfulness for the Philippians: 1:3-11
3. News of Paul’s imprisonment and dedication: 1:12-26
4. Following Christ’s example is our duty: 1:27-2:18
5. Paul’s representatives and the need to treat them kindly: 2:19-30
6. Paul’s example of living a joyous life: 3:1-11
7. The Christian’s heavenly calling: 3:12-21
8. The need for Godly living: 4:1-9
9. The love offerings of the Philippians: 4:10-20
10. Closing to the book of Philippians: 4:21-23
TODAY’S TEXT:
Php 4:21-23 – “Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. (22) All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. (23) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.”
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Paul’s closing to his letter and our closing to this devotional series….
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.
Paul tells the Philippian saints to embrace and welcome each other in the knowledge we are all members of Christ’s family. This is one of the most prevalent commands that the Lord gives to His people to always love one another…
Joh 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Paul sends greetings to the Philippians from those with him… they send their embraces and welcomes to them. Paul who was imprisoned still found fellow believers around him in the household of Caesar.
Perhaps, these are people that he personally had won to the Lord, or else they were previously saved and now were in contact with Paul. In either case, although he was imprisoned by Romans, he still was able to enjoy fellowship with believers around him.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Paul’s parting desire for the Philippian believers was for Christ’s grace to be with each of them.
Folks, if we have God’s grace in our lives what more do we really need? By having His grace, we are assured of His forgiveness of our sins, deliverance from our sins and continual presence in this world and in the world to come.
Rom 16:24 – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.
This letter from Paul to the Philippians was written from Rome (while Paul was in prison), was dictated by Paul, and penned by Epaphroditus.
Why didn’t Paul actually pen this epistle. Some believe it was because he was in prison and did not have the proper materials to write a letter, but most believe it was because Paul’s eyesight was very poor and he was not able to see to write.
This second theory would explain why Paul says he personally wrote the letter of Galatians in large script…
Gal 6:11 – “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”
And his poor eyesight may have been the “thorn in the flesh” of which he spoke a few times in his writings…
2Co 12:7 – “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
This closing to Paul’s letter is a very fitting closing to this devotional series as well. My wish for each one of us is to have the Lord’s grace present in our lives on a daily basis, that we might all love one another with a self-sacrificial love, and may we all grow in both knowledge and the application of these truths to our lives.
Thank you so much for joining with me in this devotional study.
Questions, Comments, or Suggestions?
Email me at: rob.barkman@settledinheaven.org
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Settled In Heaven Blog 