Rejoice in the Lord...I say this for your safety

Paul brings his letter to the Phillipian church to a close with these words:

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you." 3v1 [NIV]

Paul urges them to rejoice in the Lord. Why? Because it is a safeguard for them. He continues from here in the following verse to warn them against the false, evil teachers who are trying to convince them to get circumcised to be right with God (3v2&3). How are they to guard against this threat? I believe that Paul starts this section with these words because he intends for them to fight these attacks by seeking joy, and rejoicing in God.

Paul goes on to show that for all that he has gained, and for all that may be credited to him for his deeds on earth, none compare to the joy and rejoicing that he looks forward to in the next life. He speaks of a fascinating eagerness and happiness of knowing Christ, and finally being with him on the last day in full communion. He refers to it severally in the letter

"...I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." 1v23b-24

"Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith. So that through my being with you again, your joy in Christ Jesus may overflow on account of me." 1v25-26

I tried to not comment until the end of the passages, but I just couldn't. Paul, so eager to go and be with Christ, so filled with joy of fellowship with him, is convinced that he will not die yet, because his job is as yet not complete - to fill the Phillipian church with the same joy in Christ that he has come to know. Fascinating...is this our assurance of life on earth? Do we see the next life as so joyous, because we shall be with Christ, that the ultimate pinnacle of our love for others is to bring them into this same eager excitement for him?

" But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake Christ, what is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." 3v7&8


"[referring to those who live as enemies of the cross] Their destiny is destruction, their God is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly expect a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will bring our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." 3v19-21

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" 4v4

This joy is not only our hope for our future life with Christ, but is our steadfast safeguard here on earth. It is both what keeps us on the path of seeking God and what moves us along it as through it we see the end in the distance. Consider how Paul follows up from the passage in 3v19-21 above:

"Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord." 4v1

Let us seek to rejoice in the Lord with every breath. It is a safeguard, and a beacon of hope of where we belong, and where we shall be. And as he fills us with this eager joy of his fellowship, may we give of our lives to urge others to do the same.

May he be glorified,
Love you all,

hUNJA