20. “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. 23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
For the last time in our consecutive verse-by-verse study, I am asking you to turn to the book of Philippians. Today we come to the end of what was a one-and-a-half-year journey through the Epistle of Joy. We have had exactly 50 sermons so far; today will be the fifty-first from the book of Philippians. What an amazing book! God’s voice resonated through its verses week after week and spoke aptly to our life situations. As we have come to the end, on one hand, joyful praise and thanksgiving should fill our hearts, and on the other hand, there is a sad feeling, “Oh, it is over so soon.” I cannot believe we have come to the end.
We come to church for two things: to worship and for the communion of saints. Today we will study the last four verses, 20-23, with these two headings. Worship in verse 20 and the Communion of Saints in verses 21-22.
True Worship
Let us look at true worship. Verse 20: “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
It is very fitting that we may be able to join Paul in this worship for all he has taught. As Paul ends this epistle, all the marvelous truths that have been running and flowing through this epistle culminate and reach their crescendo in verse 20. He cannot end it without this outburst of worship. This is pure doxology, meaning ascribing glory to God. When our minds are filled with high, glorious, overwhelming, and noble thoughts about how glorious and great our God is, and we are absorbed by the beauty and wonder of God, our soul gives all glory to God. That is how doxology is born. It is spontaneous, dynamic, and earnest praise.
It is so important that we regularly have this kind of high thought about God, because all our worship and Christian life depend on what we think about God. Someone said, “No man’s religion has ever been greater than his idea of God.” The most monumental fact about any man is not what he may say or do at a given time, but what he, in his deep heart, conceives God to be like. That is what makes him a true worshiper.
Think of what led Paul to this kind of uncontrollable exhilaration and pure doxology. Was it a building charged with electric background music, dance, and a melting voice singing “Hallelujah”? Probably, when Paul was ending his epistle, he was reviewing the whole letter from the beginning before signing, and he saw how the Holy Spirit revealed unheard truths of God. His heart bursts out in exuberant joy and worship. True worship is always born as a response to the revelation of God through His truth. Our Lord said true worshipers worship God with truth and spirit. Go through the New Testament doxologies and worship. They are always outbursts of praise in response to a great truth about God. Worship is the fitting response to truth. Truth should produce joyous praise, glory to God.
We have a cursed Christianity in our land because people claim to worship God without truth. “Oh, if we go to that church, we experience very elevating worship with an electric guitar and choir, but the pastor preaches only stories with no Bible truth.” How can we worship God if we do not know the truth about Him? That is not worship; it is a concert performance with emotional goosebumps. That is idolatry. Idolatry is not just keeping an idol. Idolatry is thinking thoughts about God that are untrue, unworthy, and appealing to us. That’s equally idolatrous. The only way to know God and worship God rightly is to understand what is revealed about God in His word. You cannot have a man-centered theology and be a true worshiper. In order to be a true worshiper, you must grow in the knowledge of the revelation of God.
So, Paul, in an overwhelming realization, forgetting himself, with pent-up thrill and outbursts, gives Spirit-inspired, exuberant praise. As if a cooker lid blows off, he just bursts out these words: “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Look at the praise. “Now to our God…” This is the only true living God who made heaven and earth. God, with all His glorious attributes, through the new covenant, has become our God—our personal God, our eternal wealth. You can’t worship God unless you know Him personally as your God. When we think of God and all His glorious attributes, we would be lost in the wonder of His majesty, sovereignty, and glory, which might leave us a bit distant and feel a big gap. But see how Paul brings that God so close to us. He is not only our God, but our Father. No individual dared to call God “Father” in the Old Testament, but He has become our Father through the work of Christ on our behalf as He died, rose, and ascended to His Father and our Father. Oh, the fatherhood of God! We call Him “Abba Father,” in a filial way, in a family way. We celebrated our good father’s 75th birthday in our family. You can add all the love of all fathers in the world, and it will be just a drop of water compared to the ocean of the Father’s love for us. He is the source of all affection of fathers in the world. He is the one who formed us in our mother’s womb and has sustained us even to this very moment, surrounding us with infinite affection. He is a Father who is very intimately sensitive to our needs. Jesus said, “Do not worry what you will eat or drink, because your Father knows…” He knows even the very hairs of our head. He knows all our personal, deep struggles of last week. This is our Father. When we come to Him through Christ, we don’t go fearfully, shamefully, or threateningly before some deity. We go to one who loves us and is pleased with us in Jesus Christ, and we go as little children. So, He is our God and Father.
Next, he says, “…be glory forever and ever. Amen.” “Be the glory.” We don’t add anything to His glory, but we acknowledge and honor His inherent worth, excellence, and perfection. It’s about recognizing and declaring His greatness, majesty, and power, and all His other attributes. We acknowledge that He deserves our highest worship, service, or obedience. We give all honor, praise, thanksgiving, adoration, strength, and wisdom to Him. For how long? It’s not just a temporary feeling induced by external music or a good feeling. It’s glory “forever and ever,” which means cycles of all ages, cycles and cycles and cycles and cycles. It’s ad infinitum; it’s unending. Cycling and cycling and cycling and cycling, worshiping and worshiping forever, forever, forever and ever. All truths in Philippians created this effect in Paul’s heart.
Can we join in worshiping God like Paul this morning? If all the wonderful lessons of this book dawn on us, I think this is the effect it will create. Very quickly, come with me to the journey of Philippians: Chapter 1: Journey to Real Joy – Philippians 1:1 Welcome to the world of Grace and Peace. Seven Secrets of Joy – Phil 1:7-8. Can you pray better than this? Phil 1:9-10. A life prepared for the Second Coming – Phil 1:10-11. Joy of Suffering for the Gospel – Phil 1:12-14. Gospel above all else – Phil 1:15-18. In Christ, no worries! – Phil 1:19-20. To live is Christ, to die is gain – Phil 1:21. Godly dilemma – Phil 1:22-26. Living a life worthy of the gospel – Phil 1:27. Truth War against entertainment churches! – Phil 1:27-28. Consequences of a Truth War – Phil 1:28-30.
Chapter 2: Five pleas for unity. – Phil 2:1-2. Four aspects of unity – Phil 2:2. Five secrets of harmonious relationships – Phil 2:3-4. The greatest example of lowliness of mind! – Phil 2:5-8. Exaltation of Jesus. – Phil 2:9-11. Work for God works – Phil 2:12-13. Sinfulness of grumbling. Phil 2:14. Three Reasons to Stop Grumbling – Phil 2:15-16. Sacrifice and Service – Phil 2:17-18. Apostolic model. Phil 2:19-24. What a man! Phil 2:25. Empathetic Love – Phil 2:25-30.
Chapter 3: Beware of dogs – Phil 3:1-2. Almost Christian – Phil 3:3. Three signs of an original Christian. – Phil 3:3. Qualifications that cannot save – Phil 3:4-6. Three greatest calculations – Phil 3:7-8. Christ’s Surpassing Worth – Part 1 – Phil 3:8-9. Climax of Redemption – Phil 3:11. Race for Perfection – Phil 3:12-14. Mature Mind – Phil 3:15-16. Grandest human example – Phil 3:17. Enemies of the Cross – Phil 3:17-18. Citizens of Heaven. Phil 3:20-21.
Chapter 4: Stand Firm – Phil 4:1. Conflict management with three gospel commands; Phil 4:2-3. Always rejoicing – Phil 4:4. Stay calm always – Phil 4:5. No worries at all! – Phil 4:6-7. Sinful to godly thinking – Phil 4:8. Godly practice – Phil 4:9. Oh, sweet contentment – Phil 4:10-12. Two wings of contentment – Phil 4:11-13. Principles of biblical giving.
When we think of all these lessons, how they changed and lifted our thoughts high, restrained us from sin, sanctified, and transformed us, we should from the heart say, “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.” Paul adds “Amen” to his own praise. So let it be. Can you add your “Amen”? As I say praise: “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.” Amen. So we see worship; next, we see…
The Communion of Saints
If we are true worshipers of God, we will be committed to the communion of the saints. Paul closes his letter to the Philippians with a few words of greeting in verses 21-23. The word “greet” is used three times. This is not the kind of greeting we have today, where people take the Lord’s name in vain by using “Praise the Lord” every time they greet someone like saying “good morning.” It just means “hello,” “good morning,” “evening,” or “how are you?” It is not just an empty greeting, but an expression of affection, love, care, and a desire for one’s well-being. Paul is saying affectionately, “I want you to express to all the saints how much I desire their well-being. Please share my care and love with them.” You see this greeting in all epistles. It is used 21 times in Romans 16 alone, and you also see it in John’s and Peter’s epistles. We learn an important Christian duty here.
We tend to skip verses like these, but they show us Paul’s theology practically revealed. I think these three verses show the great truth of the communion of saints. Our confession has a chapter that talks about the communion of saints, and it talks about the nature and duties of the communion of saints. More than at any other time, today people need to be taught what a true church is. Every group is not a true church or a communion of saints. We see that these last verses bring out seven qualities of a true Communion of Saints or a true church. We have to examine and see if we have these seven.
1. The Communion of Saints is an Inclusive Fellowship where every person matters.
Notice verse 21: “Greet every saint.” Instead of using the collective “all,” he uses the individualistic singular word, “Greet each one individually.” It’s not generic; he doesn’t want anyone excluded. He is noting for us that every saint is worthy of Paul’s care, Paul’s affection, and Paul’s wishes. He doesn’t want only one party to be greeted. Remember the two fighting ladies, Euodia and Syntyche. He wants to greet Euodia and those of her party, but he also wants to greet Syntyche and her party, those who may have sided with her (4:2-3). He wants to greet each rich person, each poor person, each educated person, each uneducated person, bold, shy, and timid people, Roman citizens, and slaves. Each person counts. None are to be excluded. Just as in a human body every part is important, every member in the church is important.
The fellowship of the saints is that place where no one is elevated above another. None of us is superior or inferior to another. Our roles and work may be different. Each saint is important. Each saint was loved eternally by God. Each of their names is written in the book of life. Jesus Christ shed His blood for each saint and bore every single sin of each saint. Jesus Christ’s presence through the Holy Spirit is inside each saint. He intercedes for each saint every second. He said whatever you do to each of the least of them, he takes it as if it was done to him. So, greet each saint when you come to church. You will be doing it to Christ.
2. The Communion of Saints is a holy fellowship, set apart from the world.
Look at the word he uses for believers: “saints.” “Saints” means “holy ones.” It means set apart from the world and sin for God’s holy purposes. Due to the wrong teaching of the Catholic Church, we tend to think of saints as super-Christians who have distinguished themselves by their dedication or noble service. “But me? I’m just a saved sinner, just an average Christian.” But the New Testament states every believer is a saint. Paul even addressed the immature Corinthians as “saints by calling” (1 Corinthians 1:2). “Saint” means that God has set us apart from the world for Himself. We are to be in the world, but we are to be distinct from the world, bearing witness to the gospel by our behavior. It is important that we view ourselves as such. Believing our position as a saint will result in an appropriate practice. When we understand our position as a saint, we will practice holiness. Our position is a saint; our practice should be holiness.
3. The Communion of Saints is a Christ-centered fellowship.
All believers are saints. I should call you saints. This is not because of what we are in ourselves or what we have done or are doing, but notice the phrase in verse 20: “saints in Jesus Christ.” “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.” Being a saint in Jesus Christ means when we believed the gospel, we were set apart for God by uniting us to Christ Jesus in an inseparable bond. Not only are our sins transferred to Him, but His righteousness is imputed to us, and we are placed in Him so that all that is true of Him is true of us. We died, were buried, rose, and ascended to heaven as saints in Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, we would not be saints at all. He is our Lord, our everything, our all in all. Last week we saw in Leviticus that the only God-ordained acceptable means for sinners to come to God is through sacrifice and the High Priest’s ministry. Everything we do must be centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work.
We can see that in this whole epistle. In this short epistle of four chapters, Christ is mentioned more than forty times, once in every two verses. Amidst all the variety of subjects, this is characteristic not of this Epistle only but of the whole New Testament.
The communion of saints or the local church is not just a social club where we keep talking about all kinds of worldly topics when people gather in a club. No. Our supreme desire and goal is to know Christ more deeply (3:10). When we come together, He should be the focus of our fellowship. The things of Christ draw us together. One brother was sharing after church, “I go to other churches, and it’s all about work, where you bought a dress, which hotel is good, what new mobiles, or offers… but here I saw that even after the service, Christ is the topic of our church.” That is how we should be. Christ is our one topic. We come to know Him, declare Him, love Him, and become more like Him. That is true communion of saints.
4. The Communion of Saints is a family fellowship.
Notice the middle of verse 21: “The brethren… greet you.” Those who are in Rome, Paul calls them “brethren” to the Philippians. It is a family word. We have a common Father through the new birth, so that we are now members of the same family that transcends social barriers, racial barriers, and national barriers. We become part of a big family all over the world. The saints in Philippi and the saints in Rome were brothers and sisters, even though they may never have met face to face.
Family members are there just because they are born into the family, not because they are good or have achieved something. Families aren’t perfect. Everyone is in process. But you hang together and care for one another because of the family bond. Families don’t get together to watch programs or just to hear a speech. They just get together because they’re family, to find out what’s going on in one another’s lives. The church should be the same. Today the church has become too entertainment-oriented, just to hear some preaching or a program. You can draw a crowd if you put on a good program, but if you announce that the church family is just getting together to meet with the Lord and one another, not many show up. It ought to be enough just to gather with the brothers and sisters and share in the things of Christ. The communion of saints is a family bond.
5. The Communion of Saints is an encouraging, helping, and supportive fellowship.
“The brethren who are with me greet you.” “The brethren who are with me?” With me where? Not on a Goa trip! Where was Paul? He was in a terrible Roman prison, chained to a soldier 24/7, and could be executed by Nero at any time. It was very risky to go and meet Paul or be with him. A crazy Nero may command to arrest and kill all of Paul’s friends. In spite of all the risks, there are some brethren with Paul. Who are these brethren? There is a great apostolic model and mold man, Paul’s spiritual son Timothy, and we learned so much about his character. He was with Paul, and then remember Epaphroditus, “what a man!” with an amazing character, and other passages may indicate that even Luke and Mark were with him. Now, what are they doing? They are encouraging, helping, and supporting their apostle in his difficult time. Why? Because this is what all true communions of saints do. When there is a member who is suffering or struggling, others will always come to encourage, help, and support that member.
We are to stand with those who are hurting and give support, just as these brethren did with Paul. The New Testament is filled with “one another” commands: “Love one another,” “pray for one another,” “forgive,” “bear one another’s burdens,” “be gentle,” “do good,” etc. All those commands we fulfill within this circle of the communion of saints.
The Greatest Joy of the Communion of Saints Is the Spread of the Gospel
The greatest joy of the communion of saints is the spread of the gospel. “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22). Paul wraps his arms around the whole Roman church, all the people in Rome who were Christians.
I can almost imagine a joy and pride shining on Paul’s face as he wrote this phrase, “especially those of Caesar’s household.” In the communion of saints, their greatest, highest joy is to see the gospel spreading and people coming to Christ. They rejoice on earth as all of heaven rejoices in the salvation of a soul. Paul knows what joy this will bring to the Philippians when he says, “Especially those of Caesar’s household.” Why so? One of the worst Caesars who ever lived was Nero. He was a psychopath. In his hunger for power, he killed people in his own family, including his mother, and he killed his wife to marry another woman. He kept killing whoever stood in his way. He wanted a bigger, grander palace and many other new projects in Rome. He wanted his name to be known as the builder of the city of Rome, so he burned down the existing city. While it was burning, he played his lyre and recited poetry about the fall of Troy. He blamed the Christians for that fire. Nero fancied himself a god and demanded that the people in the Roman Empire worship him. He hated Christians so badly that he regularly burned them as tortures for his garden at night, crucified many, and threw many to lions. The worst enemy of Christians among all the Caesars was Nero.
So think what an amazing thing it would be when Paul says that those of Caesar’s household have rejected emperor worship and have believed Christ and become brethren. “Household” could mean his close family members and even those who were serving him in his palace: princes, government servants, and soldiers.
Remember this happened because of the witness of the apostle’s life in prison. When soldiers were tied to him, they watched his behavior and life. In Philippians 1:13, since his imprisonment, the gospel of Christ had become known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard. Archaeological studies from Nero’s time show that many of the names he lists in Romans 16—Amplias, Urbanus, Stachys, Rufus, Hermes, Tryphaena, and Tryphosa—were all part of Caesar’s household. How thrilling that the crucified Jesus of Nazareth had already entered the fortress of the devil, even from Caesar’s house, with souls entering the kingdom of God. This shows that the gospel was spreading to the most pagan corners of that society. This is the greatest celebration of the communion of saints.
Note that working for a man like Caesar and under his corrupt government would be a horrible thing. You may be thinking, “I wish I could work in a more godly, or at least, a neutral place where I wasn’t surrounded by such raw paganism.” God may have you working in a wicked environment. You need to view it as your mission field, a great opportunity for the light of the gospel to shine into that dark place through your witness. Remember the theme of this letter is living a life worthy of the gospel before a watching world. We need to pray for people’s salvation, and when we get opportunities to speak, you must not be ashamed of the gospel, but remember that it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
The great joy of a true church is that, both individually and as a church, they will always pray, plan projects, and strive to bring souls to Christ. There should always be an influx of new believers through the faithful witness of its members. It is wonderful when they come from a modern Caesar’s household, from other groups who are against Christ.
The Communion of the Saints Lives and Perseveres by Growing in the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” This is a closing benediction, but it is more than just a nice way of saying, “Good-bye.” The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is a Christian’s lifeline. The life resource of the saints is the unending, undeserved favor of God to me in Christ. Without grace, we would not have believed and been saved. Without grace, we could not grow in holiness because we are so selfish, so sinful, and so depraved. His grace is the motivation to deny our sinful selves and live to please and glorify Him. We stand daily, constantly in need of God’s grace. Without it, we would be quickly consumed. This is something we need desperately. Our life is governed by grace, guided by grace, kept by grace, strengthened by grace, sanctified by grace, and enabled by grace. It is the constant grace of forgiveness, the grace of comfort, the grace of peace, the grace of joy, and the grace of revelation, and we continue to live. We are dependent on all of it all the time.
He started out in chapter 1, verse 2, wishing them grace. He ends up wishing them grace, and again, it comes full circle. Every single epistle Paul wrote ends the same way: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Every single one ends with a wish for the grace of Christ to be theirs. Why? Because when the letter is over, our life goes on, and our Christian life is fully dependent on grace—undeserved mercy and kindness to an unworthy sinner.
Notice “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Grace ministers to the spirit (4:23), or the inner person. So many of our troubles can be traced to being defiled in spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1), whether by bitterness, greed, lust, envy, or malice. We feel guilty; we lose spiritual strength and vision. There is no peace, and a storm rages in the soul. The soul clings to dust. What alone can lift and revive our soul? It is mercy and grace. It gives our spirit a daily, sweet awareness of God’s unmerited kindness toward us and makes us live with rejoicing and peace. Then we can extend that same sweet graciousness toward others. That is how the communion of saints becomes a place filled with grace and growing in grace.
Whose grace? It is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the theme of this whole letter, mentioned 40 times in these four chapters, once every couple of verses. Paul began by describing himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. He addresses the Christians as saints in Jesus Christ. When referring to his imprisonment, he says, “my bonds are in Jesus Christ.” When he speaks about life, he says, “for to me to live is Christ.” When he speaks about death, he says, “for me to die is gain because I am going to be with Christ.” When he calls for proper attitudes and lowliness of mind, it is to “have the mind of Christ.” “Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” The sign of a true believer is that they rejoice in Christ Jesus. “I have counted all things as loss and rubbish for the surpassing knowledge of knowing Christ.” My life’s striving, pursuit, and goal are to become like Christ. “I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.” A true believer’s citizenship is in heaven, and we wait for Christ. When he speaks about joy, it is the joy of Christ. He speaks of peace: “The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When he speaks about strength: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He greets everyone in Christ Jesus. Now he ends the letter, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Our whole life is in Christ: called by Christ, saved by Christ, to have the mind of Christ, to know Christ, to pursue Christ, and to become like Christ. That’s the message. So ends the epistle. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (4:23).
We see worship and seven traits of the communion of saints. The communion of saints is an inclusive, holy, Christ-centered family. They are supportive, their greatest joy is the spread of the gospel, and they live and grow in the grace of Jesus Christ.
One church historian has written: “What a powerful impact that first-century world felt when they saw the phenomenon of people from all walks of life loving one another, serving one another, caring for one another, and praying for one another. Slaves and free men were in that community. The rich and the poor were in the fellowship. Roman citizens and non-Roman citizens were in that community. The educated and the illiterate were members of that community. To the utter amazement of the world outside, they were bound together in an unexplainable love and unity, and it is such a group that left a permanent mark on the history of the world.”
Practical Applications
Can I conclude with three practical applications?
Lesson on Greeting
You have heard so many things about Christ in this epistle. If you have still not believed him and are experiencing all kinds of troubles in your soul, the greatest thing your spirit needs is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me encourage you: the grace of the Lord can become yours today if you repent and believe who he is and what he has done.
If you are a true believer, commit yourself to the fellowship of the saints by becoming a member of a church. If you are already a member, you cannot experience the true communion of saints if you just attend the service and leave, and are not connected to other Christians who know you personally and whom you know. So, learn to interact with other Christians. The providence of God put you in this church because the Holy Spirit gave you a gift to use here to build other members in the church. No church is perfect. Yes, people may hurt your feelings, and you may hurt other people’s feelings, but you learn to work through those relational problems only in the church in this world, not in heaven. If you don’t learn social and relational habits here, you will also struggle in your relationships with wives, husbands, and children.
You know how all good relationships start. They start with a key command Paul gives in these three verses. What is the key command? Greet, greet, greet. Paul makes it a fundamental Christian duty for believers in Philippi and for all Christians for all ages. We are to greet every saint with fondness. It is not only given as a command in verse 20—”greet every saint”—but also with two examples: “The brethren who are with me greet you” and “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.” God is setting before us our Christian duty.
As in any church, even the Philippian church, there will be differing personality types. Some are outgoing and social. They find it easy to go up to total strangers, ask how they are doing, and start talking. Some have cultivated this grace so that wherever you put them, within two minutes, 10 people are around them sharing their deep problems. There are others who are the shy type and find it very difficult in any kind of a group situation. They feel threatened, tense, and insecure by people. Paul knew every church would have people like that, yet he dared to write this as a Christian duty, so each of us, without excuse, should practice this. “Oh, I’m not the greeting type, the shy type.” Whatever type you are, you must submerge your natural inclinations and personality to the word of God. Become a “Bible type” Christian.
It’s not a matter of whether you feel like doing it or not. It’s a matter of whether you will obey God or not. It is a Christian duty to express to my brothers and sisters that they hold a place of fondness and love in my heart, and they can’t know it if I’m always running by them or running from them. I have to learn to greet them with care and love in my heart.
Let me apply this specifically to some areas of our church. There are some of you who run out of this place every Lord’s Day as soon as the service is over, without making any effort to greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Ask your conscience: are you obeying this command that way? And does that mean that every Lord’s Day you’ve got to greet every single one? I don’t think so; then we will go home only in the evening. God is reasonable. But it means you will make a conscious effort so that over a given period of time, maybe a month or two, there is no fellow saint in this place to whom you have not expressed your fondness and affection by a greeting: a handshake, a “hello,” “how are you,” or “good morning?”
There are some of you who sit back and always wait for others to come to you. Some of you stand in a corner, still waiting for others to come. Is that what this verse says? “Wait for others to come and greet you”? No, you go and greet. You take the initiative.
Then those of you like Syntyche and Euodia develop some grudge. You never greet them with affection and care. You even avoid and turn your faces. Paul says greet each saint with love and look in their eyes. Even when one greets, others do so hesitantly, with a half-smile, and draw back. See, God expects us to maintain a relationship where greetings are given to each other without any hesitation. Now ask yourself, is there any saint in the fellowship of GRBC where, if you are walking on the narrow stairs and they are coming up and you are going down, you feel uncomfortable that you should greet them? Then you are sinning against this duty. You have to deal with that, like we learned in the steps of conflict management between Euodia and Syntyche, and resolve it.
Like I said, the fault could be mine. I am learning a practice; I need to do it regularly. Whether you like it or not, I am going to stand there and shake hands with everyone and greet you because Paul has said to greet every saint. “Hello, thank you, how are you?” Can I ask you to shake hands and wish one another who is sitting next to you?
Second Lesson on Universal Church Awareness
From this passage, though we are a local church, God expects us to live with an awareness of the universal church of Christ. We are not the only church. Christ is building churches across the world, and for our mutual health, encouragement, and growth, it is important to have fellowship and an awareness that other churches are part of the universal church of Christ. When the apostle wrote, “the brethren that are with me greet you and all Saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household,” what was the apostle doing? He was teaching them, “you are not the only church,” and he was creating a sense of their union with the universal Church between the church at Rome and the church at Philippi.
We have to cultivate that awareness of the universal church and seek to stimulate and pray for other churches. You wonder why we pray for NZ, Chennai, and Madurai churches. We’ve never been there. We’ve never seen or heard some of their preachers preach. It is not a ritual. We have a duty to cultivate that awareness of the universal church. This text is a beautiful example of that duty. I asked for prayer requests from each of these churches. We need to have more connections. I will also encourage you to connect with them and see how we can develop deeper relationships. Brother Devanand goes to Madurai, and we can use him to do this interchurch connection ministry. The Arul Dass family can connect with the Veeriyapalayam church. We need to find someone to go to the Chennai church. Then there are churches in RT Nagar and Ejipuram. They all need our encouragement. You know how lonely it becomes when we don’t have this fellowship. Today we have Brother Kamran from a US church, whom God keeps bringing to us to give us that sense of the universal church.
Final Lesson: Renewed Faith and Confidence
Finally, this passage should create renewed faith and confidence in the power of the gospel for our day. There was no worse king or government than Nero, under the intensified expressions of raw paganism. All of the expressions of the superstition, pride from government power, blindness, and perversity of unregenerate human nature were intensified at that time. If the power of the gospel can penetrate not only his city but even his household, and capture hearts, making them trophies of grace, what is all this opposition we face: the current government, their party, and superstitious religions around us? It is true we are surrounded by false teaching and blind faith. But this passage should give renewed faith and confidence in the power of the gospel. If we live a life worthy of the gospel as Paul taught us, and with God’s help, share the gospel, God can do wonders.
When you read “Caesar’s household,” think of those households on your street where the people seem to be totally immersed in paganism and idolatry. They just live for things, for drinking, and for partying. And you say, “Is there any hope?” Sometimes even your own houses may seem hopeless. Remember, the gospel broke down the doors of Caesar’s household. The gospel is still the power of God for salvation. God’s dynamite for salvation can blast any doors. God could reach in and extricate some from that household right on your street.
So don’t be discouraged, child of God. Don’t believe the devil’s lie that no one will believe and come to Christ. With faith in the gospel’s power, live a life worthy of the gospel. Pray for those neighbors, friends, colleagues, and school friends you associate with daily. As a church, let us continue to earnestly plead with God in our prayer meetings. God will break down the doors of modern Caesars’ households and bring many to Jesus Christ.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 