Phil S7 Web_pdf

8/14/2019 Phil S7 Web_pdf

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Session Seven


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The Function of the Label

saints

By labeling the Galatians as saints/holy ones/set apart ones, Paul isreminding them that they need to live missionally.

John 17:18

As Yousentme into the world, I also havesentthem into the world.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shallbe my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and

Samaria, and even the remotest part of the earth


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Living Missionally - Israel

Thus, the revelation of the character of

God and the nature of his redemptivework for humanity are bound together

with the history of Israel. Their

uniqueness is tied to his. To put it

simply, God did things in and for Israel

which he did not do in the history of any

other nation.


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This uniqueness of Israel's historical

experience, however, was because oftheir special role and function in the

world. They were to facilitate God's

promise of blessing to the nations. They

were to be his priesthood in the midst of

the nations (Ex. 19:6) representing him

to the rest of mankind, and being the

means of bringing the nations to saving

knowledge of the living God. To fulfill

that destiny they were to be a holynation (different from the rest),

characterized by walking in the way of

Yahweh in justice and righteousness.


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So Israel's unique historical experience

was not a ticket to a cosy state ofprivileged favoritism. Rather it laid upon

them a missionary task and a moral

responsibility. If they failed in these, then

in a sense they fell back to the level of

any other nation.


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The Function of the Label

in Christ Jesus

By connecting their sainthood to their position (in Christ) and not totheir performance, he is reminding them to live out a status they

already have as opposed to trying to earn it.

How does this label saints in Christ Jesus relate to the issues wewill find within the letter?


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including the overseers and deacons

Overseers (episkopoi):

This word is also translated bishops and is used interchangeablywith the word presbytreoi - elders.

Deacons (diakonos)


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including the overseers and deacons

Option One

Paul received a letter brought by Epahproditus which contained aFrom the bishops and deacons.

Option Two

The bishops and deacons had organized the gift that had been sent

from Paul to the church.

Option Three

The leaders within the church needed a special word of

encouragement or admonition.

Option Four

The phrase can be translated as superintendents who are also

ministers which emphasizes servant leadership.


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Grace to you

Grace (charis)

This word replaces the traditional Greek salutation,Greetings (charein).

The sum total of Gods activity toward his human creatures is

found in the word grace; God has given himself to his people

bountifully and mercifully in Christ. Nothing is deserved, nothingcan be achieved.

Gordon Fee


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and peace

Peace

This was the traditional Jewish salutation . . .shalom.

The sum total of these benefits as they are experienced by the

recipients of Gods grace is peace; Gods shalom, both now and to

come. The latter [peace] flows out of the former [grace], and both

flow together from God our Father and were made effective in ourhuman history through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gordon Fee


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Grace and peace

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peacewith God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have

gained access by faithinto this grace in which we now stand.

This salutation appears in Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3;

Eph 1:2; 2 Thess 1:1.


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from God our Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ

This statement makes it clear that in Pauls thinking Jesus is trulyGod and works in cooperation with the Father and the Spirit for the

redemption of the people of God.

Grace and Peace of God

Grace: Romans 5:15

Peace: Phil 4:7

Grace and Peace of Jesus

Grace: Phil 2:23Peace: Col 3:15


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Section Summary

From its very first line, Philippians

reflects the transformation broughtby the gospel to every part of

human life. The traditional

epistolary opening formula is

subtly changed. Writers and

recipients alike are defined by theirrelationship to God and to Christ,

and what the writers wish for their

readers consists of gifts from God

the Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ.


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Section Summary

More than two thousand years

later, it is easy to miss thissignificant emphasis; phrases that

would have impressed the

Philippians by their innovative

approach now seem to us merely

part of the conventional letteropening. To their first readers,

however, these opening verses

would have been a reminder that

the whole of life had been

transformed by the proclamation

of the gospel.

Morna Hooker

Page 481


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Sow What?

The idea of being set apart was not an end in and of

itself. It is a means to an end . . . . it is how we willeffectively live missionally on earth and accomplish Gods

kingdom purposes.

1. Take time to think about how you have thought about

your right living. Has it been connected to living

missionally or has it been seen as a badge to wear soyou feel good about yourself?

2. Take some time to evaluate if the way you live is

providing opportunities for people to see God in you.

When we dont live as set-apart ones, we dont reflect

God. When we live as set-apart ones but dont let

people know the difference is Jesus they will not know

what they are seeing. Lets purpose to include both!


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Sow What?

Grace and peace were not just a Hi, how are you? type

of greeting. They are full of meaning and significance.Paul speaks a blessing on the Philippians that brings them

back to the gospel (just as the status he gave them).

1. Spend some time thinking about the gospel and how

grace and peace are directly connected.

2. Envision the lives of lost people in your network ofrelationships and what life is probably like for them

without the grace and peace that comes from God the

father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. As you pray for their salvation begin to incorporate the

ideas of grace and peace into your prayers.

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