Philippians #061 - Learn the Bible Broadcast - Philippians 4:1
Pastor Andrew B. Ray

Antioch Baptist Church
5709 North Broadway
Knoxville, TN 37918
http://www.LearntheBible.org

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Philippians #061 - Learn the Bible Broadcast
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

IV. THE ADMONITION OF PAUL’S EXHORTATION (Philippians 4:1-9)

A. The Admonition to Stand Fast (Philippians 4:1)

1. The foundation for the admonition—“Therefore,”
a. The word therefore is a conjunctive adverb. It draws two thoughts together demonstrating a cause and effect.
(1) Cause; “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,” (Philippians 3:21)
(2) Effect; “so stand fast in the Lord,” (Philippians 4:1); Note: It is extremely likely that the effect also includes all the admonitions down through Philippians 4:9.
b. A grasp of Bible prophecy or understanding of God’s promises will always have a practical effect on the believer.
(1) A grasp of the prophecy found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 should lead us to be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
(2) A grasp of the promises found in 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 should lead us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
(3) A grasp of the prophecy found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 should lead us to “comfort one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
(4) A grasp of the prophecy found in 2 Peter 3:8-10 should lead us to holy conversations and godliness (2 Peter 3:11-14).
(5) A grasp of the prophecy found in 1 John 3:1-2 will lead us to purify ourselves, even as Christ is pure (1 John 3:3).
2. The recipient of the admonition
a. My brethren dearly beloved
(1) My brethren
a) A term used by the Lord Jesus Christ to identify those who do the will of God (Mark 3:31-35)
b) A term used by the Lord to identify the disciples after His resurrection (John 20:17; Hebrews 2:11)
c) A term used by the apostle Paul to address those who were his kinsmen according to the flesh (Romans 9:3)
d) A term used by the apostle Paul and others who shared a common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:10)
e) A term used by believers when addressing one another (Acts 9:17; Acts 21:20; Acts 22:13; 1 Corinthians 16:12; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 2:13; Philippians 2:25; Hebrews 13:23; 2 Peter 3:15)
(2) Dearly beloved
a) Definition
i) Beloved was interchanged with the word elect when speaking of Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:18; Isaiah 42:1).
ii) One who is beloved is chosen to be loved in the stead of or above another (Deuteronomy 21:15-16).
iii) Christ is identified as the beloved on numerous occasions (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5; Luke 20:13).
b) Application
i) Christ is the beloved (Matthew 12:18).
ii) Believers are identified as the beloved only because they are accepted in “the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
iii) This is not to be confused with Calvinistic teaching; a man becomes beloved when he is in the beloved, at salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
iv) It should likewise be noted that the Jews are identified as the beloved (Romans 11:28 see also Deuteronomy 7:7-8).
b. My joy and crown
(1) Paul’s rejoicing in the day of Christ was tied to the believers’ actions while on earth (Philippians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 1:14). Note: This truth was communicated by John in greater detail (2 John 1:8).
(2) Paul identified believers as his hope, joy, crown of rejoicing, and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
c. My dearly beloved; Note the bookends used by Paul.