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“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Philippians 1:2
That is the opening note of this passage. Everything that follows flows out of these two words: grace and peace.
Then Paul continues:
> “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
> always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
> for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
> being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”
> — Philippians 1:3–6
The theme here is abounding in grace — grace that begins a work, grace that continues a work, and grace that completes a work. It is grace that produces love, discernment, purity, and fruitful righteousness in the believer’s life.
We are not dealing with a vague religious sentiment. We are dealing with a spiritual law:
What God begins by grace, He sustains by grace, and He finishes by grace — to His own glory.
Our task is to see what the Word of God says about this abounding grace and how it must be worked out in our lives.
---
These verses come from the opening section of Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. To hear them correctly, we must understand the setting.
### Who is speaking?
The writer is Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:1). When he writes this letter, he is not in a comfortable study. He is in prison — most likely in Rome — chained, restricted, and facing an uncertain legal outcome.
He does not write from a place of earthly security, but from a place of spiritual security.
### To whom is he writing?
He is writing to:
> “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”
> — Philippians 1:1
Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia. It was the first European city in which Paul had planted a church (Acts 16). The church was birthed in spiritual conflict:
This church was born in spiritual warfare, supernatural grace, and sacrificial partnership. They had supported Paul from the earliest days, not only in spirit but also financially (Philippians 4:15–16).
### What is the situation?
Now years later, Paul is again imprisoned for the gospel. The Philippians have not forgotten him. They send support to him by Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). Paul, in turn, writes back with gratitude, with affection, and with a clear spiritual vision:
These opening verses (Philippians 1:2–11) are not just polite greetings. They contain:
This is a model for New Testament Christian life: grace received, grace shared, grace perfected.
---
To grasp the depth of this passage, we will look at two key words in Greek: grace (charis) and abound (perisseuō).
### 1. “Grace” – *charis* (χάρις)
Philippians 1:2, 7
> “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
> “You all are partakers with me of grace.”
The Greek word charis does not mean merely “unmerited favor,” though that is included. It carries several connected meanings:
Grace is not just God’s attitude toward us; it is also God’s working in us.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:10:
> “By the grace [*charis*] of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace [*charis*] of God which was with me.”
Grace, then, is active power. It enables what we could never achieve by our own effort.
So when Paul says the Philippians are “partakers with me of grace” (Philippians 1:7), he means they are sharing:
This illuminates the theme: abounding in grace. We are not simply forgiven people; we are people in whom God’s power is working.
### 2. “Abound” – *perisseuō* (περισσεύω)
Philippians 1:9
> “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment…”
The Greek word perisseuō means:
This is not a bare minimum word. It is a surplus word.
Jesus used the related form in John 10:10:
> “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly [*perisson*].”
So Paul is not praying that the Philippians would simply have love, but that their love would overflow, go beyond what is normal, be superabundant. And not just emotional love, but love governed by knowledge and discernment.
Grace is not static. It overflows. It produces an abundant life of love, purity, and fruit.
---
We will move through the text in order, connecting each portion to broader scriptural truth.
### 4.1 “Grace to you and peace…” (Philippians 1:2)
> “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace (*charis*) and peace (*eirēnē*) are not human sentiments. They are spiritual realities that come from a specific source:
“from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace is the cause; peace is the result.
Romans 5:1–2:
> “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand…”
We stand in grace. As a result, we enjoy peace. Where there is no grace received, there can be no true peace.
Paul begins by speaking from above downward: what God sends into the believer’s life.
### 4.2 Thanksgiving and Joy in Partnership (Philippians 1:3–5)
> “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
> always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
> for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
The word “fellowship” is *koinōnia* — sharing, participation, partnership.
The Philippians did not merely listen to Paul’s teaching; they shared in his ministry:
They were not spectators; they were partners.
Notice the fruit of this partnership: joy. Paul prays for them “with joy.” True fellowship in the gospel produces joy on both sides.
Where there is grace, there will be giving. Where there is giving, there will be joy.
2 Corinthians 8:1–2 links these same realities:
> “We make known to you the grace [*charis*] of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.”
Grace led to giving; giving led to joy — even in poverty and affliction.
This is what the Philippians had been walking in from “the first day until now.”
### 4.3 The Confidence of Completion (Philippians 1:6)
> “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Notice three key elements:
1. The Initiator – “He who has begun”
God Himself started the work. We did not begin the process of salvation. He did.
2. The Nature of the Work – “a good work”
The work is morally good, spiritually good, eternally good. It is God’s own workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
3. The Certainty of Completion – “will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”
The Greek term for “complete” (*epiteleō*) means to bring to full end, to perfect, to finish.
The “day of Jesus Christ” is the day of His return and final judgment upon the church and the world (Philippians 1:10; 2:16).
What God starts in grace, He is committed to finishing in grace. Our responsibility is to remain in the process — to continue in faith and obedience.
This removes self-confidence and establishes God-confidence.
Jude 24 expresses the same truth:
> “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…”
The same grace that pardoned you is the grace that will keep you and present you.
### 4.4 Love in Chains: Partakers of Grace (Philippians 1:7–8)
> “Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart,
> inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,
> you all are partakers with me of grace.
> For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
Paul is not sentimental; he is spiritual. His affection is rooted in shared grace.
They share with him in:
They are not distant observers; they are legal co-signers in the heavenly court, standing with him.
Because of this, Paul can say, “I have you in my heart.” Not merely in his mind, not only in his memory, but in his heart. And his longing is not psychologically generated; it is “the affection of Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 2:20 shows the same spiritual reality:
> “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”
Christ’s own affection is flowing through Paul toward the Philippians. Grace produces supernatural love between believers.
### 4.5 The Prayer for Abounding Love and Discernment (Philippians 1:9–11)
This is the heart of the passage, and it is where the theme “Abounding in Grace” is most clearly expressed.
> “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
> that you may approve the things that are excellent,
> that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
> being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Paul’s prayer has a clear logical progression:
#### 1. Love Abounding in Knowledge and Discernment
“that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment”
Love here is *agapē* — the self-giving love of God.
But notice: this love is not blind. It is governed by:
Abounding grace does not produce sloppy, undiscerning love. It produces wise love, love that knows how to act, what to approve, what to reject.
Hebrews 5:14 speaks similarly:
> “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Grace matures us so that our love is not led by emotion but directed by truth and discernment.
#### 2. Approving What Is Excellent
“that you may approve the things that are excellent”
The word “approve” (*dokimazō*) means to test, examine, and then approve what has been tested. The phrase “things that are excellent” means “things that differ,” things of the highest value.
The abounding grace of God does not just enable us to choose between right and wrong. It enables us to choose between good and best, between what is acceptable and what is excellent.
Romans 12:2 uses the same concept:
> “…that you may prove [*dokimazō*] what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Grace takes a believer from merely escaping sin to pursuing excellence in the will of God.
#### 3. Sincere and Without Offense Until the Day of Christ
“that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ”
“Sincere” translates a Greek word (*eilikrinēs*) that likely carries the idea of “judged by sunlight” — transparent, without hidden mixture.
“Without offense” (*aproskopos*) means not causing others to stumble and not being easily caused to stumble yourself.
The aim of abounding grace is a life that is:
Grace produces character, not just experiences.
#### 4. Filled with the Fruits of Righteousness by Jesus Christ
“being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
The end product of abounding grace is:
Jesus said in John 15:5:
> “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…”
The same life that is in the vine flows into the branches. That is grace in operation.
Philippians 1:11 is simply Paul’s theological restatement of John 15: the righteous life, the fruit-bearing life, is a Christ-sourced life.
---
How do we cooperate with this abounding grace? I will outline four practical steps or proclamations.
### 1. Acknowledge God as the Initiator and Completer
We must align with Philippians 1:6:
> “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it…”
First, we must renounce self-reliance and consciously acknowledge that:
A practical proclamation:
> “Lord, I confess that You began the good work in me.
> I renounce confidence in my own ability.
> I place my confidence in Your faithfulness to complete what You have started.”
This produces rest and stability in the inner man.
### 2. Embrace Fellowship in the Gospel
The Philippians’ abounding grace was expressed through partnership.
Second, we must:
You cannot abound in grace while living in isolation and passivity.
A practical step:
Grace that is held tightly dries up; grace that is shared multiplies.
### 3. Pursue Love Governed by Knowledge and Discernment
Third, we must intentionally ask God for the very thing Paul prayed:
> “that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment…”
This requires:
A daily practice:
“Is this love according to God’s knowledge and discernment, or is it soulish, emotional, or impulsive?”
Then test your decisions by Scripture. Grace does not bypass the mind; it renews the mind.
### 4. Aim at Excellence, Purity, and Fruit
Paul’s prayer has clear targets: approve what is excellent, be sincere and without offense, be filled with fruits of righteousness.
Fourth, we must set our hearts on these same targets.
A practical declaration:
> “Lord, I choose what is excellent.
> I desire to be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ.
> Fill me with the fruits of righteousness that come through Jesus Christ, to Your glory.”
Grace will meet you at the level of your surrender and expectation.
---
### Proclamation
Based on Philippians 1:2–11, speak this aloud:
> **In the name of Jesus, I receive grace and peace from God my Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
> I thank God that He has begun a good work in me, and He will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
> I declare that I am a partaker of God’s grace, both in times of pressure and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
> I ask and I believe that my love is abounding more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
> By the grace of God, I approve the things that are excellent.
> I am being made sincere and without offense until the day of Christ.
> I am being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
> Not by my own strength, but by the grace of God at work in me. Amen.**
### Prayer
“Father, in the name of Jesus,
I thank You for the grace that has come to me through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank You that You began the good work in me.
I choose to trust Your faithfulness to complete it.
I ask now that my love may abound more and more,
not in human emotion, but in true knowledge of You
and in all spiritual discernment.
Teach me to approve what is excellent,
to refuse what is second-best,
and to live a life that is sincere and without offense
until the day of Christ.
Fill me, Holy Spirit, with the fruits of righteousness
that are by Jesus Christ alone.
Let my life bring glory and praise to God,
in my thoughts, in my words, in my relationships, and in my service.
I yield myself to the working of Your grace.
Work in me what is well-pleasing in Your sight,
through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Amen.”
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