The Bond of Love: Philippians 1:8
“8) For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:8
This short verses forced us to investigate the relational bond that is often formed between believers during the spread of the gospel. It surpasses anything the world can understand or experience.
You can tell by this verse that Paul had a very special relationship with the believers in the city of Philippi. They were his first venture and fruit in Macedonia.
This was a big step for the former Pharisee who had spent much of his life in Jerusalem studying and defending Orthodox Judaism. He had single handedly launched the first persecution against the Christians. He was calloused and ruthless.
What a change! Jesus had given him a heart not only for Jesus Christ and Christians, but now for Gentiles. His love for them was as sincere as if Jesus was supernaturally loving them through him.
Now he was missing them and their sweet fellowship. He was in prison in Rome for the sake of the gospel and was longing for his friends back in Philippi forged a full decade earlier.
Keep in mind, his time there qualified as a short term mission trip. It ended because of persecution and adversity, but they had a bond “in Christ.”
I’ve seen it happen many times. Deep relationships are often forged between former strangers who meet for the cause of Christ.
The spearing of the gospel is more than a mere message or ideology. It is based in Agape love and results in an agape bond between brethren. Agape love is a glue that forms a spirit to spirit bond between believers. It surpasses geography, gender, ethnicity, age and sociology-economic barriers.
So was the mystery of the bond between Paul and these Christians among the Gentiles. It surpassed his kinship with his own countrymen back in Jerusalem. It actually caused them to hate and despise Paul.
So is my love for Africans, Asians, those in Europe, Mexico, South America, India, native Americans and every people group, religion and political persuasion around the world. God had torn down the walls of prejudice between me and others. I see all people as having dignity and value and worthy of hearing the gospel. Jesus died for all people. I love and reach out to the rich and poor alike. When the externals are stripped away, all people are alike and in need of Jesus Christ.
My goal and passion is to reach everyone, everywhere with the good news of the gospel. I leave the changing to the Holy Spirit and the power of God. The result is that I love sinful and lost people who need Jesus. I have developed a genuine compassion for them through Christ.
I am not unique. This should happen in the life of every born- again Christian. This reveals the deep heart healing God wants to do in the life of every true believer. This is basically what John said in 1 John 4:7-21. Let me summarize; “agape love between people is the validation of a genuine relationship with God.”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“8) For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:8
This short verses forced us to investigate the relational bond that is often formed between believers during the spread of the gospel. It surpasses anything the world can understand or experience.
You can tell by this verse that Paul had a very special relationship with the believers in the city of Philippi. They were his first venture and fruit in Macedonia.
This was a big step for the former Pharisee who had spent much of his life in Jerusalem studying and defending Orthodox Judaism. He had single handedly launched the first persecution against the Christians. He was calloused and ruthless.
What a change! Jesus had given him a heart not only for Jesus Christ and Christians, but now for Gentiles. His love for them was as sincere as if Jesus was supernaturally loving them through him.
Now he was missing them and their sweet fellowship. He was in prison in Rome for the sake of the gospel and was longing for his friends back in Philippi forged a full decade earlier.
Keep in mind, his time there qualified as a short term mission trip. It ended because of persecution and adversity, but they had a bond “in Christ.”
I’ve seen it happen many times. Deep relationships are often forged between former strangers who meet for the cause of Christ.
The spearing of the gospel is more than a mere message or ideology. It is based in Agape love and results in an agape bond between brethren. Agape love is a glue that forms a spirit to spirit bond between believers. It surpasses geography, gender, ethnicity, age and sociology-economic barriers.
So was the mystery of the bond between Paul and these Christians among the Gentiles. It surpassed his kinship with his own countrymen back in Jerusalem. It actually caused them to hate and despise Paul.
So is my love for Africans, Asians, those in Europe, Mexico, South America, India, native Americans and every people group, religion and political persuasion around the world. God had torn down the walls of prejudice between me and others. I see all people as having dignity and value and worthy of hearing the gospel. Jesus died for all people. I love and reach out to the rich and poor alike. When the externals are stripped away, all people are alike and in need of Jesus Christ.
My goal and passion is to reach everyone, everywhere with the good news of the gospel. I leave the changing to the Holy Spirit and the power of God. The result is that I love sinful and lost people who need Jesus. I have developed a genuine compassion for them through Christ.
I am not unique. This should happen in the life of every born- again Christian. This reveals the deep heart healing God wants to do in the life of every true believer. This is basically what John said in 1 John 4:7-21. Let me summarize; “agape love between people is the validation of a genuine relationship with God.”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
