The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 57

VIL If you lack perseverance, remember Hs secret, which is that it is to be foun<i in a. GENUINE CO-OPERATION IN GoD'S WOBK for mankind.-V. w. H. Ver. 7.-Tlie communion of saints. I. COMMUNION m BUFFERING. "In my bonds." These Philippians had to endure hardship in the cause of the gospel. Every Christian hns to endure such hardships, either external or internal. Such conflicts are necessary links which unite us to the family of God. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." II. CoMMUNION IN MINISTRY. "In the defence and confirmation of the gospel." The littlo which we can do, each in our own restricted sphere, for the furtherance of God's kingdom, partaltes of the character of the work of even a St. Paul, and brings us into communion with him. III. CoMMUNION IN SYMPATHY. "I have you in my heart." However humble may be the work which we can do for God, or the sufferings which we can endure for him, if they are done or borne according to the ability which he has given us, they bring us into sympathy with a.II who in every age have sought to do like work and to endure like sufferings. IV. COMMUNION IN GBAOE, "Ye all are partakers of my grace." As all the faithful are blessed with faithful Abraham (Gal. iii. 9), even although their faith is but a faini shadow of his, so all workers and sufferers in God's service share in the blessing which has been bestowed upon apostles and martyrs. V. COMMUNION IN CHARITY. St. Paul speaks as if the fact that "all" were partakers of his grace depended upon his being able to speak thus of them "all." The want of unity among Christians deprives them of the full benefits of the communion of saints (Matt. xviii. 20; Acts ii. 1; iv. 32).-V. W. H. Vere. 9-11.-The life oJ God in the soul of man. L THE ELEMENT WHICH IS PECULIAR TO IT AND WHICH BETOKENS ITS PRESENCE-LOVE. " we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren" (1 John iii. 14). "Love is the fulfilling of the Law." II. ITs MANIFESTATION. If this love is the genuine fruit of God's Spirit within ua, it will lead us to the knowledge of him and to the discernm~nt of that which is pleasing in his sight. Being of God, it reveals God, so that new experiences of him are being consto.ntly vouchsafed to the soul that possesses it. Being thus taught of God, the soul turns naturally to the things that are excellent, as the bee turns naturally to the honey- bearing flowers. Thus in the difficult task of deciding which to choose of two apparent but opposing duties, the soul indwelt by God is guided by a Divine instinct. m. 1TB BEBULT. The preservation of the whole man from the power of evil, so that both in his inner being and in his external conduct he is blameless and brings forth the fruit which is natural to a condition of righteousness. IV. THE SOURCE OF ITS POWER-CHRIST. The righteousness thus worked in us is not the righteousness of self-improvement, or of self-discipline, or of adherence to a law, but the righteousness which is imparted to us by the indwelliug Christ. v. 1TB ULTIMATE AIM-THE GLORY OF Goo. (Ver.11.)-V. w. H. Vere. 12-14.-The benefits conferred upon men by the steadfast confession of our faith. I. ON THE UNCONVERTED. To such it is an evidence of the truth. No witness is more effective tho.n the consistent faithfulness of a professing Christian. Such witnesses/or Christ by bravely resisting all inducem~nts t? ab:i,ndon him, ~nd of C_hrist by manifesting his strength in human weakness. 'lhus it witnesses to him. It_is by such witness that Christ is now to be manifested to the heathen. The Church 1s the Epiphany star. We cannot now appeal to the evidence of miracles, but we cnn_s_how the moral miracle of a sinner saved. So long as the Church possesses the Spmt of Christ, eo long can we speak the invitation of Philip, "Come ~~d see.''. . II. ON OUR FELLOW-CHRISTIANS. It encournge~ them to Join us m our confesMon nnd thus strengthens their grasp of the power of Christ. 111. TllE IMPORTANCE OF QPJ,:lILY ACKNOWLEDGING OUR ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST. By such the world will be convinced that ho is a living power and u.:it merely a no.me upon our lips. Dy 8llch they who aro young in faith will be emboldened to ,leclare themselves more positively on his side, and will thus rec,:1vo more of h1m.-V. 'iV. H.  62 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE PHILIPPIANS. (en. r. 1-30,