Continuing Philippians

Scripture Interprets Scripture

If you would turn this morning to the book of Philippians, we're going to pick right back up where we left off week before last. The book of Philippians chapter 1 and if you want to keep your finger there and turn back into the book of Acts and mark a spot because we're going to be reading from there.

As we did week before last, everybody remembers and knows that the number one key to interpreting Scripture is not reading it and then assuming that it is saying what you think it says, but we interpret Scripture by the Scripture.

Amen? That is the rule. It has never been about what I think or what you think. A lot of times and a lot of places, you may hear that said or you may hear that brought up. Hopefully, you'll never hear a preacher stand up and read something and ask you the question, what does that say to you?

Because truly, in the big scheme, in the grand picture, it doesn't matter what it says to you and it doesn't matter what it says to me. It says what it says and we're called to align up with God. So, Acts chapter, if you want to turn to Acts chapter 23, we'll pick up in chapter 23 of Acts once we read in Philippians and we're going to read, again, it's going to be very Scripture intensive today.

We're going to be looking at a lot of Scripture, but it's going to be very important. So, that being said, Martin Luther said this concerning the Scriptures being interpreter of themselves. He said, from the beginning of my reformation, I have asked God to send me neither dreams nor visions nor angels, but to give me the right understanding of His Word, the Holy Scriptures.

For as long as I have God's Word, I know that I am walking in His way and that I shall not fall into any error or delusion. The quickest way to fall into error and delusion is to lean on our own understanding.

And we're called, as a matter of fact, the writer of Proverbs taught us, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. And we know the mind of God because we have the Scriptures, the Word of God.

Defending the Gospel in Philippians 1

So, someone was asking me yesterday at work, they came up and said, so what are you preaching on tomorrow? I don't know if they've asked other preachers this question, got some kind of a weird answer, but I looked at them dead in the eye and I said, I'll be preaching from Philippians chapter 1.

We'll probably be reading from verse 18 through 21, but I said, and here's why, I said, because we believe it's important to go verse by verse through the text of Scripture so that, and because that many preachers get hooked in on a favorite verse or two and they like to preach on that the whole time, right?

And a preacher will end up preaching just what we like to you and you'll miss out on what God has for you and what is necessary. The preacher has to preach the hard parts as well as the easy parts. We have to preach the shouting messages as well as the hard messages, so called.

But in any case, this is not a hard message, again, but it is a very important message because we're going to talk about defending the Gospel today and we're going to see how the Apostle Paul defended the Gospel.

So I took off my shoes and socks and I counted up the number of times that the Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 1, just up to verse 18, mentioned Jesus Christ, mentioned God, mentioned the Holy Spirit, mentioned the Spirit or he used he in reference to Jesus Christ and 16 times in the first 18 verses of the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul makes it clear who he's speaking about, about Jesus Christ.

And in this where we've read, we've read to you last week, we looked at the context of why Paul and the Philippians had such a bond. Any of you all remember that? I know it's been a week and a half. Paul and the Philippians had such a bond because Paul being called of God, saved by the amazing grace of God, called to be an Apostle, went to the people of Philippi and preached the Gospel, spent much time in prison there, spent much time sharing and communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these people and because he did this, they had a bond with each other.

John, are you supposed to take my word for it? Whose word are you supposed to take? Take the Scripture. Take the Word of God for it. And that's exactly what we're going to do today. I told you I was going to always, I was going to test you on that regularly.

Test you on it regularly. So Philippians chapter 1 and let's just read, let's pick up in verse 16 actually and I just want to read down actually to verse 18 rather than going on to verse, through verses 21 because we're going to be looking at so much of Paul's actual defense of the Gospel in the book of Acts in Caesarea.

Anybody tell me where Caesarea is? Yes. Who just said that?

Did you say that?

Brandy? You said Israel. Brandy, where did you say? Somebody said Philippi.

Okay.

All right and that is exactly where it is and that's what's so incredible that here from the book of Philippians, it is written to the church at Philippi. Everybody remember that? It is written to the Philippian believers there in Philippi, to the saints in Christ Jesus, to the bishops and to the deacons there.

And so Paul is sharing and communicating his love for the people and why his love for them is as it is because of Jesus Christ, because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they have a bond. And then in verse 16, Paul is addressing the issue of those who preach Christ, some from selfish ambition.

If you want to pick up in verse 16, the former preached Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely supposing to add to affliction to my chains. But the latter, he says, out of love, knowing that I am appointed, and this is the phrase we're going to focus in on this morning, for the defense of the gospel.

What then, he says, only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And in this, I rejoice. Yes, and will rejoice. So Paul is addressing the issue. He's encouraging the people.

They've been exhorted. They've been encouraged to continue on in the faith despite hardships, despite difficult circumstances, despite what people might say or what people might do. There was the practice constantly in the New Testament churches, in the scriptures of folks trying to go back to Judaism, the works of the law, rather than trusting in the grace of Christ.

The fact that Christ Jesus, according to the scriptures, came, lived a sinless life, died on the cross as an atonement for our sins, raised again on the third day for our justification. Folks were kept wanting to go back to the deeds of the flesh, to the works of the law, and they did not want to lean wholly and fully upon Jesus Christ.

And folks, it is no different today. And this is why defending the gospel is so important. And this is why it's important for you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and all of y 'all to know how to defend the gospel and why it's important.

Because the gospel, whether completely overt and outrightly denied and refused to be heard, is also watered down, weakened, and changed to suit the culture in which we live today. Now, the gospel is necessary.

Everybody know this. Number one, the gospel is necessary because men are still sinners. Nothing has changed since Adam and Eve. Men from Adam and Eve are born sinners. And sin has separated us from God.

And the Bible says the wages of sin is death. There's no ifs, there are no ands, and there are no buts. There are no semi-good people. There is no ins of goodness within us. We are sinners separated from a holy God.

That's why it was necessary for Jesus Christ to come and to die. Now, y 'all are probably sitting here saying, yes, yes, yes, we hear this all the time. We know this.

Right?

But the sad truth is many people do not and are not being fed a constant diet of this truth. And because of what takes place in the world, they think sin is something to be mocked. They think sin is something to be laughed at.

They think sin is something to be cast aside as something small and insignificant. But friends, sin kills. You want to know the death rate of sin? One hundred percent. Ten out of ten people die of sin.

Did you know that? Everybody dies of sin. But let me tell you, April, she probably thought I was having a heart attack last night. I got home from work, turned on the TV, the news was on. And the first thing that came up, and I don't normally talk much about news or anything like that, but this is a perfect example and illustration why we must defend the gospel.

The news was on concerning a story in California. California, marijuana's been legalized. And so because of the legalization of something that was formerly illegal, they are going back to 1973 to people who were convicted of crimes due to drugs and they are whopping their slate clean as though to say that, sure, it was sin then, it was wrong then, but now it is not.

Friends, I want you to know, Congress can legislate laws to do whatever they want to do, but they will never legislate a law that ceases to make sin what it is. Sin against a holy God. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

That is why we must defend the gospel of Jesus Christ as the church of Jesus Christ. But Paul says this, he said in verse 17, but the latter, the latter preached Christ out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

That was all introduction just to lead us to where we are. He said, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. Paul's defense of the gospel that he is speaking to these people about, they recognize and they saw how he defended the gospel and that is what we are going to look at from the book of Acts.

Acts, if you would turn back over there where you marked your place. Acts chapter 20, let's start in 23 and verse, let's just go to verse 33. Acts chapter 23 and verse 33 and we are going to just begin reading and I am going to read to you the account of Paul's defense of the gospel in Philippi when he was in prison for the gospel's sake.

Verse 33, is everybody there? Chapter 23 verse 33, when they came to Caesarea, which is in where? Philippi and had delivered the letter, there is that connection still, and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from and when he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will hear you when your accusers also have come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.

Verse, or chapter 24 verse 1, now after five days, Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence, maybe Tertullus, I don't really know how to pronounce that.

These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began to make his accusation saying, seeing that, understand what's going on here. Paul is being accused. He's been imprisoned.

His accusers are coming before him. The high priests have come before him and they brought someone who is very well spoken, referred to as an orator, meaning someone that speaks very well and very eloquently publicly.

And they had this Tertullus begin to give his speech. And so in verse 2, this is the beginning of Tertullus' speech to the authorities concerning.

Paul.

And this is what he said, seeing that through you, we may enjoy great peace and prosperity and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight. He's kissing up to the authorities is what he's doing.

We accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further. I beg you to hear by your courtesy, a few words from us. For we have found this man in reference to Paul.

We have found this man a plague. Now they're calling the apostle Paul, this man who preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. They call him a plague. They call him a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world.

So those folks, even today, who will say that let's all just get along. Let's not be divided. Friends, there is a dividing line when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we must make that distinction.

They called him a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, they said. And we seized him and wanted to judge him according to our law.

But the commander, Lysaeus, came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself, you may ascertain all things of which we accuse him.

And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. So Tertullus is giving the big hate speech, if there ever was a hate speech, a hate speech against the Apostle Paul for preaching the gospel, trying to paint him as the one who was in the wrong for doing the right thing.

That is no different than today. Just to give you, by way of illustration and example, folks will do that today. When you stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ, you will be accused of many things. You'll be accused, as some would call it, and I've heard with my own ears, spiritual bigotry.

Friends, let me tell you something. It is not bigoted to stand in defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is wrong not to defend the gospel of Jesus Christ. So the Bible says here in verse 10,. Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered.

Now here begins Paul's defense, first defense of the gospel. He said this, Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself.

Can I say this?

I believe Paul was a happy Christian. Christianity, you don't have to be walk around with your lips stuck out to prove that you're a Christian. You can be happy. You ought to be happy as a Christian.

Amen.

Some of you might be thinking, I'll be happy when we get out of here.

Amen.

I'm happy while I'm here. I'm gonna make the most of it. Paul, he said, I cheerfully answer for myself because you may ascertain that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone. So Paul began to defend himself here.

He said,.

They neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accused me. But this I confess to you, Paul said, that according to the way,.

Does everybody,.

Everybody in your Bible, it probably has the way capitalized. That was the reference. That was the term used for folks who were Christians in the day,.

Back then,.

Who followed Jesus Christ. They were followers of the way. By the way, Jesus said it himself, concerning himself, I am the way, the truth and the lie. So he said, I confess to you that according to the way, which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.

In the process of the inspiration as we're reading the New Testament, what Christians depended on was not some other form of writings other than the gospel or other than the Old Testament law and the prophets.

So that's important. Because scripture is interpreted by what? Scripture, always. He said this, I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and man. So Paul has communicated that he was not causing trouble. He was not there to raise a ruckus. He was not there to start a fight.

He was there because of Jesus Christ. And he said, look, I'm here because I believe what God has said. I believe what the law and the prophets have said. And who he was speaking to were people who understood, who knew, who recognized the law.

And so he came back to that in 15 and he said, I have hope in God, which they also themselves accept, understanding there's a resurrection, because that was the issue. Folks had a problem with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So Paul went on to say this in verse 17. Now, after many years, I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation. He said, you want to know why I was where I was when they came and got me? I came to bring offerings to my nation.

In the midst of which, some of the Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.

I love this. The apostle Paul, he didn't play around. He said, them people that made this accusation against me, they should have done something more than send old Tertullus over there and his gang to try to speak on their behalf.

He said, if they had a problem with me, they should have been here and answered the problem themselves. That's exactly what Paul was saying right there. Or else, let those who are here themselves say if they have found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council.

Unless, verse 21, it is for this one statement which I cried out. He said, if there's anything that they may have latched on to, he said, this is it. Standing among them concerning the resurrection of the dead, I am being judged by you this day.

But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the way because he didn't know the things that Paul was saying necessarily to him, Paul was giving an explanation, a defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And so the Bible says here that Felix adjourned the proceedings and said, when Lysaeus the commander comes down, I'll make a decision on your case. So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide or visit him.

Where was Paul in prison during the time of this trial?

Philippi.

Everybody, where was Paul in prison during the time of this trial? In Philippi. And what we're studying is the book of Philippians which is Paul's letter to the people of Philippi. So even while he was in prison, he was given liberty by Felix to have folks visit him, to come freely, to go and to come, to bring him what he wanted.

No doubt those people from Philippi were coming to encourage Paul from time to time. So it goes on to say, the scripture says verse 24, after some days when Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control and judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, go away for now. When I have a convenient time, I will call for you. Why should we still to this day defend the gospel?

Because people are still waiting on a convenient time to get themselves right with God. We talked about it in Sunday school. Truly, there's never really convenient time for anything. And if you're waiting for a convenient time, that time will never come.

But friend, when the Holy Ghost of God convicts you of sin, you'll be convicted of sin. It won't matter whether you're in a mud hole or whether you're on top of the world. Felix said, I'm waiting for a convenient time.

I'll call you again when I'm ready to hear some more. Meanwhile, listen to what the scripture says. Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul that he might release him. Felix said, Paul, you stay here.

I'll call for you when I'm ready to hear some more. And by the way, I know you've got some supporters out there. Maybe you'll end up giving me some money and I'll let you up out of here. That's exactly what was going on.

But listen to what the scripture says. Therefore, he sent for him more often and conversed with him. Why did Felix converse with Paul? Because he wanted something in return. He was doing it for greedy gain is why he was doing that.

So the scripture goes on. Verse 27. After two years, Porteous Festus succeeded Felix. Felix went out. Festus came in. Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound because the Jews were the ones who put Paul on trial.

Paul’s Appeal to Caesar

Chapter 25, verse 1. Now, when Festus had come to the province, after three days, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul and they petitioned him asking a favor against him that he would summon him to Jerusalem while they lay an ambush along the road to kill him.

So they said, let's have Paul brought up and we'll set an ambush. And when Paul's on his way up, we will kill him. And so, verse 4. Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea Philippi and that he himself was going there shortly.

So he said, no, we're going to leave him exactly where he is. Therefore, he said, let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man to see if there is any fault in him. For two years, Paul sat in prison.

The plot against him was still on. Festus said, we'll leave him where he is and those who have authority amongst you can come down. And if there truly is anything worth hearing, we'll hear it and we'll put him on trial for that.

Verse 7. When he had come down, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. They were still falsely accusing him. Friends, if we're going to be accused of anything, let it be for defending the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And when we defend the gospel of Jesus Christ, folks can say what they want about us. They can say what they want about our character. But we must remain true and faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If it costs us staying this size as a body of believers from now until the Lord comes back, hallelujah. If it means God growing the church to a big number, hallelujah. But we must remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Old country preachers, you know what? They didn't worry about the crowds. I've read one, I can't remember his name off the top of my head, but it may have been Spurgeon talking about him actually. One country preacher, he said he didn't have a congregation to preach to.

He just went out in the woods and climbed up on a stump and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only critters that was around to hear him was the squirrels and the skunks and the other animals in the forest.

But he didn't care, he just preached the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what his crowd looked like. So it goes on to say this, let's keep reading. While he answered for himself, neither against the law of the Jews, verse 8, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in anything at all.

Know this, understand this about the Apostle Paul. He was not an ignorant man. God does not intend for you and I to be ignorant people, okay? It's important for you to be learned in the Scriptures. Whether you're a preacher, Sunday school teacher, singer, lay member, whatever the case may be, you must study to show yourself approved unto God so that you can defend the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He said, I've not offended against any. But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, just like Felix, answered Paul and said, are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?

He said, look, we'll move this up to a higher court as if to call Paul's bluff, as if to think Paul would back down and to back away from the gospel.

He said, look, if you want to, we'll take this up a notch.

And I believe old Paul pulled an emerald legacy. And he said, bam! All right, let's do it. So he went on and the Bible says in verse 10, so Paul said, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat where I ought to be judged.

To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know, for if I am an offender or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. Now, they probably never heard nothing like that because everybody that was in a court of law is always trying to weasel out, always trying to justify whatever it is they've done and try to get out of it.

But Paul said, look, if I have done anything, go ahead and kill me. And then he said this, I do not object to dying, but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them.

I appeal to Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, you have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go. After some days, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. Where was Caesarea?

In Philippi to greet Festus. So the king and his wife come to Caesarea Philippi. When they had been there many days, the Bible says, Festus laid Paul's case before the king saying, there is a certain man left, a prisoner by Felix.

About whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me when I was in Jerusalem, asking for judgment against him. To them I answered. So Festus is giving the breakdown, the rundown of what's going on with Paul to King Agrippa.

And the Bible says here, to them I answered, that Festus said, to them I answered, it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.

Therefore, when they had come together without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. So Festus is saying, this is what I did. When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I had supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

And because I was uncertain, Festus said, of such questions, because I didn't have a right knowledge of the way, questions I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning this matters.

But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, which is the Caesar, the king, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa, the king, said to Festus, I also would like to hear the man myself.

Tomorrow, he said, you shall hear him. So if we go down just a little bit further, I want you to notice the picture that's painted that sets the stage for Paul's full defense of the gospel before King Agrippa.

So the next day, verse 23 is where we're at. So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus' command, Paul was brought in.

So, you know, the trumpets are playing, the pageantry is going on, Agrippa and Bernice come in, and everything's, the stage is set. They brought Paul in, Festus said, King Agrippa, and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.

But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, that he himself had appealed to Augustus, Caesar, I decided to send him. I have nothing certain to write to my Lord concerning him. Therefore, I have brought him out before you, especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place, I might have something to write, for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.

So, Festus was saying, I need a higher authority to give me a final ruling on this matter, so I can put it down on paper, and so that we can get this persecution or prosecution commenced. Chapter 26, verse 1.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. So, the king himself looks at Paul, says, Paul, I'm giving you permission to speak. And so, the Bible says, Paul stretched out his hands and answered for himself, and this was his defense.

He said, I think myself happy, King. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews. No one can give a defense of the gospel for you, Christians.

Did you know that? It is not my job to give a defense of the gospel for you. A lot of times over the years and throughout church history, it has always been the practice of the church members to always, always, always say this.

Let's call the preacher and find out what the Bible says.

No, that is the wrong answer.

I am glad to help.

I am glad to point you in any direction that I can to encourage you in your faith, but you have the responsibility yourself to know what the Scriptures say and teach concerning Jesus Christ. There it is, John.

Who's responsible? For knowing the gospel. That's exactly right. Let's be more specific. More than we are, who's responsible for knowing the gospel? I am. Give me five. Because that's the truth.

That's it.

You are responsible for knowing the gospel. So he goes on to say this, and let's move right on through this. I think myself happy because I am able to answer for myself concerning all the things which I am accused, especially, Paul said, addressing the king, especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews.

Therefore, I beg you to hear me patiently. My manner of life, and here it goes. Paul said, my manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

Paul, later on in Philippians, we'll get to that whenever we get to that in Philippians, but Paul's testimony to them was this. He said, look, I was raised up to be a Pharisee. If anybody knew the law inside and out, it was Paul.

And so Paul said, there's no doubt that the Jewish people know me. They know my stance and my take on what the Old Testament scriptures teach and say. And they know that I'm not about to go contrary to that.

He said, they know me from my childhood up. They knew me from the first. And if, Paul said, if they're willing to testify that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now, Paul said, and now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

To this promise, our 12 tribes earnestly serving God night and day hope to attain the promise. The promise he is speaking of is the promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, which was what they were against when Jesus came.

That is why they put him in chains. That is why they put him on trial. Because the very law and the prophets that they said they held to, they denied by admitting Jesus Christ was the only begotten son of God come to be the Messiah for God's people.

So he said this, to this promise, our 12 tribes earnestly striving, serving God night and day hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I'm accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

He said, because King Agrippa understood and believed what the Jewish law taught and concerning resurrection and how that was not something that was outside the scope of belief. And he said this, indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Here's Paul's testimony. Paul begins to testify to them concerning how that he himself, being a strict religious Pharisee, thought that he should stand against Jesus Christ and the way that they called the way of Jesus Christ.

He himself had people delivered unto prison. And we'll read that here. He said this, this I also did in Jerusalem. And many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests.