Philippians 1:6-10
 
Phil 1:6 (KJB)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
 
Being Confident - Convinced, persuaded, or satisfied
Hath begun - A beginning
Will perform - Finish, complete, accomplish, or fulfill
 
Paul is encouraging the Philippians that Christ had begun or initiated the good work, which is salvation, in them and He would never forsake them. Christ was going to bring to completion the work which was started I them. Now this does not mean that salvation itself is a process, what is in view here is the Christian life which comes after the moment of salvation. Deism teaches that God created the universe with all its reproductive abilities and walked away from it. Christ did not just save us and then walk away from us in hopes that we will live the Christian life effectively. What this verse is teaching us is that Christ is strategically involved in every phase of our life and whatever ministry we are given, the Lord is there to guide us and bring us through the hard times in those ministries. He is with us every step of the way to the end of our life or to His return.
 
Phil 1:7 (KJB)
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
 
Meet - Right, righteous, or just
Bonds - Imprisonment
Defence - Apologetic or a verbal defense
Confirmation - Guarantee or unmovable
Partakers - Fellow partakers
 
The apostle Paul never let his personal situation interfere with his concern for the people he loved. Here he states that it is right for him to think this of you and what is the “this” he is thinking? It is what he said in the previous verse telling them that the Lord Jesus Christ had begun the good work of salvation in them and He will guide all His children in their Christian walk. Paul always kept his converts in his heart, they were always near and dear to him. Although Paul was in prison at the time he wrote this letter, he had always kept the Philippians in his heart for they had become partakers of the grace which he was a partaker. While he defended the true Gospel and attempted to establish it wherever he went, now he speaks specifically of Philippi and the fact that he shares the same grace of God with them creating a spiritual camaraderie. He is hoping by his letter to help strengthen the Philippians with the unmovable gospel of grace.
 
Phil 1:8 (KJB)
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
 
Record - Witness
The bowels - Inward parts representing the heart or affections
 
The apostle Paul had testified that God was his witness concerning how much he desired to be with the Philippians. In fact, he equates his love for them as the love that Jesus has for His own people to the point that He died for them. Paul had the same mindset in that he was willing to give his own life to see the Philippians grow in the faith and to see many more come into the Kingdom of God. Paul always concerned himself with the spiritual welfare of those in the churches which he founded. Is this the attitude we have toward those we have led to the Lord? Are we willing to see them grow by giving our all for them. (2 Cor 12:15 KJV) And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. Paul had the same mindset with the Corinthian Christians but he exuded with all those he came in contact with.
 
Phil 1:9 (KJB)
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
 
May abound - May increase or excel in
Knowledge - increase in understanding
Judgment - Insight, perception, or discernment
 
Paul states that he is praying for the Philippians and in this verse he states three different prayer requests on their behalf. The first request is that he prays that their love would abound or excel toward each other and that their love will be in such a high state that it could help override any persecutions or hard times which may befall them. Then the second prayer he prayed which is a good prayer for all Christians to pray, either for themselves or for others, and that is that the Philippians would grow in not only knowledge but in understanding of that knowledge. Many have knowledge but not many try to increase in understanding of that knowledge. The deeper we go in biblical understanding the greater our growth. Then the Apostle Paul prays that they would possess much discernment so they would be able to make right decisions and to be able to understand the Gospel deeper along with any practical applications.
 
Phil 1:10 (KJB)
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
 
May approve - To try, test, approve, or scrutinize
Sincere - Pure or unsullied
Without offence - Blameless or not causing others to stumble
 
Paul is praying that the Philippians have much discernment in their Christian walk that they may have the ability to test every teaching and application of the Gospel to make sure it is of the Lord and not an application of a false teaching. If they have the discernment to know right from wrong, then they would remain pure and this way they would not cause anyone else to stumble by bad behavior, it would be avoided.

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