7 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. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

The Background Acts 16

The Greeting to the Philippians

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants/servants of Jesus Christ,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops/overseers and deacons:

Gr. “Hagoi”

Holy ones/separated ones

Diakonoi/Deacons/ = attendant/waiter/ministers

See Acts 6:1-5

Gr. “Douloi”Servant/slavesBought by the blood of Jesus

See I Pet. 1:18,19

Gr. “Episkopoi” Biblically, an elder,

bishop/overseer and pastor are one in the same.

See Acts 20:17,28

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

“Grace” Gr. “Charis”

care-isAn undeserved gift of God’s

favor

We all need to be reminded constantly that all we have by way of salvation comes to us only by the love of God as a gift. The gift of salvation comes only to those that truly

believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are you saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest

any man should boast.

7 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. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

“peace” Gr. “Eirene”

i-ray'-nayTo be set as one/

to join

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 2:14 For He is our peace, who has made both one...

Rom 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have

access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Know Jesus - Know Peace No Jesus - No peace

The Thankfulness and Prayer of Paul

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

.

Philippians = Great memories

The Thankfulness and Prayer of Paul

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

.

The Thankfulness and Prayer of Paul

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

Gr. “koinonia”This word has the idea of sharing in

communion, being in the same boat with someone; it is the idea of being of the same

group who have all experienced the same thing.For a modern illustration “koinonia” is more like Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring”. Gandalf

and his cohort all shared an all-consuming mission. They shared extraordinary, harrowing

experiences. This, in turn, led to a deep and meaningful bond between them all.

.

6 being confident /convinced of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it in the day of Christ

Perhaps you have begun projects that you never finished. However, you can be assured that God isn’t a liar and will perform all He has promised.

Paul’s Confidence in God

6 being confident /convinced of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it in the day of Christ

When The Work In Us Is Complete

Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in the heavens, from whence also a Savior we await--the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who shall

transform the body of our humiliation to its becoming conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working

of his power, even to subject to himself the all things.

At The Rapture Of The Church – see Eph. 4:17

Is the “Day of Christ” the same day as

“The Day of the Lord?”

If the two are the same then the church will go through the “Great Tribulation” and must anticipate the great wrath of God to be unleashed upon the earth bringing massive death, destruction upon mankind and unprecedented slaughter/persecution of Christians before Jesus comes.

If the two are different, then Jesus will come for His church before the great tribulation thus the church will escape unprecedented world-wide destruction and persecution.

This is no small study and requires laborious examination by rightfully dividing the scripture. There is much disagreement among

Christians on this theme.

“The Day of Christ” and “The Day of The Lord” are not the same

“The Day of Christ” and “The Day of the Lord”

are the same.

Seven year tribulation

Rapture and Second coming of Jesus

1000 yr. millennium

The church goes through the great tribulationcome at the end of

the tribulation1000 yr.

millennium

Up and down

Seven years duration

Church Second coming of Jesus

In heaven with Jesus 7 yrs.

Rapture comes

before the tribulation

Ramifications:

• Both should be desired equally.

Amo 5:18 Woe to those desiring the day of the Lord. What is this for you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not

light;• Christians should not anticipate or look for Jesus to

return until after the coming of anti-Christ and the end of the great tribulation.

If the Day of Christ and The Day of the Lord are the same...

• The vast majority of Christians can anticipate Christian genocide to take place before Jesus returns. Rev. 7:14

• Such a view tends toward a mind-set of “Even so Jesus,, don’t come in my life-time.

Ramifications:

• The “Day of Christ” would produce a blessed anticipation in the church of Christ for Jesus to come in their lifetime.

• The “Day of Christ” would in no way be associated with wrath but would only be connected to the blessing of the church which would be glorified at the rapture.

• The church would not go through the great tribulation and thus wouldl not experience universal genocide.

If the Day of Christ and The Day of the Lord are not the same...

• The believer would have no desire to experience the time of the Day of the Lord

• Grace is God’s unmerited favor and kindnessWe are called by grace, saved by grace, kept by

grace and empowered by grace

• Peace is primarily the result of God making us one with himself having made reconciliation by the blood of the cross.

• May we always be a blessing to those who live by the gospel and support them in every way we can. This will always cause thankfulness and good memories.

• Our fellowship isn’t about eating food together, it is about our mutual sharing of His life together. , and a partnership to fulfill His mission to proclaim the gospel.

Summing It All Up

Let us rejoice in that the God Who saved us from sin will deliver us from the presence of sin in our corrupted flesh and replace it with a brand new incorruptible glorified

body.

1Co 15:51-52 Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed; (52) in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a

trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.