Trilogy of Gospel Duties

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents Philippians 4:4-7 as a 'trilogy of gospel duties' or 'three-fold cord of divine imperatives,' emphasizing their interconnectedness and their role in enhancing the…

The term 'trilogy' is used to describe the three gospel duties, comparing them to a literary or musical work where each unit is complete but together they form a larger, unified whole, emphasizing their interconnectedness.

And so he exhorts them to come to oneness of mind in the Lord. And now in the verses before us, he sets before the Philippians what we could well call a trilogy of gospel duties or a three-fold cord of divine imperatives. And he does so because if the Philippian church is characterized by obedience to these gospel precepts, they cannot help but enhance their witness in the midst of the gross paganism in the city of Philippi. And though each of these gospel commands, each of these imperatives is complete in itself, there is indeed a relationship. And that's why I've used the word trilogy. Usual...

6:00 - 7:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin illustrates constant joyfulness with Paul's own suffering and his experience in Acts 16, emphasizing that this joy is not stoicism but a deep serenity rooted in Christ…

Paul's personal circumstances—chained, awaiting trial, facing opposition and false teachers—are presented as an example of someone not on 'easy street' who nevertheless commanded constant joy, demonstrating its possibility in suffering.

The Bible knows of no such stoicism. Rather, it is a command continually to rejoice in the unchangeable realities of union with the Lord Jesus Christ. And let me say by way of application, the man who wrote these words was not exactly on easy street when he wrote them. He was chained to a Roman soldier.

12:50 - 13:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin illustrates constant joyfulness with Paul's own suffering and his experience in Acts 16, emphasizing that this joy is not stoicism but a deep serenity rooted in Christ…

The account of Paul and Silas singing praises in stocks after being beaten in Philippi (Acts 16) illustrates constant joyfulness in the face of extreme physical pain and injustice, showing their joy was rooted in their unalterable identity in Christ.

You remember Acts 16? Because of his gospel endeavors at Philippi he ended up with his hands and feet in stocks and his back laid open with the lictor's lash caked with blood. And at midnight, what is he doing? He and his companion are having a hallelujah meeting.

14:33 - 14:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin illustrates constant joyfulness with Paul's own suffering and his experience in Acts 16, emphasizing that this joy is not stoicism but a deep serenity rooted in Christ…

The phrase 'plastic stage smile' or 'evangelical, Farrah Fawcett grim' is used to clarify that Christian joy is not a superficial, forced happiness but a deep, dominant characteristic of life, even amidst grief.

It does not mean that there is no reason that the Christian life is to be conceived of as some kind of a plastic stage smile. A kind of evangelical, Farrah Fawcett grim. No, no. Not at all.

16:23 - 16:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second duty is 'Let your gentleness be known unto all men.' Martin explores the meaning of 'gentleness' through various scriptural contrasts, defining it as considerateness…

The analogy of a translator trying to grasp a word that is 'bigger than any English equivalent' and having 'half of the word falls out' illustrates the richness and complexity of the Greek word for 'gentleness' (epieikes).

Now why can't the translators agree on how to translate this word? Well, for the simple reason it's one of those words that is bigger than any English equivalent. And often the translator is holding one of those words and just when he thinks he's got a handle on it in English, half of the word falls out. And when he goes to catch the other half, the other part falls out.

21:41 - 22:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The result of obeying these commands is 'the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.' This peace acts as a…

The metaphor of the 'peace of God' acting as a 'garrison of soldiers' guarding hearts and thoughts is used to convey the protective, securing power of God's peace, especially vivid for the Roman colony of Philippi.

There's the conjunction. If you do what is mandated in verse 6, and perhaps the and even presses back further to verse 4, but certainly it ties verse 7 to verse 6, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall guard, literally, shall garrison, will be like a garrison of soldiers. The Philippians, being a Roman colony, often saw a garrison of Roman soldiers protecting someone or some place or something, and he says, the peace of God shall garrison your hearts and your thoughts, the place where anxiety really gets to you. It gets to your heart. It gets to the center of your being. An...

40:20 - 41:09 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now we don't prove truth by experience, but we verify it in our experience. We cannot but speak what we have seen and heard.

Martin uses a personal analogy of a philosopher logically proving his wife doesn't exist, yet his personal experience of holding her that morning renders the argument meaningless. This illustrates how the believer's experience of God's peace verifies spiritual realities against intellectual skepticism.

It will also prevent unworthy reasonings from entering the thought life. Thus, if anyone should tell the believer God does not exist and everlasting life is a mere dream, he would get nowhere. For at that very moment, the child of God would be experienced experiencing within himself the realities which the infidel is trying to reason out of existence. Now there may be a philosopher clever enough to persuade me logically that no such person as Mrs. Albert N. Martin exists.

42:39 - 43:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by highlighting the beautiful composite of the Christian life—joyful, gentle, and non-anxious—as a powerful witness to the world. He stresses that such a life is…

Examples of a Christian maintaining joy regardless of financial, family, or career circumstances (bills paid or not, kids well or sick, job going well or getting the axe) are used to show how this consistent joy baffles the world.

Now, what can we say by way of conclusion, having looked at this trilogy of gospel duty? Well, first of all, I trust you see something of the beautiful composite of the Christian that is set forth in this passage. You talk about light in the midst of darkness. What in the world does the world do with a character who is always always rejoicing when the bills are paid and when they aren't?

45:44 - 46:10 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by highlighting the beautiful composite of the Christian life—joyful, gentle, and non-anxious—as a powerful witness to the world. He stresses that such a life is…

A story of a boss intentionally blaming and mistreating a hardworking Christian to test his character illustrates how manifested gentleness, even under unjust pressure, confuses and intrigues the world, making the Christian a powerful witness.

What does the world do with the man who continually manifests gentle forbearance? The world tests him. There's that boss at work who says, you know, this guy seems to be a little different. I'm going to put a little pressure and see if he's for real.

46:45 - 46:57 Read in full sermon