Christ Our Life

By Clark Logan

Singing in the dark? Yes, Paul and Silas were heard singing in the prison in the ciry of Philippi. It was midnight. Their backs were bruised and bleeding, their feet were held fast in the stocks, and yet they found joy in suffering for the sake of Christ. He was their life, their all, and He had never let them down. That same life and joy are available to all of God's children, whatever their circumstances.

Some years later, Paul was again in prison but this time in Rome. He wrote a letter to the Christians at Philippi to encourage them. It can encourage you too. In Christ Our Life, each verse of Paul's letter is considered, explained and applied to our every day lives. There are words of thankfulness and prayerfulness, as well as instruction and correction. Paul wants us to be more like Christ. Throughout the letter, his joy in the Lord overflows. Such joy is infectious.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Ritchie Ltd
• Release date: Jul 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223855088

Book preview

Christ Our Life

Clark Logan

Published by John Ritchie Ltd, 2023.

In memory of Sammy Thompson a joyful evangelist

Contents

Preface

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 Christ our Life – the joy of proclaiming Him

Chapter 2 Christ our Example – the joy of following Him

Chapter 3 Christ our Goal – the joy of knowing Him

Chapter 4 Christ our Strength – the joy of serving Him

Singing in the Dark

Preface

Mr Sammy Thompson was an Irish gospel preacher who had a ready and radiant smile. His ministry touched our families in several ways. He had conducted the wedding service of my parents in 1951, and he agreed to do the same for Hazel and me in 1979. But it was his spiritual influence on our lives that would make the greatest impact. He was instrumental in leading me to faith in Christ as a boy of seven, and some years later, Hazel too, as a girl of twelve. He often had humorous but telling quips: he once informed me that he always tried to keep to ‘the sunny side of the street’. On another occasion, when he was nearing the end of his life and needing a walking stick to move about, I recall him saying, ‘Yes, I’m on the stick, but my feet are on the Rock!’ We treasure such memories of a man who rejoiced in the Lord.

Many centuries ago, the prophet Nehemiah declared that the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh 8.10). By this measure, there are times in our Christian lives when we are spiritually weak because we are missing out on the joy that the Lord alone can give. We can easily be overburdened with the difficulties and pressures of modern life; we become inward-looking and lose our focus on the nearness, greatness and goodness of our God. While we may not always be able to smile, we should be able to retain our inner joy.

The apostle Paul penned a letter that can help us, if we will read it and take heed. Truly, it is full of the joy that is found in the Lord alone – when Christ is our life and our all in all. Paul wrote to the Philippian believers during his first imprisonment in Rome. He might have had many reasons to complain, but instead he gave these believers, and us, so many reasons to rejoice in the Lord. This joy is much deeper and more enduring than mere happiness; happiness comes and goes, for it depends on what is happening around us. Christian joy is eternal, flowing from an unbreakable relationship with Christ and His very life within us. Furthermore, it is not confined to those who have a naturally bright and optimistic personality; this joy is for all of the people of God to experience to the full. In the letter to the Philippians, the joy overflows.

The format of this volume matches that of an earlier volume, HIGHER GROUND – Ascending Ephesians, verse by verse. It aims to make the letter of Philippians accessible and engaging, by considering its message in a clear, concise, and challenging way. The approach is devotional and practical rather than technical, based on the conviction that every verse has value to nourish our souls. The brief preview sections at the beginning of each chapter will help to keep the wider context in mind, so that we do not miss out on Paul’s flow of thought.

I have been greatly assisted in this endeavour by family and friends. John and Andrea Parkinson of Ballymena and Ivor Johnston of Dundonald were generous in sharing their time and expertise to read through and help to edit the manuscript. John willingly provided a suitable Foreword. Sadly, for us, Ivor was suddenly called home to heaven before the publication of this book. He is greatly missed. Once again, it has been a pleasure to work with the publishing team at ‘Ritchie’s’. I offer my sincere thanks to them all.

It remains my hope and prayer that this volume will help to increase your understanding and love for God’s Word. A deeper appreciation of the truth of Paul’s letter to the Philippians should leave us all more joyfully devoted to Christ who is our life.

Clark Logan

Tlokweng

Botswana

May 2022

Foreword

What a great moment of joy it must have been for Paul when Epaphroditus arrived in Rome, having made the long journey from Macedonia to Italy. Paul was a prisoner waiting to appear before Caesar, but the saints in Philippi had not forgotten him nor his chains and had sent him a substantial gift by the hand of Epaphroditus. While there were many good things to report to Paul about the spiritual progress of the assembly in Philippi, there were also certain matters which were of great concern. Both Epaphroditus and Paul would have had much to discuss and pray about.

While in Rome, Epaphroditus became seriously ill and came close to death, but God granted him a full recovery. As Epaphroditus prepared to make the return journey from Rome, Paul took up his pen and wrote a letter to the assembly in Philippi. Paul’s ‘Epistle to the Philippians’ is worth more than its weight in gold and should be read and loved by every believer.

I am delighted that Clark Logan has written a fresh commentary on Philippians, aptly named Christ our Life. Many of us have enjoyed Clark’s recent commentary on Ephesians, Higher Ground, in which he adopted a concise verse-by-verse approach using language that was clear and non-technical. The author has written this present volume in the same style and format. This easy-to-read approach will again be helpful to all readers, whether a new convert discovering Philippians for the first time or a mature Christian wanting to revisit the beautiful and important truths.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a joy to read. He focuses on subjects such as prayer and thanksgiving, fellowship in the gospel, the mind of Christ, the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus, the danger from the circumcision party, the goal of the Christian life, the importance of unity, the Christian’s thought-life, and the fragrance of giving. Clark steers us through these great themes with insightful observations, and numerous comparisons to other scriptures. His comment on chapter 3.14 is most helpful: The high or upward calling is not so much an invitation to heaven, but rather heaven’s encouragement to make Christlikeness the goal.

A delightful feature of the book is that each verse is concluded with a pithy and thought-provoking saying. For example, having commented on the doxology in chapter 4.20, Clark concludes with this lovely exhortation: Express your own doxology today, and seal it with a heartfelt ‘Amen’.

I have known Clark Logan for over 40 years and have benefitted often from his ministry and counsel. He is also my brother-in-law, so I often enjoy his company in a family context and consider him to be a very special friend. I count it an honour to write this Foreword and can highly recommend Christ our Life to every Christian reader. This is an ideal book for both young and old. May God use it to enrich our love for the Lord and His word.

John Parkinson

Ballymena

N. Ireland

May 2022

Introduction

The soul-thrilling story of how Paul and his companions – Silas, Timothy, and Luke – responded to the ‘Macedonian call’ and crossed over to Europe for the first time, bearing the message of the gospel, is a testimony to their perseverance. Two attempts to take the gospel elsewhere in Asia Minor had been prevented by the Spirit of God. Dr Luke does not explain the reasons for this, but the small band of gospel pioneers wisely acquiesced and waited upon the Lord for further instructions. These came in the form of a vision that Paul had one night. A man of Macedonia stood and issued an appeal to God’s servants: Come over into Macedonia, and help us (Acts 16.9). They responded without delay.

Philippi was formerly a village called Krenides (‘the little fountains’) in northeastern Greece, as we might describe the area today. It was located nine miles inland from the port of Neapolis. After being expanded and fortified, it was renamed Philippi, after Philip II of Macedon, the father of the renowned Greek general, Alexander the Great. Philip realised its strategic position on the major east-west trade route known as the Egnatian Way and its proximity to gold mines in the area. When the Romans defeated the Greeks, the city was eventually granted the status of a Roman colony and its populace, mostly Gentiles, were regarded as citizens of Rome. They enjoyed special liberties and privileges such as exemption from paying certain taxes.

The first convert was a prosperous businesswoman called Lydia, a Gentile who feared the one true God. She met regularly with other women beside the nearby river Gangites, where they gathered to pray. When Lydia first heard the gospel, God opened her heart to receive Christ as her Saviour, and then she readily opened her home and hosted the servants of Christ. The second convert was a poor young girl who was demon-possessed. The third notable convert was a Roman jailer. The gospel had reached across all social classes and ages, as it still does today.

Some ten years later, when Paul was under house arrest in Rome (A.D. 61-63), he wrote this letter to the Philippian church. The other letters from this period were Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. Philippians was perhaps the last one to have been written, and the only one that was not destined for Asia Minor. It is a letter of loving friendship, thanks, and encouragement, as well as exhortation, correction and warning. Epaphroditus had brought a gift to Paul from the Philippians, and one of his reasons for writing was to acknowledge this and thank them. He had also learned of potential disunity from within the church and dangers from without. These matters needed to be addressed urgently. The overall tone of the letter is positive, encouraging us to be joyful in living for Christ.

Chapter 1

Christ our Life

After Paul’s opening greetings, he thanks God for the Philippians and their faithful support of his gospel ministry.

He also prays for their growth in love and holiness.

He reports that the gospel has spread, even from the prison in Rome, and others have been emboldened to proclaim the same good news.

He confesses that he is in a dilemma – to continue to live for Christ, or to die and be with Christ?

He encourages the believers to commend the gospel by their manner of living and their unity in service.

1.1 — Servants and Saints

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Paul begins by linking himself with his friend and associate, Timothy, and describing themselves as lowly bondservants. Throughout the letter, the themes of unity and humility would be taken up in detail. The apostle was always a living example of the things that he taught.

Paul’s relationship with his co-worker had continued since the first day, when the commendable young man from Lystra joined him in the service of Christ (Acts 16.1-3). He had not disappointed Paul and turned back, as had John Mark at the beginning of his missionary endeavours (Acts 13.13). And yet, Timothy seems to have had a somewhat timid disposition. At times, Paul wrote to strengthen and embolden him for the task ahead. He also gave him medical advice for his recurrent health problems (1 Tim 5.23). The older man had endured all manner of suffering and afflictions and his words of encouragement would have carried weight.

Every Christian has been set apart for God from the moment of conversion. This is the import of the word saints, referring to our position in Christ. God expects that all those who have come to know Him should live for Him and reflect His holy character in their daily lives. In this practical sense, sanctification is also a lifetime process: our position in Christ should be reflected by our manner of life. In popular thinking, however, the word has mistakenly come to represent a select few who, as judged by others, have attained a high level of spirituality.

The word bishops is better translated overseers. It is not an ecclesiastical rank but a God-given work of caring for and tending the flock. A number of these overseers are needed in each local assembly of believers. The word signifies a willing heart and ready eye to keep a watch out for the dangers that are ever near and that threaten to disturb the church. This ministry requires spiritual maturity and wisdom, as well as genuine love for every believer.

Deacons are those gifted to minister in many other ways apart from leadership. This may include not only public aspects of preaching and teaching but also the more personal and practical ministries of encouragement and support. The Philippian church was blessed to have such servants in their midst.

Paul addressed all the saints; every saint is equally precious to God.

1.2 — Double Blessing

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The combination of grace and peace brings together the common Greek and Hebrew greetings. It sounds like