Why Are You Here?

Philippians 1:1-6 (KJV) Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 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:

I want to start out this sermon by asking a simple question:

Why are you here today?

Some of you may be thinking, “Because I don’t want to go to that place called HELL”. Well, that’s a good reason. But we don’t come to a Church building in order to win frequent flier miles to Heaven. Salvation is entirely a work of Grace. When you:

Romans 10:9-11 (LSB) CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH Jesus [as] Lord, and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART that God raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED; 10 for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”

The Bible is very clear that salvation is not a man-made work. It is a SUPERNATURAL WORK.

Titus 3:5-7 (LSB) {God} saved us, NOT BY WORKS WHICH WE DID IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we would become HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

So if you’re here today because you don’t want to die and go to HELL, that’s a good reason. But the day Jesus saved you, God could have taken you to Heaven right then. So if you’re saved, yes, you should be in Church because you are a part of the Church.

The Christian is not to “go to” Church, but to “be” the Church. Christians are members of Christ’s Body.

There are many “believers” who feel that they are perfectly fine watching the sermon from home. A lot of those who profess to be “Christian” never set foot in a Church building. They will watch Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, or even this Church broadcast on Facebook and the Internet. I have heard people say,

“I love Jesus, but can’t stand the Church. There’s too many hypocrites and pretenders there. But if you’re saved by Grace, you are a member of Christ’s Church. You are part of His Bride.”

Illustrate: I’m sure there are hypocrites here. Occasionally a little hypocrisy shows itself in me. There’s a lot of broken people here – yourself included. But think about this: What if someone came up to you and said, “I love you, brother, BUT I CAN’T STAND YOUR WIFE. I’ll come see you, but only when your wife isn’t around. And if you come see me, come alone. Leave that wife at home!” The Church is the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 21:1, 9). When speaking to the Church the Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 (LSB) For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I BETROTHED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND, so that I might present you as a pure virgin TO CHRIST.

The Church is Jesus’ Bride. There is power in the gathered Church. Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 16:18-19 (NKJV) …. ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. 19 And I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Jesus is the One Who “HAS THE KEYS OF HADES AND DEATH”. Jesus gave power to His Church. “Why am I here today?” The proper answer to that question is “So that I might GROW in my faith, and SERVE the Lord Who saved me”.

Jesus Saves Us, And Calls Us Together
So That We Might Serve God

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the SERVANTS of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

The city of Philippi is in the Roman Province of Macedonia. Philippi is a military colony – a Gentile city that was so well respected in Rome that it was given total autonomy in government, and full immunity from taxation.

Note this: When Paul first went to Philippi be was accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and the Gentile Physician Luke (see Acts 16). The first sermon that Paul preached in Philippi got him – along with Silas – tossed into jail. While in jail we are told that:

Acts 16:25-26 (NKJV) at midnight Paul and Silas were PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD, and the PRISONERS WERE LISTENING TO THEM. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Paul and Silas knew why they were in prison – they were there because God caused them to be there. He had a purpose for their jailing – and when the opportunity arose, they DID NOT try to escape!

This led to the salvation of the Philippian jailer and his household. The “Charter Members” of the Church of Philippi were the Philippian Jailer and a Gentile business woman named Lydia. The Church first met in Lydia’s home, and then began to spread out as God led others to salvation. Why did the Church at Philippi grow – even though this was a military city packed with Gentile pagans?

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the SERVANTS of Jesus Christ,

Because Paul and Timothy knew why the Lord left them on this earth after salvation. It was so they could serve Him and reach others. As the Apostle begins this letter, the beginning is VERY DIFFERENT. Paul usually opened his letters with:

Romans 1:1 (NKJV) Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, separated to the gospel of God

1 Corinthians 1:1 (NKJV) Paul, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE THROUGH THE WILL OF GOD, and Sosthenes [our] brother,

Galatians 1:1 (NKJV) PAUL AN APOSTLE (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

Word Study: In most of the other Pauline letters he is addressing Churches that have forgotten why they are Churches. But the Philippian Church understood why they were there. So Paul doesn’t pull out his “APOSTLE” title at the beginning, but he equates himself and Timothy equally as “the SERVANTS of Jesus Christ”. The word “SERVANTS” is the Greek douloi, which is the plural of doulos. In the ancient world there were two types of slaves. There were slaves who were captured in battle, and forced into slavery. This was a very harsh form of slavery, and such people were often treated like objects rather than humans. Then there was bond slavery. When someone was struggling in life, they could willingly sell themselves to a rich or powerful individual as a bond servant. This is a picture of salvation in Christ. The person who is saved by Grace has given themselves to the Lord, just as He has given Himself to us. The Bible says of the Christian:

Romans 6:22 (KJV) But now being made free from sin, and BECOME SERVANTS {douloō, Aorist Passive Participle “having been enslaved”} to God, ye have YOUR FRUIT unto holiness, and the end EVERLASTING LIFE.

Ephesians 6:5-8 (LSB) Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the integrity of your heart, AS TO CHRIST; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but AS SLAVES OF CHRIST, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 SERVING WITH GOOD WILL AS TO THE LORD, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this HE WILL RECEIVE BACK FROM THE LORD, whether slave or free.

I could go on and on. We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that, as Christians, we belong not to ourselves but to God. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 4:5; James 1:1; 1 Peter 2:16 to name a few passages that those who are saved belong to the One Who saved them. This is not a new concept.

God did not save us and leave us here to serve ourselves. He saved us so that, as HIS people, we can do HIS will, and show others the way to Christ while we are here.

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the SERVANTS of Jesus Christ, to all the SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Word Study: The letter is written to “all the SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS”. Let’s talk about that word “SAINTS”. It may surprise you to know that the word “SAINT” (hagios, Accusative Singular Masculine noun) is only found ONE PLACE in the Bible, and it’s at the end of this letter:

Philippians 4:21 (KJV) Salute every SAINT in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

The word “SAINTS” is ALWAYS found as more than one. The word “SAINTS” is found 96 times in the Bible. The Church is where the “SAINTS” are.

It is God Who “calls us to be SAINTS” (Romans 1:7).
It is God the Holy Spirit Who
“makes intercession for the SAINTS” (Romans 8:27).
When you are saved you are
“fellow citizens with the SAINTS” (Ephesians 2:19).
When Jesus returns to this earth for His Millennial Kingdom,
“Jesus will come with all His SAINTS” (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

A Christian is a “SAINT” because he is bound to the Church. We are “SAINTS” together. We are not “SAINTS” because we are perfect. We are “SAINTS” because we are “in Christ Jesus”. We have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our hope is in Him and Him alone. Among the Saints are “Bishops and Deacons”, those Pastors and Deacons that oversee the health of the Church. The “Bishops” (Greek episkopos, spiritual overseer) are the Pastors of the local Churches who focus on ministry of the Word of God and prayer, and the Deacons (Greek diakonos) are servants to the servants. They focus on overseeing the physical needs of the Body of Christ. The Church is a Body of Servants – we serve the Lord Jesus!

Grace And Peace To Those Who Serve The Lord

Philippians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul often began his letters with “Grace and Peace”. Grace is what God gives to His Saints in Christ Jesus. Grace is undeserved blessing from God. When we come to the Lord Jesus, we have:

Romans 5:1-6 (LSB) Therefore, HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into THIS GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Though the Church at Philippi – in the midst of a Pagan Roman stronghold was persecuted – they kept assembling and kept serving the Lord Jesus Christ. They knew that, though they were going through affliction, that the affliction would only prove their faith. Beloved,

An untried faith is a insecure faith.

If you’re only “saved” or “in Christ” when the sun is shining and all things are going your way, YOU NEED TO CHECK YOURSELF. Are you really saved? Again I ask, “Why are YOU HERE today?” If you are saved, you are saved by Grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. You are not saved because you are perfect. If you were perfect, you would need no salvation. You are saved because you came to Jesus, and gave your life to Him. You are saved not because you are worthy, but because, unworthy, you came to Him Who can heal you. The Bible tells us that:

Mark 2:15-17 (NKJV) Now it happened, as JESUS was dining in [Levi’s] house, that MANY TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS also SAT TOGETHER WITH JESUS and His disciples; for there were many, and THEY FOLLOWED HIM. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How [is it] that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard [it], He said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I DID NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.

God sent Jesus to this earth to make a Church, a Kingdom of broken people. He called whosoever will to “REPENTANCE” {metanoia}, to a change of mind. We talked about this last week.

God did not become Perfect Man on this earth to make a perfect Church. God became Perfect Man to pay for our sins on Calvary. To those who REPENT and come to Him wholly, He makes them HOLY, He makes them SAINTS TOGETHER. Listen to me – search the Book of Philippians. The word “SIN”, “SINNER”, nor “SINNERS” DO NOT appear even once!

Is it because the Church at Philippi was perfect? Absolutely not! It’s because this Church, persecuted and in a tough environment – well, they GOT IT. They understood the value of a united Church. They understood that God made them saints together who served Him to reach out to a lost and dying world.

If You Are Saved By Grace, You Are Here To Work Together For The Glory Of The Gospel

Philippians 1:3-5 (KJV) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL from the first day until now;

Word Study: “Why are you here?” Paul thanked God daily for the Church at Corinth. When you look at the other Churches that Paul established, this body of believers was like a breath of fresh air. The people were together for a reason. What was it? For the “FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL”. The word “FELLOWSHIP” is the Greek koinōnia, which means a united closeness in a common mission. It means to be on the same page as God. It means to walk together – albeit imperfectly – but to the glory of Him Who saved us by Grace. The Apostle John – the longest lived Apostle (he died of natural causes) used koinōnia to describe the reason we are all still here:

1 John 1:3-7 (KJV) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that YE ALSO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP {koinōnia} WITH US: and truly OUR FELLOWSHIP {koinōnia} IS WITH THE FATHER, AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 6 If we say that WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP {koinōnia} WITH HIM, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE, and do not the truth: 7 But if WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP {koinōnia} ONE WITH ANOTHER, and THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.

Why did so many Churches dissolve during the Covid Pandemic? Because they didn’t know why they were there. They had no mission. They were all about themselves. We’re not here for ourselves. We’re here for Jesus. I close with this (and I will be back to it next week):

Philippians 1:6 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…

If you have repented, if you have changed your mind and have stopped being your own god, and have given yourself to Jesus, then God the Holy Spirit began a work in you. He’s not done until the day you get to glory. Why are you here? You are here to serve Jesus. You are here to be light. You are here to work together with the Church, your fellow believers, in sharing the Gospel. You are here to learn and teach others. You are here to reach the lost. You are here to defeat sin and Satan. You are here for a purpose, for God’s purpose!

So, why are you here?