Sermon: Romans 5: 12-21 Grace abounding

 

Let’s pray:
Lord God almighty,
speak to us now, through your word,
help us to grasp the glories of your grace,
freely given to us
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

You might be looking forward to lots of different things in 2026. Some of us will be looking forward to the football World Cup. Northern Ireland still have a pathway to qualify, but England and Scotland have already qualified. And even now, five months to the day before the World Cup begins, already I can make a certain prediction. The commentators will keep banging on about England and 1966. 

The eleven players who were on the pitch won the World Cup, but they did it for the English - and we’ve never stopped hearing about it ever since! What the players did, they did on behalf of their people. And so, even people who weren’t around then, who weren’t born, live out the reality of the actions of their representatives. They’ll say, ‘We won’ even if they never kicked a ball in their life, even if they didn’t contribute anything to the decisive action.

It can work both ways. Fans rejoice when we win; but also feel it when the results aren’t going our way. I have a niece who delights to text me ‘haha, you lost’ when I definitely wasn’t playing football. Our ultimate destiny is tied up in who our representative is.

That’s what we see in our Bible reading today. There are two representatives; two options, and we are in either one or the other. Their actions have consequences for us. Our standing is tied up with theirs - for good or ill. The two men are Adam and Jesus Christ. What they did affects us. The question is - who is our representative? Which one are we in?

Last week we saw how we have peace with God (covering our past), and now stand in grace (securing our present), and rejoice in hope (guaranteeing our future). We have been reconciled to God, as Jesus died for us, his enemies, showing his love for us. Today we see how Adam’s sin drags us down with him; but that Jesus’ grace abounds to us even more than we could imagine.  We’re either in Adam, or we’re in Jesus - so which is it?

You might remember the road safety campaign - just one drink increases your risk of crashing. Well, in our first reading, from Genesis, we saw that just one bite brought the loss of paradise, and unleashed untold suffering on an innocent world. Adam had been told to not eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That was his own command. And, he disobeyed. In Genesis 3 Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent, and the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on - but the buck stops with Adam. He was given the command. He was the first man, the representative of all of humanity, and he failed. He disobeyed. But we can’t blame Adam - each of us would have done exactly the same. 

Actions have consequences. If you drop a stone into a lake, the ripples spread further and further out, far beyond the original impact. Listen to Romans 5:12: ‘Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…’

Sin entered the world through one man. Adam ate, and we’ve been living with the consequences ever since - and dying with the consequences ever since too. When we see the word sin here - don’t think so much of one wrong action. Rather sin here is a power, a slave master. And sin leads to death - and so because all have sinned, death comes to all. That’s the reality of life ‘in’ Adam - it’s what it is to be human. As verse 19 says, we were ‘made sinners’ through Adam’s disobedience - we’re not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we’re sinners. 

All of us are in Adam. It’s the human situation. And just as family traits are passed down - you’re just like your mum; you have your dad’s eyes or whatever; we’re all just like our first father, Adam. He has passed down his sinfulness to us - by nature, and by our choice too. 

It’s why Jesus had to come to rescue us. Adam is (14) a pattern of the one to come. So you have Adam, and his action affecting everyone connected to him;  but now you have Jesus, and his action affecting everyone connected to him. (Referred to as the gift, the act of righteousness, and the obedience)

Veres 15: ‘But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace… overflow to the many!’ One trespass led to death for many people; God’s grace overflows to many people in a how much more kind of way. 

Verse 16: ‘Again, the gift of God is not like the result of one man’s sin: The judgement followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.’ One sin led to judgement and condemnation. Jesus’ gift of grace gives us justification. 

Do you see how Jesus overturns what Adam had messed up? Jesus restores what was broken. But not just bringing things back to where they were before. By overabundantly exceeding how things were before. Just look at verse 17. ‘For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. The trespass meant that death reigned. You would expect it to say that through God’s grace, life now reigns. That’s not what it says! Rather, it says that we who receive God’s grace will reign in life through Jesus. We who were in Adam, with death reigning over us, are now, in Jesus, reigning in life. It’s a complete reversal! It’s even better than before. And it’s all because of what Jesus has done for us, on our behalf.

The result of Adam’s one trespass brought condemnation for all men (and women!); and the result of Jesus’ one act of righteousness is justification that brings life for all people. What is that one act of righteousness? The perfect life Jesus lived, obeying God’s law, and giving himself for us on the cross. Where Adam had followed his own will; Jesus prayed: Your will be done. And so whereas Adam’s disobedience made us sinners, Jesus’ obedience makes us righteous.

We need to be careful, though, when we see the words ‘all men’ or ‘the many.’ They’re not referring to the same group of people. Everyone is in Adam, but not everyone is in Christ. The representatives act on behalf of those they’re representing. All of us are in Adam, born into the human family. But to be in Christ, we must be born again; receiving what Jesus did for us - accepting the gift he gives, the grace he offers. 

And the glorious good news of our reading today is that where sin increased, grace increased all the more. There is always more grace for us than sins in us. God’s grace abounds to us, covering our sin, bringing pardon and peace and reassurance because of all that Jesus has done for us. We can be all too aware of our sin. We can wonder - could God still love and forgive me, for the number of sins, or the type of sins that we’ve committed? His grace abounds. Where sin increases, grace increases all the more. We can never run out of grace; there’s always more for us, in Jesus our Saviour. 

On my shelves I have the book written by Philip Yancey: What’s so amazing about grace? He wrote the book about grace, and yet this week, he admitted to an eight-year long adulterous relationship. In Adam, our sinfulness runs deep. May God’s grace in Christ abound to Philip Yancey, and to us too.

May we rejoice even more than England fans recalling the triumphs of 1966; as we rejoice in the grace of Jesus, and all that he has achieved for us in his perfect life, death, and resurrection. 

Let’s pray:
God of grace,
we thank you for your grace,
abundant, and abounding
covering our sin,
setting us free.
Thank you for Jesus, our Saviour. Amen.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday 11th January 2026.

Sermon: Romans 5: 1-11 Peace, Grace and Hope

 

Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
help us today to hear your word,
that we would rejoice in you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It’s the start of a new year, the first Sunday of 2026. A new year brings the opportunity to take stock of where we are, what we’re doing with our life. It’s why so many people make resolutions - wanting to change something about themselves, correcting something amiss, having a fresh start, doing things differently from now on. 

This morning we’re returning to Paul’s letter to the Romans. From September to Christmas, we worked our way through the first four chapters. And this morning’s reading ties in with that idea of taking stock, of seeing where we are, of setting into the new year with a clear sense of purpose - no matter what this year will bring. And it’s all because of what we have through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, our past, present and future are all secure; it’s Jesus that makes all the difference to how we see things, and how we can live in 2026 and beyond - both now, and for ever. It would be helpful for you to have your Bible open - please turn to page 1132 with me.

Chapter 5 starts with the word ‘therefore.’ Everything that Paul is about to say is based on what he has already said. It’s because of chapters 1-4, therefore… And those chapters are summed up in the words that immediately follow the therefore: ‘since we have been justified through faith…’ (1)

Even though we, with everyone else, had rebelled against God, even though we had sinned, the good news of the gospel is that we can be justified - declared innocent, made right with God, because of what Jesus has done for us - and we receive this through faith, by trusting in Jesus, that he died for us. So if you’re a Christian this morning, if you’re trusting in Jesus, you have been justified - and here’s what else that justification brings:

‘we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.’ (1-2)

So what do we have? We have peace with God; we stand in grace; we rejoice in hope. First of all - peace with God. We were God’s enemies, we had rebelled against him, his wrath was being revealed against all unrighteousness, and therefore against us. But now, having been justified, we have peace with God. We have been reconciled to him. The war is over. Peace has come. That means our past is dealt with - God is no longer angry with our sin. So we have peace with God.
And we have even more. You see, you can have peace with someone, and that just means you never bother with them. You’ve stopped fighting, but you’re not in relationship. But peace with God brings us near to him, brings us close, gives us what we didn’t have before. ‘We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.’ (2) We’re standing in grace - God’s good favour towards us. 

So after Christmas, the January credit card bill arrives, and you think - how much did I spend? You’re in debt. Being justified means that God has cancelled our debts. That takes us to a balance of 0. But God goes further, and doesn’t just cancel our debt, he also lavishes his grace upon us. He credits our account with the riches of Christ. And so, if peace with God means our past is dealt with; we now stand in grace for the present. God is for us, so our present is secure.

And on top of all that, ‘we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.’ If we have been justified, we rejoice in hope. We’re looking forward to all that is to come - the glory of God. What a turnaround! In 1:23 we saw that the problem was that we exchanged the glory of God for images. And in 3:23 we saw that we are sinners who fall short of the glory of God. But it is now guaranteed for us - we can look forward to being with God for all eternity, beholding his glory. Our future is secure. 

What a great word to hear at the start of this new year. Peace and grace and hope. And they’re all yours, if you’re trusting in Jesus, if you’ve been justified by him. And they’re available to you if you aren’t yet trusting in Jesus. What a great start to the new year, if you were to start to follow Jesus, put your faith in him, and be justified. Why leave it any longer?

Now, hopefully that all makes sense to you. Our past is dealt with by having peace with God; our present is sorted by standing in his grace; our future is secure as we rejoice in hope. But verse 3 doesn’t seem to make sense, at least not initially. Do you see how it starts? ‘Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings…’ 

Now, hang on, Paul, we want to say. Rejoicing in hope, yes, absolutely. Rejoicing in sufferings? Really? Notice that he’s not saying rejoicing for our sufferings - as if we enjoy suffering itself. But he is saying that we rejoice in our suffering. Why? Because of what God is doing in us through the suffering. ‘Because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.’ 

As we begin this new year, we may not know how we might suffer, what we might have to face, but even now, we can resolve to face it in this way. Not asking - God, why me? But asking - God, what are you teaching me through this? What are you producing in me through this? You see, suffering produces perseverance; which produces character; which produces hope. 

We use the word hope in lots of different ways. I hope it won’t rain tomorrow. I hope my team will win. But Christian hope is sure and certain. It’s guaranteed by what God has done to demonstrate his love for us. 

Verse 5: ‘And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.’ God has poured out his love into our hearts. We can feel, and know, and experience the truth that God loves us. The Holy Spirit confirms that love in your heart. 

And we can be sure that God loves us, not just by looking inwardly and feeling that love subjectively, but also by looking back to the cross to see that love objectively. What happened there? ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (8)

When we were powerless; when we were his enemies; when we had done nothing to deserve it; when no one else would have done it; Christ died for us. If we were only depending on our inward feelings of God’s love, they can change, depending on our emotions or our conscience or our performance. However we’re feeling, we can look to the cross and see that God loves us. 

But if we only had the cross to look at, we might imagine that God demonstrates his love, but could it really be for me? That’s why the Holy Spirit has been given to us, to confirm that love in our feelings; pouring his love into our hearts, so that we experience God’s love personally, reminding us that our past, present and future are secure because of what Christ has done for us.

And, as the last verses remind us, Jesus didn’t just die for us - justifying us and reconciling us; Jesus lives for us. The future is sure because Jesus lives. And so we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

Thelma Howard died in 1994. When her will was read, there was surprise that she was a multi-millionaire. She had worked as a housekeeper, had lived a modest life, no signs of extravagance. She may not have even realised the fortune she owned. She was housekeeper for Walt Disney, and every Christmas and birthday, he would give her pieces of paper, which she would put away safely in the box under her bed. Those pieces of paper were shares in Disney - 193,000 in total, worth $9.5 million. A fortune!

Yet we, if we’re trusting in Jesus, we have something even more precious - if we would only realise what we have! Peace with God, standing in his grace, rejoicing in the hope of his glory; that even suffering cannot stop; given the Holy Spirit who helps us experience the love of God which was poured out on the cross as Jesus gave himself for us sinners. What a great reminder at the start of this year. Past, present and future, all secure because of Jesus - so let us rejoice! 

And let’s pray: 
Lord God, by your Spirit, 
may we know afresh your love for us, 
through Jesus Christ, who died for us,
that we may rejoice in you. Amen.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday 4th January 2026. 

'It is Finished' (John 19:30)

Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus Christ,
as we survey your wondrous cross,
may we see your glory,
and give you our souls, our lives, our all. Amen.

You put down your pen, after writing for the two hours of the exam, and you’re satisfied you have done your best.

You have seen your final client of the day, and you’re done.

You’ve applied the last coat of paint to the fence, and you are glad to see the job all done.

You’ve been working hard for years, and the final payment on your mortgage has gone through, and you check the balance - nothing more to pay.

You’ve clocked off for the Easter holidays and, for a few days at least, you’ll not be thinking about work.

In lots of different ways, you will have experienced the satisfaction of a job well done. You know what it is to have worked hard, and to be able to bring closure to a project, or a case, or a job. The work is completed. It is finished.

This is what Jesus is saying in this word from the cross. All week we have been listening in to the cross words of Jesus. Hearing about the cost of the cross - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Hearing about the forgiveness available - Father, forgive them. Hearing about the trust of Jesus in his faithful Father - Into your hands I commit my spirit. Hearing about the compassion of Jesus - Here is your son; here is your mother. Hearing about the assurance of the promise - Today you will be with me in paradise. And tonight we hear him say that all his saving work; the work of rescue he came to do, has now been completed. It is finished.

Jesus lived the perfect life of full obedience to the Father. He was tempted as we are, yet did not sin neither in thought, nor word, nor deed. He was entirely innocent. The spotless Lamb who was slain. Yet he did it to take away our sins; to bear our burden; to cleanse us; and restore us; to clothe us in his perfect righteousness. And that work of dealing with our sin has been finished on the cross.

My great-uncle Joe used to work in a car showroom and garage. I would have visited his work a few times if he was taking me for dinner with him and his wife Rebecca. When I was there at the garage, I saw two things that fascinated me. One was the vacuum tube system they had - a wee cylinder would be loaded into the tube, and push a button, and whoosh! it would fly off up the tube. Money going to the safe, or whatever it was. This was amazing!

The other thing that always fascinated me was on the main desk. I wasn’t allowed near it, though. On the desk was a spike, sticking up, like a nail. And caught on the spike were bits of paper. I couldn’t work out what it was for. So Joe explained that the bits of paper were invoices that had been paid for. Paid in full.

When Jesus says ‘It is finished’ there’s the sense of a job well done, finished and completed. But where we have the three English words, It is finished, in the Greek there’s just one - tetelestai. It’s a word with commercial associations. It’s the word that meant paid in full - just like those invoices in Tinsley’s garage. Our sins are on the nail, as Jesus bore our sins in his body on the cross.

The other week, we were getting my car washed. And we happened to notice someone we knew in the car behind. So we decided to surprise them. When our car was washed, we paid for our car, and for the car behind. We didn’t get to stick around to see the driver’s reaction when they were told the good news. But they didn’t have to pay, because their bill had already been paid in full.

And that’s what Jesus has done for us. Your sins, past, present and future have all been paid for. Paid in full. You cannot work for your own salvation; you can’t pay off your own salvation. You receive it as a gift, when you trust that Jesus has died in your place, and paid for your sin, and has finished all that is necessary for you to share in his eternal glory.

The Law of the old covenant says ‘Do…’. It gave laws to obey, but none of us ever could. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The Law said ‘Do…’ but Jesus says ‘Done.’ It makes all the difference.

Better than the end of an exam; better than the end of the work day; better than getting a job done; better than paying off your mortgage; better than a few days holiday - The cross work of Jesus is completed. His work is done, on our behalf. Your debt of sin has been paid in full. So are you trusting in Jesus?

He says: It is finished.

Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave yourself for us,
to deal with our sins,
and complete your saving work.
May we know that you have paid in full;
that your work is finished.
So may we glory in the cross,
and in you, our glorious Saviour. Amen.

(This was my epilogue at our Good Friday service in St Matthew's Richhill on 18th April 2025.)

2020 Books

It's the end of another year. I like to keep track of my reading each year, so here's this year's reading list.
1. From Weakness to Strength - Scott Sauls
2. Unlimited Grace - Bryan Chapell
3. Good Wives - Louisa May Alcott
4. The Princess Diarist - Carrie Fisher
5. The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
6. Secret Service - Tom Bradby
7. Following Jesus in Turbulent Times - Hikmat Kashouh
8. The Marshmallow Test - Walter Mischel
9. Judges For You - Tim Keller
10. Rooted - Edward Rhodes

11. How to Pray - Pete Greig
12. The Final Days of Jesus - Andreas J Köstenberger
13. The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross - AW Pink
14. I AM: Poetic Reflections through the Gospel of John - David Young
15. A Shelter in the Time of Storm - Paul David Tripp
16. Meddling Kids - Edgar Cantero
17. Coronavirus and Christ - John Piper
18. The King’s Justice - EM Powell
19. Where is God in a Coronavirus World? John Lennox
20. Preaching - Calvin Miller

21. Freakonomics - Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner
22. The Monastery Murders - EM Powell
23. In the Presence of my Enemies - Dale Ralph Davis
24. Good Times Never Seemed So Good - Stephen Collins
25. Letters to the Church - Francis Chan
26. Unreliable Memoirs - Clive James
27. The Confession - Jo Spain
28. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer
29. From Good News to Gospels - David Wenham
30. Bookworm - Lucy Mangan

31. Unfollow - Megan Phelps-Roper
32. My Autobiography - Rory Best
33. Humble Calvinism - JA Medders
34. A Mind to Murder - PD James
35. The Guest List - Lucy Foley
36. The Burnings 1920 - Pearse Lawlor
37. Thank You, Jeeves - PG Wodehouse
38. Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortlund
39. And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie
40. Confronting Christianity - Rebecca McLaughlin

41. Sleep - CL Taylor
42. Undivided - Vicky Beeching
43. A War of Loves - David Bennett
44. The Dilemma - BA Paris
45. The Murder at the Vicarage - Agatha Christie
46. Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport
47. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - CS Lewis
48. The Code of the Woosters - PG Wodehouse
49. Hidden in Plain View - Lydia McGrew
50. Prince Caspian - CS Lewis

51. The Guardians - John Grisham
52. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - CS Lewis
53. Let This Be Our Secret - Deric Henderson
54. Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood - Aimee Byrd
55. The Spy and the Traitor - Ben MacIntyre
56. Knowing God - JI Packer
57. The Twelve - Stuart Neville
58. Remaking a Broken World - Christopher Ash
59. A Word to Fellow Pastors - Horatius Bonar
60. On Reading Well - Karen Swallow Prior

61. Bring Them Home - DS Butler
62. Augustine on the Christian Life - Gerald Bray
63. The Silver Chair - CS Lewis
64. Where Secrets Lie - DS Butler
65. Money Counts - Graham Beynon
66. Don't Turn Back - DS Butler
67. The Horse and His Boy - CS Lewis
68. Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
69. The Magician's Nephew - CS Lewis
70. The Clocks - Agatha Christie

71. House of Lies - DS Butler
72. The Last Battle - CS Lewis
73. Between the Stops - Sandi Toksvig
74. Out of the Silent Planet - CS Lewis
75. The Inimitable Jeeves - PG Wodehouse
76. Still, Silent, and Strong - Pierce Taylor Hibbs
77. Voyage to Venus (Perelandra) - CS Lewis
78. A Belfast Child - John Chambers
79. Wby does God care who I sleep with? - Sam Allberry
80. The Holiday - TM Logan

81. That Hideous Strength - CS Lewis
82. The Creaking on the Stairs - Mez McConnell
83. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
84. The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories - PD James
85. Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie
86. The One True Light - Tim Chester
87. Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
88. Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari
89. Hidden Christmas - Tim Keller

My top five are:
1. Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortlund
2. Confronting Christianity - Rebecca McLaughlin
3. Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
4. My Autobiography - Rory Best
5. Good Times Never Seemed So Good - Stephen Collins
Here are the links to previous years' book blogs: 2019 (62); 2018 (50); 2017 (31); 2016 (23); 2015 (21); 2014 (26); 2013 (45); 2012 (49); 2011 (37); 2010 (52); 2009 (41); 2008 (23); 2007 (78).

Sermon: Philippians 2: 12-18 Rejoicing in our Salvation

Do you remember the excitement when you passed your driving test? The lessons and practices were over, the test was passed, and suddenly you had the freedom to drive anywhere you wanted, without your instructor or someone else telling you what to do. It’s over 20 years since I passed my test, and what I remember most vividly from those first days of driving was that I learnt more about driving after the test than before.

There was the first time driving in the dark, and getting used to dipping my headlights. There was the time when the steering wheel had locked when parked and I couldn’t get the car started (until I realised I had to pull the wheel slightly). And there were the ever changing traffic conditions and weather conditions and everything else that the road throws at you. I thought I’d learned everything when preparing for the test, but I had to keep working out how to drive when the test was passed.

As we continue in the letter to the Philippians today, we see that the Philippians were being urged to do something similar - not about learning how to drive, but in learning how to live the Christian life. Paul, who had planted the church in Philippi, isn’t there with them any more. In fact, he’s in prison in Rome. But he’s writing this letter, partly as a thank you note, and partly to encourage them to keep going in the Christian faith, as they stand firm together.

That’s been the central theme of the letter, as we’ve been noticing over the past couple of weeks. Back in 1:27 Paul told them to ‘stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel...’ - the image of the soldiers with shields locked together, or the rugby scrum pushing together. Last week we saw how that could be achieved - rejoicing in unity through humility - not selfish ambition, but considering the interests and needs of others. And the prime example of that kind of living is our humble King Jesus. He came down from crown to crib to cross in order to save us - and so our attitude should be the same as his.

We need that little recap because everything Paul says today builds on it. Verse 12 starts with a ‘Therefore’ - because of what we saw last week, then here’s what you need to do. And here’s what he says: ‘Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.’ (12-13)

Notice that Paul doesn’t say ‘work for your salvation.’ He can’t, because salvation isn’t something we can work to achieve - it isn’t about earning our way. Salvation in Christ is a gift, it’s something we receive by grace. We can’t work for our salvation, but we do need to work out our salvation.

It’s not that, once we’re saved, then we’re all right, we don’t need to grow in the faith any more. We can just let God do it all for us. Not at all! We’re to work out our salvation - with fear and trembling. It’s a bit like when you change cars, and things are slightly different to your old car. The wiper stalk goes down instead of up, or the volume control is in a different place. You have to work it all out, get used to it, and grow into it. We’re to work out our salvation as if it all depends on us.

But thankfully, as we do that, we discover that it’s not all down to us. We work out our salvation, but at the same time, ‘for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.’ (13)

It’s not one or the other - either only us or only God - it’s both and. God does this by his Holy Spirit dwelling in us, the Spirit given on the Day of Pentecost, God’s power to help us and grow us into the likeness of Christ. And that’s exactly what our passage says as well: ‘God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.’ God is at work in us to change us, and to change our will so that we want what God wants; and to change our actions so that we do what God wants us to do.

If you’re a Christian, then is this what’s happening in your life, even in these lockdown days? Are you working out your salvation, as you seek to grow to be more like Jesus, as you pray and read the Bible and figure out what it means to be a Christian - knowing that as you work at it, God is also working in you?

Perhaps as you look back over the past year, or five years, you can see how God has been at work in your life; the progress that you’ve made; the ways in which you have grown. Be encouraged - and keep going, because God hasn’t finished with us yet!

We’re to work out our salvation as God is working in us. In verse 14, Paul tells us what it should look like: ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing.’ No complaining and no arguing. That sounds like a challenge, doesn’t it? We’re so used to complaining, and ready for a big argument, but there’s no wiggle room here, there are no exceptions in what Paul says.

So why does he say that? ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...’

Not complaining and arguing will make us blameless and pure, children of God without fault. Can you imagine how different things would be? How different we would be to everyone around us? Paul says that we would be ‘without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...’

When was the last time you looked up at the stars? They’re always up there, but when do you see them? You see them at night, when it’s dark, and they shine out against the darkness. And that’s how we’re to be as well - shining like stars in the universe, lights in a dark place, different to the rest of society.

Between social media and everyday interaction, it seems that our culture’s native language is complaint and argument. But we can shine in the darkness if we’re different, if we don’t take part in it all. And what makes the difference?

Listen to the verse again: ‘children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...’

Rather than putting out words of complaint or argument, we hold out different words - the word of life. What is the word of life? It’s the gospel, the good news about Jesus, in which we find life. Now, the footnote suggests that the phrase is either ‘hold out the word of life’ or ‘hold on to the word of life’ - but either way, it’s what sets us apart, and will affect all our other words.

As we hold out the word of life, perhaps others will see and hear, and take hold of it themselves. Isn’t that our desire, that others would find the life and peace that we have found?

That’s what drove Paul to go to Philippi in the first place; and it’s what continued to motivate him even in his prison cell. As the Philippians worked out their salvation, and lived it out in their words and ways, then Paul would know that he hadn’t run or laboured for nothing. He wanted to see more Christians live in this way, so that more people would become Christians, and would live in this way so that more people would become Christians.

Will we give our lives to this? Will we commit to continue to work out our salvation, as we hold out the word of life, so that others will share in this great gift of salvation? It won’t be easy, it will be sacrificial, and yet it will all be worth it. However far along the path you are, there’s still more to work out, more ways to grow, but take heart - God hasn’t finished with you yet, so shine for him!

Let’s pray:
Father,
thank you that you’re at work in our lives.
Help us to shine for you,
as we hold out your word of life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sermon: Philippians 2: 1-11 Rejoicing in Unity Through Humility

One of the key messages throughout this period of lockdown has been the reminder that ‘We’re in this together.’ It’s why we’ve been following the guidance as best we can - not only to protect ourselves, but also to protect other people. If we all started doing our own thing, then the risk would be greater for everyone. And so we play our part in order to help and protect everyone else. We act for the good of others.

In our reading today, we discover that this attitude isn’t just for periods of pandemic though - this is the way Christians should always live. The life of a Christian will be a life of humility, as we follow the Lord Jesus together.

We’re now in the main section of the letter, where - as we saw lat week - Paul is urging the Philippians to ‘stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.’ It’s the image of Roman soldiers locking shields together; or the rugby scrum pushing together.

But how do we actually do this, in the local church? How do we stand firm together? Perhaps you’ve heard the little saying:

‘Living above with the saints we love, Oh that will be glory. Living below with the saints we know, now that’s a different story.’

So how do we live below with the saints we know, as we stand firm together? Well, first of all, Paul reminds us of all that we already have in common together. In verse 1, he makes four ‘if’ statements. He says: ‘If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then...’

He invites them to work through this checklist. And I invite you to do the same! These are some of the benefits and blessings that come from being a Christian. If you’re not a Christian, we’re glad that you’re listening in - and these could be yours if you turn to Jesus and trust in him for yourself. So here’s the checklist:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ - yes;
if any comfort from his love - yes;
if any fellowship with the Spirit - yes;
if any tenderness and compassion - yes;
all the Christians say yes, yes, yes, yes - full house! These are the benefits and blessings we have - together - as Christians. Have you realised what all you have received as you’ve trusted in Jesus? So what now?

If you have (all these, and you do) then... ‘make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.’ (2) Just as we share in all the blessings together, so we are to share in this unity of mind, of love, of spirit and purpose together.

But how do we do that? Paul tells us in verses 3-4: ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.’

Not selfish ambition, but humility. Not your own interests only, but also the interests of others. In other words, we’re not to be about ‘me first’ but rather about ‘you first’. We’ve already seen an example of selfish ambition in Philippians - do you remember the people who were preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, trying to stir up trouble for Paul? They were doing so, 1:17 ‘out of selfish ambition.’

And I’m sure you can think of ways in which this type of behaviour can happen. But rather than climbing over other people, using them to further our own desires and interests, we’re to lift them up, and look out for their interests too.

This was something that the Philippians had to work at, because they weren’t already doing it. This unity through humility doesn’t come naturally - it can only come supernaturally, as the Spirit is at work in our lives. But if the Philippians were to be united through their humility, then it would make Paul’s joy complete. And that word joy is a helpful reminder of our priorities when we live out this united through humility church life - J O Y - Jesus, Others, Yourself.

Up to now, Paul has reminded the Philippians of all they have already received - the If; and urged them to live out this unity through humility - the Then. But now, in the closing verses of our reading, he gives us the supreme motivation and the perfect example of this life of humility.

They are words that are familiar to us, because we’ve been using them as our creed in recent weeks. They would probably have been words that were familiar to the Philippians - it’s thought that verses 6-11 are an early Christian hymn which Paul quotes. They set out what Jesus has done for us in achieving our salvation, but they are also an example for us to follow.

‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!’

When you think of all that Jesus did for us, it’s all down, down, down. Someone suggested that it can be summarised as the crown, the crib and the cross. First, the crown - The Son of God, fully God, didn’t consider his divinity as something to be grasped, or exploited. He who set the stars in place, who was used to the worship of angels, left his place in heaven, and came down to earth. Why did he do it? Not for his own benefit, but for ours.

He laid aside his crown, to be born and laid in the crib - made himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. The Son of God took on our flesh - God with skin on - to become one of us. Can you imagine the depth of descent he made to come to this world? A few years back there was an interview with Prince Charles on TV. And he recalled how, when he was small, the Royal family would be on holiday in Scotland, and anonymously, they’d get a boat across to Northern Ireland, and drive to visit their friends at Baronscourt outside Strabane. No guards, no fanfare, just Prince Philip and the Queen and the family driving along like normal people. But that’s small compared to how Jesus became one of us.

And even that wasn’t enough. He deserved to be served, but he came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. And that was the final downward step - even death on a cross! Why did he do it all? In order to save us, in order to bring us back to himself by taking our sins and bearing the punishment we deserved. He was the humble king who went down, down, down from crown to crib to cross.

Because Jesus did all this, and lived the perfect life of humility, ‘Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’

Having descended to the very bottom, God raised him to the very top, to heaven’s throne. The name of Jesus is above every other name - in honour and value and worth. And while now, you might hear his name used as a swear word, it will not be like that forever. One day, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

If you’re a Christian today, you might have some of your friends or family wondering why you’d still bother tuning in to church. Why would you bother with all that, and with Jesus? But here we see just how precious the name of Jesus is to us - he who gave up all for us, how could we not give our all to follow him? He who humbly served us in order to save us - who lavishes his blessings on us - how could we not gladly serve him and follow in his footsteps - as we seek to learn his humility and stand firm with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you’re not a Christian, then please look again at the Lord Jesus. He did it all for you. Perhaps you’ve been hurt by others, even by the church, by people seeking to take advantage of you and exploit you and use you for their own gain. Jesus is not like that. He is the humble king who gave himself for you. One day, you will bow before him and confess that he is Lord - why not do it today, willingly, gladly, joyfully?

Jesus our Saviour is also our example, as he calls us to rejoice in unity through humility. I’m going to read the prayer I’m going to pray, and if you want to pray this too, then say it outwardly or inwardly with me the second time through.

Lord Jesus,
you have given yourself for me.
I give myself to you,
as I bow my knee to you,
and confess that you are my Lord.
Help me to follow you,
and by your Spirit change me,
to be more like you, my humble King. Amen.

Sermon: Philippians 1: 18b-30 Rejoicing Whatever Happens

What does the future hold? We’ve been realising more and more in recent months, that none of us really knows what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or next month. Who would have imagined as 2020 started, that we would now find ourselves in lockdown, facing a global pandemic?

Over the past week, the UK government and the Northern Ireland assembly have been releasing their plans for emerging from lockdown. Over a number of steps and stages, some sort of normality will return - provided there isn’t another surge or a second wave. It’s all dependent on how things turn out. But the Prime Minister or the Northern Ireland Executive are unsure themselves as to what’s going to happen next.

Last week, we saw how Paul was rejoicing even in his lockdown in prison, because what had happened to him had really served to advance the gospel. Looking back over recent events, he could see how God was at work. Now, as he looks to the future, he’s not sure what’s going to happen. But he is ready for whatever happens, and he wants the Philippians to be ready for whatever happens as well.

First of all, he addresses his own situation. Remember that he’s locked up, in prison, and he doesn’t know what’s going to happen next. He’s waiting to go on trial, and the outcomes will either be release or execution; life or death. So how does he feel about that?

At the end of verse 18, he says that he will continue to rejoice. ‘For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.’ He’s confident that he is going to be released - the Philippians have been praying for it, and the Spirit is at work to bring it about. He will be delivered. This is what he thinks the future will hold - but remember that we can’t know for sure what tomorrow will bring. And so Paul is realistic.

His aim isn’t for his own personal comfort. His aim is to glorify Jesus whatever happens: ‘I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.’ (20). Exalting Christ is his aim - and so he’s content to do that in his life and in his death.

He sums it up in one little phrase, found in verse 21. But before we look at it together, how would you fill in the blanks: ‘To live is ... and to die is ...’ To live is great, or good, and to die is a tragedy, a loss? Here’s how Paul puts it: ‘For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’

This is the Christian hope, summed up in one short sentence. To live as a Christian is to live for Christ, to follow Christ, to be united with Christ, to be filled with Christ, and satisfied with Christ. It will mean ‘fruitful labour for me.’

And yet, this life is not all there is. Because Jesus died and rose again, he has assured us that death is not the end, and that one day he will bring in the new heavens and the new earth. But between now and then, when a Christian dies, they have gained. Why’s that? ‘I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.’ (23)

We feel the pain when our loved one dies. We see the empty chair, the empty place at the table. We miss having them with us. But they are with Christ, which is better by far! This is what gives us comfort when a Christian dies. And this is our hope as well - that when we die (in the Lord’s timing), we will be with Christ.

It’s as if Paul is weighing up the two possibilities - life or death - as he waits to see what the Roman Empire will decide to do with him. He would rejoice in either option, whatever happens, and yet he’s convinced that it’s more necessary for these young Christians in Philippi that he remains, in order to encourage them, for their progress and joy in the faith, so that they’ll overflow with joy when they see each other again after his release.

In these days of lockdown, as we’ve been careful to isolate or social distance, and as we watch the rising death toll, it brings back to us a sense of our own mortality. And even when a vaccine is produced, one day we’ll come to the end of our life, be it soon or many years from now. Do you have that hope which means that you can face the future whatever happens? Can you say those words: ‘For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.’ In Christ, we have a sure hope, whatever happens.

But then, in the closing verses of our passage, Paul turns to the Philippians, and wants them to be ready for whatever happens as well. Here’s what he says: ‘Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.’ (27) Do you remember when you were going off on a school trip, and before you left, one of the teachers gave you the talk - today you’re representing the school in uniform, so make sure you conduct yourselves properly. Paul is saying that we’re to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.

We belong to Christ, we’ve been saved by his gospel, and so we should live in line with that gospel. And what will that look like? ‘Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.’ (27-28)

Whatever happens, they are to ‘stand firm’. Paul here is beginning the major section of the letter. Later on, in 4:1, he’ll say this: ‘Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!’ So everything from the end of chapter 1 to the start of chapter 4 is all about standing firm, being immovable, standing your ground, on the rock of Christ and his gospel.

And did you notice how they’re to do this? So often, we read the letters in the New Testament and apply them individually - so here’s something for me to do myself. But this is a letter to the Philippians together. And how do they stand firm? ‘Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel...’ (27)

Did you catch it? In one spirit, as one man. The image is of a Roman army unit, standing firm together, shields linked together, providing protection for each other. If one soldier moves ahead on their own, or holds back on their own, then the unit is in danger. Or think of the rugby scrum. Eight individual players, but they have to work together, standing firm together, pushing together. If they all decided to go their own way, the scrum would be overrun.

That’s how we’re to be as well. Standing firm, together, in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. Why? Because there is always opposition. But we’re not to be frightened by opposition - we have the sure hope that Jesus brings. But being a Christian, having this sure hope doesn’t mean that everything will be easy and straightforward. Trials come. Hardships come.

As Paul says: ‘For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.’ (29-30).

God has granted us faith in Jesus, and also the privilege of suffering for Jesus. It’s all part of the package of the Christian life. But he has also given us each other - to encourage one another and to stand firm together, in the good times and the hard times. Perhaps we might summarise this passage in this way: ‘Because we have a sure hope, we can stand firm whatever happens.’

We continue to face uncertain days. We just don’t know what will happen. But whatever happens, we have each other in the church family, and we have the promise of life with Christ, both now and forever.

I’m going to pray the Methodist Covenant prayer, normally used each January, as they place themselves in God’s hands for the coming year. Perhaps this is your prayer today, whatever may happen:

I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.

Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And this covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.Amen.

Sermon: Philippians 1: 12-18a Rejoicing Even in Lockdown

Imagine for a moment that you’re a member of the church in Philippi. And one day, you hear word of the apostle Paul, the guy who planted your church. And the word is this: Paul is in prison in Rome.

How would you react to that news? What would be your initial response? You would probably be concerned for him, sad that he has been locked up; and would want to help in some way. And that’s what the church in Philippi had done. They had gathered up some money and sent Epaphroditus to bring it to Paul to supply some of his needs while in prison. (And this letter is his letter of thanks in response to their generosity).

I think we’d all conclude that Paul being locked up is a bad thing. We might question God’s goodness and protection, in allowing Paul to go through such hardship. We might be frustrated that he isn’t able to travel on more mission trips to plant more churches. We would definitely think that lockdown is entirely bad. Perhaps we’ve come to a similar conclusion about our own lockdown over these past seven weeks or so.

And yet Paul sees things differently. Yes, he’s still in prison, and yes, he’s still enduring lockdown, but he himself isn’t down about it. Instead, he’s rejoicing even in lockdown. How could this be?

Well, perhaps you’ve seen some of the posts going around on social media inviting us to think differently about our situation in these difficult days. So, rather than saying to yourself that you’re stuck at home, you should say to yourself that you are safe at home. Well, in a similar way, Paul invites us to view his lockdown from a different perspective.

In another of his letters from lockdown, Paul writes this: ‘This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.’ (2 Tim 2:8-9) And that’s what Paul was seeing from his prison cell.

He writes in verse 12: ‘Now i want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.’

Paul’s priority is the gospel - and advancing the good news of Jesus to people who need to hear it. But how could that be if he’s sitting in prison? If he can’t go anywhere, how can the gospel advance? As it turned out, Paul the captive had a captive audience.

You see, a guard came on duty to watch over Paul, maybe even chained to him, and so Paul starts talking to him. The guard can’t go anywhere, so he might as well talk to pass the time. And what do you think Paul will talk to him about? You’ve guessed it - Jesus! And when that guard’s time has finished and a new one comes on duty, what do you think Paul will talk to him about? You’ve guessed it - Jesus! And so the guards start to talk, and word spreads about Paul, the prisoner in chains for Christ. Verse 13: ‘As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.’

How else would these tough Roman soldiers have heard about Jesus? And yet Paul sees the possibilities and opportunities that arise because he is in that very situation. What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. So what are the possibilities and opportunities that have opened up for us when so many things have closed down? Who are the people that you are coming in contact with these days? How might you share the gospel this week?

Paul’s immediate circumstances have opened up a new mission field within the prison, and he was ready to take those opportunities. But the gospel was advancing outside the prison walls as well as inside. And Paul tells us about that in verse 14: ‘Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.’ (14)

Outside the prison, the Christians in Rome were now speaking the word of God. They were saying to themselves - if Paul’s in prison, then who’s going to share the gospel? If he can’t do it, then someone else is going to have to - so why not me? And sure, what’s the worst that could happen? You’d be arrested and end up in prison with Paul!

And do you see how they were doing it? ‘More courageously and fearlessly.’ They were being bold in taking opportunities to speak up. Back in verse 13 it was clear to the whole palace guard and to everyone else why Paul was in prison. So perhaps in the city, people were talking about this prisoner. And a Christian is asked by his neighbour if he’s heard of this guy Paul. Why is he in prison? And the Christian begins to talk about Paul - and about Jesus, the reason he’s in prison.

Now, Paul is realistic in verses 15-17. The brothers are speaking out, but sometimes their motives are suspect. He says: ‘It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.’ (15) So the second group - the goodwill motive people, they speak up out of love, wanting to share the gospel while Paul can’t; wanting to encourage him while he’s behind bars.

But the first group - the envy and rivalry people - they ‘preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.’ (17) For whatever reason, they want to make life even more difficult for Paul. Maybe they see a vacancy in church leadership, and see themselves filling it - thinking themselves a better preacher than Paul. Maybe they don’t like Paul, and want him out of the way for a long time. They’re characterised by selfish ambition.

With such motives, you would think that Paul would be against them, if they’re stirring up trouble for him. And yet, do you see how he responds? ‘But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.’

Their behaviour and motives might hurt him, but he doesn’t dwell on that. His priority is the gospel, the good news of Jesus being shared. And so he focuses on that priority, and is glad that whatever the individual might be intending, Christ is being preached. In fact, he rejoices in this.

Paul rejoices even in lockdown. His circumstances were most unpleasant; his freedoms were completely taken away; it sounds like a total disaster. And yet his perspective is focused on sharing the gospel. And so he says: ‘Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.’ (12)

Can we echo those words, as we endure this lockdown in the middle of a pandemic? What is happening to us has really served to advance the gospel?

Our church buildings have closed for services. Yet via Facebook and YouTube and DVD, God’s word is coming into your homes, and reaching more people than would fit into St Matthew’s for one service. And this week Tearfund published a poll which reported that 24% of UK adults have watched or listened to a religious service since lockdown; and 5% of them have never gone to church.

Maybe you’ve found that you’ve got more time to read, and pray, and grow as a Christian. Time to send a text, or write a letter or email, or call someone. And maybe you’re finding that people are more open to thinking about life and death and everything in these days. Maybe you’ve been helping a neighbour to get groceries and prescriptions, and there are openings to chat about why you’re so friendly, and why you have hope in the midst of such despair.

Let’s not miss the opportunities that God is providing in these days - so that we share in Paul’s priority of sharing the gospel with whoever he comes in contact, even in his prison cell. May it be that when this lockdown comes to an end, we can look back and say: ‘What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.’

Let’s pray:
Father,
we pray that your gospel would advance,
and many will come to know you
even in these lockdown days,
for we ask it in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Sermon: Philippians 1: 1-11 Rejoicing in Gospel Partnership

So how are you coping with life in lockdown? Perhaps you’ve been able to find some positives in our current circumstances - more time at home with family; more time to get some things done that you’d been putting off; more time to read and pray. But for many of us, I suspect, this lockdown has been hard to bear - not being able to go the places you want; not being able to do the things you want; not being able to be with the people you want.

The apostle Paul knew what it was to be in lockdown, quite literally. Paul’s movement is completely restricted, because he is writing from prison, probably in Rome. And yet, as you read this letter to the Philippians, you wouldn’t think that he was in prison. We’ll see over the coming weeks how this letter is bursting with joy and rejoicing - in the midst of lockdown.

So how could this be? How is it that Paul is so full of joy and rejoicing when he’s locked up in a Roman prison cell? Could it be that we can also share in his joy, in the midst of our own lockdown? That’s hopefully what we’ll discover as we study this letter together.

As we begin to dive into the letter, it might be helpful to know that this is a thank you letter. You know the way you might write a thank you note for your Christmas presents, or your wedding presents? Paul is writing to say thank you to the church in Philippi for a gift to supply his needs while in prison. He is using the technology at hand - paper and ink - to encourage and bless his fellow Christians. And he does this as he rejoices in gospel partnership.

First of all, we see that there is thankfulness for gospel partnership. We come across that idea in verse 5, where Paul says that he prays with joy for them, ‘because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.’ It had been Paul who had arrived in the city of Philippi, bringing the good news of the gospel. You can read about it in Acts 16. And from that very first day, Lydia and the city jailer and his family, and the rest of the believers, had become partners in the gospel.

They joined with Paul in the work of the gospel. The word partnership here is also translated ‘fellowship’. And if you’ve sat through the very long Lord of the Rings movies or read the book, then you’ll know that the first film is called ‘The Fellowship of the Ring.’ An assortment of men, dwarves, elves, and hobbits united in a common purpose.

The Philippians were partners in the gospel - they were united with Paul and other believers in the common purpose of sharing the good news of the gospel. They were committed to the gospel, and for this Paul rejoices.

Now, I’ve said that this is a thank you letter, but did you notice who Paul thanks in verse 3? He says this: ‘I thank my God every time I remember you...’ He’s thankful for the Philippians and their partnership, but he says thank you to God for them.

He thanks God for them, but also lets them know. God is the giver of all good gifts, and so should be thanked - but how encouraging for the Philippians to know that Paul is thankful for them. Who is it that you’re thankful for? How might you let them know that you’re thanking God for them?

Paul is thankful for gospel partnership. And he is thankful that God always finishes what he starts. Maybe you’re a bit like me - you enthusiastically start a project, and you get so far, but then you set it down and think ‘I’ll get back to that later’. And maybe you’ve been finding all sorts of half-finished projects as you potter about the house. God is not like that!

Rather, God is like Magnus Magnusson or John Humphrys on Mastermind - God always says: ‘I’ve started, so I’ll finish.’

You see, the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel shows that God is at work in their lives, because only God can turn us around through the gospel. And what God has started, from the first day until now, he will finish: ‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ (6)

How encouraging to know that when God starts working in our lives he will complete it. It brought Paul joy and made him thankful. What about you?

There is thankfulness for gospel partnership. But there is also a depth of feeling in gospel partnership. Paul was feeling it in his lockdown, and perhaps we’re feeling it more and more when we can’t meet together the way we would like.

Paul speaks of having the Philippians in his heart, and how ‘God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.’ (8) There’s a special bond that we have in the church family. Sometimes you see partnerships that come together in business. But that’s all it is - a business working relationship. You come together with the team, you get the job done, and it doesn’t really matter if you like the other team members. It might be easier, but it doesn’t matter, so long as you deliver the end result and get the sales and make a profit.

But it’s not like that in the church. Gospel partnership isn’t just about getting the gospel out - it’s personal; relational; affectionate. And we’ve been missing that as we’ve been moved online. It’s just not the same. I’m longing to see you all again, and to be together again - and I hope you feel the same way.

And what is that special bond in the church family? Paul tells us in verse 7: ‘It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.’ We share in God’s grace together. The grace that gives us what we don’t deserve; the grace that sustains us; the grace that causes God’s love to overflow for one another.

Could it be that God is reminding us of what we’ve maybe taken for granted? And even these online videos and zoom prayer meetings are growing in us a deeper affection for one another, and a greater desire to be together again in gospel partnership, and a greater appreciation of God’s grace to us and in us?

Gospel partners give thanks to God for his work in their lives; and gospel partners care deeply for one another as they share in God’s grace. Finally, gospel partners pray for one another.

Now, sometimes our prayers can remain in very general categories. Maybe you were taught to pray something like this: ‘God bless mummy and God bless daddy and God bless the cat.’ Those are good prayers, and God will answer them! But how about praying more specifically for people - into particular needs; or for particular and specific results.

Here’s how Paul prays for the Philippians: ‘that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight...’ He prays that their love will grow - love for God, and love for one another; that their love will grow as they grow in knowledge and depth of insight - as they get to know God better and better understand God’s ways. Now, why does he pray this?

‘...so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.’ (10-11)

The growth in knowledge isn’t so that the Philippians can apply to go on Mastermind with a particular specialist subject and a wide-ranging general knowledge. No, it’s a growth in knowledge so that they will know what is best, and then do it. As they grow in love for God and knowledge of God, they will know what he loves, and love what he loves, and do what he loves, because they want to become more like Jesus. And as we do that, Jesus grows the fruit of his righteousness in us - for God’s glory and praise.

That’s what Paul was praying for his gospel partners, the people he was thankful for, the people he longed for with deep affection. Could it be that we need to be praying these same things, as we share in the gospel together?

Can you imagine how things would change as our love abounds more and more, as we pray for one another, and long for one another, and thank God for one another as we share in his grace, and are united as partners in the gospel - and God brings to completion the good work he has begun in us, to his praise and glory. Amen!

Sermon: The Emmaus Road (Luke 24: 13-35)

This morning, I wonder if you’ll come for a walk with me. It’s maybe a road that you know well, one you’ve walked many’s a time before. It’s the road to Emmaus, a road paved with confusion and disappointment. It might be the road you walk every day on your one permitted exercise. But even if you’re staying inside, you can still be walking on this road.

All those dashed hopes and disappointments piling up, overwhelming you - the plans you had made, whether it’s a mission trip, or a holiday, or your wedding, and the date comes and it’s not happening as you had hoped. You expected to be in one place, on top of the world, but instead you’re in the doldrums. And it’s confusing, and it’s hurtful.

As you walk along the road to Emmaus, you’re in good company. You see, we imagine how great it would have been to be among the first of Jesus’ disciples. Imagine being there as he performed those miracles; and to hear his teaching; and to be there on that first Easter day. And yet here we find two of the disciples, who had been there in Jerusalem on that first Easter day, and they’re heading home, away from the action.

They were in Jerusalem, they had heard the tomb was empty, they had heard that Jesus was alive, they had heard the good news, but you wouldn’t think it. They trudge home; hopes crushed; dreams fading; they’re confused, hurt, and lost. They talk it out, but they fail to understand.

But as they walk, they’re joined by a stranger - or at least, they think he’s a stranger. They were kept from recognising him. They don’t know who he is. But he wants to know what they’re talking about.

They stop, downcast, and can’t get over the fact that someone who had been in Jerusalem wouldn’t have heard about what had happened. Has he been living under a rock? Well, not quite - he’s been behind the rock, in the tomb, which is now empty, but he just asks, ‘What things?’

Here’s what: They know the full facts - Jesus of Nazareth, a powerful prophet, who was crucified. And it’s there that their hope died with Jesus: ‘We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.’

They expected Jesus to redeem Israel by being a kick out the Romans kind of conquering king Christ. Instead, he had been killed by the Romans and it seemed that the Jesus story was finished. Their hope certainly was.

And now, they’re more confused. You see, they know about the empty tomb; they have heard the message of the angels; they’ve heard that the tomb is definitely empty, but that their friends haven’t seen Jesus. (And they say this to Jesus!)

Have you been walking the Emmaus road? Dealing with disappointments? Any disappointment is hard to come to terms with, but it’s surely even more disappointing when it comes to God. You trust him, and then something happens you didn’t expect, and you wonder what’s going on. And so you set out for Emmaus, you decide to give up and go home.

Now, if you were Jesus, what would you do at this point? If it was me, I would have said, look, it’s fine, it’s me, I’m here, it’s all ok. But God’s ways are not our ways. And Jesus meets them in their confusion and disappointment, and helps them to see him in two ways:

First of all, they see Jesus in the Scriptures. Jesus says that they are foolish, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. He asks the question that we heard earlier: ‘Did not the Christ have to suffer all these things and then enter his glory?’

Suffering and then glory. The path was laid out in advance. And so Jesus helps them to grasp it: ‘And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.’

Can you imagine that? A Bible study led by Jesus?! As he talks about the promise of the serpent-crusher in Genesis 3, and the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12, and the Scapegoat in Leviticus 16, and the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness in Numbers 21, and the prophet like Moses in Deuteronomy 18, and the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, and the sign of Jonah, and the promise of resurrection in Psalm 16, and so much more!

God had promised beforehand that it would be like this - so the wheels hadn’t come off the bus. They just had to see Jesus in the scriptures, all pointing to him and his mission to truly redeem Israel - not by military might, but as the crucified Christ.

And as he did so, their hearts burned within them. It wasn’t that they were having heartburn, that they needed Gaviscon, because of something they ate. No, their hearts were burning within them, as they grasped God’s word and God’s purpose - as they heard God speaking to them through the Scriptures, and they saw Jesus in the scriptures.

But then, they see Jesus with them. It’s getting late, and they’re coming into Emmaus, and home beckons. And they insist the stranger stops with them.

And as they sit down to eat, suddenly the guest acts like he’s the host. ‘He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.’ And suddenly, the stranger’s actions are very familiar. It’s what he had done at the feeding of the five thousand; and it’s what he had done at the Last Supper - took, gave thanks, broke, gave. And in that moment, they recognise him; they seem him; and he disappears from their sight.

And suddenly, those downcast, disappointed, confused disciples are transformed! They quickly set out, back along the same road, but the road from Emmaus is one of joy, as they rush to share the good news that Jesus is alive!

Are you walking on the Emmaus road today? In these days, when things don’t go the way we planned, when we fail to understand what God is doing, when we think all is a disaster, we need to see Jesus. To see Jesus in the scriptures - to see what God has promised (and what he hasn’t promised!); and to know that Jesus is with us, even if we can’t see him right now.

As you walk the Emmaus road, look for Jesus - in his word, and in his presence with you.

Lord Jesus,
may we know your presence with us,
today, and always. Amen.

Sermon: John 20: 19-31 Evidence for Easter

What would it take to convince you that Jesus is alive? What sort of proof would you need?

Perhaps you think that even that question is ridiculous. You’re not sure that Jesus even existed in the first place, and so to even try to prove that he is alive is beyond the bounds of possibility. Or perhaps you reckon that people who think Jesus is alive are like the people who try to claim that Elvis is alive.

There couldn’t possibly be any evidence, any proof. To believe that Jesus is alive, and to believe in Christianity is to take a leap in the dark, to summon up some blind faith in order to believe no matter what the facts might say. As Richard Dawkins once said:

‘Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.’

Is that true? As we normally gather here in this church building, and as we gather digitally this morning, have we turned our brains off? Are we believing in Jesus no matter what evidence may or may not exist? On first reading, it even appears as if that kind of ‘don’t think about it, just believe’ attitude is being endorsed and encouraged in John 20. Taken by itself, it might sound as if ignorance is bliss: ‘blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

Out of context, it sounds as if you have to just accept everything, no matter how strange it might appear, no questions asked. You haven’t seen it for yourself, but you’ll be blessed if you just believe it anyway. And maybe you’ve been accused of that kind of faith by a family member or a friend, or maybe someone in work. So they’ll say - you show me God, and I’ll believe. If I just see God, then I’ll believe.

So have we turned our brains off? Are we naive? Gullible? Unthinking? Not at all! Christianity is based on the historical fact that Jesus, who was crucified, has been raised to life again, resurrected. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, ‘If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins... we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead...’ (1 Cor 15:17,19,20)

So how can we be sure that Jesus really is alive? Last week, we looked at the empty tomb. Today, we find even more evidence that Jesus really is alive. We see that evidence in the disciples of Jesus, and in particular one of the disciples, known by the name doubting Thomas. We’ll come to him in a second, but consider first the disciples generally.

Look at how they were personally transformed. As our reading begins in verse 19, they are in lockdown. They’re together in one place, and the doors are locked for fear of the Jews. Perhaps they thought that they would be next, as the leaders moved against the followers of Jesus. And so they are fearful.

By verse 20, they are overjoyed. So what brought about the transformation? It wasn’t that they were having what we would call a wake, and they were just sitting around, telling stories of Jesus, remembering what he was like, and then they had a fuzzy feeling of remembrance, and they felt that he was with them in spirit. No, they were transformed because Jesus himself was standing in the room with them - physically, bodily.

It’s not that Jesus lives on in our memory, or lives on in our hearts. It’s that Jesus is alive, raised body and soul, in the room with them. He speaks the word of peace: ‘Peace be with you’ and shows them the price of that peace - showing them his hands and side - the wounds of love. The fearful disciples are now overjoyed.

They are also now sent. As Jesus was sent by the Father, so he now sends the disciples out into the world with the news of God’s peace, the forgiveness brought about through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection changed the disciples from weak, fearful men into world-changers who gladly died for the truth that they staked their lives on - that Jesus was alive. As Charles Colson, who was imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal in American politics in 1972, said:

‘I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world - and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.’

Now, think about Thomas. He had missed that original meeting with Jesus. And he wouldn’t believe what the other disciples told him about seeing Jesus alive. He knew them, and yet he wanted proof; solid evidence for himself: ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’

Can you imagine that whole week? The others trying to convince him: ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But it wasn’t enough for him, doubting Thomas.

One week later, today, in fact, the disciples were together, and Thomas was there too. And once again, despite the locked doors, Jesus showed up. He greets them with the word of peace, but then turns directly to Thomas, and offers to him every one of his criteria for believing that Jesus was alive: ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

Now, we’re not told that Thomas did any of those things. He didn’t need to. Now he saw Jesus, face to face, resurrected, alive, and he exclaims. ‘My Lord and my God!’ His standard of evidence had been met, and he was sure, beyond all doubt, that Jesus is alive.

And it’s here that Jesus says those words about seeing and believing. Do you see how they fit in context: ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

It took Thomas to see and then believe. But there is a blessing for those who haven’t seen and yet have believed. Now Jesus isn’t saying that you’re blessed if you turn off your brain and just accept it unthinkingly. He’s saying that we believe based on the evidence of the eyewitnesses - the testimony of the disciples who have seen and were sent. We can examine the evidence, and think hard about its reliability, and be sure that it is the truth. And as we do so, we are blessed.

And what is the blessing? It’s having life in Jesus’ name. The risen Lord Jesus shares his risen life with us, and assures us of life with him for all eternity.

It’s the reason that John wrote his gospel. He tells us at the end of our reading that he could have written about loads of other things that Jesus did. There was no shortage of source material. But he has written these signs down so that ‘you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.’

The evidence is here, in John’s gospel. if you aren’t a Christian, then why not sit down and read through John’s gospel some time? Maybe you’re feeling bored during the lockdown, looking for something to do. Read through it in a couple of hours. Examine the evidence and see if you could be persuaded to believe in Jesus.

If you are a Christian, then don’t stop thinking! Keep on reading, and examining the evidence, and rejoicing in the good news that Jesus is alive, that he can be trusted, that it is life-transforming. There is joy to be found, and peace, and blessing, as we believe in Jesus. And don’t be shy in sharing that good news with your friends and family.

Let’s pray:
Father we thank you that Jesus is alive,
and brings peace, and joy, and blessing.
Help us to believe in him
as we examine the evidence
and listen to your word. Amen.

Sermon: Matthew 28: 1-10 Come and See, Go and Tell

Have you ever said something a bit like this: ‘Come here till you see this! Maybe something’s happening outside, and you want the other people in your house to see what’s happening. The other week, there were two people out for a dander round in Richhill in their inflatable fancy dress dinosaur suits - and someone took pictures to put it on Facebook, so everyone could see what was happening!

Come and see. That’s what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were told to do by the angel in our reading today. There was something special, something vitally important to look at and to take in, and so they had to come and see. Come here till you see this!

And what was it they were to come and see? It was the empty tomb. This wasn’t what they were expecting to see as they made their way to the tomb at dawn that first Easter Day.

You see, they had been there on Friday afternoon. They had watched as Jesus had died on the cross; they had seen where Joseph of Arimathea had placed Jesus’ body; they had seen where the stone was rolled in front of the entrance. They had seen all that happening on Friday. So now, after the Sabbath rest, they retrace their steps. ‘To look at the tomb’ as Matthew tells us.

They just wanted to see where Jesus was laid to rest. Perhaps you’ve been feeling the pain of not being able to visit a loved one’s grave this Easter, due to the current restrictions. What the women saw that day at that tomb brings hope and comfort. So what did they see?

‘There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. HIs appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.’ (2-4)

What a lot to see, and to take in! They saw (and felt) the earth shake under their feet. They saw this angel of the Lord, all brightness and fearsome, rolling back the stone and using it as a seat. And they saw the guards lying on the ground in fear.

The guards were there because the chief priests and Pharisees had remembered what Jesus had said - ‘After three days I will rise again.’ And so, to make sure that the disciples couldn’t steal the body and pretend that Jesus had risen, a guard was sent to the tomb, to seal it and guard it. But the guards proved useless against a risen Jesus and an angel of the Lord. They are afraid, and become like dead men; whereas the dead man they are guarding is alive!

It turns out that religious leaders had listened more carefully to Jesus than the disciples. The religious leaders knew that Jesus had said something about rising on the third day. But the disciples hadn’t remembered that at all. And so the women weren’t there to witness the resurrection - they were there to see the tomb.

While the guards are afraid, the angel speaks to the women and says this: ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’

Jesus who was crucified has now risen. And they are told to come and see the empty tomb, the place where he lay. This is the very heart of the Christian faith. It stands and falls on the empty tomb. And we can be sure and certain that this is historical fact. The two Marys came and saw where Jesus had lay, which was now empty.

Come and see the place where he lay. The women provide the eyewitness testimony. They have seen that the tomb is empty. And that’s important. And it’s great. But it’s not enough.

You see, the angel has something more for the women to do. Having came and seen, the women have to do something else as well: ‘Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’

Having witnessed the fact of the empty tomb, they now have to go and tell. They are sent to tell the disciples - the followers of Jesus, who are now locked in their homes, afraid to leave the house. they have good news to share - the best news ever - that Jesus is alive.

The disciples will in turn be sent to tell that news to the whole world, as they’re sent to preach the gospel in the Great Commission at the end of Matthew 28. And that news will turn the world upside down.

Because Jesus is alive, death is not the end. All who trust in him will live with him in his new heavens and new earth. So while we mourn the loss of loved ones; and while we feel the pain of not being able to visit their graves, we have this assurance, that we will see them again, and live with them again.

Because Jesus is alive, we have hope. Real hope. Not the wishful thinking kind of hope, but the rock solid absolutely certain hope that Jesus will raise us to live with him. It’s a message that the disciples needed to hear. It’s a message that we need to hear. It’s a message that the world needs to hear.

While we’re social distancing this Easter, and maybe even self-isolating, we do not need to be afraid. We can come and see the empty tomb, and go and tell the news. So who could you tell?

Let’s pray.
Father,
we thank you that the tomb is empty
and Jesus is alive.
Help us to come and see, and be sure of the message,
and help us to go and tell, as we share this great good news.
Show us who we can tell, and how we can tell them,
for we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Cross Words 7 - Peace (Luke 23:46)

My first year at secondary school was a shock to the system. You see, my school was known as a rugby playing school. For something like ten years in a row, Dromore High had won the High Schools’ Cup. So while I wanted to be playing football, we all had a crash course in the basics of rugby - drill after drill of throwing and catching the ball.

Mr McAleese, our PE teacher would tell us why these drills were so important, even if we never played a minute of competitive rugby. “You’ll want to be able to catch whatever is thrown at you. You want to know that you have good hands.”

I never became a rugby player, and I might not be great at throwing and catching, but I never forgot that line about having good hands. Others talk about a safe pair of hands.

Just before Jesus died on the cross, he uttered one last word, which speaks of peace and safety and security, because he was placing his spirit in the best of all hands. Jesus said: ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’

Jesus is quoting from another Psalm of David - this time from Psalm 31 verse 5. David was affirming his trust in the midst of trouble. And Jesus takes those words on his lips as he affirms his trust in his Father as he comes to the end of his life, and completes his saving work on the cross.

Jesus is placing himself in his Father’s hands. For a while, he had been given over to the hands of wicked men, who pursued their evil plot to crucify him. As far back as Luke chapter 9, once the disciples have realised that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, God’s promised king - Jesus tells them ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.’ (Lk 9:44). And in Luke 24, as the angels explain to the women about the empty tomb, they remind them of what Jesus had told them: ‘Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.’ (Lk 24:6-7)

Jesus had been delivered into the hands of sinful men. Indeed, he had chosen to surrender himself into their hands, to do all they wanted to do, to beat, and flog, and mock, and crucify. In their wicked hands, he was mistreated, and killed. They had done all that they wanted, and got rid of Jesus.

We would have done the same. How often we want to use Jesus for our own desires; to abuse him; and have him serve our plans. Our hands would have been just as ready to crucify the Lord of glory. Our hands are just as guilty, we are caught red-handed with Jesus’ blood on our hands.

But, having suffered all that men desired to inflict on him, and fulfilled the rescue plan, Jesus commits himself into his Father’s hands. The safest pair of hands in the whole universe.

Just after he says these words, he breathes his last, and dies. Yet Jesus shows us that, while his body is taken down from the cross, and buried in the tomb; his spirit is in God’s care and keeping. Now, it’s not that the body is worthless and it’s only our spirit or soul that really matters, and it’s just longing to get free of this bodily prison. No, far from it.

Jesus’ spirit is in the Father’s hands, awaiting resurrection, when body and spirit and soul are reunited and raised. For Jesus, that will happen on the third day, early on Easter Sunday. But because Jesus has died on the cross, that’s also true of all who believe in him.

So if you’re trusting in Jesus, when you breathe your last, your spirit is instantly with God, while you await the last day and the resurrection to the new heavens and the new earth. And that’s true of your loved one who believes in Christ. They are not lost - you know exactly where they are, through the death and resurrection of Jesus; they are in the safest place they can be - in the hands of God, in his care and keeping. As Jesus says in John 10: ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I am and the Father are one.’ (Jn 10:27-30)

There is eternal safety and security for those held in the Father’s hands. Are you held in his hands today? Have you entrusted yourself into those good hands?

Jesus dies, not in despair or distress, but in peace, fully trusting in the Father’s power and protection. And he gives us that same peace - for our loved ones and for ourselves - when we’re in the Father’s hands.

The seventh cross word is a word of peace.

Jesus says: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit..

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
in your keeping are all those who have departed in Christ.
We thank you that your hands are love and they are good.
Help us to know the peace that only you provide,
as we entrust ourselves into your hands,
now, and in the hour of our death,
through Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us. Amen.