Servants & Saints (Philippians 1:1-11)

When you think about the people in your life who have made the biggest impact on your spiritual journey, who comes to mind? Maybe it’s someone who challenged you to grow, someone who supported you when times were tough, or someone who simply walked alongside you as you tried to follow Jesus.

Now, think about this: What would your life look like without those partnerships? Without the people who encouraged you, prayed for you, and pushed you toward a deeper relationship with God?

In Philippians 1, Paul opens his letter with joy and gratitude for the partnership he shares with the church in Philippi. He’s not just thankful for their friendship—he’s thankful for their shared mission in the gospel, for their identity as God’s people, and for the way God is working in and through them. Today, we’re going to explore these truths together—what it means for us to live out our identity, to partner with one another in gospel work, and to trust God’s ongoing work in us as we grow in love and righteousness. It’s a message that challenges us not just to believe, but to live out our faith in partnership with God and each other.

Our Identity as Servants and Saints (1-2)

Philippians 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul opens his letter to the Philippians with a profound declaration of identity. He introduces himself and Timothy not as apostles with high status, but as “servants of Christ Jesus.” The word Paul uses here for “servants” is better understood as “slaves,” implying complete and total submission to their master, Jesus. This is not a position of honor by worldly standards; it’s a posture of humility. Paul sees his life as belonging fully to Jesus, and everything he does stems from that reality. He doesn’t assert authority as a superior but identifies himself as one entirely under the authority of Christ.

What would change in our lives if we saw ourselves first and foremost as servants of Christ? How would that change how we spend our time, how we treat others, how we use our resources? Too often, we hold on to certain areas of our lives as though they belong to us. We may think we are serving God, but we still act like we’re in charge of our own lives. Paul’s greeting reminds us that if we are in Christ, we belong completely to Him. Being His servant means every part of our lives is surrendered to His will. No exceptions.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He addresses the Philippians as “saints in Christ Jesus.” Now, we might think of saints as those super-spiritual individuals who live perfect lives, but the word here simply means “holy ones,” those set apart by God for His purposes. It’s not a title reserved for the spiritual elite, but for all believers. If you are in Christ, you are a saint. You have been set apart by God, not because of your own merit, but because of His grace. This is important: our identity as saints comes not from our own righteousness but from Christ’s righteousness.

So, we see two identities given to every believer—servants and saints. As servants, we belong to Christ. As saints, we are set apart by God. Both of these identities are a gift, and both call us to live differently. To live as servants is to surrender our will to the will of God. To live as saints is to live in the recognition that we are no longer part of the world but belong to a holy God. How does this affect the way we think about our lives, our relationships, our work? If we see ourselves as servants and saints, we cannot help but live differently.

The Power of Partnership in the Gospel (3-6)

Philippians 1:3–6 (ESV) — 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

As Paul continues his letter, we see a powerful expression of gratitude for the Philippians. There’s a joy that fills Paul when he thinks about the Philippians. And this joy isn’t just sentimental; it’s deeply rooted in their shared mission—what Paul calls their “partnership in the gospel.”

The word “partnership” here is the Greek word koinonia, which is often translated as fellowship. But this partnership goes beyond a meal, casual friendship, or an occasional gathering. Koinonia means linking arms together in a shared purpose. It’s a bond that runs deep because it’s centered on something eternal—the gospel. This is a partnership of souls committed to seeing the good news of Jesus Christ spread and take root in the world.

For Paul, the Philippians weren’t just supporters sending money from afar. They were partners, co-laborers in the work of the gospel. From the very beginning of their relationship, they had linked themselves to Paul, not just in financial support but in heart, in mission, in sacrifice. It wasn’t just about Paul preaching and them listening. They were actively engaged in the gospel work, standing with him in prayer, sharing in his struggles, and contributing to the mission of spreading the good news of Jesus. That’s why Paul speaks with such affection for them.

We need to recognize the significance of this kind of partnership in the church today. Too often, we approach church as a place we attend, a place we consume spiritual goods. But the church is meant to be a partnership—a koinonia—a place where we link ourselves to one another in the shared work of the gospel. We are in this together. Your faith is not a private matter. We are called to be partners in the gospel, working together to bring the hope of Jesus to a world that desperately needs it.

Growth in Love and Righteousness (9-11)

Philippians 1:9–11 (ESV) — 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

After expressing his confidence in God’s work within the Philippians, Paul moves to a heartfelt prayer for their continued growth. He prays that their “love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9). This request for growth ties directly to the foundation Paul has already laid. First, we saw that our identity as servants and saints gives us a purpose. Then, we learned that our partnership in the gospel binds us together with one another and with God in a shared mission. Now, Paul prays that this partnership will bear the fruit of love and righteousness.

Paul’s prayer teaches us something vital about love: it’s meant to mature and deepen over time. But this love isn’t blind. It’s not driven solely by emotion or impulse. Paul prays that their love would grow “with knowledge and all discernment.” This means that as believers, our love should be informed by our understanding of God’s truth and shaped by wisdom. It’s the kind of love that sees clearly, that knows how to navigate the complexities of life, and that leads to right action. It’s not enough just to love; we must learn how to love well, to love in a way that reflects God’s character and leads to holiness.

But Paul’s prayer doesn’t stop with love. He prays that this love would lead to a life that is “pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:10-11). This connects back to the confidence Paul had in verse 6: God will bring His work to completion. The fruit of righteousness that Paul describes is the result of that ongoing work—God transforming us to live lives that reflect His character. This is the ultimate expression of our partnership with God: as He works in us, our lives begin to bear the fruit of His righteousness. I see this as synonymous with the fruit of the Spirit.

Application

Servants and Saints

We must see ourselves as belonging to Christ. We must ask ourselves, “How would my life change if I did see myself this way?” Also, “What areas of my life have I yet to fully surrender to Him?” And as saints, do we live in a way that reflects being set apart for God’s purpose, or are we still trying to blend in with the world? These are the questions that Paul’s greeting challenges us to ask. Our identity in Christ is foundational to everything else. It’s the starting point for how we live, how we relate to one another, and how we participate in the work of the gospel.

Committed Partners

Paul’s joy in this partnership is also an invitation for us to assess our own commitment to the gospel work. Are we truly linked together in partnership with one another, or are we simply observers? Are we investing in the mission, or are we standing on the sidelines? True partnership means we take ownership of the mission. It means we support one another, pray for one another, and labor together for the gospel. When one of us is weak, the others are there to help. When one is celebrating, we rejoice together. This is the bond we share, and it needs to be cherished and nurtured.

But this partnership isn’t just among ourselves. It’s a partnership with God Himself. In verse 6, Paul says, “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” God is the one who initiated this work in the Philippians, and God will be the one to bring it to completion. Our partnership with each other is grounded in God’s work. We’re not striving in our own strength. The good news is that God is working in us, and He will finish what He started. This is why Paul can pray with joy—because he’s confident that God’s faithfulness will carry them through to the end.

Do we see ourselves as partners in the gospel? Are we actively engaged in the mission, linking arms with our brothers and sisters in Christ, or are we standing at a distance? How are we contributing to the shared work of bringing the gospel to others? And do we trust that God, who began this good work in us, will bring it to completion? These are questions we all need to wrestle with as we live out our calling as partners in the gospel.

Maturity and Love

This is a profound picture of what Christian love should be. It’s not just a feeling or a passive kindness—it’s an active, growing love that is guided by wisdom and discernment. This love isn’t something we muster up on our own; it’s part of the ongoing work that God began in us and will bring to completion. We’re not just called to love, but to let that love grow deeper and wiser, shaping the way we live and interact with the world.

The growth in love Paul describes is closely connected to our partnership in the gospel. As we walk alongside our brothers and sisters, we are called to invest in one another’s growth. This kind of partnership isn’t just about working together—it’s about helping one another abound in love, wisdom, and discernment. True gospel partnership means that we’re growing together, challenging and encouraging each other to love more fully and live more righteously.

What kind of love do we show to the world? Is it a love that is grounded in truth, or is it driven by fleeting emotions? Are we allowing God to grow our love through knowledge and discernment, or are we content with a shallow, surface-level love? Paul’s prayer challenges us to examine the depth of our love and the wisdom that guides it.

Is your love leading to righteous living? Are the choices you make, the actions you take, and the way you treat others bearing the kind of fruit that reflects God’s righteousness? These are the markers of a life that is maturing in Christ. Our love should not only grow in knowledge and wisdom but also lead to a life that is pure, blameless, and full of righteous deeds.

Ultimately, all of this is for one purpose: “to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11). Everything—our identity as servants and saints, our partnership in the gospel, our growth in love and righteousness—points back to God. We live for His glory, not our own. As we grow in love and righteousness, we bring praise to the One who is at work within us. This is the ultimate goal of the Christian life: that through our growth and transformation, God’s glory would be displayed for the world to see.

So, is our love abounding in knowledge and discernment? Are we bearing the fruit of righteousness in our lives, pointing others to the glory of God? This is Paul’s prayer for the Philippians, and it should be our prayer as well—that we would grow in love, walk in righteousness, and bring glory to God in all that we do.

Conclusion

As we bring this message to a close, remember the journey we’ve taken through Paul’s words to the Philippians. We’ve seen that our identity as servants and saints is foundational—who we are in Christ shapes everything. We belong to Him, set apart for His purposes. Then, we looked at the power of partnership in the gospel. We’re not walking this journey alone; we’re linked together, co-laborers in God’s mission. This is a bond to be cherished, a partnership to be embraced. And finally, we’ve seen that God is not finished with us yet. He’s growing us in love and righteousness, bearing fruit in our lives for His glory.

When you think about your life, your faith, and your relationships, consider how all of these pieces fit together. Does your identity in Christ give you purpose, your partnership in the gospel give you strength, and God’s ongoing work in you bring transformation? This isn’t just theoretical—it’s real, it’s active, and it’s meant to shape every part of our lives.

So, as you leave here today, ask yourself: How am I living out my identity as a servant and saint? Am I truly partnering with others in the work of the gospel, or am I standing on the sidelines? And is my love growing in knowledge and discernment, leading to a life that bears fruit for God’s glory?

God is at work in you, in this church, and in His people around the world. Let’s live like we believe that. Let’s embrace our role as His servants, link arms in partnership, and allow God’s love and righteousness to overflow in our lives—all for the praise and glory of our King.