Read Philippians 1:15-18; Galatians 1:8-9
It’s possible to misread Philippians 1:18 as meaning that Paul doesn’t really care about the content of the gospel that is being preached. If one church preaches that you are saved by faith plus works and another preaches that you are saved by faith alone, that’s fine. If one church preaches that you have to speak in tongues to be a real Christian while another preaches that you have to have faith alone to be Christian, that’s fine. If one church preaches that you have to have works while another abhors any works, that too is fine. After all, doesn’t Paul say that it doesn’t matter in Philippians 1:18?
Unfortunately it’s not that simple. Paul is very concerned about the content of the Gospel. To the Galatian church he writes very sternly and forcefully. He says twice that if any person or even an angel changes the gospel from what he himself preached to them, then that person is to be eternally condemned.
The repetition is a sign of Paul’s forcefulness.
Galatians 1:8–9 (NIV84)
“8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”
In Philippians 1:12-18 Paul is not saying that he’s okay with a perverted gospel. We simply cannot have one passage of Scripture contradicting another. Galatians 1:8-9 makes it abundantly clear that Paul hates the idea of a perverted Gospel. What Paul is saying is that the motivation or reason for preaching the gospel can change. In a narrow sense, Paul doesn't care why people are preaching the gospel, as long as they are preaching the gospel!
Again, we must avoid extending our theology into error. We cannot say that motivation is irrelevant. We cannot say that rivalry and envy and stirring up trouble are good and okay reasons for preaching the Gospel. Like Paul we should want people to preach the gospel from pure motives, from a heart that is pure and sincere. We should want believers to love God and to love mankind so much that they preach the Gospel to all who might listen. But if people choose to preach the Gospel with impure or insincere motivations we must be content that at least the Gospel is being preached. If an opportunity arises to lovingly challenge them or rebuke them we can take that opportunity but in the meanwhile rejoicing is the best and godliest option.
The bottom line is clear. If the Gospel is getting out around the globe we should be filled with praise.
Prayer:
Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for
Adoration:
Confession
Thanks
Supplication:
· Pray that Christ would be clearly and faithfully preached this weekend in your local church. Pray too that Christ would be preached from a pure heart and from sincere motives.
· Pray that Christ will be exalted in your service this weekend, that the saints would be edified and brought closer to God and that the non-believers would be challenged to repent and believe in Jesus.
1. Given the content of today’s Scripture and the reading notes, what implications are there for unity among churches across different denominations?
2. What should inter denominational unity be built upon?
3. If you had to write a list of beliefs that multi denominational churches could stand unified on, what would your list include?
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