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Christ。 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you； always in every prayer
of mine for you all making request with joy； for your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now； being confident of this very thing；
that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ： even as it is meet for me to think this of you all； because I
have you in my heart； inasmuch as both in my bonds； and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel； ye all are partakers of my grace。 For God is my
record； how greatly I long after you all。 。 。 。 And this I pray； that your
love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment； that ye
may approve things that are excellent； that ye may be sincere and without
offense till the day of Christ； being filled with the fruits of
righteousness； which are by Jesus Christ； unto the glory and praise of God。〃
The grace of God sustained Paul in his imprisonment； enabling him to rejoice
in tribulation。 With faith and assurance he wrote to his Philippian brethren
that his imprisonment had resulted in the furtherance of the gospel。 〃I
would ye should understand； brethren；〃 he declared； 〃that the things which
happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel；
so that my bonds with Christ are manifest in all the palace； and in all
other places； and
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many of the brethren in the Lord； waxing confident by my bonds； are much
more bold to speak the word without fear。〃
There is a lesson for us in this experience of Paul's； for it reveals God's
way of working。 The Lord can bring victory out of that which may seem to us
discomfiture and defeat。 We are in danger of forgetting God； of looking at
the things which are seen； instead of beholding by the eye of faith the
things which are unseen。 When misfortune or calamity comes； we are ready to
charge God with neglect or cruelty。 If He sees fit to cut off our usefulness
in some line； we mourn； not stopping to think that thus God may be working
for our good。 We need to learn that chastisement is a part of His great plan
and that under the rod of affliction the Christian may sometimes do more for
the Master than when engaged in active service。
As their example in the Christian life； Paul pointed the Philippians to
Christ； who； 〃being in the form of God； thought it not robbery to be equal
with God： but made Himself of no reputation； and took upon Him the form of a
servant； and was made in the likeness of men： and being found in a fashion
as a man； He humbled Himself； and became obedient unto death； even the death
of the cross。〃
〃Wherefore； my beloved；〃 he continued； 〃as ye have always obeyed； not as in
my presence only； but now much more in my absence； work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling。 For it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do His good pleasure。 Do all things without murmurings and
disputings： that ye may be blameless
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and harmless； the sons of God； without rebuke； in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation； among whom ye shine as lights in the world； holding forth
the word of life； that I may rejoice in the day of Christ； that I have not
run in vain； neither labored in vain。〃
These words were recorded for the help of every striving soul。 Paul holds up
the standard of perfection and shows how it may be reached。 〃Work out your
own salvation；〃 he says； 〃for it is God which worketh in you。〃
The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership； a joint operation。
There is to be co…operation between God and the repentant sinner。 This is
necessary for the formation of right principles in the character。 Man is to
make earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to
perfection。 But he is wholly dependent upon God for success。 Human effort of
itself is not sufficient。 Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing。
God works and man works。 Resistance of temptation must come from man； who
must draw his power from God。 On the one side there is infinite wisdom；
compassion； and power； on the other； weakness； sinfulness； absolute
helplessness。
God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves。 But He cannot help us
without our consent and co…operation。 The divine Spirit works through the
powers and faculties given to man。 Of ourselves； we are not able to bring
the purposes and desires and inclinations into harmony with the will of God；
but if we are 〃willing to be made willing；〃 the Saviour will accomplish this
for us； 〃Casting down imaginations；
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and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God； and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ。〃 2
Corinthians 10：5。
He who would build up a strong； symmetrical character； he who would be a
well…balanced Christian； must give all and do all for Christ； for the
Redeemer will not accept divided service。 Daily he must learn the meaning of
self…surrender。 He must study the word of God； learning its meaning and
obeying its precepts。 Thus he may reach the standard of Christian
excellence。 Day by day God works with him； perfecting the character that is
to stand in the time of final test。 And day by day the believer is working
out before men and angels a sublime experiment； showing what the gospel can
do for fallen human beings。
〃I count not myself to have apprehended；〃 Paul wrote； 〃but this one thing I
do； forgetting those things which are behind； and reaching forth unto those
things which are before； I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus。〃
Paul did many things。 From the time that he gave his allegiance to Christ；
his life was filled with untiring service。 From city to city； from country
to country； he journeyed； telling the story of the cross； winning converts
to the gospel； and establishing churches。 For these churches he had a
constant care； and he wrote many letters of instruction to them。 At times he
worked at his trade to earn his daily bread。 But in all the busy activities
of his life； Paul never lost sight of one great purposeto press toward the
prize
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of his calling。 One aim he kept steadfastly before him to be faithful to
the One who at the gate of Damascus had revealed Himself to him。 From this
aim nothing had power to turn him aside。 To exalt the cross of Calvary
this was the all…absorbing motive that inspired his words and acts。
The great purpose that constrained Paul to press forward in the face of
hardship and difficulty should lead every Christian worker to consecrate
himself wholly to God's service。 Worldly attractions will be presented to
draw his attentions from the Saviour； but he is to press on toward the goal；
showing to the world； to angels； and to men that the hope of seeing the face
of God is worth all the effort and sacrifice that the attainment of this
hope demands。
Though he was a prisoner； Paul was not discouraged。 Instead； a note of
triumph rings through the letters that he wrote from Rome to the churches。
〃Rejoice in the Lord alway；〃 he wrote to the Philippians； 〃and again I say；
Rejoice。 。 。 。 Be careful for nothing； but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God。 And
the peace of God； which passeth all understanding； shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus。 Finally； brethren； whatsoever things are
true； whatsoever things are honest； whatsoever things are just； whatsoever
things are pure； whatsoever things are lovely； whatsoever things are of good
report； if there be any virtue； and if there be any praise； think on these
things。〃
〃My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus。 。 。 。 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all。〃
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Chapter 46
At Liberty
While Paul's labors in Rome were being blessed to the conversion of many
souls and the strengthening and encouragement of the believers； clouds were
gathering that threatened not only his own safety； but also the prosperity
of the church。 On his arrival in Rome he had been placed in charge of the
captain of the imperial guards； a man of justice and integrity； by whose
clemency he was left comparatively free to pursue the work of the gospel。
But before the close of the two years' imprisonment； this man was replaced
by an official from whom the apostle could expect no special favor。
The Jews were now more active than ever in their efforts against Paul； and
they found an able helper in the profligate woman whom Nero had made his
second wife； and who； being a Jewish proselyte； lent all her influence to
aid their murderous designs against the champion of Christianity。
Paul could hope for little justice from the Caesar to whom he had appealed。
Nero was more debased in morals；
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more frivolous in character； and at the same time capable of more atrocious
cruelty； than any ruler who h