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Daily Devotions

Philippians

Philippians 
Day 
Day 30

"To suffer for His sake."

Text: Philippians 1:29

A WONDERFUL GIVING OF GRACE

The wonder of the gospel of Christ may be found in the word “grace”. The apostle Paul highlights this glorious truth about how God saves us! Our salvation is entirely based on God’s grace rather than our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

However the giving of grace is not limited to our salvation. There is another profound aspect of grace that is highlighted in the following text.

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ,
not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
having the same conflict which you saw in me and now
hear is in me.”

Philippians 1:29-30

1. “For to you it has been granted”

a) The word “granted” is an important word to comprehend (Greek charizomai… “giving out of grace”).
b) It was the giving of grace that we have salvation.
c) It was also given (“granted”) to us the privilege of suffering (Acts 5:41).

2. “On behalf of Christ”

a) The translation “on behalf of Christ” simply means “for Christ” (huper Christou).
b) The same construction is found in Acts 5:41 and there it is translated “for His name” (Huper to onomatos tou Iesou).
i) The same preposition “huper” was used.
ii) It is translated as “on behalf of” in Philippians 1:29.
iii) It is translated as “for” in Acts 5:41.
iv) They mean exactly the same thing.

3. Paul’s personal example of suffering

a) Paul suffered “the same conflict”.
i) The Philippians saw how much Paul suffered.
ii) They now heard about how Paul suffered imprisonment.
b) The significance of Paul citing himself as an example.
i) He was not terrified of his adversaries.
ii) His joy in Christ did not abate.
iii) He understood and accepted that suffering for Christ was part of God’s grace gift.
iv) Paul’s confidence in the Lord was not at all fazed!