This is our relationship with God: it is a relationship of grace and peace. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ [vs2].” God is at peace with us through the resurrected Christ, so He gives us grace and peace inside our heart. The warfare is over. Iniquity has been punished. Forgiveness is obtained.

Never walk with God as if He’s not generous, and you’re on your own. Never look to your own strength.

Secondly, Paul has an OPTIMISTIC gospel: he is not fretting and fighting in human strength. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it [vs6].” He is bold and confident. He said, “But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Phillip,” where he was beaten and imprisoned, “as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.” He didn’t back down because of Satan. He wasn’t afraid of sin being too strong. He put full confidence in God for the persevering of the saints, believing the sure promise of eternal life [John 10:27-29]. He knows the Spirit and the Blood prevail.

Sinner, do you have this confidence in God, not yourself? Are you trusting yourself or Christ? What’s going to make you stand?

Thirdly, we are all partakers of grace! Philippians 1:7, “It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.” Let grace have the forefront, and let grace have the glory. If Christians walk in grace, then we are happy people. We are optimistic. We’re looking at the good side of God. He is no longer against us but for us to meet all our needs. This is the amazing thing: God is gracious to people!

Oh, how wonderful it is to have a good God who’s reconciled to us. He has all power in His hands and rules the universe as our loving Father to help us in our time of need, to pity us, and to be there in love. He’s the greatest Friend imaginable: a forgiving, sustaining, and strengthening God! The inheritance of God’s elect is beyond what the mind can think. What we possess now is so much, and then we go to Paradise. Can we fathom the depths of grace? It delivered us from hell into the highest blessing!

Finally, this grace produces affection. “I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ [vs8].” Paul said it over and over. He rejoices in the Philippians, he loves them, and he prays for them with thanksgiving [vs3-4]. He’s head over heels for people. He’s not a user. He’s not puffed up. People aren’t there to serve him. He’s not ego driven! Paul loves men.