Joy Has A Name // 1 Joy in Christ - Joel Virgo // Philippians 1:1-11

Joel looks at the union and unity that Christ brings us into.

Paul is overjoyed at the thought of the Philippians. These ‘partners’ are not just loosely associated with Paul but fellow ‘partakers with me of grace’. Paul’s desire and prayer for them is that they ‘abound’ and are ‘filled’ with Christ. This partaking of Christ brings Gospel transformation. We don’t change because we’re Christians, we change as we enjoy the riches of Christ himself - becoming transformed individuals in a transformed community.

As a provocation to our current society, Paul and the Philippians rejoice not in themselves or selfish joy/pleasure they have found (Paul is in prison, remember!), but by revelling in the fact they are part of something much bigger than themselves that even involves the glory of God.