Philippians first two Chapters. Jesus as a man, obeyed God the Father in all things, became God of all.

Let us begin to study the epistle to Philippians, which God in his providence has included in the word of God. Let us first see, who this God is. Every religion worships a God, or Gods of their own choice. Does that mean that there are so many Gods? No, according to the true definition, God of the bible is the only one God. The definition is, God must have been existed before anything existed, and he must exist until after the last; then, all things that came to existence, must have been created by him; and he must be the Omnipotent Spirit for whom nothing will be impossible. Only one God, who qualifies all these three criteria, is the God of the Bible. But every religion including Christianity, considers a great man in their sight as God. Their God helps them in many things in the world, as healing, safety, prosperity, etc. If these are the qualification for God, then, there will be so many Gods. In that case, the question will be, who is a better God, than to find out who the true God is; because there are rich, healthy, and intelligent people in all religion. But God is the omnipotent creator, and he has created the universe. But people have invented religions and choose Gods for themselves from their heroes, living or imaginary. But Israel worships the true God, who is the God of the Bible. Christians mostly worship the man Jesus as God and claim that he is God, and the God of Christians only. But the bible says that God the Father and the Holy Ghost also is God, and so, God is three in One. However, God is not the God of Christians only, but he is the God of the whole world and the universe; and there is no other God; and God is God of all. However, 'God the Word' became the man Jesus. But as a man, Jesus was not God, and he was killed by men. God and angels cannot die. But Christians claim that the man Jesus is God. By doing so, they indirectly accept that Jesus is God for Christians; Rama, Krishna, and others are Gods for Hindus; Allah is God for Muslims; and so on. But they are not Gods, and the God of the bible is the only one God. God is Omnipotent, Spirit, Creator, who was the beginning and the ending. Now, let us study Philippians. When Christians study the bible, they apply the favorable passages for themselves, and the rebukes for others. But mostly, letters were written to saints and true believers for their blessings and nourishment. It is in Philippians 1:1&2. Here, apostle Paul and Timotheus wrote to saints, helpers, and supervisors of Philippian church. They pronounce God's grace and peace to the saints only, and pray for them looking at their fellowship, but not for everybody. Verses 3 to 5 says that they are confident, that God will complete his work, which he has begun, and make the saints perfect before the last day. Verse 6 says that they will receive a great reward in heaven, including inheritance in the kingdom of God.

Verses 7&8 say that apostle Paul was in jail at this time, for preaching the gospel. He preached with an intense desire that the saints must abide in the Lord Jesus Christ unified as one with him. Verses 9&10 say that their prayer was that the saints must become perfectly strong; having the discernment to judge between good and evil, to accept good as good, and to reject evil as evil. It was the time of persecution and imprisonments. Verses 11&12 says that in spite of that, people have learned the truth, and it resulted in the furtherance of the gospel. 13&14 say, his persecution did manifest to be a positive thing for the ministry. His bonds, that is his prison, made believers more zealous and bolder rather than discourage them. Apostle Paul considers this as good thing. Verses 15 to 18 says that the enemy preachers have preached Jesus Christ with crooked strategies to add afflictions to Paul and the saints. In the business world there is a saying that even a negative advertisement is an advertisement, and we must make good use of it, since the name is spread. That is what Paul did. But today, Jesus Christ is known by all; and so, such advertisements are not needed anymore. Many people loved Paul, since he was defending the gospel that Jesus preached, and followed him. In verse 19, he hopes to be made free from bonds, and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to impart the Spirit of Jesus Christ to many people. In verse 20, he confirms the same, and adds that even if he died in this effort, it is fine. Paul finishes the verse by saying, "Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." He repeats almost the same thing in verse 21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Verse 22 &23 say that if he lives, Christ will live in him and he work for God in the ministry; and if he dies, he will live with Christ. Either way, he abides with Christ. Verse 24-26 say that if he lives, it is good for the saints. So, he prefers to stay for the furtherance of the saints in joy and in faith. So, he has decided to come back to Philippians again. "27 says, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:" Their life must become the gospel of Christ; that is, they must live as Jesus Christ lived. Verse 28 says, if they strive in the gospel with Paul, they will inherit God's kingdom with him. He tells them to be bold, and it will be perdition to the enemies. Verse 29 & 30 say that they worked with Paul as one team even in persecution.

Chapter 2:1-5 say that saints must be in Christ, even with apostle Paul, in one fellowship, with love, joy, likeminded, mercy, but in not vain glory and strife. And we must have the mind of Christ. Verses 6-11 say, "6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Jesus was 'God the Word'. He was equal with 'God the Father'. He left all heavenly glory and omnipotent powers, including the status of being God, became not more than a flesh man, and became a sincere servant to God. He obeyed God even to suffer and unto the humiliating cruel death of the cross. Verse 9 says, 'Wherefore', that is just because Jesus has obeyed God perfectly as a man, God has exalted Jesus above all things. This is the most important doctrinal point in the whole bible. Every Christian must know this, and it must be included in the teaching of Jesus Christ. But unfortunately, only just a handful of Christians know this. Please notice that 'God the Father' lifted him up not because Jesus was 'God the Word' before, but because he obeyed God perfectly as a man. Now Jesus Christ is God, in the omnipotent Spirit, every knee in the entire universe must always bow to him and must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 'Lord' is not a part of his name, but it means that he is the master of all. The key is his obedience.

"12 Wherefore, my beloved, 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." Again, he says 'Wherefore'. Here, it refers to that Jesus obeyed 'God the Father' to humble and to suffer, even unto the death on the cross, and he was made above all the entire universe, and made all to bow before Jesus Christ. Therefore, you also obey, as Jesus obeyed God, which you have already obeyed, when I was with you. You must obey God with fear and trembling, that is by giving honor in the highest order. A lot of preachers consider and address Jesus Christ as their friend. They are doing it for a show. They are foolish, and they do not know who the almighty God is. That is why they want to keep him as a man crucified, but not as omnipotent Spirit God. "13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." 'For' means, it is because. Say, we swim to cross the ocean, the hand of God is upholding us at our bosom, until we reach the shore. God delights in it since it is his pleasure. Further his advice is to be polite, harmless, blameless, shine as lights, following the word of God, and live as sons of God. It is verses 14-16, and in 17&18, he says that they all will rejoice in it. In verses 19-24, he says that Timothy is a godly servant, who sincerely take care of the saints, and he will send him now, and later he may go with him. In verses 25 he says that he will send Epaphroditus also. He refers him as a companion labor and fellow soldier.

The best companion at that time to apostle Paul was Epaphroditus. He was sick unto death. Apostle Paul could not heal him, by any power of God, or miracles. Finally, God showed mercy on them so that they may not have sorrow upon sorrow. It is in verses 26&30. "2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." Please have the understanding and listen. The miracles including healing did happen until they were shown to others that they were apostles or servants of God. So, miracles are for signs; when the purpose is served, God may not continue the signs. Healings are neither for healing sake, nor to help preachers to advertise and to make money. Present day faith healers are manipulators, but they are not servants of God. However, even now the gift of healing is still works in new places to show signs to new believers. Paul tells them to treat him with respect, and he helped Paul in his needs. And he was nigh unto death, even though he worked for God. God's ways are not ours.