Complete and Sufficient Gospel (Philippians 4:11–19) 7/20/2025
Complete and Sufficient Gospel (Philippians 4:11–19) 7/20/2025
This passage is the conclusion of the book of Philippians. Paul, who was imprisoned at the time, did not fall into discouragement or despair. Rather, he wrote Philippians as a testimony of the deep realization and enjoyment of the gospel, which he considered the greatest gift from God and the absolute solution to all life’s problems.
Let’s briefly summarize the past three weeks of messages.
Philippians 1 is the absolute and eternal gospel. God prepared the gospel before eternity for our salvation, then He chose us, and gave the gospel to bless us eternally. The one who began this good work will complete it until the end.
Philippians 2 is the gospel of unique blessings. God humbled Himself, came to earth, and die for us. No one else could atone for our sins, and no one else did. That is why it is the only gospel, and with it comes the unique blessings.
Philippians 3 is the surpassing gospel, greater than everything else. So, there is no reason to be discouraged or despair. Problems are an opportunity to actually experience the power of the gospel. We live as those who are captured by the gospel (journey).
Philippians 4, today’s passage, is the complete and sufficient gospel. Everything is found in the gospel, in Christ. We are those who possess what is His. 2 Corinthians 4:6–9 calls this treasure in jars of clay. What is the treasure? It is the life, authority, power, and blessing given to us the moment we were saved. We already possess it.
- This is the fruit of life of the one who realizes this mystery and holds this assurance. The fruits of life that come from experiencing and enjoying Christ is what we call the fruit of healing, maturity, and sanctification (refer to Wednesday service).
1) We have no reason to be offended or be hurt by others. There is no reason to fight or compete.
① Once you realized the enormous blessing of the gospel you have, your self-worth will be overflowing. It is not pride, but confidence. With that self-worth, even when you don’t compete or fight, God allows you to overcome. Even when you yield, God gives you greater things. Abraham and Isaac yielded to their enemies. David yielded completely to King Saul. We know the results.
② In verse 2, there was conflict between two women in the Philippian church. They seem to have been influential individuals. While working hard, they may have struggled over invisible leadership (hegemony). If Christ is truly our Lord (1), and our names are written in the Book of Life, there is no need for such conflict(3). Each person is just doing the Lord’s work, and the reward is already recorded by God (Revelation 20:12). We are to wait for God’s eternal judgment and recognition, which is more important than human judgment and approval.
2) We can rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances.
① Paul uses the word “rejoice” at least 18 times in Philippians, written from prison.
He says that if we lay aside all anxiety and pray with thanksgiving, God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (6-7). We must train ourselves, even intentionally, to live a joyful and thankful life.
② If you live stressed because of people, or oppressed by your environment, it ultimately kills you. That is Satan’s deception and goal. We, who are saved and blessed, cannot live deceived and oppressed all our lives because of people or circumstances.
- From this point, the Holy Spirit begins to govern us from within, and God’s work begins. God’s kingdom comes upon our hearts.
1) God’s hidden purpose in the problem
is revealed, and everything works together for good, right in the devil’s face for him to see (Romans 8:28). When persecuted unfairly and driven away, they silently held onto the gospel and proclaimed it, and Antioch church was born (Acts 11:19–21). The road to Asia was blocked, so they silently prayed and waited, then the door to European missions opened. It was life’s turning point. The Holy Spirit had blocked their way (Acts 16:1–14). Therefore, in every problem, we must seek God’s good purpose. In every situation, think on this (8). The God of peace will be with you (9).
2) From this point, we gain a heart of contentment in all things (11). In short, the greed in us will disappear. So the sense of competition we feel from comparing ourselves with others vanishes. Even if we are in poverty, we are fine. Even if we are in abundance, we are not arrogant (12).
3) From this point, we can challenge in faith for what God has prepared (13). This is not just pursuing our personal ambitions. That is a worldly kind of ambition (“be ambitious”). Rather, God gives us the desire for His will and fulfills it (Philippians 2:13). God reveals His will, gives us faith, and even when conditions are lacking, we can still take bold steps of faith.
- From this point, our everyday life, our 365 days, and our eternity becomes God’s eternal masterpiece.
Our lives are no longer just chronos (chronological time), but it becomes kairos that fulfills God’s absolute plan.
1) 24 hours is my everyday. Our everyday becomes a kairos moment that fulfills God’s plan (2 Corinthians 6:2). Each day is precious. We do the rightful things, the same ordinary things, but God’s masterpiece is revealed. So, we must enjoy the blessing of “3 Todays” every day (the Word given to me today, prayer topic, the blessing of evangelism).
2) 25 hours is a time when God’s unprecedented and never-repeated power is revealed. It may seem like a time of despair and discouragement, but it’s actually Kairos in which God fulfills His hidden will (Jeremiah 33:3). It’s a time of re-creation in which He changes me, my reality, and even the world. Do not be deceived by the problem of your today, but enjoy this within your 365 days, within your years.
3) Eternity is the time of our future that God has prepared. It is a time of the manifestation of God’s eternal inheritance, legacy, and crown (2 Timothy 4:8).
① Eternity means no end, infinity. So our time on earth is not everything. That’s why Jesus said to store treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:20), and to set our hearts on things above (Colossians 3:1). My prayer, devotion, and labor today become eternal treasures stored in heaven.
② Eternity is only enjoyed by spiritual beings, and it is when spiritual works occur. The flesh has no concept of eternity. From this comes spirituality, the blessing of being a spiritual summit, and works that transcend time and space. What does transcending time and space mean? It means transcending our wounds, weaknesses, and limits. It means overcoming the world and the forces of darkness. Then the evil spirits that deceive us for a lifetime and cover the whole earth will collapse. From there, God’s eternal masterpiece emerges.
Conclusion – When we hold onto and enjoy this complete and sufficient gospel, He will richly supply all our needs (19). No matter how lacking we are, or how small the task, it becomes an eternal masterpiece that glorifies God forever (20). May you hold onto the complete and sufficient gospel of Christ and may everything in your life become God’s eternal masterpiece.
7.20.25 Complete and Sufficient Gospel
2025-7-20 The_Perfect_and_All_Sufficient_Gospel