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Vol. 3 ... #2
Bonds in Christ
Bonds in Christ
In Phil. 1, the apostle Paul talks about "his bonds in Christ" ...
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
... 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
While Paul was being held in the palace, Paul is speaking here of his "bonds in Christ", not natural bonds such as imprisonment.
We see this because Paul says "his bonds" make others more bold to speak the word without fear.
I've often read this passage of scripture thinking Paul was in prison, being persecuted for the word he spoke ... and I've always wondered how Paul's being in "bonds" could cause other people to be more bold and to speak the word without fear. That didn't make sense to me. Being in bonds should make another person more fearful to speak, not less fearful. But I can see though Paul might have been retained in the palace, it turned to good because of the witness he gave of his life in Christ.
I believe what Paul is saying that he is bound by the Word of God and doesn't live like other people live because he is bound to Christ, to the Word and everyone in the palace sees his form of life in Christ.
Therefore Paul did not act like others, committing fornication and living in drunkenness and anger toward others. People would see Paul is different. And this difference is because Paul is bound to Christ, the Word.
We, too, are bound to Christ and have bonds in Christ.
We do not cheat and steal and take advantage of other people.
We do not lie to others to gain some perceived advantage among men.
We try to treat people honestly and fairly.
We do not want to do evil but good.
We serve God and want to serve God.
We would not commit adultery or fornication because of our love for the Word of God and even for our love for humans, not wanting to do wrong to another person.
Gal. 5 ... 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Like Paul, we have "bonds in Christ" and delight that we are bound to Christ, to the Word.
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
... 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
While Paul was being held in the palace, Paul is speaking here of his "bonds in Christ", not natural bonds such as imprisonment.
We see this because Paul says "his bonds" make others more bold to speak the word without fear.
I've often read this passage of scripture thinking Paul was in prison, being persecuted for the word he spoke ... and I've always wondered how Paul's being in "bonds" could cause other people to be more bold and to speak the word without fear. That didn't make sense to me. Being in bonds should make another person more fearful to speak, not less fearful. But I can see though Paul might have been retained in the palace, it turned to good because of the witness he gave of his life in Christ.
I believe what Paul is saying that he is bound by the Word of God and doesn't live like other people live because he is bound to Christ, to the Word and everyone in the palace sees his form of life in Christ.
Therefore Paul did not act like others, committing fornication and living in drunkenness and anger toward others. People would see Paul is different. And this difference is because Paul is bound to Christ, the Word.
We, too, are bound to Christ and have bonds in Christ.
We do not cheat and steal and take advantage of other people.
We do not lie to others to gain some perceived advantage among men.
We try to treat people honestly and fairly.
We do not want to do evil but good.
We serve God and want to serve God.
We would not commit adultery or fornication because of our love for the Word of God and even for our love for humans, not wanting to do wrong to another person.
Gal. 5 ... 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Like Paul, we have "bonds in Christ" and delight that we are bound to Christ, to the Word.