Philippians 1:9-11 - Homilies By V. Hutton

The life of God in the soul of man.

I. THE ELEMENT WHICH IS PECULIAR TO IT AND WHICH BETOKENS ITS PRESENCE — LOVE . "We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren" ( 1 John 2:14 ). "Love is the fulfilling of the Law."

II. ITS MANIFESTATION . If this love is the genuine fruit of God's Spirit within us, it will lead us to the knowledge of him and to the discernment of that which is pleasing in his sight. Being of God, it reveals God, so that new experiences of him are being constantly vouchsafed to the soul that possesses it. Being thus taught of God, the soul turns naturally to the things that are excellent;. he as the bee turns naturally to the honey-bearing flowers. Thus in the difficult task of deciding which to choose of two apparent but opposing duties, the soul indwelt by God is guided by a Divine instinct.

III. ITS RESULT . The preservation of the whole man from the power of evil, so that both in his inner being and in his external conduct he is blameless and brings forth the fruit which is natural to a condition of righteousness.

IV. THE SOURCE OF ITS POWER — CHRIST . The righteousness thus worked in us is not the righteousness of self-improvement, or of self-discipline, or of adherence to a law, but the righteousness which is imparted to us by the indwelling Christ.

V. ITS ULTIMATE AIM — THE GLORY OF GOD . ( Philippians 1:11 .)—V.W.H.