It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of

goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of

selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

•You can please some of the people all the time.•You can please all the people some of the time.•But you can’t please all the people all the time.

In Phil. 1:15-18 Paul discusses the response of the brethren to his arrest and incarceration.

How did people deal with his situation?

The answer is found in their preaching.

Why did they preach the way they preached?

Some preach out of envy – ill will toward Paul

Some preach out of strife – quarreling against Paul

Is this so strange?Professionals often have envyPreachers also suffer from human

frailties

•Mark 9:33-37 – The apostles argued about who was the greatest. Jesus taught them:

•"If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

They understand Paul’s position

They are deeply indebted to him for his preaching

They believe in him

Good will preachers preach from love

The others preach from a heart ruled by contention, factiously

There is no question which attitude God approves

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

Love is the only pure motive for preaching the Gospel.

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

Indeed – true understanding brings love.

How does Paul respond? He REJOICES

Paul does not rejoice only with those who preach from good will.

He rejoices because the GOSPEL is preached!

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! “

Their preaching was valid or Paul would not have rejoiced. 

Mark 9:38-40 -- "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."  "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.”

Doesn’t mean every preacher is for Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:16 – Paul couldn’t help but preach the Gospel.

If the Gospel is truly in us, we will not be able to keep silent either.

Romans 1:16 -- I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

It is God’s power to save

Galatians 5:14-15-- The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

We err if we only focus on our differences

We err if we preach out of contention

We are right if we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified

We are right if we do everything strictly out of love

Let’s lay aside strife and envy Let’s rejoice because Christ is

preached. Yes – let’s rejoice!