Sep 11, 2026 A Letter Filled with Christ – Words of Grace Blog – September 11, 2026
I told a friend this week that the title of Sunday’s sermon from Philippians will be “A Letter Filled with Christ.” I knew what was coming before he said it… “Aren’t they all filled with Christ?” Of course they are. All the Bible is filled with Christ. But I still like the title. There is something about Philippians that uniquely exalts Christ, pictures life in Christ, and instructs the people of Christ in their life together.
Why Philippians this Sunday? The second half of Acts is a record of Paul’s travels as he went from city to city evangelizing, planting churches, strengthening churches, and finally landing in Rome. He later wrote letters to the churches in some of these cities. As we work our way through the rest of Acts, we will take a detour to spend a Sunday in those letters. Last week we heard about Paul and Silas in Philippi; this week we will consider the letter of Philippians.
Why call Philippians a letter filled with Christ? The name “Christ” is used thirty-five times in what is, in my Bible, four pages. But more significant than just the number of times his name is used is what is said about Christ. Consider just a few passages.
Philippians 1:6. God will not stop doing his work in our lives to make us like Christ until he returns.
Philippians 1:10. When Christ does return, we will be pure and blameless before him.
Philippians 1:20-21. As new people in Christ, we are eager for him to be honored in our bodies, whether by life or by death. To live now is to live for Christ; to die will be gain because we will be with him.
Philippians 2:5. Christ’s mind is ours, and we are to have his attitude of humility in us.
Philippians 2:6-11. Christ was humbled and died for our sins. Christ was exalted and reigns from heaven. Before Christ we bow and the name of Christ we confess. Jesus Christ is Lord.
Philippians 3:9. Righteousness comes through faith in Christ.
Philippians 3:10-14. Life is lived pressing on to know Christ.
Philippians 4:4-9. The mind set on Christ has peace.
Philippians 4:11-13. Having Christ makes us content in all circumstances.
Philippians 4:19. In Christ we have all we need.
Philippians 4:23. The grace of Christ is with our spirit.
Do you see what I mean? Philippians is full of Christ.
Why does it matter that Philippians is filled with Christ? Because God wants to fill us with Christ. Our Father, who loves us and saved us by grace, wants us to know his Son as our Lord, our peace, our purpose, and our glory. So, he gave us a small book filled with Christ to read and to believe, to pray, and to let come alive in us. Through Philippians, we gain Christ.
This weekend, read this Christ-filled letter. Pray with me that Christ will fill us with his Spirit and the joy and peace that comes with faith in him.
Finally, today is the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our nation in New York and Washington, D.C. Along with remembering those who died in the attacks and those who gave their lives responding to them, much of the conversation will be about the state of our country. Will you join me in also praying for the spiritual state of the churches in our nation and their influence for Christ through the proclamation of the word? May the Lord grant repentance and faith in Christ and a large ingathering to his church.
-Scott