Paul's letter to the Philippians is extremely positive. In this letter, Paul hardly mentions sin, hell, God's wrath, and other such topics, to which he attaches much importance in his other letters.

The Philippian letter concentrates on peace, joy, hope, heaven, and righteousness. In these four chapters there is an amazing amount of positive affirmation for us when we need strength and encouragement.

Paul makes a short and sweet statement, which is a theme of his letter:

"I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me!"
 
Philippians 4:13

This lesson is entirely devoted to understanding what that means.

Paul may have been unique (or nearly so) in the enthusiasm he showed for this belief. But I am convinced that every human being can say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." No one is excluded from this wonderful thing, except by their own rejection or neglect of it. Jesus Christ is willing to empower everyone who will come to him for strength.

It is easy, however, to misunderstand this positive affirmation. If we do misunderstand it, we may find ourselves terribly disillusioned.

This lesson seeks to help us correctly understand the affirmation Paul made. That does not mean that we are going to water it down or make it less wonderful than it is. On the contrary, we want to give the promise solidity, for some people have tended to trivialise it.

Things Paul Could Not Do

Although Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" we find that there were many things that Paul could not do, even things he earnestly desired to do. Let's look at some examples:

Example 1. Paul wanted to go to Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him (Acts 16:7). Paul wanted to go to Thessalonica, but Satan hindered him (1Th 2:18). Doing "all things through Christ" did not include going to certain places Paul wanted to go and minister.

Example 2. When Paul spoke to the elders of the church of Christ at Ephesus, with whom he had worked three years, he said that "wolves" or false teachers would come into the congregation and even rise up from within it. They would lead away disciples and apostasy would occur. Doing "all things through Christ" did not include being able to stop all error and apostasy in the church he had helped to build (Acts 20:28-31).

Example 3. Paul had a great sorrow because many of his Jewish brothers were unsaved, and apparently were determined to remain so. But Paul expresses great frustration and despair concerning this (Rom 9:1-3). Doing "all things through Christ" did not include his being able to bring all of his countrymen to Christ.

Example 4. Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" which he wanted to be rid of, and he prayed for healing but he was not cured (2Co 12:7). Doing "all things through Christ" did not include being able to heal himself of a physical ailment.

When Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" had he forgotten all those things that he was unable to do? No, he hadn't forgotten. It's just that the expression "all things" must be understood in a certain way, just as Paul understood it.

Part of this understanding lies in what God said to Paul, in the last passage mentioned above. God said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2Co 12:9). The inability to do certain things actually enhanced the strength to do those things which achieved God's purpose.

Things Paul Was Enabled To Do

Therefore we see that Paul's "all things" were all those things (and only those things) essential to achieving the goal and purpose God had in him.

It takes a fair amount of insight to appreciate that God may enable us to do "all things through Christ" by actually weakening and frustrating our ability to do some things that we might wish to do! Sometimes we have to be weakened by God so that the power of Christ may rest upon us.

Let's look at this from another angle. Paul says, "In nothing shall I be ashamed... so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body" (Php 1:20). You will observe that "nothing" is the counterpart of "all things". The statement, "In nothing shall I be ashamed" is a mirror image of the statement, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" In each statement we see the truth and meaning of the other.

All things to God's Glory

Paul explains that his purpose is to magnify Christ. It takes insight to understand how a mere mortal might "magnify" the all-powerful and glorious Christ. Who can enlarge him or make him greater than he is?

The truth is that in our lives, and even in our deaths, God can be glorified and magnified, if indeed he works in us and we fulfill his purpose.

When one says, "I can do all things through Christ", one should understand this to mean all things that glorify God, not any other things.

So don't run away with this promise and misapply it. For you will be disappointed if you do. Apply the promise to your ministry for God's glory. Then you won't be disappointed in the least.

Make it your aim to work out your salvation in magnifying Christ. Then you will indeed, through his strength, "do all things" pertaining to that goal.

Paul's "all things" refers to...

We can do these things through Christ. But we cannot say, "I can do all things through Christ!" when it comes to earthly goals --we can only say, "If the Lord wills we will do this or that" (Jas 4:13-15).

The three statements below are rather silly things to say, but they will give you some food for thought:

My aim in this first lesson was to help you understand one of Paul's theme statements in his letter to the Philippians: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" We must apply this promise to that universe of things which pertain to the glory of God and our salvation.

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