Why are so many Christians dour and depressed? They should be the happiest people in the world. Constant mournfulness does not glorify God and is a poor witness to our fellowmen. Thomas Brooks said, ‘Every murmurer is his own martyr; he is a murderer: he kills many at once, his joy, his comfort, his peace, his rest, his soul’.

When only half way through his Epistle to the Philippians, Paul wrote, ‘Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord’ (Phil 3:1). Two more chapters follow. Yet it appears that this was so much on his mind that he gave out a ‘finally’ when he started to deal more particularly with rejoicing. Already he had spoken several times of joy. In his initial greeting he stated: ‘Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now’ (Phil 1:4-­ 5). He said he was willing to continue in this world ‘for your furtherance and joy of faith’ (1:25). He told them even if he died as a martyr to, ‘joy and rejoice with me’ (2:18). He knew that Epaphroditus’ coming to Philippi after his serious illness would cause them to rejoice (2:28). But now at last he gets properly into the subject of joy. Later he exhorts them, in a summing up and reinforcing way: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice’ (4:4).

In this article I would like to give ten reasons, drawn from the context, why the Christian should rejoice.

1. Christ is Lord⤒🔗

Notice that we are to rejoice ‘in the Lord’. The fact that Jesus is Lord is stressed from the start of the Epistle. In chapter 2 he relates how Christ who humbled Himself to death will be exalted to that point where all will bow before Him and ‘confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (2:11). The Philippians are hated and persecuted by Jews and Romans but they should rejoice that Jesus is Lord. Satan, the world and the flesh tempt the Christian but they can be sure ‘that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (1:6). ‘The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice’ (Ps 97:1). As one preacher once said, this is the reason to rejoice and there is no other reason. We do not live in a world of chance and fate, but rather Christ is in control and is working all things for our good (Rom 8:28). Are you rejoicing that Christ is Lord?

2. Christ has Accomplished Salvation←⤒🔗

We are all by nature sinners and on the way to hell. Christ ‘being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross’ (2:6-8). All that divine justice required for our salvation He did. In His great love He took our sins and punishment, died on the cross being made a curse for us so that we would be saved from God’s wrath and curse. Having finished the work He rose again. What a cause for rejoicing! Salvation has been accomplished. Rejoice in the Lord!

3. Christ gives Us His Righteousness←⤒🔗

The Jews had been God’s special people and for so long salvation was largely limited to them. The Gentiles were despised as dogs. False teachers were troubling the Philippians asserting that they required to be circumcised and to keep the ceremonial law to be saved. Paul responds by saying that there was much of which he could boast: ‘Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless’ (3:5-6). Few could claim what he claimed but rather than rejoice in these things he asserts that he will rejoice in the Lord: ‘But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith’ (3:7-9). He puts no faith in his own righteousness but only in the righteousness of Christ imputed to him and received by faith alone. He is not saved by works but by the free gift of salvation. Rejoice in the Lord and the righteousness we have from Him.

4. Christ Enters an Amazing Relationship with Us←⤒🔗

A relationship with the Muslim God is impossible because he is exalted and far away. Judaism knows no personal relationship with God either, but simply a performance of traditions and penitence. In Roman Catholicism a relationship with priests and the Virgin Mary is offered. But in true Christianity there is one Mediator between God and men, the Lord Jesus Christ. Essentially the true Christian religion is a loving, knowing and relating to Christ. Paul’s great ambition is ‘That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death’ (3:10). He wants to ‘apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus’ (v 12) and to win Christ (v 8) and that is to have a living relationship with the Lord Jesus. We have that only when we are born again and are united to Christ, having His Spirit living in us. Rejoice in your enjoyment of the Lord!

5. Christ Provides Us with a Great Future←⤒🔗

Paul encourages the Philippians to ‘press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’ (3:14). The prize has been earned by Christ. It is all of grace. The citizenship of the Christian ‘is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself’ (3:20-21). Rejoice in Christ the Lord who is preparing a place for us where we will be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. The best is yet to be – hell-deserving but heaven-enjoying.

6. Christ Brings Us into a Wonderful Family←⤒🔗

Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of Man that we might be made the children of God. We belong to one another: ‘Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved’ (4:1). We were enemies full of self-love, jealousy and hatred towards others, and on the way to a hell of hate but the Lord changed us. Now all Christians are brethren in the one family and so ‘I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord’ (4:2). Godly women, daughters of the King, should not fall out. Act as the wonderful Lord’s family.

7. Christ Takes Away All Our worries←⤒🔗

All of us are troubled by worries — our health problems, work problems, financial problems, family problems and many more. But rejoice in the Lord because there is a wonderful answer: ‘Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God’ (4:6). Bring your cares to Christ in prayer. Pour out your troubles to Him. As Lord He has the answer. Let joy fill your heart as you leave your burdens on His almighty shoulders.

8. Christ Gives Peace←⤒🔗

The most essential peace is peace with God. He is angry with sinners every day and the wrath of God is something we cannot endure. Praise Him! God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:19). Christ gives us peace. We may have this peace yet not feel it through our unbelief. Another need is contentment — being at peace in our circumstances. It is the opposite of covetousness and flows from the peace which we have with God. Paul states: ‘The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:7). Here is a peace which is rich indeed. It is so great that our minds cannot grasp it. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace’ (Gal 5:22). Rejoice in the Lord who gives us peace!

9. Christ Gives Victory←⤒🔗

The Apostle says, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Phil 4:13). He had suffered hunger, imprisonment and pain but was enabled to endure. Whatever troubles would come his way he was confident in the One in whom he trusted. He knew he would achieve all kinds of victories. ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us’ (Rom 8:37). Rejoice in the Lord!

10. Christ Supplies All Our Needs←⤒🔗

Paul in prison had received a wonderful gift of provisions from the Philippians: ‘I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God’ (Phil 4:18). He rejoiced in this not so much out of any sense of need which he had but rather as it expressed the Christian love of that church and was a demonstration of God’s grace in their lives. He assures them in return: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (4:19). The Christian will never be left in need. What is good for us the Lord will give. We may want certain things which we don’t have but if they will be beneficial to us the Lord will ensure that we receive them. This verse is an amazing blank cheque for our needs. Rejoice in the Lord who gives you all you need in this life and the next!