Context Is Everything

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

That statement by Paul is one of the most abused and misunderstood statements by Christians that he has ever made. Folks take it to mean that they can do anything they want to because Christ is their supercharger, their permission grantor, and their personal enabler.

Nope. Christ is none of those things nor is Paul even remotely eluding to any of those things. To understand what Paul is saying though, we must add the two verses that come before it.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

The point of the entire statement is when Paul says, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Through any and all pleasure and pain, no matter what situation, condition, or predicament that Paul may be in, success or failure, Paul is able to stay inline, in-touch, and on-track with Jesus and is able to maintain his personal relationship with Him, is because of Christ’s strength, not his own. This is a statement by Paul of total reliance and dependence on Jesus Christ in staying true as a child of God, in heart, mind, body, and soul.

To paraphrase Paul, he said, “I can handle the highest highs and the lowest lows because Jesus Christ is my strength.”

Back in 1982 there debuted a fictional cartoon group of superheroes called “Masters of the Universe”. One of the characters was named “He-Man The Most Powerful Man in the Universe”.

Right before he was endowed with super human strength and abilities, He-Man would yell, “I have the power!” He would then have such powers as super speed, indestructible skin, and superhuman strength.

That’s exactly what people think is happening to them when they recite Philippians 4:13. They think they can do “All things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” because Jesus Christ is enabling them to do so. It says so right there in the Bible, right?

Paul said the same thing, but in a different way, to the Romans as he did the Philippians, just phrased a lot differently. Paul said, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

This is the same message as what he told the Philippian, except instead of talking about strength, Paul says the love which is in Christ our Lord.

This is all about our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Just know this. Know that nothing can break that bond. Jesus loves you. He isn’t going anywhere. There is no power or entity able to break His love for you. Jesus won’t leave you when you’re down and out. He won’t forsake you if you become rich. You can’t sin Jesus away. Nothing can interfere with Jesus’s love for you. Remember, He died for you and for all of your sins. His love has paid the ultimate price just for you.

I’m Bill Hitchcock