Paul goes on in Philippians 1:15–18 to provide yet another way in which God has used his situation to advance the gospel. Paul rejoiced that Christ was being proclaimed even if he was proclaimed with ulterior motives, even if it meant that Paul suffered because of such motives. Paul did not care. He knew himself to be unworthy to untie the sandals of the Saviour. With John the Baptist, Paul could say of Jesus, He must increase, but I must decrease!
(John 3:30). What the world needs to hear, what we need to hear, is not more Rev. X, but more Jesus Christ. He is the Saviour of the World. He is the healer of our souls. He is the one we all need! And when this message is proclaimed loud and clear—regardless of whether it comes from one pulpit or preacher or another, what does it matter? What matters is that in every way Christ is lifted up and exalted, that he is presented and proclaimed to us, who need healing, who need restoration, who need our burdens lifted, who need the assurance and confidence that our sins are forgiven in Christ. That is what we need to hear—all of us! And so when we hear it, we must join Paul and rejoice!
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.