Philippians 2:1-2

Philippians 2:1–2 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

-would you say that some problems outweigh other problems? What would you classify as a major problem?

-there are no major theological problems in the church at Philippi, but there are problems of unity

1:27; 4:1-2;

What is unity in the church?

-our unity is not that we are in one building, or from one place, but we have unity because of the one Lord

John MacArthur gave a great illustration on this - if you had a bag of marbles, you would say that all the marbles are together and what is holding them together, the outside force the bag, but it is quite different if you had a box of metal shavings and you put a magnet in the box and the metal shavings adhere to the magnet, it is an internal force that is keeping them together and so it is with Christ

-Paul conveyed this to the Philippians that because of Christ they are to be drawn together in unity

Ephesians 4:3 ESV

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Main point - be of the same mind

-why is unity so important?

Why are we to be of the same mind? Why are we to seek unity in the body of Christ?

If = since

encouragement in Christ = to comfort, to help

-What is encouragement in Christ?

-Since Christ has come alongside us, since he has helped us, since we have been united with Christ

-our union with Christ has brought as one

-this was Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21-23

John 17:21–23 ESV

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

-It is the idea that because of our union with Christ, we long to be obedient to Christ, but being of the same mind in the body of Christ

-a refusal to be of the same mind in the body of Christ is to sin against Christ

any comfort of love

-what does this mean?

-since we are in Christ, and have received the encouragement of Christ, we have experienced the love of Christ then shouldn’t we display that love to the body of Christ

-which involves forgiveness and mercy

-comfort = to console, to bring to your side and comfort

-What are we saying if we refuse to show any comfort of love to the body of Christ? This is what Christ has shown to us, we would be saying God I want you to comfort me with your love but don’t ask me to show it to anyone else

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

-the sin against someone in the body of Christ is not just against them, but it is against God

any participation of the Spirit = fellowship, communion

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:1–4 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

-if we are in Christ we are all in fellowship with the Spirit

Ephesians 4:30–32 ESV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

-when we do not seek the unity of the body of Christ, we are grieving the Holy Spirit

any affection = inward parts

-longing, deeply felt affections

Romans 8:26 ESV

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

sympathy = compassion, mercies of God

-Why did Paul focus on the goodness of God to point out the disunity of the Philippians?

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

-its as if Paul was saying - be of the same mind for Christ, for the Holy Spirit, for me

Philippians 1:8 ESV

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

-What does this show of Paul’s concern for the Philippians?

-What are practical ways we are to maintain the unity?

-Are there times where we are not to be united?