Philippians 2:1-11

Introduction

Philippians 2:1–11 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. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Explanation

Philippians 2:1–3 “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. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

The Trinitarian Initiative in Spiritual Growth

The outcome is unity. The input is a relationship with God. The outcome can be different.

We see a Trinitarian input: (1) the encouragement of Christ, (2) the comfort from love of the Father, and (3) participation in the spirit.

We ought look for Trinitarianism in the Bible. Consistently, we see the fullness of God working on our behalf.

What is encouragement in Christ?

What is the love of the Father?

What is participation with the Spirit?

Paul says, “If there is ANY of these things.”

What is the point he is getting at? You could contemplate these points forever and never grasp them all. Start with one and see what God will do with it.

“Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know."

You don’t need one true sentence. Just think about a true attribute of God. And begin to fill it out more and more.

The Affection and Sympathy of Other Believers

The final way that God is working in you is the way He is working in other people. The way that God is working in others is the way He is working in you.

Do you have affection for others? Do you have sympathy for others.

The Goal of Paul’s Charge - Unity

“complete my joy”

You are doing well, but if you got along the way God intended I would be “tickled to death.”

Be of the same mind, have the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

The same mind

Unity is not uniformity. Unity is valuing and believing the right things about the right things.

Believe the same things about Jesus, his church, and the world.

The same love

We can believe the same things, but miss them in light of our love.

You can believe the same things about Jesus, but some people love Jesus and others love what they get from Jesus.

We must align not simply by what we believe, but by what we

full accord and one mind

Philippians 2:4–5 “4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

Philippians 2:6–8 “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Philippians 2:9–10 “9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

Invitation