Phil 2:1-4

Philippians 2:1–4 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

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Encouragement in Christ - meaning to come alongside and help you with good counsel. This is a word picture of how the Holy Spirit has been given to believers to teach them all things. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Later in verse 27 of this chapter the apostle Paul tells us to walk in a manner worthy of Christ by endeavoring to be of one mind and one spirit with each other. A true believer in Jesus has been given the Holy Spirit and is being encouraged to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ.

Comfort in love - The Holy Spirit is also known as the comforter who brings us a message of comfort from God the Father. When we are in distress our Lord whispers words of tender council to the believers ear reminding us of the finished work of Jesus Christ. This consoling love is the love which God gives to unworthy sinners through the grace of salvation. The Lord continues to give this love to all who believe. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 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.”

Fellowship in the Spirit - This fellowship in the Spirit refers to a partnership or something we share. It refers to both the eternal life that has been given to every believer and the indwelling Holy Spirit that now ministers to every believer. The fellowship of believers is intimate because every believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” Every born again believer has the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee of their eternal inheritance. The proper response of the believer to the work of the Holy Spirit is to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit” by always pursuing peace in the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:3–5 “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism,”

affection and sympathy - Affection and sympathy refer to a godly emotional love and showing mercy toward others. Paul will later use the word affection in verse 8 to refer to a deep longing he has for others through the love of Christ. Philippians 1:8 “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Therefore the believer is encouraged to have an emotional love towards other believers that is grounded in the work of Christ. The Greek word for sympathy here actually is the same word translated mercy in other areas. For example in Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The idea of sympathy in this context is to be understanding of each other and show other believers mercy as they also continue to grow in their walk with Jesus Christ.

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complete my joy - The apostle Paul tells us how his joy was tied to his concern for the unity of believers. Paul’s joy being tied to the work of Christ in the Philippian church is an example of how believers are to have an emotional love grounded in the work of Christ for one another. There are four specific ways that create this unity for believers, being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit, and being one in purpose.

by being of the same mind - This Greek phrase here litterally means “to think the same thing” or “to be like minded”. The unity of believers does not come at the expense of the truth. However, with this said the core truth that is to be agreed upon with common understanding is that we are to that we are to turn from our sinful fleshly ways and trust in Jesus Christ as we become more like Him. The statement that we are to be of the same mind is not addressing the fullness of doctrine or morality as it should be clear that there are different levels of maturity and growth in Christ Jesus. Paul is not saying everyone in the church will be at the same place in their understanding so that they are in agreement with every doctrine and moral standard.

Philippians 3:13–15 “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”

Believers are commanded to renew their minds in Christ Jesus as part of their spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Finally as we grow in knowing our LORD and being able to discern what is the will of God, knowing what is good and acceptable before Him, we can grow to have in some ways the very mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

As all of us are growing and maturing in our relationship with our Lord and Savior we all need to be understanding of where each other are in their journeys while at the same time holding firm to the truth of God’s Word. As Jesus taught us and showed us, we are to walk in grace and truth.

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