Unity In The Church, Like Christ

Read Philippians 2:1-4

The Apostle Paul continues to emphasize unity in the church by focusing on the mindset of believers.

so if there is does not present as an argument from doubt or possible emptiness (as if these things don’t exist). Rather, the argument is from certainty. The particle if in Greek introduces the phrase as a conditional clause.

“If this condition is true, and it is, then …”

Consequently, the word may better be rendered “because,” “since,” or “so” to give a more complete idea of its meaning.

Thus, we can understand Paul’s argument in this way: Since there is encouragement in Christ…

and there is comfort from love

and there is participation in the Spirit

and there is affection and sympathy

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

Paul’s joy is contained in the unity of the Body of Christ. He desires that all the believers think alike and hold the same views, receive the same truth, and contend for the same faith. There ought not to be any division in the church, as that presents an opportunity of victory for the enemy.

Charles Spurgeon Philipp Melancthon mourned in his day the divisions among Protestants, and sought to bring the Protestants together by a parable of the war between the wolves and the dogs: The wolves were somewhat afraid, for the dogs were many and strong, and therefore they sent out a spy to observe them. On his return, the scout said, “It is true the dogs are many, but there are not many mastiffs among them. There are dogs of so many sorts one can hardly count them. As for the most of them,” said he, “they are little dogs, which bark loudly but cannot bite. However, this did not cheer me so much,” said the wolf, “as this, that as they came marching on, I observed they were all snapping right and left at one another, and I could see clearly that though they all hate the wolf, yet each dog hates every other dog with all his heart.” I fear it is true still, for there are many who snap right and left, followers of Jesus too, when they had better save their teeth for the wolves. If our enemies are to be put to confusion, it must be by the united efforts of all the people of God—unity is strength.

Divisions have become visible in our nation in recent weeks [reference thoughts on Charlie Kirk].