Unity by Way of Humility

Introduction

Stories from the Insanity of God:

The man in eastern Europe who said that persecution is like the sun rising in the east. It always happens for them. Don’t waste in freedom what they strive for in persecution.

The Chinese believers who rightfully understand our freedom to worship Jesus in public and proclaim His name to the nations as a miracle from God.

When I think about living a life worthy of the gospel, I think of brave men and women like these in this story and the incredible miracles that God performs to make sure the gospel continues to move in their regions.

I hardly think of my own day to day life as worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but today, we are going to look at a passage that gives the blueprint for living a life worthy of the gospel whether you are in Eastern Europe, China, or Canyon Lake, TX.

Let’s pray before we dive in.

Text

This letter was written by Paul while He was in chains for preaching the good news of Jesus.

Philippians 1:27–2:11 CSB

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have. 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1–18 CSB

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Ephesians 2:11–22 CSB

11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

Philippians 1:27-2

Ephesians 2:11-

Paul has just made his “to live is Christ, to die is gain” statement. He is continuing the thought by showing that our entire lives are to be for Jesus.

27 - language of citizenship, Paul is saying, “since you belong to this community, this nation, this gathering...”

27 - the first of three mentions of Unity.

28 - this statement rings with OT salvation language. Often when the Israelites had their backs against the wall, they didn’t respond in fear but with faith in the only one who can save them.

29 - “granted” is language of a gift. Have you ever thought of suffering the cause of Christ as a gift? Usually when we hear about it, we want to go save someone from it, but how do you save someone from a gift from God? This isn’t necessarily what our entire sermon is about today, but I do believe it’s important to highlight because it indicates the radical shift in thought and mindset that following Jesus requires.

2:1 - “if” can also mean “assuming that.” Paul doesn’t wonder if these statements are true, he is almost saying, “since these things are true, this is what you should do...”

2 - Paul mentions unity in about four different ways

3-4 - Paul calls for humility in the body of Christ. Followers of Jesus are to put others’ preferences, wants, and interests above their own. He assumes that we will be looking after our own interests, so he calls us to move our attention to others’.

5-11 - Paul lays out how Jesus is the example of this humility. Some people believe that he is quoting hymn familiar to Paul and his contemporaries to get the point across.

6 - “exploited” can also mean utilized, asserted, or grasped

6-7 - Jesus is the opposite of our father, Adam.

8 - “death on a cross” is the most humiliating death, so Jesus humbled Himself as low as possible.

10-11 - EVERYONE will bow the knee and confess Jesus as Lord. What does that sound like? Unity. Unity under the Lordship of Jesus whether they want to or not. I am not saying that everyone will suddenly be saved, I am simply stating that all of Creation will be unified in the understanding that Jesus is Lord.

Body

Command: Live out your life worthy of the Gospel.

The assumption here is that those who are being written to claim Christ as Lord and believe they are a part of His nation and His community.

Paul simply commands the believers in Philippi

Result: When we live out our lives worthy of the gospel, we will see unity among Christ’s church.

The result of living out the command Paul gives us is unity. Every time unity is mentioned it is a result of living out the gospel.

The Way: Jesus. We must be like Jesus beginning with His humility in order to live lives worthy of the gospel and achieve unity in His church.

We cannot follow the way of Adam anymore, exalting ourselves and our own interests. We must follow Jesus who though He could have asserted His lordship, decided to humble himself and be with us and die for us.

Main Idea: Living a life worthy of the gospel begins with humility like Christ that results in the unity of His body.

Conclusion

Questions of Application:

Are you living your life worthy of the gospel under the Lordship of Jesus where He gets to tell you what to do? What is one step you can take today to bring yourself more under the Lordship of Jesus?

Are you encouraging the unity of this local body of Christ by being humble and putting the interests of others above your own? What is one step you can take to make sure you continue to do this?

Are you hindering the unity of this body of Christ because you have placed your own interests above the interest of others? What is one step you can take to change that?

Response

We’ve talked a lot about the Lordship of Jesus this morning. Do you call Him Lord? Have you realized that by His sacrifice you can be saved? Have you realized that He needs to be your King today?

Do you need to follow the Lordship of Jesus and commit yourself and your family to membership here in this local church?

Maybe you are a believer in Jesus but you need to commit to follow Him in humility in some area in your life.