To Be, or not To Be...
Notes
Transcript
To Be, or not To Be...
To Be, or not To Be...
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Paul, a prisoner in Rome had a love and affinity for the believers in Philippi.
the time - AD 62-64 approx
This city is known for the battle between Julius Ceasar and Pompey the Great and between Augustus and Antony on one side and Cassius and Brutus on the other - but for believers…
it is about these 1st Century Christians who had seen and experienced much -
The coming and crucifixion of the Messiah
The change from law to grace - OT law - to NT liberty...
You talk about change...
Their whole religious world was upside down...
you think about the changes in churches today -
The dogmatic old school fundamentalism… (and I am a part of that crowd)
The newer, evolving culture of this younger generation of preachers… and many of them are still on track - it is just a little worrisome - wondering where the change will stop...
I can preach without a tie and still be doctrinally correct...
(Some would call me contemporary because I no longer use a lapel mic, but use a headset mic…)
But for these 1st century believers… Jews and gentiles were accepted in the same congregation...
The ceremonial laws had been nailed to the cross - ...
These were days of absolute change...
Paul in this epistle was encouraged and engaged to nourish and nurse this group of believers to new heights in their faith...
Notice… Paul in his letters - was not in person with the churches and groups of people - but his words were sent to them… the designed goal was for them to receive and reciprocate the teachings and truths that were sent to them...
To Be, or not To Be...
To Be, or not To Be...
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
phil2.
there were 2 basic appeals for these believers - though there are many facets or objectives in how to get there...
Likemindedness
Lowliness of mind
since we now know the 2 points, we can close in a word of prayer… JK
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
word study:
Consolation: Para-Kle-sis
:to call someone to yourself”
with the understanding that “the one called is subordinate to the one who calls”
if there is any calling in Christ -
in Christ… to Christ…
if there is anything that draws us to Christ - calling to submit to Christ
Comfort (of love) Para-Meeth-ion
consoling; any solace in love...
fellowship (of the Spirit)
closer relation, communion, fellowship that is led because we are filled with the Spirit...
Bowels - Heart - inward desire...
AND
mercies… Pity, Compassion / Sympathy...
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Likeminded
as believers - especially now - we all have to be likeminded...
there is no room for division
there is no room or place for people creating conflict or division...
We need to be likeminded...
Faith
Doctrine
Biblical Authority
Autonomy of the Local Church
Priesthood of the believers
Two - Ordinances
the Lord’s supper
Baptism
Individual Soul Liberty
Saved / baptized church membership
Two Offices - Pastor / deacons
Separation of church and state
Most of the divisions are over someone expressing an opinion that hurts someones feelings -
165 Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them.
Lowliness of Mind
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
w/o Strife - selfish ambition
w/o Vainglory - self conceit… boasting
let each esteem other better than themselves....
own things
others -
Paul was desiring to help this body of believers get through during the lack of his leadership -
Likemindedness
Lowliness of mind...
To be or not to be...
it is a question -
is it our frame of mind...
don’t look at self
don’t look down on others...
likemindedness
lowliness of mind