Philippians 2 Bible Study

THEME: Pattern for Christian living—others; mind of Christ—humble; mind of God—exaltation of Christ; mind of Paul—things of Christ; mind of Timothy—like-minded with Paul—the work of Christ[1]

One should not imitate Christ, but to study the Word and while studying it, God through the Holy Spirit changes us from within.

God has taught me something through my accident last Saturday.  Two people told me about my shoes and I thought about putting something on top of the ladder while waking on it. I did nothing about it and had an accident because of it. God tries to show us the way and we need to be sensitive to His leading.

We are only going to get that way as we study the Bible.

I.       In verse 1-4 we see the Pattern for Christian living – Others.

A.    Verse 1.

1.     The word “If” could be read “Since”.

B.    Now in view of all this lets look at verse 2

II.     Verse 2

A.    Paul is happy were he is at as we have seen in Chapter 1.

B.    Now he is telling us that he would be happier if he knew that we were growing in Christ as well and happy.

C.    There had been a little problem in the church and Paul wanted them to be one minded as he was with them.

D.    To be one minded is to let Christ run your life, let Him lead you as I stated earlier.

1.     We will never aggress with everyone on all things, but we will learn through Christ to let minor things go. (Major Doctrines is wroth not having fellowship with)

III.    Verse 3

A.    Remember Paul has mentioned this before in chapter 1.

B.    What does this remind you of? What I have been teaching you from the Word.

C.    Some people do things so to be recognized, is what I am doing! They may not say that, but in their hearts it is happening.

D.    Some people tried to make a name for them selves in the Biking world. I have met several of them over the years.

E.     Low esteem, like-minded = everything we do, we should do as unto the Lord and not man.

IV.   Verse 4 As you have heard from me in the past, Paul is telling us now, to look at others more than our selves.

A.    We are to look out for us, but to look more at others.

B.    Now Paul is going to tell us about the mind of Christ in the next verses.

V.    Verse 5, We are to have the mind of Christ. What is that?

A.    Our nature is not to be humble.

1.     We want to stand on our own two feet.

2.     None of us want to be offended.

3.     None of us wants to be ignored.

4.     This is something that will take time.

VI.   Verse 6, This verse is making a statement that Christ is God and is part of the Trinity.

A.    We read in John 1:1 that the Word was there at creation and also became flesh.

B.    John 8:58, Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

C.    Christ gave up some things when He came to earth for us to make a way for us to get saved.

1.     Hebrews 2:9, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

D.    Christ, God in the flesh was willing to give up a lot for us, we In turn, should not complain when we give up our self to Him. (to become humble)

VII. Verse 7, Christ made Himself a little lower than the angels.

A.    Christ emptied himself, gave it up.

B.    How many of you have seen the movie by Mel Gibson?

1.     Christ always looks to the other person to help them, never to Himself.

C.    In Isaiah 11:10,10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

1.     Jesse was a farmer, a peasant, not a king. He was the father of David who became King.

VIII.         Verse 8, Even Christ had a will, He could lay down his life or not.

A.    John 10:17-18, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

B.    Christ is the only person who came into the world to die.

C.    We on the other hand came into the world to live and because of our sin, we lost eternal life.

IX.   Verse 9, Even God glorified Christ among the earthly people.

A.    God had given Him a name, which is above all names.

X.     Verse 10, Everyone will know that Jesus Christ is Lord of all the one and only God.

XI.   Verse 11, This does not mean that every one that does this is saved.

A.    It is interesting that even in Hell everyone will recognize that Christ is the Lord.

B.    What does it mean to call Christ your Lord?

1.     2 Peter 3:18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2.     What is the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

3.     John 15:14, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

XII.  Verse 12, Work out your salvation.

A.    What does this mean?

1.     Paul is telling us here that the people in the church needed to work out their problems in the Lord.

2.     Paul being in jail could not help them.

XIII.          Verse 13, Here is the answer for verse 12.

A.    God works in us to change us to the good.

B.    If you don’t feel this work in your life, you need to think weather you are saved?

XIV.         Verse 14,

A.    Every time we complain about something, people hear and wonder does not God take care of this person?

B.    Do things in the Lord without fault finding against God.

1.     Look at the Old Testament, Israel was always complaining to God for something.

2.     Today we hear people say, God is not answering my prayers.

3.     Another thing people say is; I don’t like the way God is letting me go through this problem. Why does He not do something?

C.    Think about this, every one is complaining about something today.

1.     1 Timothy 6:6, But godliness with contentment is great gain.

2.     Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

3.     Matt 6:25-34 “Seek ye first the Kingdom”.

XV.Verse 15,

A.    “That ye may be blameless and harmless” that we are becoming, we are growing, become Christ like.

B.    Just like Daniel was blameless in the world around us.

1.     People should not find fault with us.

C.    This world is full of problems, it is crooked and perverse.

D.    Be like a light. When we go out at night we see the stars up there. When God looks down on this dark world, He sees those who are His own as little lights down here. The children sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Well, my friend, that’s exactly what it is. Paul says, “Among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” As the stars are up there, we are down here.[2]

XVI.         Verse 16,

A.    Paul is simply rejoicing that the Word of God went forth not in vein and it accomplished its work, which in this case was the Philippians church.

B.    The things you learn here, (our Bible “Studies and Sunday Services) you need to take those lessons out and use these things to help others in the world.

XVII.       Verse 17,

A.    Paul is talking about offering his life as a sacrifice that would burn up and leave only Christ to look at.

1.     Let me explain, Paul is talking about a drink offering. It was offered up to God as showing that the drink would become steam and go up and evaporate showing that the only thing that matters was Christ.

B.    Paul is offering his life as a drink offer would be offered.

1.     That his life does not matter, that only Christ matter and what He can do.

2.     Paul felt that all his rewards would come when he went to heaven.

a)     So he labor hard while he was here on earth looking to heaven as his final resting place.

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XVIII.     Verse 18,

A.    Paul is saying here that he is excited that the Philippians church was doing so well in God and along with his life given to the drink offering, what could be more excellent than that.

B.    Paul ends with a note of rejoicing with all the wonderful things that has been going on.

XIX.         Verse 19,

A.    Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son.

B.    Paul trusts him to do the right things and sends him to the Philippians church.

XX. Verse 20,

A.    Here we have the description of Timothy.

B.    Paul knows he could trust him to help the Philippians.

C.    Paul knew that Timothy had grown in the Lord and was spiritually strong.

XXI.         Verse 21,

A.    There were many who seek their own glory, being a leader in the church, being a boss of some type.

B.    They wanted people to look up to them to see how important they were.

XXII.       Verse 22,

A.    Paul is talking about each of us that are Christians have that glow about us when we are doing things in the Lord.

B.    Timothy had that and Paul is telling us about that.

XXIII.      Verse 23-24,

A.    Paul wanted Timothy to bring the message, about what was going to happen to him.

B.    We don’t know for such if Paul made it out. The Bible does not tell us.

XXIV.      25,

A.    We have Epaphrodius, which, was just like Timothy, and Paul was going to send him as well.

B.    Paul knew he could trust him to carry out the things of God faithfully.

XXV.      Verse 26-27

A.    Epaphroditus was sick and almost died from it.

B.    He finds out that Philippians church know of his sickness and was praying and morning over him.

C.    They had a great relationship with each other.

D.    Why did not Paul who had the power to heal, heal Epaphroditus or even Timothy who had a stomach problem?

1.     Even at that time People who had the gift of healing was being faced out so that God would be the one who will heal if it is His will.

XXVI.     Verse 28-30,

A.    The closing of this chapter.

B.    Remember if Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus could live a Christ like life back in those days, we can do it today.

C.    As it said in verse 30 having risked their life for the cause of Christ, they went forward with the Gospel.

Tuesday night Bible Study at Reads house 3/28/06

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[1]McGee, J. V. 1997, c1981. Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[2]McGee, J. V. 1997, c1981. Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson: Nashville