Unity in Humility

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Looking back to Adam, someone whom Christ is often compared, What was his main downfall.

what was it that lead to him partaking in the fruit? It was Pride

Pride is a nasty thing we find all around us today

Pride in our families

Pride in our country

Pride in ourselves

Pride in our accomplishments

In truth, we can find pride in just about anything we do

I’m sure Hitler found pride in the holocaust

Pride is often the source of our sins

On a very fundamental level, we willingly revolt against God, that in itself is a “triumph” of pride

We objectify, or commit adultery against our spouses out of pride

we prioritize our own pleasure over their wellbeing

Lies come out of pride

We believe ourselves smarter than another

Or we cannot bear to be seen in a negative light

It is out of pride that we commit murder

Just look at Cain and Able

Jealously rose up in Cain because his pride was hurt

That hurt pride lead him to commit the first murder in history

Pride seems to be inherent to humanity

This is emphasized in the Christian idea of a sinful nature

this nature is by very essence prideful

Doubly so in the Christian who willingly defies his master

Philippians 2:1-4

This problem of pride was within the Philippian church

It was breeding disunity amongst them

Philippians 2:1–4 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Verses 1 and 2 here clearly lay out what Paul is seeking for the church at Philippi to do, seek unity

Quote v. 2 “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose

Now note that the majority of the epistle Paul is praising the Philippians

Paul is in prison and Philippi has supported him even out of their poverty

Paul clearly loved them, in v. 11 Paul calls them his “beloved” which he rarely calls a church in his epistles

Yet Paul clearly does have something to correct in them, disunity

Vv. 4-5 lay out what is causing this disunity amongst the church at Philippi

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Paul lists out 3 things that are causing disunity in the congregation

Selfishness

Empty conceit

Only looking out for one’s own personal interests

Paul also gives immediate responses to these ills

Instead of doing out of selfishness or empty conceit, do out of humility, regarding one another as more important than the self

Instead of only looking out for my own interests, also look out for other’s interests as well

Philippians 2:5-11

Paul then gives a pretty mighty example of humility that the Philippian Church should be embodying

An example we should also be embodying here

Philippians 2:5–11 NASB95

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul just comes right in with the example of Jesus

the very person we are all trying to imitate as Christians

This went from a mere ethical dilemma, to a theological one

This is why we are talking about this on Christmas

Paul dives into the theology of Jesus’ coming and death here that I want to dive into with all of out

Paul sums up Jesus’ live in vv. 6-8

Philippians 2:6–8 NASB95

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus is apart of the Trinity, to quote John 1:1

John 1:1 NASB95

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This Word John was referring to is Jesus

Turning back to our main passage in Philippians 2, Paul lays out in v. 6 that Jesus existed in the form of God

Because Jesus is with God and is God

Yet despite His nature as deity, Jesus did not regard equality with God as a thing to be grasped.

Remember how I mentioned Adam earlier, well this is the complete opposite of Adam’s actions

Adam being in nature human, tried to grasp godhood

Jesus, being in nature God, didn’t regard his godhood as something to be grasped

To further this analogy, Paul says in the next verse that not only did Jesus not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but out of humility Jesus emptied himself and took on the form of a man

Adam, out of pride, tried to go from servant to king

Jesus, out of humility, went from king to servant

Paul then completes the picture by suggesting Jesus’ death was an act of obedience and humility

This only seals the contrast between Jesus and Adam

Adam died out of pride and disobedience

Jesus died out of humility and obedience

The responses were according

Adam was disgraced

Jesus was glorified

Philippians 2:9–11 NASB95

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This heavily plays into the Christmas story

Jesus, literal God, came to earth

it was entirely out of obedience and humility

Jesus knew the entire time what was to come, and yet came anyways

What so easily could be seen as merely a tragedy, is in nature a love story

That love story doesn’t start, but is fulfilled when Jesus is born

The love story started in genesis, and hit it’s climax on the cross. We are still in the resolution now.

Philippians 2:12-16

Paul now encourages them to pursue this unity through humility

Paul laid out their problem

Paul then laid out an example of how to act

Now Paul is closing this issue with an exhortation

Philippians 2:12–16 NASB95

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Paul tells them to “work out their salvation”

This at first glance seems like a salvation by works passage

Yet with the context of what I’ve been telling you, Paul’s telling them to get it together

This isn’t about individual salvation, this is about saving the church at Philippi

If they don’t solve the pride and selfishness, it will tear the church apart

Don’t think that they have to figure it out by themselves either

In v. 13 here Paul tells them that God is here to help them solve this issue

Not only does God will for them to be a united church, it will be His Pleasure to see them united

Paul then commands them to fix their issues without complaining

it’s grumbling and complaining that likely got them into this situation

These are not things evident of love and compassion for one another

It’s like saying to your friend, “Ugh fine, I guess I’ll forgive you”

it’s not very convincing

Paul tells them in v. 15 that if they correct this issue, they will be blameless before a crooked generation

If they pull through and maintain unity through humility and love, they serve as the complete opposite of the world around them

This is very similar to what Jesus says Matthew 5:14

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

You are the light of the world.

Paul states in v. 16 that he desires them to keep unity so that he did not toil in vain

These words highlight now serious this issue has become

The church at Philippi is being torn apart from the inside

The application

So we garner a very important message that we can apply to ourselves

We must reject pride and selfishness

If we embrace them, we will fall short and tear ourselves apart

It is only through humility and compassion for one another that we can truly be united under Christ, who is the symbol of humility and compassion

We just got done celebrating Christmas a holiday that is meant to celebrate God’s humility

So don’t go forgetting it already