Worthy of the Gospel

Our focus today is Philippians 2:1-4, but in order to keep it in context, we must start with 1:27. So please turn in your Bibles to Philippians 1 beginning in verse 27.

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

PRAYER:

· Father, Son and Holy Spirit we gather today because you have first loved us, we gather to praise you in humility, submitting ourselves to you as the one and only true God. We are in awe of your sovereignty, trusting in your good will as you do whatever you please in both heaven and on earth. We look to you as Lord and Savior, granting us salvation, sanctifying us, encouraging us, loving us, through your grace and mercy. Lord help us to live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel, to be a church that is united for the one and only cause that matters, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord we confess that we fall short of this too often, that we are quick to turn to our sinful nature, instead of relying upon the new heart and the new spirit that you have given us as new creatures. Strengthen us, encourage us today, as we desire to follow the humility of Christ.

· Lord I ask that you powerfully work in me today, give me wisdom and discernment to rightly divide your word. Not fearing man, but boldly proclaiming your gospel, which declares both destruction and salvation. Align my will to yours. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

INTRODUCTION:

· There are many threats to the church today, from charismatic chaos, teachings that there is no hell or that God does not put anyone in hell, that man’s heart is good and has free will, to claims of errors within Scripture or that Scripture is not sufficient, and that there are many ways to heaven. These do not even scratch the surface.

· But, there is another threat that is often overlooked and continues to linger within the church and begins to tear down any resemblance of Christ and his bride.

· It hides in the homes, in the church gym, it lurks in the hallways, it festers in the parking lot, grows during the car ride home and burns hot through text messaging, Facebook and Instagram.

· John MacArthur, “A divided, factious, and bickering church is spiritually weak. It therefore offers little threat to the devil’s work and has little power for advancing the gospel of Christ.”

· The most challenging and damaging threat to the church is disunity and Paul repeatedly prays for and addresses unity within the church throughout all his letters.

· With the threat of disunity in mind, lets look at why we are to strive for the unity that has been granted to us.

· Chapter 2 verse Verse 1 begins with “So” or many translations say “Therefore”. This obviously points backwards, realizing that what we are about to read is based on what Paul has already wrote.

o “Therefore” may be better understood as “for that reason” or “because of that”.

o We must then say because of what? That answer is clearly stated in 1:29-30

§ 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

o For the sake of Christ, it has been granted that you believe and will suffer, for his sake.

o The “so” or “therefore” in Philippians 2:1, is stating a condition. As Jacob shared last week, the indicative always precedes the imperative.

o It points us to the sovereign truth that belief has been granted to the believer for the sake of Christ and because of that truth, ALL Believers, are commanded to live in a manner worthy of the gospel as stated in verse 27.

o Paul repeatedly gives this same charge throughout his letters.

o Ephesians 4:1, I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

o Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, 4:1; Titus 2:10, 2 Peter 3:11, just to name a few.

o Why are believers to act in a manner worthy of the gospel?

o Because When believers live a life in unity, it is a sign of their destruction but of your salvation which is from God (1:28).

o Paul has continuously emphasized a particular point in the letter.

o Look back with me at what Paul is emphasizing through this letter:

§ 1:12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

§ 1:14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

§ 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

§ 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

o We are to live in a manner that is worthy of the gospel for it proclaims the Gospel of Christ.

o It has been said that the culmination of the pastor’s duty arises at the sermon on Sunday, however the most powerful sermon any pastor ever preachers is Monday thru Saturday.

o How one lives day in, and day out is the most powerful witness of Christ… or the most destructive act for the gospel.

o That is true of the individual and for the church at large. A house divided against itself, cannot stand.

o Do not miss what Paul is saying. His desire is that the Gospel of Christ be proclaimed by the act of unity within the Church, through humility, with Christ as our example.

o If belief has been granted to you, you will proclaim the name of Christ before men, both in word and deed. For to believe means you have a regenerated heart, you have been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, and out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

o With that as our foundation, we will look at three points from Chapter 2:1-4: that expand upon 1:27-30.

o We will see that living a life worthy of the gospel is only done through Union in Christ (2:1), Union in Mind (2:2) and Union in Action 2:3-4).

I. Union in Christ (2:1) Read again

o As we said, the “so” or “therefore” points back to the truth that belief in God is granted to the believer, and he now begins a series of four rhetorical statements: Look at ch 2:1.

§ If there is any Encouragement in Christ

§ If there is any comfort from love

§ If there is any participation in the Spirit

§ If there is any affection and sympathy

o Paul is not questioning whether there is encouragement and comfort in Christ or participation, affection, and sympathy in the Spirit.

o Just as the “so” or the “therefore” in other translations looks back to the stated condition as believers, the “if” looks forward to the bestowed realities from the condition of being in union with Christ. It is better understood as “if this is so, it will be.”

o Or we could read verse 1 as “For that reason, it is so”

o Charles Spurgeon states that we should see it as “since there is encouragement in Christ, since there is comfort of love, since there is fellowship of the Spirit, since there is affection and sympathy, be one in Christ. Do not be divided; love one another”

o Encouragement, comfort, participation, affection, and sympathy is what every believer is granted in Christ and therefore must be experienced in the body of believers.

o Lets look at each effect of being in Union with Christ. These are bestowed only upon those born again, those with a regenerated heart.

§ Encouragement in Christ

· This encouragement is not a mere address to feelings of encouragement, rather it is a positive exhortation to act rightly.

· Paul’s entire point is again to act in a worthy manner of the gospel

· Why? Because Christ acted rightly in humbling himself, adding humanity to his deity, and through his saving act on the cross.

· Because of what Christ did and granted to us as believers, we are encouraged to act rightly, no matter what the circumstance.

· Many of us would benefit from understanding this point. The circumstances never change the way we are to act,

· Rather in ever circumstance, we are to hold fast to the hope set before us. Be encouraged, exhort one another to act rightly as God exhorted and encouraged you to act rightly.

· Whether Paul or anyone else is present or absent, the unity of the believers will proclaim the gospel of Christ which was granted to them and to us by God’s grace alone.

· Next we see, Any comfort from love

§ Again, every believer has been granted love from the Father, through Christ.

§ Since there is comfort from the love of Christ, the believers are to act in unity.

§ We love because God first loved us as unworthy sinners.

§ If each one of us are unworthy of God’s love, then how do we have any right to withhold that same love from our brother’s and sisters in Christ? Or from anyone that we come in contact with?

§ How many of you know someone that says they no longer attend church because the church members say they love God, but show no love for one another?

§ Every one of us here has most likely heard someone say that the church is full of hypocrites, they say one thing and act another.

§ Scripture tells us, No one can claim to love God and not love the brothers and sisters of the church.

§ Let me say it another way, no one can claim to love God and not gather with the church.

§ I am sure many of you know someone that makes this claim, but listen to what God has to say.

§ John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

§ Turn with me to 1John 4:19-5:1 We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. Overcoming the World 5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

§ No one can claim to love God and not love the body of believers.

§ For each believer receives comfort from God’s love and that love permeates out to a love for one another.

§ Remember that one of Paul’s main points is to proclaim Christ through everything. With that in mind, you should be able to easily see that The most damaging witness of the gospel is a professing church that has no love for one another. (2X)

§ But A church that is united by their encouragement and comfort in love from Christ is the most powerful witness to a lost and dying world.

o The third reality of Union in Christ flows from the fellowship of the Spirit.

§ No one can call Jesus Lord, except by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). Therefore, every true believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit at the point of regeneration.

§ Un-earned, un-merited. Granted to us.

§ The Greek word used here for participation is Koinonia, this is a fellowship that comes only from Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

§ It is intimate, and only between believers. True biblical fellowship can only take place between believers.

§ Koinonia is the same word used for communion, which is just another point to show that communion is reserved strictly for believers in Christ.

§ Because we have an individual internal spiritual fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we also have an internal drawing together through the power of the Spirit.

o The last two benefits of Union in Christ are affection and sympathy.

§ The word for affection is splanchna, this term literally refers to the bowels.

§ It is known as the seat of emotions. The inner depths of the person that longs outwards.

§ Paul used the same language in the opening of the letter. In verse 1:8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

§ It reveals to us that unity with Christ and with the body of believers is not an outward force pushing in, rather a deep inward force pushing out because of what Christ has already done for us and in us.

§ John MacArthur provides a simple yet profound analogy of this deep internal longing for unity.

§ “consider a bag filled with marbles. There are many marbles of various colors, sizes, and composition packed closely together. But they are bound together exclusively by the container. If the bag is opened or ripped, the marbles spill out in all directions, because there is nothing internal that binds them to each other. In contrast, consider a magnet placed into a pile of iron shavings. By their nature, the shavings respond to the power of the magnet and are drawn together. Each shaving acting like a magnet themselves if they are kept near the magnet source. If some outside force causes them to be pulled apart, the attractive force remains, and they will reunite as soon as the separating cause is removed.” End quote.

§ This analogy paints a vivid picture of Christ building his church, calling his sheep, pulling in those that he chose before the foundations of the world. Not one will be lost.

§ What is interesting to think about with this analogy is what happens to the individual pieces of iron when they are drawn to the magnet. The individual pieces become magnetized themselves, drawing in more pieces.

§ We cannot help but correlate this to the unity and building of the church. When the body of believer’s act in unity it is a powerful proclamation of the gospel that draws in other believers.

§ This deep inward sympathy or yearning is given to the believer and in turn is used as a witness for Christ to bring others into the fold.

§ This affection has been granted to each believer, it produces a united front, and proclaims the gospel to a lost world, signaling their destruction and your salvation.

o And lastly, sympathy.

§ The term for sympathy is Oiktirmos which is more properly translated as mercy. It always refers to the mercies of God that have been granted to each believer.

§ Listen to Romans 12:1, Since there is mercy from God, present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

§ Listen to James Montgomery Boice, “In light of these verses, it is clear that Paul is appealing to the believer’s experience of mercy from God. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you have experienced God’s compassion. You deserved hell, yet he loved you and died for you. He leads you in this life and will yet lead you to heaven. You have known great mercy. How, then, can you fail to show compassion to those who also confess Christ’s name, even though they might have offended you? End quote

§ Do you desire unity in the body? Are there divisions within that are based on opinions and should not exist? Are you making self-rationalizations for divisive and un-Christ like conduct?

§ If so then confess your sins and repent, turning away from divisive behavior and towards Union in Christ.

§ The most damaging witness of the gospel is a professing individual, a professing church that has no love for one another and therefore in all reality has no love for Christ.

§ Unity within the church is a sign to unbelievers of their destruction but of your salvation, and that from God.

§ That is a manner of life worthy of the proclamation of the gospel.

§ So, since there is encouragement in Christ, there is comfort from His love, there is participation in the Spirit, 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.

§ Union in Christ, necessitates Union in Mind.

II. Union in Mind (verse 2)

· 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

· The first part of this verse, Paul says “complete my joy” by being of the same mind.

· Paul was a true shepherd of the flock, both a servant of Christ’s bride and a protector.

· Any called elder knows that the most difficult thing to maintain within the church is unity and because of that there is nothing more joyful for a shepherd when there is unity.

· Paul is not an aloof apostle, just going from one town to the next for selfish gain, rather he continually expresses his deep, heart felt feelings and longing for the Philippians.

· He is deeply longing for the salvation of their souls.

· We see this in 1:8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

o This is that deep inner yearning from the bowels – splanchna

· 2:17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

o Even if I have to die for you, I am glad and rejoice.

· 4:17 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,

· Paul loved the Saints and deacons in Philippi earnestly and never lost sight of that.

· The second part of verse 2 tells us how to achieve unity.

· By being of the same mind of Christ and by having the same love of Christ.

· Let me just say, that nowhere in Scripture does it say to strive for unity no matter the cost, rather it is always qualified upon sound doctrine.

· For Union does not equate to unity. (2X)

· In other words, being in close proximity to one another does not mean everyone is united of same mind.

· Unity is never to be sought at the expense of truth, for that is not unity, rather it is deception.

· “Being of same mind, being of full accord and one mind” refers to setting your mind on things that are above and that can only be done through the word with sound doctrine.

· Paul is not addressing a doctrinal issue in Philippians, rather he knows of the threats of disunity and its damaging effects. He knows that if they do not set their minds on the things that are above before the storm, then they will not in the midst of the storm.

· The word used for being of the same mind is only used 26 times in the entire new testament. Of those 26 times, Paul uses it 10 times in Philippians.

· This highlights the importance of being of the same mind.

· 3:15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

· Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

· When we begin to focus on our own agenda, our own perceptions our own idea of the truth, instead of seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ through the cutting of the word, then the church becomes disunited.

· Christ is the one thing we should be focused on, his truths, his life, his humility, his death, resurrection, all through His word.

· Those that have a contrary mindset to this, Paul tells us in 3:19 that “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

· The bride of Christ must be of one mind. This is Paul’s opening prayer in 1:9 – “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment”

· We must set our minds on Christ who is above, growing in grace and knowledge.

· For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

· This is not unity for the sake of union, it is every knee bowed in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (2:10-11).

· It is agreeing that Jesus Christ is Lord and each one of us submitting to his Lordship.

· If this is difficult for you, it may be because you are more interested in your own desires than Christ’s. You must ask him to correct that sin in you.

· Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. And when that happens, when the believers have one mind, when we are in one accord, as one soul, there will be Union in Action.

· This brings us to our last point.

III. Union in Action (2:3-4)

· Look at 2:3-4 again, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

o The first call to action is to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

o It is a call to eliminate negative attitudes, to eliminate your pride, to stop setting your minds on your own ambitions and your own glory.

o That is always the cause of disunity, seeking your own ambitions and your own glory.

o Paul has already exposed in 1:17 that some preach Christ out of their own selfish ambition, that their ministry is self-seeking. They were conceited, puffed-up in their own reputation.

o Selfish ambition leads to vain conceit, being wise in your own eyes.

o Listen to how the Pillar commentary describes vain conceit. “The Greek word translated vain conceit combines two words: “empty glory.” This word exposes those who polish their façade but are devoid of the inner reality of spiritual vitality to match their “exaggerated self-evaluation.” Their glory is only a false illusion. The empty glory gained by selfish ambition stands in absolute contrast to the glory given to God when Christ, who made himself nothing and humbled himself.” End quote.

o Vain conceit is empty glory, it is whitewashed tombs, clean on the outside but dead on the inside.

o Because of the believers Union in Christ and Union in Mind, one’s actions are to bring glory to God alone.

o Selfish ambition pursues personal goals and vain conceit seeks an over inflated self-image. Both seek to take glory from God.

o So, let us not become conceited, provoking one another and envying one another.

o The second call to action is opposite of selfish ambition and conceit. It says, “in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

o I cannot help but turn to the beatitudes in Matthew 5.

§ 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

§ 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

§ 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

o Blessed are the meek, the self-controlled, those that are humble.

o Because Christ humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, we are to deny ourselves, be willing to pick up that same cross of death and follow him.

o We are to practice humility in both our attitudes and in our actions to others, which will flow from what we put in our minds.

o The verb “count” in verse 3 refers to engaging the mind to think, to consider, to regard.

o So do not think or your own interests, rather consider and regard others more significant than yourself, looking to the interest of others.

o Paul is not saying that we are to beat ourselves down or completey neglect ourselves, nor is this a rebuke against the believers, but instead it is an encouragement to value others more than yourselves.

o It is a positive assertion to build up and encourage others.

o The object of this way of thinking and acting, is others.

o Verse 4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

o “Looking” refers to paying careful attention.

o We must pay careful attention to the needs of others.

o Listen carefully again to James Montgomery Boice, Listen to this for it is convicting.

§ Quote” the point is not whether you will preach or witness, but whether you are becoming the kind of person who will love people and will give yourself for them in the sense that Jesus Christ gave himself for us. God deals in quality, not quantity, and he wants people to reproduce the qualities of Christ. Well, you might say, I’d like to do that, but I don’t think I can. Of course, you can’t—not on your own. But God will do it in you as you yield to him and seek the outworking of his own nature in your life.” End quote.

o Are you becoming, am I becoming the kind of person who will love people and will give myself for them just as Christ did?

· For the unbeliever here today, that cannot happen until you realize that left to your own will, your choice will always be Satan’s choice. It will always be selfish ambition and conceit, it will always be spiritually harmful for others. For no one is good, no not one. Until God opens your eyes that you are dead in your sins, you will never humble yourself before the almighty and holy God.

· For the believers here today, remember that was you. You were dead in your sins, but by God’s mercy he extended grace to you. You were granted encouragement in Christ, granted comfort from love, granted participation in the Spirit, and granted affection, through His sympathy for you.

· Remembering God’s grace and mercy that you have received without merit, is the only truth that will keep you humble.

o Remembering our Union in Christ, leads to Union in Mind, which leads to Union in Action, prepares the way for next week, the portrayal of the supreme example of humility in Christ (2:5–11).