Philippians 2 Verses 1 to 4 United in Spirit January 31, 2021

Philippians 2 Verses 1 to 4 United in Spirit January 31, 2021

Class Presentation Notes A

Main Idea: Churches often face the danger of discord generated by pride causing selfishness from lack of humility.

Thoughts to soak on as we study this lesson:

· A strong church launches ministry after ministry and program after program. It is never still and never complacent—neither the minds of the people nor the hands of the people. Because of this, there is always the danger of differences of opinion: differences in vision, desires, concern, emphasis, and interest. There are always different ideas as to which ministry or project should be undertaken and supported and a host of other differences.

· The point is this: the more strength and activity a church has, the more attention it must give to unity. Why? Because a strong church has more minds and bodies working, and where more people are working more differences are bound to arise.

· Paul knew this; he knew that he had to put the Philippian church on guard. The church had to protect itself against disunity and division.

Create Interest:

· In the land of Jesus, people wore sandals. Walking down the dusty roads of the day left the feet dusty. It became the social custom of that time to wash the feet of guests. On His last night, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. During His ministry, Jesus was invited to a meal in the house of Simon the Pharisee. A woman came in off the streets and anointed Jesus’ feet. Simon concluded that Jesus did not know she was a “sinner.” Jesus rebuked Simon for failing to do even the most basic acts of courtesy toward guests. One of these was washing His feet (Luke 7:36-50).

· John the Baptist spoke of himself as not being worthy even to untie the sandals of Jesus, the first step in foot washing (Mark 1:7).This lowly chore was usually done by the person of lowest rank. If there were slaves or servants, one of them washed the feet of guests. If the family had no one to do the lowly tasks round the house, the task was done by one of the children or one of the women. Paul commended women who washed the saints’ feet, but this was an act of hospitality, not a church ordinance (1 Tim. 5:10).

· Think back in time and see yourself in the room with Jesus before the last supper.

· What are you thinking as you see Jesus perform this lowly task? Do you think it left a lasting impression on the Apostles? It is not something we do today, but can we learn a lesson in humility applicable to our role in the church now?

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is often called the “joy letter” because the words “rejoice” and “joy” are used many times. Although Paul was imprisoned awaiting a hearing before Caesar, he rejoiced in God’s grace seen in his opportunities to witness (1:12-18; 4:4).

· Along with the joy he expressed, Paul was concerned about the early signs of dissension in the church. Paul had dealt with rampant dissension in the Corinthian letters, and he did not want the Philippians to go through that, so he wrote to the church trying to head off any outbreak of disunity in Philippi. We see this implicitly in 1:27-30 and more explicitly in 2:1-11 and 4:2-3.

· The church at Philippi was for the most part theologically sound, devoted, moral, loving, zealous, courageous, prayerful, and generous. Yet it faced the danger of discord that often is generated by only a few people. Such troublemakers can stir up the contention and strife that fractures an entire congregation. And because disunity is so tragically debilitating, Paul gently but firmly pleads with believers to be constantly and diligently on guard against it. He had just expressed to the Philippians his hope to “hear of [them] that [they] are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (1:27).

· In 2:1–4 Paul gives what is perhaps the most concise and practical teaching about unity in the New Testament. In these four powerful verses, he outlines a formula for spiritual unity that includes three necessary elements on which that unity must be built: the right motives (vv. 1–2a), the right marks (v. 2b), and the right means (vv. 3–4). Through them, he clarifies why believers should be of one mind and spirit, what is meant by one mind and spirit, and how they can truly become of one mind and spirit.

· The updated (1995) edition of the New American Standard Bible used here reverses the order of the previous rendering of “If therefore.” The new order more clearly connects therefore to what Paul has just said, which many scholars believe was his intent. The meaning, then, is that what he is about to say is grounded, at least in part, on what he has just said. The point is that “Because we have the divine injunction to be of one mind and spirit (1:27), we must therefore …”

· If looks forward to the divinely bestowed realities of encouragement in Christ, … consolation of love, … fellowship of the Spirit, … [and] affection and compassion. Both principles should motivate believers to desire and actively seek.

Questions to Explore:

· What evidence is there of some dissension in the Philippian church?

o What is humility?

· Why is humility essential for a right spirit in a church?

o How are believers able to practice humility?

Bible Study:

Philippians 2:1-4 (NASB) 1 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, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

· If there is any: This introduces the basisfor Paul’s exhortation to unity, humility and love among believers.

o The idea is that if the Philippian Christians have received the things he mentions, then they have a responsibility to do what he is about to describe.

o “It is extremely difficult to give the force of these expressions; they contain a torrent of most affecting eloquence; the apostle pouring out his whole heart to a people whom with all his heart he loved, and who were worthy of the love even of an apostle.” (Clarke)

Note:

· The church had to protect itself against disunity and division. The first step to unity is Christ—allowing His life to be lived out in us.

· In particular there are seven traits that will hold the church together and keep it unified.

The trait of consolation (paraklēsis )/Encouragement.

· The word means many things throughout Scripture; but in the present context it means encouragement, comfort, solace, exhortation, and strengthen-ing.

· If there is any…. consolation in Christ: Paul asked this as a rhetorical question, knowing of course that there was great consolation in Christ.

o Every Christian should know the consolation of Christ.

· Luke 2:25 says that one of the titles for Jesus as the Messiah is the Consolation of Israel.

o Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 1:5, For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

o In 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul says that God has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace. Of course, there is consolation in Christ!

o “The Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation. If I may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the Physician, but Christ is the medicine.” (Spurgeon)

· In Philippians 2:1 the phrase “comfort of love” indicates this consolation is “an expression of love.” “Together with participation in the Spirit and heartfelt sympathy, it forms one of the foundations of church life as lived out in the sphere of Christ” (Esser, “Comfort,” Colin Brown 1:329).

· Jesus used a form of the word in identifying the Holy Spirit who would come as “the Comforter” (John 14:26). The consolation of which Paul spoke was because they were in Christ or “united with Christ” (NIV). Thus, Paul began his appeal for unity in the fellowship on the basis of the comforting strength and encouragement they enjoyed with one another because they all were one in Christ.

· Note that this trait is a characteristic of Christ Himself. The very beat of His Spirit is to encourage, comfort, and strengthen believers to be one in spirit and busy about the ministry of His church. Christ wants no murmuring, no grumbling, disturbance, or weakening of the unity within the church.

Thoughts to Soak On:

· We are to let absolutely nothing interfere with the spirit of unity in the church. But note, we are not only to help those who are disturbed, we are to let the comfort and encouragement of Christ flow in us when we are disturbed.

· When disturbed, we are to let Christ comfort us; and when others are disturbed, we are to comfort them. Just imagine the spirit of unity that would flow through a church if all the members would let the consolation of Christ flow through them. There would be no murmuring, grumbling, disturbance—no disunity whatsoever.

o John 14:18 (NASB) 18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

o 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

o Isaiah 40:1 (NASB) 1 "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.

The trait of love:

· If there is any . . . comfort of love: This is Paul’s second rhetorical question in this passage, affirming the great comfort of love. Every Christian should know what it is to have Jesus give him the comfort of love.

o 2 Corinthians 1:3 says that God is the God of all comfort. There is no way He cannot comfort us and no circumstance beyond His comfort. But this is more than comfort; this is the comfort of love.

o The word comfortin this passage is the ancient Greek word paraklēsis

§ The idea behind this word for comfort in the New Testament is always more than soothing sympathy.

§ It has the idea of strengthening, of helping, of making strong.

§ The idea behind this word is communicated by the Latin word for comfort (fortis), which also means “brave.” The love of God in our life makes us strong and makes us brave.

· The love of Christ stirs a person to keep the unity with other believers. The word "love" is agapē love, the love that is selfless and sacrificial. Agapē love is the love of the mind, of the reason, and of the will. It is the love that goes so far...

o that it loves a person even if he does not deserve to be loved.

o that actually loves the person who is utterly unworthy of being loved.

· Agapē loveis the love of Christ, the love which He showed when He gave and sacrificed Himself for us.

o We did not deserve it and were utterly unworthy of such love, yet Christ loved us despite all.

Thoughts to Soak on:

· Imagine the spirit of unity that would exist within a church if every member would let the love of Christ flow through him.

o There would be no bitterness, anger, or strife—no action that would hurt another person whatsoever.

o If the person was wrong and deserved punishment, the church's members would sacrifice and give themselves for him. Note Phil. 2:2:

§ " maintaining the same love"—the same love Christ had for you.

· This is the answer to unity: the Lord's spirit of love! How desperately the church needs its members to let the love of Christ flow through them to each other!

o John 13:33-35 (NASB) 33 "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

o 1 Peter 1:22 (NASB) 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

o Romans 12:9 (NASB) 9 Let love bewithout hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

o 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 (NASB) 11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

The trait of fellowship in the Spirit

· If there is any . . . fellowship of the Spirit: This is Paul’s third rhetorical question in this context. Paul knew and valued the fellowship of the Spirit, and every Christian should know what it is to have the fellowship of the Spirit.

· Fellowship is the ancient Greek word kononia. It means the sharing of things in common.

o We share life with the Spirit of God that we never knew before.

o The Holy Spirit fills and guides and moves in our lives in a powerful and precious way.

o “The Lord doth usually and graciously water the holy fellowship of his people with the dews of many sweet and glorious refreshings; so that they have a very heaven upon earth.” (Trapp)

· The Holy Spirit enters the believer's heart and life to comfort, guide, teach, equip, and use him as a witness for Christ.

o The Holy Spirit creates a spiritual union between the new believer and other believers.

o He melts and molds the heart of the believer to the hearts of other believers.

o He attaches all their lives together, and they become one in life and purpose.

o They have a joint life sharing their blessings and needs and gifts together—all focused upon their Lord and His purpose.

Thoughts to Soak on:

· The mind of the Holy Spirt is set upon unity and fellowship—all centered around Jesus Christ and His mission.

o The church and its believers are to have the same mind. There are to be no discordant elements whatsoever in the church: no talk about differences; no sharing of bad news; no gossip, rumors, cliques, nothing whatsoever that would tamper with or disturb the fellowship of the Spirit in the church. Again, quickly glance at Philippians 2:2 (NASB) 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

The trait of compassion. (splanchnon- Inward parts, intestines; heart, affections.)

· Metaphorically the inward parts were considered the seat of all emotions. Splanchnoncame to describe the emotions themselves.

· Splanchnon refers to “tender mercy” (of God, Luke 1:78; of Christ, Philippians 1:8), “affection” (2 Corinthians 6:12), the “heart” (Philemon 12), “pity” (1 John 3:17), and other emotions ( 2 Corinthians 7:15; Colossians 3:12.

· Compassion is the trait that stirred Christ to reach out for us. Compassion is the force that drives Him to keep after us time and again—even if we are in rebellion and stand opposed to Him. We may be cantankerous; we may even curse Him and take up arms against His movement. But His compassion drives Him to stay after us so long as we live.

Thought to soak on:

· The point is this: we are to let the compassion of Christ flow both in and through us.

o His compassion will comfort us when we differ and are disturbed; it will stir us to reach out in compassion when others differ and become disturbed.

o The compassion of Jesus Christ flowing in and through us keeps the unity of the church.

o It will also keep our minds together—keep them focused upon the needs of a world that must be reached and ministered to in compassion.

§ Romans 15:1 (NASB) 1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

§ Galatians 6:2 (NASB) 2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

§ Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB) 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

§ 1 Peter 3:8 (NASB) 8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

§ Psalm 103:13 (NASB) 13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORDhas compassion on those who fear Him.

Philippians 2:2 (NASB) 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

The trait of Joy (Chara -Joy is moreover a fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer)

· The coming of the Spirit, it should be recalled, shows that the new age of the Church has dawned and that the consummation of God’s promises is certain. Thus the Spirit is indispensable in terms of the eschatological perspective outlined above (Galatians 5:22; cf. Romans 14:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6).

· Joy, therefore, is a reminder and sign of the way believers view the present in light of God’s plan for the future.

· The believers in a church are to be concerned for each other's joy. And note: the one thing that brings joy to a church quicker than anything else is unity.

· Paul's point is simple but direct: his joy in Christ would be fulfilled by only one thing—the unity of the Philippian church.

o The leaders and members of a church usually have joy in Christ, but their joy can be fulfilled only if unity exists between them.

o Joy is always disturbed when there is criticism, dissatisfaction, grumbling, murmuring, cliques, opposition, and a host of other divisive negatives.

o We are to worship, plan, organize, program, build, staff, finance, minister, and serve in the joy of Christ. But the only way we can do that is...to be likeminded….to have the same love….to be of one accord….to be of one mind.

§ John 15:11 (NASB) 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

§ Romans 14:16-17 (NASB) 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

§ 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB) 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

§ 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NASB) 11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 2:3 (NASB) 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

The trait of humility or lowliness of mind. (eritheia noun-Strife, selfish ambition.)

· A strong and active church will always have two problems to stick their ugly heads up: selfish ambition and empty conceit.

· The proximity of Philippians 1:15 (“some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife”) also favors the idea of “selfish ambition” (1:17, NIV), meaning that some were even preaching with wrong motives out of a sense of competition with Paul. In both the sin lists of Galatians (5:20) and 2 Corinthians (12:20), given the larger context of each letter, “strife” might be preferred, but again it is strife motivated by personal selfishness.

· The result is disunity and divisiveness, one of the most damaging problems within the church to God.

· Eritheia began by being a perfectly respectable word with the meaning ‘labor for wages.’ It began to mean that kind of work which is done for motives of pay and for nothing else; that kind of work which has no motive of service whatsoever and which has only one question—What do I get out of it? ... It then acquired two other meanings.

o First, it came to be used of ‘party squabbles, ’ of the jockeying for position and the intriguing for place and power which is so often characteristic of secular and ecclesiastical politics

o Second, it ended up by meaning ‘selfish ambition, the ambition which has no conception of service and whose only aims are profit and power.”

The second attitude they were to avoid Paul called vainglory (kenodoxianoun-

Conceit, empty pride, groundless self-esteem, self-delusion, vanity, excessive ambition.)

· Paul could not have chosen two more appropriate words to describe what he feared for the church at Philippi.

· Over against these two words Paul placed a key Christian virtue. The word tapeinophrosunē- noun-Humility, modesty. The word iterally means lowliness of mind. One word for this virtue is “humility” (NIV, HCSB).

· The Greeks had a bad view of this word and characteristic. They looked down on servants, slaves, and laborers because of their low status in society.

· Jesus gave positive meaning to humility by His example and His teachings. Paul had much to say about humility as God’s will for His people to be humble.

o Here Paul wrote, in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. This moves humility a step beyond what he wrote in Romans 12:3: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.”

o That is the least required of Christian humility—not to think more highly of oneself than is appropriate. In Philippians 2:3

o Paul also called believers to think of others more highly than themselves. Perhaps Paul made this demand to challenge the natural tendency to think so highly of oneself.

o In fact, it is only in an attitude of humility, a contrite heart, that the spiritual life can prosper. Humility should characterize relationships among the children of God

§ 2 Timothy 2:24 (NASB) 24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

§ James 3:14 (NASB) 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and solie against the truth.

§ Proverbs 20:3 (NASB) 3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

§ Proverbs 25:8 (NASB) 8 Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?

§ Matthew 23:12 (NASB) 12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

§ John 5:44 (NASB) 44 "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?

Philippians 2:4 (NASB) 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

The trait of controlling self-interest.

· Very simply, a Christian believer must forget himself. He must quit looking upon his own things, his...ambition, desires, position, recognition, etc.

· Believers are to concentrate upon Christ and His ministry to people and reaching the world with the glorious gospel of salvation.

o They are not be focused upon self. The world is too needful and too desperate for any believer to be focused upon himself.

o Every believer is needed to reach the lost and lonely, the shut-ins and helpless, the hungry and cold, the sinful and doomed of his community and city, country, and world.

o Every believer does not need to be thinking on his own things, but on the things of others.

§ Matthew 25:43 (NASB) 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

§ 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NASB) 24 Let no one seek his own good,but that of his neighbor.

§ 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 (NASB) 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

§ 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NASB) 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Spiritual Transformations to Soak On.

· Many people consider humility an undesirable quality. They picture a person who lacks ambition and drive for excellence. They feel that humble people are among the losers, not the winners.

· We who follow Christ are to practice the kind of selfless love that puts God and others before ourselves.

o It is the road Jesus walked when He went to the cross. Such humility causes a person not to think of himself or herself more highly than he or she should think.

o It also causes us to recognize the value of others and their achievements.

· The church should be the training ground for learning and practicing humility.

o Dissension in a church hinders the life of humility.

o In the game of life, proud people promote themselves. Humble people praise God and honor others. Humble people see the cross not only as the door to salvation but also as an example of humble, self-giving love.

o But remember that does not mean you are a doormat…Your life should reflect Jesus as an assertive Christian.

o To gain clarity on this aspect of Christianity, I recommend the book

Speaking Truth in Love How to be an Assertive Christian by Ruth N. Koch and Kenneth C. Haugk.

Questions to Soak on:

· What reasons do some people offer for rejecting humility as a way of life?

· What are some biblical reasons for practicing humility as a way of life?

· Conversely, what is an assertive Christian and how does Christ exemplify that important concept as we focus on humility.

o Think before you answer about John 8:3-11 (the woman caught in the act of adultery.)

§ John 8:3-11 (NASB) 3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they *said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they beganto go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."

o Think about Jesus driving the money changers and sellers of sacrificial animals and birds out of the temple.

§ Matthew 21:12 (NIV2011) Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Was that righteous indignation? Was that assertive? What can we learn from this about humility?

Prayer of Commitment: Lord, forgive me for the sin of pride and create in me a humble spirit. Amen.