Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore if there
is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of
the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by
being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one
mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better
than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others.”
These ideas are an extension from
the last verses of chapter 1. How do we
let our conduct be worthy of Christ? One
major way is by extending to others the same grace and mercy that we have
received from the Lord. We are not
perfect, yet God accepts and loves us and fellowships with us in spite of our
shortcomings. When we extend grace and
mercy to others and esteem others as better than ourselves, we will love them
regardless of their failures. We should
look for ways to build up and encourage those around us. Does that mean that we have a bad view or
opinion of ourselves? No. We should esteem who we are in Christ; but we
should have the attitude of a servant, as the next passage describes.
Philippians 2:5-11 “Let this mind be
in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form
of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but
made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly
exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.”
Jesus existed in the form of
God. He is the express image of the
invisible God. He did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God. He was
equal with God. Yet He humbled Himself,
became a man and became obedient to God’s will.
God’s will was for Him to die on the cross and bear the penalty for the
sins of mankind. God exalted Him and
gave Him the name above every name. He
is our salvation. Paul said we must have
the same mind as Christ. Even though
this can almost sound blasphemous, we must see that we exist in the form of God
also. We are not God; that is clear. But God has come to dwell in us through the
Holy Spirit. We are the temple of
God. We have been made the righteousness
of God. He has given us His same
standing in righteousness as a free gift in Christ Jesus. We must see ourselves this way. But we must humble ourselves and take the
form of a servant and become obedient to God’s will. God’s will for us in not to die on the cross
for the sins of others. Only Jesus could
do that. God’s will for us is Christ in
us, living His life through us, expressing His love through us, spreading His
message of grace to others. This will
only happen when we have God’s divine view of who we are in Him. This idea is expressed in the following
verses.
Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my
beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for
it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
The phrase working out our salvation
does not mean that we are working to obtain our salvation or somehow working to
obtain right-standing with God. It means
that we are working our salvation from the inside, where God dwells within us,
to the outside where others can see our love and good conduct. Verse 13 says that it is God who works IN you
both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
God dwells in us when we are born again.
The only way people can see evidence of that is through His love
expressed through our words and actions.
The phrase ‘fear and trembling’ is
not a reference to being afraid of losing our salvation. The phrase ‘fear and trembling’ is used in
Jeremiah 33:9 and 1 Corinthians 2:3.
Jeremiah 33:9 “Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an
honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to
them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity
that I provide for it.” We can clearly
see that this is not being afraid of losing our salvation; it is awe and
reverence for the great things that God has provided for us and is doing in us.
Philippians 2:14-16 “Do all things
without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless,
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding
fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have
not run in vain or labored in vain.”
We are to hold fast the word of
life; this is the gospel or the word of righteousness by faith apart from our
works. By holding fast to the word of
righteousness and God living within us, it leads us to cleanse our minds and our
consciences. This leads to the cleansing
of our words and actions before people.
We then become children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation. We become the shining lights
in our world. This process all begins
with holding fast the word of life.
This phrase ‘hold fast’ in reference
to the gospel is used in other epistles.
It is used in Hebrews 3:6 and 3:14.
It speaks of holding fast the beginning of our confidence, that our sins
were purged by Jesus, steadfast to the end.
The same phrase ‘hold fast’ is used in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, “Moreover,
brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you
received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast
that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain (to no
effect).” This holding fast is not
referring to being born again. The word
saved here is a reference to daily deliverance in our lives after we are born
again. How does this take place? By holding fast to the gospel or word of
righteousness, that our sins were purged.
As we see our sins put away and God living within us, it brings us daily
deliverance in our walk with Christ.
This phrase ‘hold fast’ is to endure
in the gospel. Jesus said the seed sown
on stony ground is the person who endures only for a while in the word of the
kingdom. When persecution or tribulation
arises because of the word, he stumbles or falls away from the word of
righteousness. Again, this is not losing
our salvation. It is stumbling back to
an Old Testament law mindset of performance and punishment. It is falling away from grace back to
law.
Paul will now give three examples of
having the attitude of a servant. He
used himself, Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of believers who displayed
the correct attitude and actions as servants of Christ and servants of people.
Philippians 2:17-24 “Yes, and if I
am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of
your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same
reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in
the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged
when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who
will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own,
not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his
proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the
gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I
see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I
myself shall also come shortly.”
Paul was ready to give his own life
in service for Christ. He praised
Timothy for being like-minded and having a servant’s heart and proven
character.
Philippians 2:25-30 “Yet I
considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker,
and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since
he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he
was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God
had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow
upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that
when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive
him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because
for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to
supply what was lacking in your service toward me.”
Jesus died not only to forgive our
sins but to bring us healing and health.
From the phrase in verse 30, not regarding his life, it appears that Epaphroditus
apparently neglected his health by overworking himself in service to Paul in
the ministry. This could explain why he
was sick almost to death. Christ has
provided for our healing, but we must take care of ourselves also. Nevertheless, he was healed and returned to
his fellow countrymen.
Keith Oliver
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