Bibles again to the letter of
Philippians. Today we're looking at chapter
2. Philippians chapter 2. I'll read the first 11 verses.
Philippians 2 beginning in verse 1. If there be therefore any
consolation in Christ, If any comfort of love, if any fellowship
of the Spirit, if any vows and mercies, fulfill ye my joy that
you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord,
of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themselves. Look not every man on his own
things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this
man be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in
the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. and being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, given him a name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory
of God the Father. In these verses that we are looking
at this morning, the Apostle Paul is exhorting believers to
unity, that they, as he says in verse 2, be like-minded. Let me remind us that when Paul
wrote his letter, his first letter to the church at Corinth, he
knew that there were divisions in that church that needed to
be addressed. Now there was nothing like those
divisions evidently in the church at Philippi, but there was something. If you look in chapter 4 in verse
2, he mentions two ladies in this church, two sisters in Christ,
and it was serious enough for him to mention them when he said,
I beseech Iodias and beseech Synthetha that they be of the
same mind in the Lord. Paul recognized, and so should
we, that that there's always the potential in every Christian
church and every Christian assembly for divisions, for disunity,
and discord. Now someone might say, well why? Why is that true? Why is this? Saying that we all trust in the
Lord Jesus Christ, that he is love, God manifested in the flesh
who is love, Why is it that there's always a potential in every Christian
church for disunity and discord? Why is that? Well, of course,
one answer is that we continue to carry with us what the Apostle
Paul calls the old man in the letter of Romans. And it is an
old man because we inherited it from our father Adam, the
first man. That is a sinful nature, an old
man. And he's been with us from our
conception. When we were conceived in the
womb, we were conceived in sin, the scripture says. And when
a person is saved, there's a new man created within. But the old
man is not put out, and the apostle exhorts us in many places of
scripture to put off, put off concerning the conversation of
the old man, that is the works of the flesh. works of the flesh,
such as strife and envy and malice and contention and things that
we would recognize as disunity and discord in a church. Another reason, I believe, and
this actually grows out of that, the fact that we continue to
have a nature, an old man with us, is that sometimes even as
believers we grow cold and indifferent in the things of the Lord. We lose sight of what is really
important and we become selfish and we start thinking about what
pleases me and we forget about thinking about others, looking
on the things of others. It all concerns me, what I want
and what I desire. And you know, keep your place
here, but look back with me, if you will, to the Gospel of
Luke. The Gospel of Luke. And think
about this. Luke chapter 22. In this chapter, the Lord instituted
the Lord's Supper. He gave His disciples instruction
how we are to observe the Lord's table in remembrance of Him until
He comes again. You see that and we won't deal
with this, but look in verse 20. Likewise also the cup after
supper saying this cup is the New Testament. So He's giving
them instructions concerning the Lord's table. Now this, remember
this was the night before He was crucified. When he leaves
his table, he's going to the Garden of Gethsemane. But look
what Luke tells us in verse 23. And they began to inquire among
themselves which of them it was that should do this thing. And
there was also a strife among them, which of them should be
accounted the greatest. Now these are the twelve apostles. And this is the night before
his crucifixion. And what were they concerned
about? Vainglory? That's what it is, right? Vainglory? Which of us is going to be the
greatest among this group? And so there is always a potential
in every Christian assembly for discord and disunity. And the
Apostle Paul, in the passage we're looking at today, He exhorts
us, he calls upon believers to be of the same mind. Now, as
I said to the church at Corinth when he wrote that letter, he
recognized there were divisions there over different preachers. You know, some liked the way
Paul preached, and some liked the way Peter preached, and some
liked the way Apollos preached, and then there were some who
thought they were more sanctimonious than everybody else. We follow
Christ. Paul said, you're carnal. Make
no mistake about it. When people follow preachers,
and I try to encourage you, listen to what the man says. Listen to his message. I know
it's important how he says it, but every preacher is somewhat
different. Every preacher has a different
delivery or a different style, as we would say in And God called
that man to preach. And the worst thing any man can
do that God calls to preach is try to copy or mimic some other
preacher. God called you. Be you. Preach the gospel. Yes. But Paul
told that church at Corinth, you're carnal. And I have to
deal with you like babes because you're not strong to receive
the meat of the Word. But let me point this out to
us. To the church at Corinth, he used the human body as an
analogy or an example of a church. And in the human body, there
are many members. And the members have different
functions. But every member is important
to the usefulness of the church. Let's read that, if you will.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 1 Corinthians chapter 12. And let's begin in verse 12. For as the body is one, one body,
you have one body, but you have many members in your body. For
as a body is one and hath many members, and all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body, so is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether
we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit. For the body is not one member,
but many. If the foot shall say, Because
I am not the hand, I am not of the body. Is it therefore not
of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because
I am not the eye, I am not of the body. Is it therefore not
of the body? If the whole body were an eye,
where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where
were the smelling? But now, now, God created man,
didn't he? And we are amazed at the human
body, the way God made, the wisdom of God. And the church of the
Lord Jesus Christ, we are the body of Christ. And now hath
God set the members, every one of them, in the body as it hath
pleased him. And if they were all one member,
where were the bodies? But now are they many members,
yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the
hand, I have no need of thee, nor again the head to the feet,
I have no need of you. Nay, much more, those members
of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary. And
those members of the body which we think to be less honorable,
upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our uncomely parts
have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no
need, but God hath tempered the body together, having given more
abundant honor to that part which lacked, that there should be
no schism in the body, but the members should have the same
care one for another. And whether one member suffer,
all the members suffer with it. Or one member be honored, all
the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ
and members in particular. So the unity that Paul is calling
for in the church at Philippi and Every local church is given
to us by the human body. An example is given to us. We
have many members, and each member has a different function, but
each member is useful. Each member is important, has
his place, and is in the body where God placed him. Where God
placed him. Now, let's go back to our text,
and I want us to see two things in this passage. To the Philippians,
Paul calls for unity in two ways. First, believers, those who are
part of this church body, they are appointed to what we all
have in Christ. Notice he begins with the word,
if. Now the word if is in this place an affirmative word. It's not a questionable thing.
One writer said it takes what follows for granted and true. What he follows up with this
word if is taken for granted to be true. He's not questioning. These things are true of everyone
who is a member of Christ, who is in Christ. This same writer
went on to say, it's like when we say, if you be children, honor
then your father. The same as saying, since you
are children, honor your father. And Paul is not questioning,
asking if these things are true, but since these things are true,
and they are true of everyone who is in Christ. These four
things. The first thing he mentions is
consolation. if there be therefore any consolation
in Christ." Did you know that's one of our Savior's names? Consolation? Remember that older man in the
temple in Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus Christ was just a
baby and he was carried there by Mary and Joseph? There was
a man there by the name of Simeon and the scripture says that he
was waiting for the consolation of Israel. the consolation of
Israel, that is the Messiah, the Savior that had been promised
to Israel. And he had been told, now listen,
he's waiting for the consolation of Israel, and he had been told
by the Holy Spirit that before he died, he would see the Lord's
Christ. Consolation, if there be any
consolation in Christ. And there is no consolation for
a sinner anywhere else. What does the word consolation
mean? Well, one of the definitions
is alleviation from misery. Alleviation from misery. And this is true of every child
of God, every son of God. Our sins, our sins had brought
us into misery. Misery before God, and when God
the Holy Spirit came in convicting power, misery in our conscience
as well. Misery because we knew we were
convinced by God the Holy Spirit that we are guilty, that we've
sinned against God. And we deserve, we merit, not
the goodness of God, but the wrath of God. We are charged
as guilty and there's no hope for us, yet in Christ, in Christ
we receive consolation. Consolation knowing that He is
the atonement for our sins. Yes, we have sinned. Yes, we
are guilty. But my friends, yes, Christ has
died and He's paid our sin debt. I read a short article the other
day in someone's bulletin. I can't quote it verbatim, but
basically it was by Martin Luther. And he said, when you tell me
I'm a sinner, when you tell me I'm a sinner, he said, that just
qualifies me for the Savior. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world
to save sinners. Yes, He is our consolation. The
consolation that we have is found in Christ. You won't find consolation. I'm talking about if you know
yourself to be guilty before God, you'll never find consolation
in your works, in your church, in your ceremonies, in your rituals. You can go through them all and
you will come out just like you went in. without any consolation. But in Christ, there's consolation. All of these things that he mentions
here, these four things, are true of every person who is in
Christ. Look back to Ephesians 1. Ephesians
1. Every blessing that we have is
in Christ. Beginning with verse 3 in chapter
1, he said, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath, who hath, he's not saying who will, who hath,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly
places in Christ. Every good thing that God has
for one of His people is found in Christ. In Christ. If there be any consolation in
Christ. There's no consolation anywhere
else. Not for a person who's been taught
by God the Holy Spirit that he's guilty, she's guilty before God. But there is consolation in Christ. We've been blessed. who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him, in Christ,
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy
and without blame before him. In love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ Himself, according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Accepted where? In Christ, in
the Beloved. Everyone wants to be accepted,
don't they? Everyone desires to be accepted,
to be included. There's only one place where
God will accept you or accept me, and that is in Christ. He said, this is my beloved son
in whom I am well pleased, and he is well pleased with everyone
else who is in Christ. So that's the first thing Paul
calls their attention to, consolation in Christ. Then number two, comfort
of love. God loves us in Christ and He
has demonstrated His love for us in giving His Son to die in
our stead. Romans chapter 5, the Apostle
Paul said, but God commendeth His love. That word commendeth
is is like you'd put on a sign. You see these people demonstrating
and they're holding up their signs. Well, that's the same
word that is used here by God demonstrating His love. How did
He demonstrate His love? Commending His love toward us
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Commended
His love. He declared His love, manifested
His love for us. Since there's love, the apostle
says, since there's consolation in Christ and there's comfort
of love in Christ. Are you not comforted? Remember
the prophet Isaiah, God commanded him, comfort ye, comfort ye my
people. And the reason for that is many
times God's children, because of that old sin nature, it'll
drag you down. It'll convince you of things
that you would rather not even think about. Make you doubt whether
you even are a believer, a child of God. Comfort you, comfort
you. Isn't it comforting to know about
the love of God? that God so loved us that He
sent His only begotten Son, that God commendeth His love toward
us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. In Romans chapter 5, and these
verses I'll read, Romans 5, verses 1 through 5, Scripture says, therefore being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing
that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and
experience hope. And hope maketh not a shame,
now notice, because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit. The love of God, the fact that
God loves us, that God loves me, that God loves you, comfort
of love. And then the third thing he mentions
is fellowship of the Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit has come to dwell in every believer. In Romans
8, Paul said, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of his. And the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit, the word fellowship is communion, communion of the Holy
Spirit. It's the same word translated
fellowship here that's translated communion in the Apostles' benediction. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you
all. One of the titles, the Holy Spirit
has many titles just as the Lord Jesus Christ has many titles. But one of his titles that he
has is helper. That passage in John chapter
14, the King James translates as Comforter. I think it's the
American Standard Version translates that same word as Helper, Helper. The Lord said, I will not leave
you orphans. He's talking to his disciples.
All their hearts were sad. Why? Because he was going to
leave them. And he said, I'll not leave you orphans. I'll pray
the Father. And He'll send you another Helper,
another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. The comfort
and fellowship of the Spirit of God. Every child of God enjoys
this. And the last thing, vows and
mercies from our innermost being. This is the way we are to understand
this. If there be therefore any consolation
in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any vows and mercies. That is, we have feelings. You know, from vows we would
probably say today from the heart. But we have feelings and we have
concern for others who are in Christ. We don't have to have
a campaign and try to get God's people to love each other. That's
just something that comes natural to God's people, to love and
care and be concerned about one another. Remember in 1st John
5 in verse 1, the apostle said, Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God. Are you born of God? If you believe
that Jesus is the Christ, you are born of God. Remember what
the Apostle Peter told our Lord? He said, We believe and are sure
that thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Both faith and assurance. I think some people think of
assurance as some kind of a feeling. And we may all think that sometimes. But what did Peter call assurance? We believe and are sure. We are sure. We believe. Art the Christ the Son of the
living God? Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah. Flesh and blood did not reveal
that unto you. But John says, Whosoever believeth
that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. But listen, he didn't
stop there. He didn't put a period. And everyone
that loveth him that begat, who begat you? We're born of the
Spirit, born of God. The new birth is the work of
God, isn't it? It's not the will of the flesh
or of blood or of man that we are born of God. We're born of
God. And He which hath birthed you,
begets you, you love Him, love also them that are begotten of
Him. You love God. And you love those
who are begotten of Him. Now Paul is reminding them of
these four truths that every believer, every child of God
experiences and knows to be so. All believers have these things
in common in Christ. Therefore, because of this, this
should promote unity. This should promote peace and
and unity among God's children. And here's the way he says to
maintain it. He gives three things here in
our text. Now these things are true of
you, these four things. Now, we should do nothing through
strife and vain glory. Now I want to point this out. Paul didn't say we should do
nothing. He didn't say that, did he? I
think some professing believers think he said, we should do nothing.
And they do nothing. No, that's not what he said.
In fact, if you look back, we looked at this several weeks
ago, but in chapter 1, the last petition that he offered in his
prayer in verse 11 was being filled with the fruits of righteousness. Be filled with the fruits of
righteousness. That is the works that God has
ordained that we walk therein. But now Paul says we should do
nothing through strife and vain glory. Not to do anything seeking pride
or preeminence. That was the problem the disciples
had when they were discussing which one of them should be the
greatest. Everyone wanted to be the greatest. Paul said, let's
do nothing. Let's do nothing through pride
or through strife and seeking vain glory. And then number two,
he said, we should in lowliness of mind esteem others better
than ourselves. better than ourselves, our brothers
and sisters in Christ, better than ourselves. Matthew Henry
said, be severe upon our own faults and charitable in our
judgments of others. Be quick in observing our own
defects and infirmities, but ready to overlook and make favorable
allowances for the defects of others. One writer, I can't remember
which one that I read, he made some comment like this. He said,
most people are blind at home and have perfect eyesight outside
the house. In other words, when they're
looking at themselves, they're pure blind. See, no problems,
no defects, no blemishes, but oh, when they go out and look
at others, They can see every blemish. Just like our Lord said
about the man who has a tuba for in his eye. And he sees that
little speck in his brother's eye. And he's going to get that
out of his eye. Our Lord said, no, you take it
out of your eye first. That's what Paul means here.
In lowliness of mind, esteem others better than ourselves.
And number three, we should look on the things of others. What
does that mean? Look on the things of others.
We're not to be busybodies. We know that. It doesn't mean
that. But we are to be concerned for the good of others. Not everyone looking upon what
I want, what's best for me, what I think we should do. upon the
good of others. What would be the best for all
of us? Now, and I see I've taken a lot
of time on that first point, and so I won't say much here.
It says everything that needs to be said, doesn't it? When
you just read these verses. I said, first of all, Paul points
us to what we have in Christ, but now he points us to Christ.
to Christ. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a
name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth. He is Lord." Someone said, make
Him your Lord. You can't do that. He is your
Lord. He's Lord of heaven and He's
Lord of earth and things under the earth. At His disposal are
all things. Every knee bows and every tongue
confesses that He is Lord to the glory of God. I pray the
Lord would bless these thoughts to us here this morning. I'm
thankful for the unity that the Lord has given us in this congregation
and the peace and I trust the Lord will continue and he will
if we follow what we've just read here in this passage of
scripture. Now let's turn to