Philippians Chapter 2
PAUL'S JOY: THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
(Philippians 2:1 [KJV])
If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
- Consolation, comfort, fellowship, bowels (emotions), mercies
- In other words, IF you are saved, IF you are following Christ, IF you call yourself a Christian
- IF you have the been consoled in Christ and by Him, IF you have the ability to console the suffering of other, IF you can comfort others by loving them, IF they feel comfortble being with you, IF you hang out with the brethren regularly and the inquisitive, searching, non adversarial lost, IF you have compassion (mercy)
- The IF here can be SINCE, because it is to us, the ones who are saved
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.
- THEN AND ONLY THEN can you have unity of the faith
- Today in America, we like to "unite" for the sake of having unity, not because we agree
- We do not agree because there are those who do not read, study, believe God's Holy Word, and those who do, leading to false doctrines
- We are commanded to avoid them, which is why we have and have to have divisions
UNITY
(Amos 3:3 [KJV])
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
NO!!!!
(Romans 13:12 [KJV])
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
(Ephesians 5:11 [KJV])
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
(Philippians 2:3 [KJV])
[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
- If it will cause these things, if it will lead to disunity because of our pride, ego, or behavior and not doctrine, just leave it by the side of the road, soldier of Christ!
- Titles, seminaries, to be avoided now, as they simply cause this nonsense.
- Humility is what we need, not knowledge for the sake of knowledge that puffs up
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
- The crop reaped from sowing humility is helping others, expecting nothing in return
- It does not say to ignore your own needs, your own family at the expense of others, not even close
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
- The Mind of Christ, right here, about to be described
- Remember what Jesus Christ did, being God, serving the Father and us, not Himself
- It will not ransom anyone already ransomed, but giving your all in Christ's humility will serve others
(Mark 10:45 [KJV}) For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(2 Corinthians 4:5 [KJV]) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
(1 Corinthians 2:16 [KJV])
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
(Philippians 2:6 [KJV])
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
- Those who deny the Deity of Christ have problems with this verse
- They will claim that it only says Jesus was in the FORM of God, and does not say that Jesus Christ IS God in the flesh
- They will further claim, with New Age pride, that we also are in the form of God (we are not)
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- God made man in His own image; Christ came in man's sinful image, to substitute for our sin, becoming sin for us
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
(Isaiah 53:12 [KJV])
Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Romans 8:3 [KJV])
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(Hebrews 4:15 [KJV])
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.
(Philippians 2:8 [KJV])
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- If Jesus Christ was not God, this would mean nothing. All men "are being found in fashion as men"
- No average mere man would be obedient unto death, not fighting to remain alive
- This would especially be true of a crucifixion
- No more humility than doing it as innocent, not even dying for oneself, but for wicked others who are undeserving
(Romans 5:7,8 [KJV])
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Philippians 2:9-11 [KJV])
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; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- No sweeter Name, no more powerful Name, no more offensive Name to this world
- This glorious (to the believer) and dreadful (to the unbeliever) day is coming, faster, sooner than anyone can know, acknowledge, admit
- Under the earth......the place of hell
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.
- We work it out by being obedient like Jesus was , even unto death
- We do this because we know where we deserve to go, but are not going because of what Christ did
- One's character is never shown by how they are when the master is watching, but rather when alone
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
- This character is and can only developed and displayed when one walks with Christ
- It is God working in and through us, not us working in ourselves
- It is God's will that this happen, not ours in the flesh
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
- Without murmurings and disputings...hard for the flesh of any man to do
- Blameless and harmless is what we would be if we did everything without murmuring and disputing
- The outside world watches us constantly, waiting to pounce and say, "You call yourself a CHRISTIAN?!?"
- Lights shine in darkness to light the darkness, to be seen
- Candles are not very visible in direct sunlight
- If ever there was a crooked and perverse generation, this is it. This, the Pre-Flood world, and the ancient Roman Empire
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
- This also again is "fulfill ye my joy" (v.2)
- The word of God is the Word of life
- The Day of Christ was in chapter one of this book
- Running, laboring........Christianity is not an inert, inactive faith at all.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
- Christianity is a sacrificial service, dying to self, serving others
- Paul is our example
- It should bring us joy to do it
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
- The word "cause " here can mean reason, motive, purpose, pursuit
- Pursuit seems to be the idea being conveyed here
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
- Praying is OK, but news back that prayers are answered for a testimony is always better
- This for sure would lift Paul's spirits in prison
- It is probable that Paul had not heard anything from them in a while, which might have been unusual
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
- He was chained to unbelieving guards, other prisoners being likeminded also
- "No man, naturally likeminded, caring for others".....this is the state of mankind, to take care of only himself, not caring for others, often even at the expense of others
- In Jesus Christ, our nature changes to outward`ministry to others, that vertical part of the Cross-us to God-bolstering the horizontal part of the Cross-us toward men
- The things he is speaking of here is the WILL of Jesus Christ to minister to others, versus the will of man to do things only for himSELF, for SELF-ish reasons
- Seeking one's own comfort and ease while neglecting the need of the body is a sin, common today, especially in mega-churches, where leadership seeks recognition, not knowing even a tenth of the entire congregation. They become Sunday speakers, orators, not teachers, disciplers.
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
- When we bring people to Christ, especially when they are younger, but not always, they are like spiritual children to us
- The reason Timothy could be sent is that he was discipled by Paul, correctly, knew good, sound doctrine and could be trusted with the Word, the twoedged sword
- Timothy had a proven track record of serving God with Paul
Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
- If Paul is able to send Timothy, he will. He needs Timothy to take care of him in his humbled, painful estate in prison
- The moment that he does not need Timothy, Timothy can minister to them instead
- This is being others-minded
But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
- If God wills, Paul will come with him
- In lieu of this not happening, Paul, like all good shepherds, sends backup, just to make sure
- Even if Epaphroditus cvan only bring word back and not minister much, or only minister and not bring word back, Paul is concerned for their welfare.
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
- When we hear that people are praying for us for an illness or other crisis we may be going through, we can see the burden it places on those who care for us, and it weighs us down
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
- God heals, according to His will, not ours, by His mercy, even for the sake of having mercy on others who are not sick
- Sorrow upon sorrow is how life can be, ad God takes care of it all, one way or the other
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
- Notice again that the rejoicing makes Paul less sorrowful
- Seeing through visitation old friends and brethren makes us joyful
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
- Take him in, listen to him. He works for the LORD
- Do the same for all who are like him, not just him.
- Receiving in the LORD is something only true believers can do.
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
- To sacrifice oneself for the ministry is truly amazing
- He was further filling the gap when they could not help Paul
- Near death, buit not caring about his own life should be our attitude. We know where we are going forever.
Duis mi elit, aliquet id euismod egestas, venenatis sit amet lectus.