Apr 26, 2023
Our text is from Philippians 2:
“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…” (Philippians 2:1).
We now move into one of the great chapters of the New Testament. The poem about Jesus in verses 6-11, most likely a song already being sung in the church, is still well known among Christians today. It offers us a succinct summary of Christ’s work while at the same time offering us the character of the Christian life: humility.
But to engage with this chapter, we need to draw out its connection to what Paul has already written. Our text begins with, ‘Therefore’, a word which always draws our attention to what has gone before. Earlier, Paul wrote, “I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). This ‘standing firm in the one Spirit’ and ‘striving together as one’ is applied to two areas of the Christian life.
At the end of chapter one, he commends the Philippians for standing with him in his imprisonment. They are standing firm against opposition to the gospel; they are not buckling under persecution against the church. In this aspect of the Christian life, standing strong against opposition from the outside, Paul commends their vigor for the gospel.
But now, in chapter 2, Paul turns their attention to matters within the church. Here, in this area of the Christian life, in the matter of Christian unity, they are not doing so well. There are lots of good spiritual things happening in the church in Philippi; she is a source of joy to the apostle. Still, their domestic affairs were not ideal.
One wonders, were they seeing too much of each other and getting on each others’ nerves? Were they exaggerating weaknesses of certain brothers or minimizing the virtues of certain sisters? This chapter suggests that those inside the family were attacking or even belittling each other. This makes a sorry spectacle before the world. When we Christians fight with each other, our inner spiritual growth is hindered and our witness to the world is weakened.
Paul calls them to stand firm in the “One Spirit.” This Spirit lavishes the Christians with gifts for the sake of the church. The Philippi Christians have received. As have we. Sometimes Christians even like to boast about the gifts they have received. The Christians in Corinth certainly did. Yet, these gifts do us and the church no good if we are not loving our brothers and sisters at home. Love is the greatest of the gifts.
Paul uses a rapid series of ‘if’ clauses to make a heart-felt appeal to the Philippians, as their friend and as their apostle. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion.” Paul does not doubt that these things are present among the believers. The gifts are there. Now it is time to put them into practice, to learn how to use them.
That is the nature of spiritual gifts. After receiving them, we must learn how to use them. We must practice. A choir can sing in harmony only after considerable practice, even if it has gifted singers. This is what the whole chapter is about, how to sing in harmony under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere, Paul tells the Galatian Christians “To walk in step with the Spirit” (5:25). Same point, different words.
To be Spirit led does not mean being passive. It means getting our hands dirty doing the things that bring unity to the fellowship, things like forgiving and sacrifice. Difficult things. Unity in the church is a gift God gives. But we only experience it, if we do the things it demands, putting the needs of others above ourselves. This is what Christ does. How is Christ drawing you towards this self-denial?