Unity by Imitating Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:1-11
Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567
What does Christ mean to you? After Apostle Paul finished advising the Philippians the way to handle persecution was to live a life worthy of the Gospel by standing firm in one Spirit and fearlessly striving as one for the faith of the Gospel, he now gives his advice on how to “heal the wounds of strife within the Philippian church itself.” Many of the people in the Greco-Roman world experienced a lot of anxiety due to the fear of “becoming victims of disease, famine, war, and untimely death.” In response to an unknown future they would not only seek the aid of their gods through “incantations, sacrifices, and amulets” but also became fiercely competitive and tended to only do good to others to receive reciprocal favors in return. To combat the Greek philosophy that all love must be conditional Paul gave the Philippians four things to remember about their relationship with Christ to help motivate them to love and seek unity within the church. Paul masterfully used a series of “if statements” that were not meant as possibilities but certainties of what the Philippians have experienced in Christ. First, Paul invited the Philippians to remember how much encouragement they had received from the “blessing of knowing Christ (3:10), being found in Him (3:9), and having been given the gift of faith (1:29).” Second, Paul reminded the Philippians that being a “new creature with a new heart and new sensitivities” meant they did not need to feel anxiety like the Romans of their day, after all they were unconditionally loved by God who sent His Son to atone for their sins and because Christ had sovereignty over all things seen and unseen they were secure in His hand! Third, Paul reminded the Philippians that having been sealed by the Holy Spirit “whose first fruit is love” (Galatians 5:22) meant unity and fellowship would be obtained because it was aided by divine strength. With the aid of the Holy Spirit the Philippians were to “be to each other what God in Christ had been to each of them,” an unconditionally loving, supportive family with Christ as their head! And the final motivation Paul gave to seek unity was to remember how in the Father, Son, and Spirit they constantly found “deep consolation, the voice that speaks to their sorrows, and the hand that touches their hurts!”
Reflection. How easy is it to get so caught up in life’s difficulties that even we as God’s very own children forget the blessings that we have in His Son Jesus? Are there people in your life that you love unconditionally, or have you bought into the world’s way of loving only to receive what has been given?
The Command for Unity
With the encouragement of being united with Christ, comfort from His love, common sharing of the Spirit, tenderness and compassion received; Paul told the Philippians that they could “make his joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and mind” (2:2). While Paul received great joy in his shared partner in the Gospel, if the Philippians desired to “fill his cup to the brim with joy” then they must seek unity with a single, unified goal of living and proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. Their “souls were to beat together” and their lives were to become so in sync that they would be like “clocks striking at the same moment!” Disunity in the church can only be overcome when its members “take on a common yoke and pull together in the same direction.” It is when believers have different goals, belong to separate interest groups, and agendas that conflict arises because ministry stops being focused on the head of the church, Christ. Paul was not telling the Philippians everyone must have the same thoughts and feelings about everything nor is he “prohibiting personal diversity,” but he is merely saying that to obtain unity one must remember and share the same affection, love, comfort, and compassion that one has received from Christ with one another! If the Philippians were to make the joy of this apostle complete, who was chained to guards 24/7 in a Roman prison, unjustly accused, vilified by those who ought to be his friends, with no comforts and no guaranteed future;” then they simply must put aside their “human pride, selfishness, and preoccupation with personal interests!” To be united they must stand firm arm in arm, striving together and not only declare “that to live is Christ” (1:21), but also bow their knee to Jesus Christ as their Lord (2:11) so that their love might abound more and more in the knowledge of Christ, and they might be found blameless upon His return (1:9-10)! As Christians we are here to worship God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Without Christ at the center of our ministry it is not NT worship. Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22) and without keeping our eyes fixed on Him (Hebrews 12:2) unity is easily broken by self-serving interests of individuals or groups clamoring for power. So, the Philippians were called to gladly bow their knee to the Lord as they looked out for the interests of each other (2:4) not just to make Apostle Paul’s joy complete but also to the feel unspeakable joy that only comes from being a unified body of Christ who celebrates having but one Lord, one Baptist and one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Reflection. Which is more important, your way, their way, or God’s way? Do you feel unspeakable joy when the entire church is united with the same goals or are you secretly hoping your goals will become the church’s focus? Are you actively looking out for the interests of the other members of your church?
Unity Through Humility
To be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and one in mind required the Philippians to have a mindset that no longer sought “glory of position, prestige, power, and possessions” but instead humbly valued the interests of others. “Humility” in the Greek culture was often viewed in contempt because for many it “connoted lowlines, weakness, lack of freedom, servility, and subjection.” In the Bible, however, humility is not seen as a “derogatory sense of servile weakness or obsequious groveling or shameful lowliness” but following in the steps of Christ who humbled Himself and died on the cross! “Rivalry” and “conceit” spring from a prideful heart whom God mocks and opposes (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6). While being humble was “utterly despised by the Greeks” it is one of the “highest virtues for the child of God.” To be of one mind and spirit Paul admonishes the Philippians to seek out and eliminate rivalry inside the church. This was a tall order that could only be accomplished by replacing any notions of selfish ambitions or vain conceit with a desire to look out for the interests of each other. For Paul this meant that the attitude of “I know the best and only way” must be replaced a genuine desire to take into consideration the interests of the whole body as one bows one’s knees to the Creator and sustainer of all life (Colossians 1:16). We are called “to give up one’s own rights to work for the good of others!” Paul was not “advocating total self-neglect” nor was he discounting the importance of diversity inside the body of Christ but merely stressing the importance of “living with sensitivity toward the needs of others.” Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking more about what God says is best for the entire church! Unity inside a diverse group of members is only possible when each person serves others with “spiritual sensitivity” that does not neglect one’s own needs but at the same time always sees the “needs and concerns of others surpass that of their own”!
Reflection. Do you often believe your way is the right or only way? Are constantly competing with those around you to get the best positions inside of the church? In your mind who is the head of the church … the worship leaders, deacons, pastor, you? When you think about what is best for the church are you seeking God’s will and considering the interests of the entire body of Christ?
A Divine Example of Humility
When it comes to an example to follow of humbly valuing the interests of others Paul says the Philippians are to exemplify the mind of their Creator, Christ! The following verses (5-11) are “intended as a hymn that was to be sung frequently reminding Christians to follow the same attitude and mindset that Christ had when He chose to become the Godman. Though Christ eternally pre-existed (John 1:1–2, 14; 8:58; 17:5; Col 1:15; Heb 1:2–3), fully divine with the “very nature and essence as God;” He did not clutch onto His rights, blessings, and glory but instead chose to become fully human and fully divine so that He might serve humanity by giving His life a ransom for the many (Mark 10:45). Becoming the incarnate Son of God was not an act “of self-extinction” nor was it one in which His divine nature was in any way diminished. Christ retained His fully divine nature while taking on a fully human nature but unlike humanity He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). As a humble expression of His self-denial of his rights and prerogatives as part of the Triune God, Christ “made Himself nothing” by “taking on the nature of a servant” (2:7). Jesus was not born “in an influential city like Alexandria, Rome, Athens, or Jerusalem. He was born near a feeding trough in Bethlehem.” Christ was lower in status than that of the “common Jew” for in being despised by all He was crucified at the lowest status of Roman society, a slave and a criminal which was the most “degrading state in which a human being could be found in the Roman world.” Most were crucified “close to the ground so that passers-by could inflict their own punishment and dogs and wolves tear at the victim’s limbs and organs.” It was so shameful and brutal that Cicero the Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and philosopher found it to be “a shocking and offensive topic unsuitable for polite conversation.” The Jewish people as well looked down upon those crucified as being under the curse of God (Deuteronomy 21:23). Despite the shame and pain of being crucified we learn from Apostle John that it was not Herod, Pilate, the Romans or even the Jewish people that forced Him upon the cross, but He voluntarily chose to take on the righteous wrath of God so that He might atone for the sins of the many! Christ is not to be pitied upon the cross but honored and His example of servanthood emulated by those He calls His own!
Reflection. Do you find it hard to relinquish your rights for the benefit of others within the body of Christ? Have you ever spent time in prayer examining the best you can the depth of the Lord who died for your sins? Are you voluntarily serving others even when they persecute you with thanksgiving in your hearts because in doing so you are walking on a path of righteousness like the Lord?
Christ’s Exaltation
While the first part of the hymn was all about “Christ’s voluntary humiliation,” the second part focuses on “God’s act of divine justice” that vindicated His Son by lifting Him up to the highest place and giving Him a name above all other names! Paul was not suggesting that Christ, who was eternally in the form of God and shared equality with Him, was somehow “more” supreme because of His death and resurrection! Paul was merely stating that when the resurrected Christ re-entered the glory that “He enjoyed with the Father before the world existed (John 17:5)” He did so both as Son of Man and Son of God. God the Father in heaven gave His Son His own name kyrios thus declaring to the world that the Alpha and Omega was and is eternally deity and Lord over all of Creation! The Father’s exaltation of the Son as Lord would have shocked the Roman world who believed Caesar was lord and was contrary to their belief that when emperors died, they became gods! Even more alarming within this hymn is the statement that “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on the earth and under the earth” (2:10)! “Pilate, Caiaphas, Stalin, Hitler, and every other evil dictator will confess Him as Lord.” Demonic beings, legions of evil spirits, and yes even Satan himself will one day bow to the Lord! Not one single being in all the universe be excluded from one day bowing and acknowledging the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Philippians were not only to take “comfort in the knowledge that Jesus had triumphed over all inimical powers” but were also to follow His example and humble themselves, looking out for interests of others with sacrificial love and a servant’s heart! The last verse of this hymn states that even though every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord He will not keep the glory for Himself but chooses to humbly honors His Father. Likewise the Philippians are to “have the same mindset as Christ” (2:5) and do good deeds to one another in a manner that honors God and not themselves!
Reflection. When you do good deeds for other believers is it to receive their praise and elevate your perceived status inside the church? Imagine for a moment what it will look like when every knee including Satan and his demons have their knees bowed to the Lord!
Conclusion
In this portion of his letter to Philippi Apostle Paul masterfully outlines the solution to one of the greatest threats every church faces. How does a diverse group of people with different goals, dreams, age, nationality, and spiritual gifting come together as one body of Christ? To be unified the members of the church must have the right mindset. With the encouragement of being united with Christ, comfort from His love, common sharing of the Spirit, tenderness and compassion received; we are to be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and mind. Paul is not saying everyone must always have the same thoughts and opinions on everything but is warning us that unity is easily broken when motivation in the church is to satisfy self-serving interests of individuals or groups clamoring for power! For a church to be unified they must humbly take on the common yoke of serving one another! Humility is not thinking less of yourselves but thinking more about what God says is best for the church. When it comes to an example to follow of humbly valuing the interests of others Paul says the Philippians are to exemplify the mind of their Creator, Christ! He emptied Himself of the glory He had in heaven and was born near a trough in Bethlehem only later to crucified, the lowest degrading state of all of society. On the cross Christ exemplified what it means to unconditionally love those God has placed within your care. Church unity is obtained when its members gladly choose to have the same mindset as Christ and do good deeds to one another in a manner that honors God and not themselves! Let us not anxiously wait for the day of the Lord’s return to bow our knees, let us do it now within the confines of His church and boldly declare I want not my way but Yours!
Prayer. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for united this church as one body. May we celebrate our differences and always be looking for ways to share the goodness You have given us individually with one other! We are citizens of heaven and as such we choose to follow the example You gave for us on the cross and serving the many!
Sources Cited
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 2:1–11.
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Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016).
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Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002).
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