CHRISTMAS: With The MIND Of CHRIST-II—
—Philippians 2:1-18[part-2--2:1b-2a of 2:1-4]
Attention:
Attitude Problem:
A husband & wife had been married a few short years, & the husband was felt he was being bossed around by his wife.
So he went to see a psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist told the husband that he needed to build his self-esteem, & gave him a booklet on ‘assertiveness’ to read.
By the time he reached home that night after work, he had finished reading the booklet.
He ‘assertively’ stormed into the house. He confidently walked up to his wife, pointed a finger in her face & said,:
•“From now on, I want you to know that “I” am the man of this house, & my word is law!...I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, & when I'm finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert. Then, after dinner, you're going to draw me my bath so I can relax.
And with an ‘air of arrogant confidence’, he finished his tirade by saying, Woman, when I’m finished with my bath, guess who's going to dress me & comb my hair?”
Without a second’s hesitation, she quickly replied, “I know who!”...
...“The funeral director!!”
The husband received was some ILL-ADVISED assertiveness!
And THAT produced an attitude problem, threatening his marriage & very life!
We can get ‘all-kinda’ ‘out-of-sorts’ with our ‘attitude’ toward certain things. And that is when that ‘attitude’ of ours, needs to be adjusted! That ‘attitude’ needs to be fixed before things really get out-of-hand with yourself & others!
In like manner, Any of us Christians are capable of ‘Doing Church’!...When we operate WITHOUT the power of God!
When merely ‘doing church’, we are operating by the self-righteous, self-centered, feeble, & ineffective power of the flesh!
2Tim. 3:1-5—“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
Instead of ‘doing Church’, God’s people are to operate with the mind of Christ Jesus, our Savior & Lord!
Need:
The apostle Paul counseled the Philippian church to minister empowered with the mind of Christ Jesus.
And so, God’s people are to minister with the mind of Christ Jesus.
But, How do God’s people minister with the mind of Christ Jesus?
5 characteristics of Christians who enter ministry with the mind of Christ Jesus.
Last Sunday(Christmas Week) we only began to explore the depth of meaning
in the truths presented in verses :1-4 & following....
....TODAY we’ll continue our examination of those truths, seeing that....
(CONT...)1—Christmas with the mind of Christ...
LOVES As JESUS LOVES(:1-4)[Part-2--2:1b-2a]
Explanation:(:1-4) ‘Agape’ love
(CONT...):1b—“Therefore if there is any consolation[encouragement] in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection & mercy,”
•Thru these shared virtues that characterize the committed Christian(God’s people), not only is there “consolation in Christ” that belongs to them.
*BUT ALSO there is “comfort” that is their’s thru “Christ’s” selfless & self-giving “love”(agaph)! And that “comfort of love” is ‘strengthened’ thru the gathering of God’s people.
•The “love” expressed by & thru God’s people, brings “comfort” to them, rather than discomfort. And so, thru living out the “comfort of” God’s “love” before others, they likewise, offer ‘the mind of Christ’ to others.
•A lifestyle lived in the “comfort of love” CANNOT be kept from being shared!
•A life lived in the “comfort of” Christ’s self-giving “love”, in some way, shape, or form is ‘CAUGHT’ by the lost, so that they too might put their trust in Jesus, the One thru whom His people receive such compelling “comfort”!
“Comfort/Consolation”—paramuyion—Noun Neuter - Nominative Sing. Neuter—1) Persuasive address. Strong—Consolation(properly, concretely). Used 1X--Php. 2:1.?From—paramuyia—1) Any address, whether made for the purpose of persuading, or of arousing & stimulating, or of calming & consoling—1a) Consolation, comfort. Strong—Consolation(properly, abstract).
“Love”(see :2)—agaph—Noun Fem. - Genitive Sing. Fem.—1) Brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence; 2) Love feasts. Strong—Love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially(plural)--A love-feast. R.H. Mounce—Agaph is selfless love, which cannot be turned in on itself. J. MacArthur—‘...one of the rarest words in Greek literature, but one of the most common in the New Testament.’
*None of God’s people can experience any ACTUAL “Comfort of love”, & offer it to others, UNLESS it comes from God’s truth...God’s reality that already exists within them!
(CONT...):1c—“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection & mercy,”
•Thru these shared virtues that characterize the committed Christian(God’s people), not only is there “consolation in Christ”, & “comfort of love” that belongs to them....
*There is ALSO a “fellowship” that is their’s & only their’s, thru the “Spirit” of God! And that “fellowship of the Spirit” is ‘strengthened’ thru the gathering of God’s people.
•God’s people ‘build each other up’ rather than separate one from the other. And so, thru their “fellowship of the Spirit” they supernaturally offer the mind of Christ to others.
•A lifestyle lived in the “fellowship of the Spirit” CANNOT be kept from being shared!
•A life lived in the “fellowship of the Spirit” in some way, shape, or form is ‘CAUGHT’ by the lost, so that they too might put their trust in Jesus, the One thru whom His people receive such compelling “fellowship”!
“Fellowship”—koinwnia—Lit. = ‘an in-common sharer’—Noun Fem. - Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) Fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse—1a) The share which one has in anything, participation, 1b) Intercourse, fellowship, intimacy—1b1) The right hand as a sign & pledge of fellowship(in fulfilling the apostolic office), 1c) A gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment & proof of fellowship. Strong—Partnership, i.e. literally--Participation, or social--Intercourse, or pecuniary--Benefaction. Used 20X.?From—koinwnov —A sharer, i.e. Associate. From--koinov—Common, i.e. literally--Shared by all or several, or ceremonially--Profane.
*None of God’s people can experience any ACTUAL “fellowship of the Spirit”, & offer it to others, UNLESS it comes from God’s truth...God’s reality that already exists within them!
(CONT...):1c—“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection & mercy,”
•Thru these shared virtues that characterize the committed Christian(God’s people), not only is there “consolation in Christ”, & “comfort of love” , & a “fellowship of the Spirit” that belongs to them....
*There is ALSO an “affection” that flows from the people of God, that is their’s thru the “Spirit” of God! And that “affection” is ‘strengthened’ thru the gathering of God’s people.
•The family of God is ‘kind’ & ‘tender’ toward one another. And so, thru living out God’s ‘kind’ “affection” before others, they likewise, offer the mind of Christ to others.
•And so, a lifestyle lived in the “affection” of Christ, CANNOT be kept from being shared!
•A life lived with the ‘tenderness’ of Christ’s “affection”, in some way, shape, or form is ‘CAUGHT’ by the lost, so that they too might put their trust in Jesus, the One thru whom His people receive such compelling “affection”!
“Affection/Bowels/Tenderness”—splagcnon—Noun Neuter - Nominative Plural Neuter—1) Bowels, intestines,(the heart, lungs, liver, etc.)—1a) Bowels, 1b) The bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger & love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our Heart(tender mercies, affections, etc.), 1c) A heart in which mercy resides. Strong—An intestine(plural); figuratively--Pity or sympathy; probably strengthened from splhn(the “spleen”). Used 11X.
*None of God’s people can experience any ACTUAL “affection”, & offer it to others, UNLESS it comes from God’s truth...God’s reality that already exists within them!
(CONT...):1c—“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection & mercy,”
•Thru these shared virtues that characterize the committed Christian(God’s people), not only is there “consolation in Christ”, & a “comfort of love” , a “fellowship of the Spirit” , & a Christian “affection” that belongs to them....
*There is ALSO a “mercy” , “pity”, or “compassion” towards others, that flows from the people of God, that is their’s thru the “Spirit” of God! And that “mercy” , “pity”, & “compassion” is ‘strengthened’ thru the gathering of God’s people.
•The family of God is ‘forgiving’ & ‘tender’ toward one another. They are forgiving, knowing they themselves have been forgiven. And so, thru living out God’s “mercy” , “pity”, & “compassion” before others, they likewise, offer the mind of Christ to others.
•A lifestyle lived in the “mercy” , “pity”, & “compassion” of Christ, CANNOT be kept from being shared!
•A life lived with the tenderness of Christ’s “mercy”, in some way, shape, or form is ‘CAUGHT’ by the lost, so that they too might put their trust in Jesus, the One thru whom His people receive such compelling “mercy”!
“Mercy/Mercies/Compassion”—oiktirmov—Noun Masc. - Nominative Plural Masc.—1) Compassion, pity, mercy—1a) Bowels in which compassion resides, a heart of compassion, 1b) Emotions, longings, manifestations of pity. Denotes the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. A criminal begs eleew of his judge; but hopeless suffering is often the object of oiktirmov. Both words denote sympathy, fellow-feeling with misery, mercy, compassion. Eleov, however, manifests itself chiefly in acts rather than words, while oiktirmov is used rather of the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. Strong—Pity. Used 5X--Rom. 12:1; 2Cor. 1:3; Php. 2:1; Col. 3:12; Heb. 10:28.
*None of God’s people can experience any ACTUAL “mercy” , “pity”, & “compassion”, & offer it to others, UNLESS it comes from God’s truth...from God’s reality that already exists within them!
:2a—“fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Since God expects the above virtues(:1) to define those who are in Christ...AND since God created us to exercise ‘freewill’, THEN God’s people must constantly ‘make choices’ in their SERVICE to God!
There are multiple points of ‘reasonable decision’ that we as Christians, must act on in order to glorify God.
And so, the saint of God is super-naturally compelled to seek the “joy” of their apostolic mentors/fathers...such as the apostle Paul(“my”). We do that thru appealing to the entirety of the Scriptures.
“Fulfill/Make...Complete”—plhrow—1Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Plural—1) To make full, to fill up, i.e. To fill to the full—1a) To cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally—1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied; 2) To render full, i.e. To complete—2a) To fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim, 2b) To consummate: a number—2b1) To make complete in every particular, to render perfect, 2b2) To carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking), 2c) To carry into effect, bring to realization, realize—2c1) Of matters of duty: to perform, execute, 2c2) Of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish, 2c3) To fulfill, i.e. To cause God's will(as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, & God's promises(given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment. Strong—To make replete, i.e. literally--To cram(a net), level up(a hollow), or figuratively--To furnish(or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute(an office), finish(a period or task), verify(or coincide with a prediction), etc..
“Joy”—cara—Noun Fem. - Accusative Sing. Fem.—1) Joy, gladness—1a) The joy received from you, 1b) The cause or occasion of joy—1b1) Of persons who are one's joy. Strong—Cheerfulness, i.e. Calm delight.
*Being “like-minded” is a telling mark of the ‘True’ Church of Christ!
*?What good would it do, if people became members of a local church, yet were not in agreement with that church’s beliefs, or with the way that body of Christ did ministry?
“Like-minded/Of The Same Mind”(See below--“of one mind”)—to auto fronhte—Lit. = ‘The Same Mind’—“The”—o,—OR feminine--h, —OR neuter--to—Definite Article - Accusative Sing. Neuter—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—the definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).—+— “Same”—autov—Personal/Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Sing. Neuter—1) Himself, herself, themselves, itself; 2) He, she, it; 3) The same. Strong—The reflexive pronoun--Self, used(alone or in the comparative eautou) of the third person, & (with the proper personal pronoun)of the other persons; from the particle au[perhaps akin to the base of ahr[air] through the idea of a baffling wind]--Backward.—+—“Mind”(see “mind” below)—fronew—Present Active Subjunctive 2nd Plural—1) To have understanding, be wise; 2) To feel, to think—2a) To have an opinion of one's self, think of one's self, to be modest, not let one's opinion(though just) of himself exceed the bounds of modesty, 2b) To think or judge what one's opinion is, 2c) To be of the same mind, i.e. Agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious; 3) To direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for—3a) To seek one's interest or advantage, 3b) To be of one's party, side with him(in public affairs). Strong—To exercise the mind, i.e. Entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication--To be (mentally)disposed(more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively--To interest oneself in(with concern or obedience). Used 29X.
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Recall the husband’s ill-advised assertiveness, which produced an attitude problem, threatening his marriage & very life?....
In like manner, Any of us Christians are capable of merely ‘Doing Church’! When we operate WITHOUT the power of God!...When we are merely ‘doing church’, we are operating by the self-righteous, self-centered, feeble, & ineffective power of the flesh!
God’s people are instead, to operate with the mind of Christ Jesus, our Savior & Lord!
Action:
Christmas: with the mind of Christ...
1-B. LOVES As JESUS LOVES(:1-4)[Part 2--2:1b-2a of 2:1-4](2:1-18)
1-A. LOVES As JESUS LOVES(:1-4)[part-1--2:1a only!]
Pnt# 1-B--2:1-4[part-2--2:1b-2a] presented 12/28/2025am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Pnt# 1-A--2:1-4[part-1--2:1a] presented 12/21/2025am(Christmas week Sunday) to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
