Light Brings Salt
Volume 2, Issue 21 May 30, 2004
Dedicated to the
Systematic Exposition of the Word of God
Standing Firm in One Spirit
Have
you ever wondered what is Satan's most effective strategy
since the early days of the Church?
Where has he concentrated his greatest efforts in order to thwart the
work of Jesus Christ the most?
I
Believe that the first paragraph of Philippians chapter 2 will give us
some answers to these questions. Paul continues the exhortation to unity in the
local assembly and gives some guidelines to achieving it as he teaches us some
truths about true humility.
In
the previous paragraph,
#1 - standing firm
in one spirit, with one mind (therefore having a good defense)
#2 - striving
together for the faith (a good offense)
#3 - undeterred by
their opposition in life.
What Paul is
exhorting them is to be "one in
Christ experientially and to maintain this unity even amid persecution"
that they were experiencing. Some of those Philippian believers -- if they were
thinking at all as they arrived at this point in the letter may have been
tempted to ask why, what's so important about unity, others may have asked themselves how this
could be done. Paul anticipated these questions and in these next verses will
give us the answers.
#1 - The basis for
Christian unity - Our Personal benefits in Christ 2:1
#2 - The attitudes
of Christian unity 2:2-4
#3 - An example to
follow - Jesus Christ 2:5-11
The basis of
Christian unity and the benefits of unity for us as believers is found in Christ 2:1
2:1 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any
consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection
and compassion, NASB
GRAMATICALLY 2:1-4
is one long sentence in the Greek, with the main clause being found in 2:2 with
the imperative "make my joy complete." Idea being, bring to
completion that which I have seen begun in you that brings me such joy. In
other words Paul is exhorting them to continue growing and maturing so that
they would realize the impact of their position in Christ and reflect the
character of Christ in their life so that Christ would be seen in them and
glorified by their lives.
Need to recognize
that Paul has a very real concern for these believers and the circumstances
that they were facing which were putting a strain on the unity of that local
body of believers.
Issues not detailed
apart from the two ladies who were having some kind of a dispute which was
disrupting the harmony of the congregation is noted in 4:2 Euodia
and Syntyche.
Paul is not making
so much a theological argument in 2:1 as he is a very strong impassioned plea
to stimulate their thinking related not only to their present situation but to
their past and to consider all that God has accomplished on behalf of them and
through them. Its
a challenge to pause and reflect. He
says in effect, "Look Philippians remember your spiritual heritage, look
at the reality of what you have in Christ." Does that not sound like
something we may need to do once in a while ourselves?
The incentive for
unity then is given in 2:1 or Why we should stand firm
in one spirit, why we should contend as one for the faith.
1.
"If there is any encouragement in
Christ" [all
'if's' are 1cc therefore establishing the
truth of the statement.]
The word for
encouragement is para,klhsij which refers to comfort,
encouragement, exhortation; all have application here but the primary thrust of
the context is exhortation, making a strong appeal to them.
Basis of Paul's
appeal is our union with Christ which carries inherent with it encouragement
and exhortation. Being in Christ they no longer were without hope in the world,
in this life; being in Christ they had a future, being in Christ they had an
inheritance, all based on that positional relationship. All this is true for you also. Knowing this,
it then places an obligation upon us experientially to respond to and apply His
thinking. It takes spiritual growth for
this exhortation or encouragement that flows out of being in union with Christ
becoming understood and realized in our lives.
2.
"if
there is any consolation in love," Is there any comfort from
Christ's love? You bet there is!
The word for
consolation paramu,qion refers to encouragement in the sense of consolation. It is
used of coming along side someone with persuasive arguments to stimulate them
and to draw one aside from the pressure they're facing. Not only are they
"in Christ - united with Him" they as we are,
are also members of the family of God, sons and heirs. Because we are a part of this unique
relationship we become the beneficiaries of Christ's continual love and
provision.
Paul's exhortation
here is that even though you had experienced suffering and persecution (vs:28-30) you have also experienced the comfort that comes
from being the objects of Christ's unconditional love. As believers we are the
beneficiaries of His love and knowing that should motivate us in our lives
daily.
This is noted by
Paul in 2 Cor. 5:14. Christ's love for us should motivate us, urge us on as with an irresistible force (sunecw). The fact
that He loves us ought to motivate us to love others. Epaphroditus may
have explained to Paul the ways in which Christ had preserved them and helped
them during this time of persecution and suffering.
In all this what
Paul is attempting to do is to get their focus back on the one who is to be the
central focus of their life as believers. They have become more occupied with the
pressures of the moment then with the one who will make the provision to deal
with the situation.
3.
"...If there is fellowship of the
Spirit,..." (and
there is!)
The word for
fellowship is koinwnia which means fellowship, partners, joint participation here with the Holy Spirit. Need to remember that He
indwells all believers 1 Cor 6:19.
It is the Holy
Spirit who placed, us into this union with Christ, 1 Cor
12:13 "For we were all baptized with
[by] one Spirit into one body" Christianity is relational. Here Paul
is stressing the relationship we have with the Holy Spirit. While John in 1 Jn 1:3 stresses the relationship with the
Father and Son.
Paul's statement
here indicates that the believer is walking by the Spirit and therefore is
being led and taught and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
4.
"...if any affection and compassion,... (and there is!)
Affection spla,gcnon is a strong word for affection and tenderness and speaks
of the capacity to show affection. It is used of men and of God.
The word for compassion oivktirmo,j speaks of seeing a need and
being willing to meet that need. The idea
is that if we have experienced any affection and compassion in Christ then it
should be reflected in our relationships with others and for the Philippians to
make Paul's joy complete as he learns of these things being lived out in their
lives.
Need to remember
what James says in
The thrust that
Paul's exhortation here is to get them to realize all that they have received
and experienced as a result of their position in Christ and their relationship
with the Holy Spirit then as the do understand that it should stimulate and
motivate them toward a specific pattern of conduct towards others, that is a
unity in the local body.
Next time we'll
examine the next section which deals with the attitudes that demonstrate Christian
unity in operation.