Philippians 2

2:1-30 2ND HORN - THROUGH THE MIND OF CHRIST Submissive mind - The antidote to people

B. The mind of Christ produces a submissive mind

1. Everyone ought to have a submissive mind (1-4)

2. Christ as an example of a submissive mind - The Lord (5-11)

3. Paul as an example of a submissive mind - The Apostle (12-18)

4. Timothy as an example of a submissive mind - The Pastor (19-24)

5. Epaphroditus as an example of a submissive mind - The Layman (25-30)

6. If all 4 names are joined together it would say: Jehovah saves - the little (ones) - the dear to God - the devoted (ones). A submissive mind causes us to have joy, for a submissive mind is not exalted but lowly of mind. A submissive mind is the antidote to people, the submissive mind to God is not worried what man thinks, says or does but only troubled about what God thinks, says and does. A submissive mind can even give up all in submission to God.

Philippians 2:1-11

1. Christ as an example of a submissive mind (1-11) The God-Son v.5-6, The God-Servant v.7 The God-Man v.8 The God-King v.9-11.

The Cross v.8 The Crown v.9-10 The Christian v.11

The Plea to have the submissive mind. v. 1-4 The Pattern of the submissive mind. v. 5-11

Paul now expresses 4 ways to fulfil the purpose of God for them.

1. Maintain love. v.1
2. Maintain unity. v.2
3. Maintain lowliness. v.3
4. Maintain interest. v.4

V.1 a) Love - That causes Encouragement.

I. The 4 “ If” are all expressions of love:

1. Consolation (exhortation) in Christ - Teachings, life and sacrifice.

2. Comfort of love - God was trying to give them comfort through Jesus, Paul and the comforter Himself. John 14:16; 2.Cor.1:3; 1.Cor.13:4-8

3. Fellowship of the Spirit - Nothing can pacify the heart as the sweet voice of the Spirit and awareness of His presence. 2.Cor.13:14

4. Affection and mercy - Because of God’ s affection He shows us mercy. (Not getting what we do deserve) Psalms 5:7; 103:8, 11-12, 17; Ch.136 - Affection is the opposite of indifference.

II. If the Philippians had experienced this and it mattered for them then they should practice the humility of mind, works of love and sincerity of heart of Ch.2.

III. Love begins when someone else’s needs are more important than my own.

V.2 b) Like-minded - That causes Excellency.

I. Be united and fulfil my joy.

II. The mind: One mind 2:2; like-minded 2:2 Christ mind 2:5; mature mind 3:15; same mind 3:16; 4:2; guard mind 4:7

III. It all begins in the mind, like a new life is conceived in the womb, so are all words, behaviour and actions conceived in the mind.

V.3 c) Low-minded - That causes Esteem.

I. True greatness is servanthood. Mark 10:35-45 Joy comes through serving others. It is not about What I can build up but Who I can build up.

II. The first chapter is about Jesus and this chapter is about Jesus and others. Rom.12:10 III. Esteem (Gr. huperecho) means superior, its not to see others better than ourselves but higher than ourselves. V.4 d) Looking - That causes Engagement. I. Vainglory is the disease and strife is the symptom.

1. Vainglory is the inward Attitude.

2. Strife is the outward Action.

II. Look (Gr. skopeo) means to aim (like a sniper).

III. If we have the inward Mindset, we can have the outward Marking.

IV. The difference between a helper and a servant.

1. A Helper helps others when it is convenient. A servant serves others even when it is inconvenient.

2. A helper helps people that he or she likes. A servant serves even people that he or she dislikes.

3. A helper helps when he or she enjoys the work. A servant serves even when he or she dislikes the work.

4. A helper helps with a view to obtaining personal satisfaction. A servant serves even when he or she receives no personal satisfaction.

5. A helper helps with an attitude of assisting another. A servant serves with an attitude of enabling another.

Now Paul begins calling forth living examples of the inward mindset and the outward action. What the Son did for us. v.5-8 What the Father did for His Son. v. 9-11

V.5 a) The form of His mind -

I. This mindset is already ours in Christ. 1.Cor.2:16 Paul also calls it the mind of the spirit. Rom.8:5-6 II. The secret of Christian joy is found in the way we think. V.5-11 is the great kenosis passage. (from the Gr. ekenosen, “he emptied,” v.7) V.6 b) The form of His Godhead - He was true God.

I. Form (Gr. morphe) means shape, the Greek word is used in Mark 16:12

II. Christ was existing as God, being not less but equal God. John 1:1; 5:17-18; 10:28-39; 18:3-6; 20:28; Heb.1:3-9; Col.2:9; 1.John 5:20; Rom.9:5; Is.9:6 Is.44:6; 48:12-17 = Rev.1:8, 11, 17; 2:8; 22:12-16 Aleph and taw (The first and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet) - Gen.1:1; Zech.12:10 III. Robbery - The Son of God did not hold on to His equality with God, but limited willingly Himself and became a man.

1. Like a little child when someone try to take something temporarily from them, behaves like its being stolen from them, the Son of God did not consider the equality with God something to be lost when he was made of no reputation.

2. His nature is characterized not by selfish grabbing, but by open-handed giving

V.7 c) The form of His servanthood - He was true Servant.

I. He never stopped to be God but the manner in which He existed as God changed when He became a man, the God-man.

II. Neither the Father nor the Spirit did make Him of no reputation but the Son did it willingly.

III. No reputation (Gr. kenosis) means to empty.

He left His glory in heaven, that glory man cannot see and still live, the glory that shines brighter than the sun, the glory that causes man to glorify God. John 17:4-5 IV. The Son of God was glorified again with that glory in heaven. Rev.1:9-18; 5:12-14 V. Jesus Christ was in the form of God and in the form of man on earth. He was served by His creation but now He became the servant.

VI. Let us have this mind and attitude, lets not seek to be served but always serve, the minister stops being a servant of God when he desires to be served. V.8 d) The form of His manhood - He was a true Man.

I. Christ was a true man:

1. He felt hunger and thirst. Mat.4:1-2

2. He felt pain and suffered. 1.Peter 4:1

3. He learned obedience as a man. Heb.5:8

4. He was tempted. Mat.4:1-11; Heb.4:15

5. He was humiliated. Mat.26:67; 27:27-44

6. He died as a man. Mat.27:50 II. The true God and the true man could only reconcile.

7. God forced man out of Eden Gen.3:24 (He closed the door) therefore only God could open it again, the only way to open the door to heaven was to become the Door, that door was the God-man. John 10:9

8. Only God could reconcile man to God and only an original sinless man could reconcile man to God.

9. Jesus was the Son of God and the Son of Man. Is.9:6; John 5:25, 27 V.9 a) The frame of His Majesty - The height

I. Because Christ went to such depth - His incarnation, suffering & death, has God brought Him to such height of Majesty. Eph.1:20-22: Col.1:15-18 II. The way up is first down. 1.Peter 5:6 V.10 b) The frame of His Kingship - The width and length

I. The phrase is from Is.45:20-23 II. The width and length of His Kingship, all will bow to Him.

V.11 c) The frame of His Lordship - The depth

The depth of His Lordship will cause all hearts to declare with their tongues His Lordship. Rom.4:11

The 7 marks of the mind of Christ:

1. Lowliness. v.3
2. Esteem others. v.3
3. Others interest. v.4
4. Willing to loose. v.6-7
5. Obedience. v.8
6. Sacrifice. v.8
7. Readiness to be put to shame. v.8

Philippians 2:12-18

2. Paul as an example of a submissive mind (12-18) After Paul had shown Christ as an example of a submissive mind, he then uses himself as an example too.

V.12 a) Work out - The responsibility of the Saint.

I. Obedience is in connection to Paul’ s teaching

II. Work out what God work within, He didn’ t say “ work for” but work out.

III. The 3 tenses of salvation:

1. I was saved (past) - Justification.

2. I’ m being saved (present) - Sanctification.

3. I will be saved (future) - Glorification.

IV. We are saved:

1. Immediately - From sin’ s Penalty.

2. Progressively - From sin’ s Power

3. Ultimately - From sin’ s Presence

V. The salvation in focus here is the present and the progressive.

VI. Our salvation should not be taken lightly but worked out with fear.

V.13 d) Work within - The responsibility of the Saviour.

I. God is able and He gives us His ability: His will and doings. 1:6 We do not have this good ability within us. Rom.7:14-23 II. Work (Gr. energein) from which we get the word energy. III. Others can inspire us but they can’ t enable us.

V.14-15 a) Attitude - Live a Life of Love and Light.

I. How shall we work what God works within.

1. By not murmuring and disputing.

Because of these judgment came upon Israel. Ps.106:23-27 These would cause us to be blameless and harmless.

2. By being lights in the world. Matt.5:14-16 Light reveals what darkness conceals.

II. Why shall we work out what God work within.

1. To be a testimony against a crooked generation. Is.40:3-5; 35:8 Crooked opposite of straight.

2. To be a testimony against a perverse generation. Perverse opposite of right and true.

V.16 b) Abiding - Live in the Word of Life.

I. We have to abide in His Words. John 15:7 II. Paul allowed God to work within therefore he worked out his salvation by running and labouring.

III. All labour and joy can be lost if we do not abide in His Word. 1.Cor.3:11-15

V.17 c) Accomplishment - Live poured out as Liquid to the Lord.

I. Paul declared that his life was a drink offering.

II. The priest offered first a lamb, a ram, or a bull as a burnt offering, then at the end they offered a drink (wine) offering. Num.15:1-10 III. Paul died 6-7 years later as he was beheaded for his faith according to tradition, he mentions it again about 1 year before he died. 2.Tim.4:6 IV. The altar was very hot and as the drink offering was poured upon it, the wine was gone within seconds.

V. The sacrificial “ animal” service was their faith and he was the drink offering.

V.18 d) Appeal - Lively Living.

He exhorted them to rejoice with him in his imprisonment. He was rejoicing in spite of his suffering, when he was in the jail in Philippi he also rejoiced. Acts 16:25-26

Philippians 2:19-24

3. Timothy as an example of a submissive mind (19-24) V.19 a) Survey - The Cause.

I. Timothy with his pastoral gift would quickly know their state because of his pastoral survey, Paul trusted in that everything would be to his encouragement.

II. He needed this survey to be enabled to pray and minister better to them.

V.20 b) Sincerity - In Caring.

I. Timothy was very like-minded to Paul why? Because both loved the Lord, both knew Scripture very well and both loved Christ’ s Church.

II. Because of Timothy’ s pastoral gift he was sincere in his caring.

V.21 c) Selfishness - Not seeking Christ.

The people around Paul (perhaps a general statement) hadn’ t learnt to be humble and unselfish, because ambition and selfishness has such hold of man.

V.22 d) Service - With a proven Character.

I. He was proven “ tested” (like a coin is tested between the teeth, to see if its real). He had been with Paul more than 10 years.

II. He served with Paul like a son would serve in his fathers business, he was humble and submissive - a good example of a submissive mind.

V.23 e) Sending soon - Checking the Circumstance.

He wanted to send his best man as soon as possible also to tell how the situation of Paul was.

V.24 f) Shortly come - Paul’ s Confidence.

He not only wanted to send his best man but even himself. Tradition tells that Nero released Paul and that the apostle resumed his missionary work.

The 4 qualifications of Timothy:

1. Like-minded. (Unity)
2. Sincerely caring. (Love)
3. Proven character. (Holiness)
4. Service. (Humility & submission)

Philippians 2:25-30

4. Epaphroditus as an example of a submissive mind (25-30) Paul was a Jew, Timothy was half Jew and half Gentile, Epaphroditus was Gentile. Epaphroditus was a member of the Church of Philippi and was sent to Paul with a love offering 4:18.

His Character. v.25

His Concern. v.26-28 His Commendation. v.29-30

V.25 a) Minister - Labouring servant.

I. A minister has to be a:

1. Brother. (Fellowship of the Gospel) 1:5

2. Worker. (Furtherance of the Gospel) 1:12

3. Soldier. (Striving together for the faith of the Gospel) 1:27

4. Messenger. (Gr. apostolos) means Apostle but also translated as messenger

II. To be effective in ministry and meet the needs of others.

III. His need was a financial uplift. 4:15-18

V.26 b) Misery - Longing for all.

I. Epaphroditus was in misery because he was concerned how his life affected others. II. The same longing Paul had to them 1:8, Epaphroditus had for them.

V.27 c) Mercy - The Love of the Lord.

When God heals it is for a 3-fold reason:

1. That man may understand His love.

2. That the sick will be healed.

3. To relieve the surrounding people.

V.28 d) Merry - Less sorrowful.

Paul was ready to let go that it might bring joy to them.

V.29 e) Motivation - Like and Look out for these men.

People can motivate us and bring joy but they can also bring sadness. People can be the thief of joy in our lives.

V.30 f) Ministry - His Life and your Lacking.

Aphrodite (Venus) was the goddess of gamblers. When a Greek threw the dice he would cry out “epaphroditos!” That means “favorite of Aphrodite.” Epaphroditus’ name may have connections with this custom. So Paul may have written that Epaphroditus risked his life as a play on his friend’s name.