In a Crooked and Perverse Nation

EXHORTATION to Humble Unity  (1-4)

1. Paul appealed to the benefits of a child of God to motivate this church to humble unity.
2. There is great consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, and bowels and mercies, which Paul had kindly identified in various ways in the first chapter.
3. Based on the great riches of our position in Jesus, Christians should follow Paul’s rules.
   1. Paul’s joy was their brotherly love, peace, and unity over any doctrine or evangelism.
   2. He wanted them all minding the same things, loving each other, being fully agreed.
4. Such unity is achieved by eliminating all pride and vanity to prefer others more highly.
   1. Selfishness of only or usually caring about your little life is to be flushed for others.
   2. Our simple idea of JOY – Jesus, Others, and only then You – is apostolic in origin.
5. If spiritual benefits in Christ do not motivate you, he next presented His great example.
6. If the example of Jesus’ own humility does not motivate you, maybe His authority will.

 

HUMILIATION as Humble Example  (5-8)

1. Jesus Christ had a mindset in His life on earth that should be the pattern for our thinking.
   1. Paul already charged the church to be likeminded – they should all think like Jesus.
   2. Paul did not care what mind they were born with or had allowed – renew your mind!
   3. Paul did not care much for their individual freedom or liberty – sacrifice it for others!
2. Jesus is a great example of godliness, but He is also much more than merely an example.
   1. Liberal theologians deny His blood atonement to make Him example and/or martyr.
   2. But there was a very real legal transaction by His death and resurrection for the elect.
3. His incarnation and His crucifixion were His choices of incredible humility and service.
   1. The Word of God, Who was unbegotten and underived Jehovah, joined human flesh.
   2. His earthly life as a man, far below God and angels, was a servant without reputation.
   3. But that was not all; He did much more by submitting to the cruelty of crucifixion.
   4. He let a trial to proceed falsely accusing Him, and He died naked between thieves.
4. What have you done for others? How do you show His example by sacrificial service?
   1. We must flush desire for reputation and condescend to church brothers of low estate.
   2. Do you care enough for others to give up even liberties for their profit and pleasure?
   3. Are you eager to be a doorkeeper in the house of God for others without any glory?
   4. Christians should all be equal in the church without any distinctions or divisions.
   5. Each member should be totally willing to never be acknowledged or commended.
5. See the transition here from Jesus’ humiliation to His glorification at God’s right hand.
   1. The first reason to be loving, peaceful, serving Christians are salvation benefits (1).
   2. The second reason to prefer others before ourselves is Christ’s humble example (5).
   3. The third reason to motivate us to humbly esteem others is His exalted lordship (11).
   4. Three motivating factors are clearly stated and connected for godly trembling (12).

 

EXALTATION as Proper Reward  (9-11)

1. Because Jesus humbled Himself greatly to humanity and crucifixion, God honored Him.
   1. We rejoice in His resurrection, His ascension, His glorification, and His coronation.
   2. God gave Him more than just letters and syllables of “Jesus,” which He already had.
   3. Jesus is His personal name, but the titular names He has are Son of God and Lord.
   4. Do not take Paul’s words here too far, for Jehovah is a greater name (I Cor 15:28).
   5. Do not overstate the bare name of Jesus, for another name is included (Heb 1:4-5).
2. God promoted the Man Christ Jesus over all created beings of any kind in the universe.
   1. The Father is glorified when the Son He loves and delights in is finally worshipped.
   2. The Father is glorified when all enemies of the Son are crushed beneath His feet.
3. This continued example of Jesus, even by His exaltation, fits the promises of scripture.
   1. Our humility and service of others will be rewarded by God (I Pet 5:5-6; James 4:10).
   2. Humble and sacrificial service mark great kingdom men (Matt 20:25-28; 23:8-12).
4. Paul’s lesson continued as he left Jesus’ role as example to return to Christian character.
   1. The lesson in kingdom character began the chapter with peace, unity, and preference.
   2. The lesson in kingdom character continues by condemning complaints and disputes.
5. See the transition here from Jesus’ humiliation to His glorification at God’s right hand.
   1. The first reason to be loving, peaceful, serving Christians are salvation benefits (1).
   2. The second reason to prefer others before ourselves is Christ’s humble example (5).
   3. The third reason to motivate us to humbly esteem others is His exalted lordship (11).
   4. Three motivating factors are clearly stated and connected for godly trembling (12).

 

PREPARATION by God’s Power  (12-13)

1. Paul’s wherefore as an intermediate conclusion used our Lord’s example and authority.
2. Philippi was a great church, but he exhorted them to obey Jesus with fear and trembling.
   1. Luke introduced Bible readers to Lydia and the jailor in the book of Acts chapter 16.
   2. God has saved us by grace, but we are to assure ourselves and prove it by obedience.
   3. The details of the obedience Paul already gave (1-4) and will give yet again (14-16).
   4. Fear of God by believers is compatible with trust in God; note Paul (II Cor 5:9-11).
   5. If Jesus is Lord the way Paul described Him, we should obey with fear and trembling.
3. They had within them the divine knowledge and ability to do God’s pleasure perfectly.
   1. God’s internal work is first and primarily regeneration – creating a new man in us.
   2. But the present tense worketh operation of God matches subsequent Spirit ministries.
   3. This new man has the ability and the purpose of choosing and obeying God perfectly.
   4. The verb form to will and to do are infinitive verbs for ability and purpose of both.
   5. We are not fatalists; we deny Calvinist robots. We were created for our good works.
   6. For much more about the Spirit’s ministries subsequent to regeneration see it here.
4. With God giving us the power to do His pleasure and three reasons to do so, we should!

 

OCCUPATION of God’s Sons  (14-16)

1. God’s good pleasure is perfect conduct / reputation as God’s sons in a perverse nation.
   1. We are to occupy earth as good soldiers of Jesus Christ until He comes (Luke 19:13).
   2. This is a great opportunity and privilege to glorify God, oppose evil, promote truth.
   3. Like in Noah’s day, the sons of God and daughters of men should be very different.
   4. We cannot allow pressure, trends, popularity, or persecution to corrupt or pervert us.
   5. If we must be persecuted, we want it for our faith and good conduct (I Pet 3:13-17).
2. We are called to sanctification (holy living); we are called to be sons of God (vocation).
3. All aspects of life, especially in the church, should not have murmurings or disputings.
   1. Murmurings can be complaining against God, but also bitterness, envy, grudges, etc.
   2. Disputings are open, public arguments, contentions, debates, strife, wrangling, etc.
   3. God has settled most things in the Bible, and personal liberties are not to be disputed.
   4. Context before (1-4) and after (15-16) indicate peace, unity, and preference as goals.
   5. We must be blameless and harmless, gentle and meek, with each other and the world.
   6. If Christians are to be known to the world for their love, there is no place for fighting.
   7. If we are to live peaceably with all men as much as lieth in us, these two sins are out.
4. If we agree peaceably with all men, we will be blameless and harmless without rebuke.
   1. Let us despise and hate all disruptive thoughts or conduct so to make peace with all.
   2. Let us be gracious persons that could never hurt anyone, unless absolutely necessary.
   3. We are sons of God, and we should act like God’s sons, even to our worst enemies.
   4. Let us live in such a good, gentle way that no criticism can rightly be laid against us.
   5. Our best contention against their wickedness is obedient lives (Prov 28:4; I Pet 3:16).
   6. More Bible material as to how our lives may glorify God and adorn the truth here.
   7. Expository commentary for the Proverb directly above about contending is here.

1. Our lives should be drastically different from those around us like light is not darkness.
   1. God knows the pagans around us are crooked and perverse; He wants us different.
   2. The pagans around us, no matter the depravity or popularity, must not influence us.
   3. Rather than they corrupt us by their lives, let us be light of truth and wisdom to them.
   4. By the nature of the wicked, they follow each other by following Satan their leader.
   5. We want to be different from them by all measures, but especially in love and peace.
   6. Jesus said all men in the world would know we are truly His by love to each other.
2. Our lives to the good pleasure of God will hold forth the gospel of Jesus Christ to others.
   1. The word of life here is the gospel of Christ, which we first hold forth by our lives.
   2. We can then testify of God’s grace, truth, and wisdom, but only if our lives are right.
   3. We want to be lights; we must be lights; we cannot be hidden lights (Matt 5:14-16).
   4. We get to glorify God this way. We encourage His children He convicts internally.
   5. Though tempted to promote other things, our calling is to hold out the greatest news.
   6. Any other information or so-called truth is earthly and benefits no one meaningfully.
   7. There is no other cause, news, truth, or wisdom that even comes close to Jesus Christ.
3. God’s good pleasure is perfect conduct / reputation as God’s sons in a perverse nation.
   1. We are to occupy earth as good soldiers of Jesus Christ until He comes (Luke 19:13).
   2. This is a great opportunity and privilege to glorify God, oppose evil, promote truth.
   3. Like in Noah’s day, the sons of God and daughters of men should be very different.
4. We cannot allow pressure, trends, popularity, or persecution to corrupt or pervert us.
   1. If we must be persecuted, we want it for our faith and good conduct (I Pet 3:13-17).
5. More about the Lord’s parable of the pounds and order to occupy until His return here.

 

CELEBRATION of Obedient Christians  (16-18)

1. Paul desired to rejoice in the Day of Judgment by Christ’s approval of the Philippians.
2. After all Paul’s sacrificial work (think Philippi’s jail), he did not want it all to be wasted.
   1. When Christians waste God’s practical grace, their ministers are ashamed of them.
   2. The only reasons they are in the ministry are for God’s glory and the profit of men.
   3. But grace can be squandered, and those sinners will be ashamed on Judgment Day.
   4. Paul exhorted both Corinth and Hebrews about this danger (II Cor 6:1; Heb 12:15).
3. Paul could say confidently of this excellent church that he would indeed rejoice of them.
4. He called them to rejoice with him for their sacrificial obedience and service by grace.
5. God’s saving grace, Jesus’ great example, and the change in our lives should cause joy.
   1. Let us rejoice together at His grace in our lives and our desire to live for Him forever.
   2. Let us gladly provoke each other to good works to be a united testimony to the world.