Introduction
The passage we studied last week was in two parts. Do you remember? In the first part Paul reassured his readers about his present circumstances. At the time of writing, Paul was under house arrest and chained day and night to a Roman guard. However, instead of complaining about his circumstances and having a moan, he said to his readers that what had happened to him had served to advance the gospel, because it had become known among the whole palace guard that he was in chains not for being a criminal, but for being a Christian. The soldiers who were guarding Paul were learning about Christ and Christianity. Furthermore, the other believers had been encouraged by what had happened to Paul to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Instead of being frightened by what had happened to Paul, then had become emboldened to make God’s word known.
And do you remember? Paul said some preached Christ out of goodwill, whereas others preached Christ out of envy and rivalry and selfish ambition. But it did not matter to Paul personally whether they were trying to get him into trouble or not, because the thing that matters most is that Christ is being preached; and God is able to use the preaching of Christ to convince and converts sinners to a true faith in the Saviour.
That was the first part of last week’s passage. In the second part Paul set out for his readers his attitude to life and to death. What was his attitude to life and death? For Paul, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If he goes on living, then that will mean living for Christ. But if he dies — and maybe the emperor would give the order for Paul to be executed — if he dies, then he will go to be with Christ which is better by far than anything else. Death for the believer is not a loss, but a gain, because being with Christ is the best thing that can happen to a believer. Last week I quoted those words from Tim Keller who died recently. He said, ‘All death can now do to Christians is to make their lives infinitely better.’ ‘All death can now do to Christians is to make their lives infinitely better.’ Our life will be infinitely better when we die. Isn’t that remarkable?
But do you remember what we thought about at the end of last week’s sermon? After telling us that he desired to depart from this life and to be with Christ in the life to come, Paul said that it was more necessary for the Philippians that he remain alive. While he may want to be with Christ, he knows that it’s better for the Philippians that he remains alive, so that he can work with them for their progress and joy in the faith. And that means Paul was doing what he will instruct the Philippians to do in chapter 2. Instead of looking to his own interests, he was looking to their interests. Paul wants to go to be with Christ. But he’s not going to be selfish. He’s not going to put himself first. He’s going to put them and their needs before his own needs. His attitude was: I’d love to go and be with Christ, but I’m willing to stay here and minister to you. And in that, he was copying the example of our Saviour, who did not think of his own interests, but of ours, when he came down to earth as one of us and to give up his life on the cross for our salvation. Instead of saving his life, he gave it up for us. And he calls on us to follow his example and not to look to our own interests only, but to the interests of others.
So, that was last week. Today’s passage can also be divided into two parts. The first part is about standing firm together in the midst of suffering. Paul knew all about suffering, because at the time of writing, he was in chains because of Christ. And, of course, when he went to Philippi the first time, and delivered that poor slave girl from an evil spirit, he was dragged into the market place and falsely accused before the magistrate, who had him stripped and beaten and severely flogged before putting him in prison. Paul knew all about suffering. And he also knew how important it was to stand firm in the faith. And we’re to stand firm together.
The second part of today’s passage is about the importance of unity among God’s people. Of course, he mentions the importance of unity in the first part, where he tells us to stand firm together. But he continues to speak about the importance of unity in the second part of today’s passage. Since there are many who do not believe and who oppose the church, it’s important that the members of the church do not become divided. We must remain united.
1:27–30
Let’s turn to the first part which is verses 27 to 30 of chapter 1. It begins with the words ‘Whatever happens’. In the previous verses, Paul was saying that he does not know what the future holds for him. He may live or he may die. The emperor might give the order for him to be executed. Or the emperor might give the order for him to be released. He knows what he would like to happen, because his desire was to depart from this life to be with Christ. And he knows as well that it would be better for the Philippians if he went on living, so that he could work with them for their progress and joy in the faith. But he doesn’t know what will happen to him.
Nevertheless, whatever happens, this is what you should do. What should they do? Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. So, whether I live or die, make sure that you conduct yourselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.
The Greek word which Paul uses and which is translated ‘conduct yourselves’ is an interesting word, because it’s to do with being a good citizen. Philippi was a Roman colony and it seems that the Philippians were proud of having received this honour. It meant that every citizen of Philippi was made a citizen of Rome. And that conferred on them certain rights and privileges. Some people who were not citizens of Rome would pay a lot of money to become a citizen of Rome, because of the rights and privileges it conferred on you and the doors it opened for you. And so, the citizens of Philippi were proud of their status as citizens of Rome. In fact, when Paul was dragged into the marketplace and falsely accused of being a trouble-maker, his accusers said that he was advocating customs which were unlawful for ‘us Romans’ to accept or practise. Note the phrase ‘us Romans’. They were proud of their status.
But when Paul instructs his readers to be good citizens, he’s not referring to their citizenship of Rome or of Philippi, but of their citizenship of heaven. Later on, in verse 20 of chapter 3, he will say to them that our citizenship is in heaven; and we are eagerly awaiting our Saviour to come from there. So, while we go on living on the earth, we’re to remember that our true home is in heaven. That’s where we really belong, because that’s where Christ our King is.
Now, we’re to be good citizens of our earthly country. But we’re to remember that we’re also citizens of heaven above; and our life here on earth should reflect the glory of heaven above where we really belong.
And so, Paul tells his readers to live as good citizens of heaven. And that means: live in a manner which is worthy of the gospel of Christ. A good Roman citizen would want to live in a way that honoured the emperor. And a good citizen of heaven should live in a way which honours Christ our King and the good news about him. We should live in such a way that we will commend the gospel of Christ to everyone around us.
And if the Philippians do that, if they live as good citizens of heaven, in a manner worthy of the gospel, then whether Paul comes and sees them or only hears about them in his absence, he will know that they are standing firm in one spirit; and contending as one man for the faith. Paul is unpacking for them what it means for them and for us to be good citizens of heaven and to live in a manner which is worthy of the gospel. It means standing firm and contending for the faith.
Standing firm and contending for the faith are military terms, aren’t they? Philippi was a military town with lots of soldiers living in it. And retired soldiers lived there too. And, of course, when the enemy were attacking the Romans, the Roman soldiers knew that all they had to do was to stand side by side and hold out their shields in front of them, and above them as well, and stand firm. If they stood side by side and if they stood firm, without moving, or turning around, or fleeing, then they could withstand the enemy attack, because their shields formed an impregnable barrier against the spears and arrows of the enemy.
And here’s Paul using this military imagery to remind us of our duty. When the Devil comes at us with his wicked schemes, and when he sends an unbelieving world against us, the members of the church are to stand firm in one spirit. So, we’re to stand firm; and we’re to do so ‘in one spirit’. He’s saying we need to be united. And he also says that we’re to contend as one man. The word translated ‘contend’ means ‘contend together’. So, we’re to fight together: not against one another, but side by side with one another. We’re to be united as we stand up to the opposition which comes from those who don’t believe. And we’re to do it ‘as one man’. So, Paul is once again stressing the importance of unity. Not only are we to stand firm in one spirit, and not only are we to contend together, but we’re to do it ‘as one man’. When the Romans acted together as one man, then they could withstand any attack. But if they moved apart, they were doomed. And when believers move apart, when cracks appear in our fellowship, when we become divided and when we fight with one another, then we’re no longer being good citizens of heaven and we’re unable to withstand the attacks of the evil one.
Paul wants his readers to stand firm and to contend together for the gospel, so that we’re not overwhelmed by those who do not believe. And he wants his readers not to be frightened in any way by those who oppose them. There are many who do not believe. There are many who despise us for what we believe. But when we stand together, then there’s no need for us to be afraid.
And this is another reminder that Christianity is not about being a lone ranger. No believer should think that they are fine by themselves; and they don’t need the support and encouragement of other believers. Whenever God the Holy Spirit converts us to faith in Christ, he does not leave us on our own, but he adds us to the church. And as part of the church, we’re able to stand firm together and contend together as one man. As individuals we are weak, but together we are strong. And when we’re surrounded by fellow believers, we needn’t be afraid of those who oppose us. When we’re surrounded by fellow believers, then we’re surrounded by people who can support and encourage us
And when we’re surrounded by fellow believers, then we’re surrounded by people who believe the same things as we do. And therefore we no longer feel strange. When no one else believes what we believe, we feel strange. We don’t fit in. And perhaps we begin to have doubts: ‘Maybe I’m wrong to believe these things and to think this way.’ But when we’re surrounded by people who believe what we believe, then it’s reassures us that we’re not strange and we’re not wrong: ‘I’m right to believe these things, because all these other people believe it too.’
And according to the NIV, Paul goes on to say that this is a sign to those who oppose us that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved. However, that’s not the best translation. Paul was really saying that the conflict we experience because of Christ is a sign for us, concerning those who don’t believe, that they will be destroyed and we will be saved. In other words, it’s a sign for believers. When we’re opposed, it’s a sign for us that we’re part of the ongoing conflict which the Bible testifies to between those who belong to God and to those who belong — whether they know it or not — to the devil. And those who belong to the devil will be destroyed in the end, whereas those who belong to God will be saved in the end.
And all of this is ‘by God’ or it’s ‘from God’. He’s the one who controls and directs all things and who has planned all things. And therefore the ongoing conflict in the world between those who believe and those who don’t believe is under his direction and control, as is the destruction of his enemies in the end and the salvation of his people in the end.
And just in case any of his readers are perturbed by the trouble they’re facing, and surprised that they have to contend for the faith, Paul tells them in verse 29 that it has been granted to them on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. It has been granted to them. It has been given to them.
Faith is a gift which God gives to his people. He’s the one who enables us to believe. He sends his people someone to tell them the good news; and he works in our hearts to enable us to believe what we hear and to trust in the Saviour. Our faith is from God.
But God also sends suffering and trouble into our lives, so that it doesn’t happen by chance, but according to his will. Isn’t that remarkable? But it’s not so remarkable when you remember what Paul said in the passage last week about how what has happened to him would result in his salvation. Our suffering will not keep us from salvation, but it will lead to salvation, because God is able to work all things together for good. And when we suffer, we’re driven back to God and back to his word to receive comfort and encouragement and help. And therefore our suffering keeps us near God, which is always a good thing.
Application
A couple of years ago, I was asked to speak to the Youth Fellowship. And I introduced them to two books. The first was by Melvin Tinker, who was an English writer who died recently. The book is called That Hideous Strength and it’s about cultural marxism. Regular marxism is about an economic revolution and how the workers will rise up and overthrow those who own the means of production; and private property will be abolished. That’s regular marxism. Cultural marxism is about a cultural revolution and how people will rise up and overthrow the culture of the west and replace all our values with new values. What we consider good and beautiful and true will be replaced. And since the culture of the west is based on Christianity, then it’s about overthrowing Christianity. And in his book, Tinker writes about the forces which are at work in the world to bring about this cultural revolution, which is happening all around us at the present time.
Of course, none of this should surprise us, because the Bible makes clear that the devil is real and he’s at work in the world to oppose Christ and his church and to keep people from the truth. And the Bible talks about the secret power of lawlessness which is at work in the world in these, the last days in which we’re living, to persecute and deceive.
And the other book I introduced the Youth Fellowship to was by the writer, Rod Dreher. The book is called Live not by Lies. It’s about how Christians stood firm in the faith in the face of opposition from communist totalitarian governments in eastern Europe, which wanted to control every aspect of the lives of the people, including what they thought and believed. And Dreher argues in his book that something similar to what happened in communist countries in the east is happening now in the west; and there are forces in society which want to control what we think and believe. And as an example, all you have to do is think about what is called ‘cancel culture’, when someone who does not think and say what we’re meant to think and say is cancelled, so that they no longer allowed to speak in public and sometimes they lose their job.
And the reason I mention these two books is to make clear that though we may not suffer physical persecution, as Paul and the Philippians did, and as our fellow believers around the world do, we still face opposition. And the opposition against us will only increase. We may not suffer physical opposition, but we’re facing more and more social pressure to conform to what an unbelieving world thinks. And that means that what Paul wrote to the Philippians applies to us today. And therefore, we must be good citizens of heaven. And that means we must stand firm in one spirit, contending together for the faith as one man, without being frightened in any way by those who oppose us, because those who oppose the church will not win, because they will be destroyed when Christ comes again. And God is able to use our suffering for good. Just as Christ’s suffering led to the glory of the resurrection and life in the presence of God, so our suffering will lead to the glory of the resurrection and to life in the presence of God.
2:1–4
And that takes us to the next part of today’s passage. Already in the first part, Paul stressed how we’re to be united. We’re to stand firm in one spirit. We’re to contend together for the gospel as one man. And he continues to stress the importance of being united in these verses.
The NIV leaves out the word ‘therefore’ at the beginning of verse 1. And it’s a pity that it’s been left it out, because the word ‘therefore’ tells us that what follows in chapter 2 follows on from what we read at the end of chapter 1. He’s not starting a new topic in chapter 2, but he’s building on what he said before. Since believers are going through the same struggles as Paul, therefore this is what is necessary.
We’ll come back to the rest of verse 1 in a moment. For now, though, turn with me to verse 2, where Paul says that his joy will be complete by their being like-minded and having the same love, and being one in spirit and purpose. When he says that this will make his joy complete, he’s really saying that this is what he wants to see happen. This is what he wants to see happen in Philippi. He wants to see the believers being like this.
More specially, he wants them to be like-minded. The idea of being one in purpose conveys the same idea. So, he’s concerned with what’s in our minds: what we know and what we think about. And, of course, for believers, that means knowing God’s will as revealed in the Scriptures. It means having our minds and thoughts and attitudes shaped by God’s word, rather than being shaped by other things.
And so, we should be searching the Scriptures to ascertain God’s will. And when we have discovered God’s will, as revealed in Scripture, we should all submit to it. And when we all do that, then, of course, we’ll be like-minded, because we’ll all know and believe the same thing.
It’s interesting that our church’s Code refers to our Confession and Catechisms as a testimony for truth and against error. They summarise for us what we believe the Bible says about God and about God’s will for our salvation. They summarise what we believe is true. And then the Code says that the Confession and Catechisms serve as a bond of union for members of the Church. The point is that when we believe the same things, then we are united. When we believe the same things, then we are bonded together.
And as well as wanting believers to be like-minded, Paul wants them to have the same love and to be one in spirit. The word translated ‘one in spirit’ means being in full accord; being in harmony with one another; being soulmates. And these two terms — having the same love and being one in spirit — mean that we’re to be bound together in love. It’s not that we’re to tolerate one another, and put up with one another. Instead we’re to be bound together in love and with affection for one another.
Paul wants believers to be like this, because this is what is necessary when we’re faced with an unbelieving world which puts us under pressure to conform. We need to stand firm in one spirt. We need to contend together for the faith as one man. And therefore we needed to be like-minded and we need to bound together in love.
And none of us should do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. He’s talking about pride, isn’t he? And pride is a disease which is hard to spot, because it’s possible for a proud person to appear as a servant. They appear to be serving God and serving God’s people, when really they’re only serving themselves, because they want everyone to notice them and to praise them and to look up to them and to think well of them. Think of the Lord’s parable of the proud Pharisee who went to the temple to pray, but his prayer was all about him and how great he was. And the proud person wants everyone to admire him and to listen to him. He wants to get his own way. And if he does not get his own way, then he becomes angry and resentful. And in that way, pride divides the church.
And the church must be united, not divided, because the only way to stand firm is when we stand firm in one spirit. And the only way to contend for the faith is when we contend for it together and as one man. The only way to face opposition is to face it together. And so, believers must be united and not divided.
And that means what we all need is humility. In humility we’re to consider others, not worse than ourselves, but better than ourselves. And instead of looking to our own interests only, we should look to the interests of others.
Application
In Rod Dreher’s book about how Christians stood firm in the faith in the face of opposition from communist totalitarian governments, he stressed the importance of fellowship. Believers were committed to one another and they strengthened one another. When an unbelieving world was against them, it was important that believers loved one another and that they did not fight with one another.
But, as one of the commentators puts it (Johnson), how can our hearts be turned inside out, so that we’re able to love one another without being proud or selfish? This is where we turn to verse 1, where Paul refers to our Triune God. We know he’s referring to our Triune God, because he refers to Christ and he refers to the Holy Spirit. And therefore, when he refers to ‘any comfort from love’, it’s likely he’s thinking of the Father’s love. And so, Paul refers to the encouragement we receive from God the Son. And he refers to the love we receive from God the Father. And he refers to the fellowship we receive from God the Spirit.
Our Triune God comes to us with encouragement and love and with his presence; and he turns our hearts inside out, so that we’re able to love one another as we should. And our Triune God is full of tenderness and compassion towards us. That is, he’s full of love and mercy towards us. How do we know he’s full of love and mercy towards us? Didn’t he send his Only-Begotten Son into the world to give up his life as the ransom to pay for our sins? And didn’t he send his Spirit into our lives to unite us by faith to the Saviour to receive forgiveness and peace? And doesn’t he demonstrate his love and mercy every day by pardoning us and by helping us? Everyday we benefit from his love and mercy, his tenderness and compassion.
And he calls on us to show the same love and mercy, the same tenderness and compassion, to one another. Haven’t you received encouragement from the Son of God? Then encourage one another. Haven’t you received comfort from the Father? Then comfort one another. Haven’t you benefitted from the Spirit’s presence in your life? Then we should go to one another and offer whatever help we can.
Remember how Paul puts it in Ephesians 5? He said: Be imitators of God; and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us. Imitate God’s love and mercy, his tenderness and compassion, in all our dealings with one another.
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