Paul's Love Letter from Prison
A Study of Philippians - 5
We come now to chapter 2 of Paul's letter to the Philippians, and it will be helpful if you have a New Testament to have it open at this chapter as your read.
Over this and the next three studies we are going to look at four individuals whom Paul presents to his readers as examples to follow and learn from. They are:
First, In verses 1 to 11, "The Lord Jesus Christ - The incomparable One"
Second, In verses 12 to 18, "Paul himself - The worker for Christ".
Third, In verses 19 to 23, "Timothy - his caring son in the faith".
Fourth, in verses 25 to 30, "Epaphroditus- The faithful messenger".
Today, then, we are going to consider our Lord Jesus Christ, the supreme example, the incomparable one.
We have discovered in our previous studies that Paul had a deep love and concern for the Philippian believers. In the opening verses of chapter 2, we gather that Paul had heard, that even in this delightful church, there were indications of some disunity and quarrelling. Listen to what he says:
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."
Paul urges them to consider the blessings of fellowship that they can enjoy in the body of Christ - the church. He reminds them of the unity they have with Christ Himself. Every true Christian is IN Christ, and Christ, by His Spirit, is IN every true Christian. They have the fellowship therefore of the Holy Spirit and they have the comfort of Christ's love for them.
Now, says Paul, seeing you are so blessed, make me happy by being like-minded, be at one in the Lord, do not be quarrelsome! Stand fast in one spirit and cherish harmony among yourselves. What Paul is saying in effect is this, - in harmony there is health, and in union there is strength. It is said that the King of Sparta was once asked why his city was not surrounded by walls. He pointed to the citizens of Sparta, who were all filled with one and the same enthusiasm, all one united band, and said, "These are the walls of Sparta - every man is a brick, and with these united as one, all enemies can be repelled!" Remember, listening friend, that, speaking of the church, Jesus said, "The gates of hell cannot prevail against it", and that is because we are kept by the power of God. But we have a responsibility, like the people of Sparta, to be seen to be standing together with one purpose, which for the Christian is the faith of Christ. The Psalmist rightly says, in Psalm 133, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity."
But there is another lesson to be learned as Paul goes on in verses 3 to 5 to speak about true humility:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."
The King James Version puts that last phrase like this: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Paul is now going to bring before these Philippian believers the incomparable example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the unique, perfect, Son of God, the only blameless, faultless man who ever lived. Here, says Paul, is the standard for your relationships with one another in humility. In effect he is saying that they should endeavour with all that is in them to cultivate a mind or attitude towards others like that of their Lord and Master.
The Rev. Guy King, a fine Bible teacher, describes the mind of the Lord Jesus like this: His mind was, "A Selfless Mind"; "A Sacrificial Mind"; and "A Serving Mind".
So, may our motives be inspired, our actions controlled and our attitude towards others sanctified as we consider the mind of our Saviour.
In some Bibles this passage in Philippians chapter 2 is headed, "Imitating Christ's humility". Many Bible commentators describe this passage as a lovely hymn that teaches us about the person of Christ. Here this great follower of the Lord Jesus is describing the character and commitment to the service of others of his wonderful Master.
Listen to what he writes in verse 6 concerning Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped...."
This does not mean that Jesus merely resembled God, but that He actually Is God in every way. This is a statement of Christ's deity, the same message that we find at the beginning of John's Gospel:
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John goes on to make it very clear that this "Word" is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, for he says that "The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us." And this is what Paul says in verse 7 of our passage:
"He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
The Lord Jesus took "the very nature of a servant", this is the message of Mark's Gospel and is the fulfilment of the prophecy found in Isaiah chapter 42. Someone has said that Jesus emptied Himself that we might be filled. He was born of a woman that we might be born of God. He became poor that we might become rich. He was made a curse that we might be made a blessing. "Oh, the riches of His grace!"
In verse 8 we read, "And being found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross."
Note that phrase, "as a man". Although He was truly God, yet He was also a perfect man. This is the message of Luke's Gospel which tells us that "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Note, too, the phrase, "He became obedient to death". This is a sure token of Christ's deity as well as his authority, for only a divine being can accept death as an act of obedience. For ordinary human beings like you and me death is unavoidable, it is something all must inevitably face. But the Lord Jesus chose to die out of His great love for God first, and then for us sinners. As you think of the sacrifice and victory of Calvary don't you want to say, "Hallelujah! What a Saviour!"
We couldn't conclude our study of these tremendous verses in Philippians chapter 2 on a better note than by looking at verses 9 to 11:
"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Because Christ willingly emptied Himself, and humbled Himself, and went to the cross for us, God has raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to supreme majesty, glory and dignity. One day He will be acknowledged by the vast universe as "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords". Here is the message of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus is presented as God's rightful sovereign. What a glorious person is presented to us in these verses!
So what is Paul saying to these Philippian believers, and to us? Remember, he commenced this passage by saying to them: "Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ. Do not be selfish or vain, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." In all this the Lord Jesus is our incomparable example. What a difference it would make to our relationship with others if we were to follow His perfect pattern.