Philippians 2…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

It is Wednesday April 30th of 2025.  We have a warm, cloudy morning forecast with a high of 81 today.  It looks like we’ll be warm for the next few days so time to get the shorts out!

We continue our study in Philippians today, picking up right where we left off.  Paul has just been addressing the different ways Jesus is being preached by the brethren.  Some are proclaiming Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, hoping to add pressure to Paul while he is in chains.  Others, however, preach Christ out of love—knowing that Paul is appointed for the defense of the gospel.  Paul’s response is powerful: whether from false motives or true, Christ is being preached—and in that, he rejoices.

Philippians 1: 18-30

“What then?  Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.  For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.  For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.  And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.  Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.  For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”

Paul is writing this letter from prison.  We find the account of his imprisonment in Acts 16.  Because of the chains placed on Paul, many of the brethren were actually emboldened to preach the Word with even greater courage.  And in our passage today, we come across one of Paul’s most well-known statements—one I hope we can spend some time reflecting on:  “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

To live is Jesus Christ.  To die is to gain.

Have we considered this lately?

Jesus is our reason for living.  He is why we breathe.  He is why we work.  The fruits of our labors are meant to glorify Him.  Christ is all—and is all in all—so for us as Christians, to live is Jesus Christ.  And death, for the Christian, is not death at all.  When we die, we are going to where Christ is.  We are going to the place He has prepared for us.  We will no longer be waiting for His return, but will instead be in His glorious presence.  To die is gain.

This is one of the things about the Faith that might seem strange to some.  Do we fear death?  Paul teaches us here that we shouldn’t.  Instead, we are to look forward to the day of death as something better than the day of birth.  Because for the believer, it is the day we go home.  It is the day we are called to be with Jesus.

Paul also gives us a strong reminder that we are called to holiness—and that this holiness is meant to be seen by all.   It is part of our testimony.

Through our conduct, we put on the breastplate of righteousness, which guards our hearts.  It is through holiness and obedience to God’s Word that we can stand without fear against our adversaries.  And it is through that same holiness that we strive together for the perfection of the saints, united in purpose and faith.

That about wraps up chapter 1 for us.  Paul began with a heartfelt reminder about the power of prayer—encouraging us to keep our church family in our prayers before the Lord.  He shared how his own suffering, including his imprisonment, had actually served to further the Gospel.

Because of Paul’s chains, Jesus was being preached more boldly.  Then he turned to a deeply personal reflection—wrestling between the desire to depart and be with Christ, and the call to remain for the sake of the church.  He reminded the Philippians, and us, that suffering for the Gospel is part of the Christian walk.  But it is not meaningless.  It is part of our calling, and it is something we endure with boldness, holiness, and unity in the Spirit.

So.  For today.  Let’s start here.

Proverbs 1: 7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Do we remember the three things that form the undercurrent of why Paul is writing this letter?  The church at Philippi was facing three significant challenges.  They faced persecution from outside the church, false teachings creeping in from within, and conflicts among the members that were hindering their witness.  And the truth is—the church at Philippi was not alone.  Every church that has assembled in the past two thousand years has faced some combination of these same threats.  As we move into chapter two, Paul will point us toward the answer: unity in Jesus.  But before we go there, I think it’s important to remind ourselves of…

James 4: 1-10

“Where do wars and fights come from among you?  Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have.  You murder and covet and cannot obtain.  You fight and war.  Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.  Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’?  But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Paul reminds us at the end of chapter one of a very important truth: Following Jesus is not always easy—it’s not a constant vacation.  Part of what we’ve been called to in Jesus Christ is to be partakers of His sufferings.  We should not be surprised when hardship or persecution comes.  In fact, we should expect it.  Jesus Himself taught us that we are not greater than our Master.  If they persecuted Him, they will certainly persecute us as His disciples.

1 Peter 4: 12-16

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  If you are reproached for the Name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.   But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

We are to expect trials.  We are not to find them strange or confusing.  Instead, we are to rejoice when trials come.  Why? Because part of that rejoicing flows from the knowledge and wisdom that God gives us in those moments.  In our trials, we gain a deeper understanding of the suffering of Jesus.  And if we are suffering something, we can take heart in knowing this: Jesus has suffered it before us.

And let’s not forget…

Proverbs 6: 20-29

“My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.  Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck.  When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you.  For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from he flattering tongue of a seductress.  Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.  For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.  Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?  Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?  So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent.”

The commandment is a lamp.  The law a light and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.  It is through attention to the Word of God that we do not forsake the Law.  It is by abiding in the Law, by binding the Law in our hearts and tieing the Law around our neck that it will lead us.  Trust in the LORD with all our hearts.  Acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our paths.  And it is precisely this holiness, this obedience to the Word in conduct that Paul is speaking about in Chapter 1 of Philippians.

So without further ado, let’s get into Chapter 2 today!

Philippians 2: 1-4

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of The Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Paul opens chapter 2 with a call to unity—and a call to humility.  He urges the church to strive for unity in Jesus: to be of one accord, of one mind, and to work together in Christ.  But this unity isn’t just general agreement—it’s a specific kind of unity.  It’s a unity rooted in humility.  It sees others as more important than ourselves.  It requires that we put aside selfish ambition and seek the will of Jesus instead.  It calls us to put the needs of others before our own and to trust that Jesus will take care of our needs as He sees fit.  Paul does not hide his heart here—his joy will be fulfilled when the church seeks Jesus first.

So.

Do we have fellowship of The Spirit with our church?

Do we seek to be of one mind with our church in witness?

Have we set aside selfish ambition?

Do we esteem others as better than ourselves?

Because…

Philippians 2: 5-11

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming int he likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus humbled Himself taking the image of a bondservant, which we are.  And through his humility and obedience was exalted by God above every name.  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord.  One way or another.  And it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord.

Let’s pick this back up tomorrow.

I think this is a good place to start for the day.