Philippians 2:1-4

A Recipe for Joyful Unity in the Church

Philippians 2:1-4: “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Romans 15:5-7: “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” 2 nd Corinthians 13:10: “And brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you

2 nd Corinthians 12:20: “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.” Galatians 5:26: “Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Ephesians 4:1-6: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Dr. John MacArthur: “Disunity among His people deeply grieves the Lord. It should be every pastor’s, church leader’s, and church member’s prayer that men will not tear asunder what God has divinely joined together in the body of Christ. Because fracturing Christ’s church is one of Satan’s major objectives, the challenge to preserve the unity of the spirit is constant. A divided, factious, and bickering church is spiritually weak. It therefore offers little threat to the devil’s work and has little power for advancing the gospel of Christ. Endeavoring to maintain, or restore, the spiritual unity of a congregation is easily the most pressing, difficult, and constant challenge for its leaders.”

I. Step One: Add Four Parts Motivation: Joyful Unity in the Church Must be Rooted in Proper Individual Motivation (2:1) “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy”

Motivation 1: “encouragement in Christ” “encouragement” = “παράκλησις (paraklēsis) = “exhortation” or “admonition” or “summons”

Motivation 2: “comfort from love” “comfort” = “consolation” found in the Gospel

Motivation 3: “participation in the Spirit” - “participation” = “mutual sharing”, or “intimate fellowship” - Same word in 1:5: “partnership in the Gospel”.

- 1 Corinthians 6:19: “temple for the Holy Spirit” - Ephesians 1:13-14: “sealed until the day of redemption” - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:6-8: gain “spiritual gifts” - Galatians 5:22-23: “fruits of the Spirit”

- Ephesians 4:30: “grieving the Holy Spirit” - 1 Thessalonians 5:19: “quenching the Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:13: “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body”

“examine yourself” 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy”

R. Kent Hughes: “Paul is so emotionally compelling here. He has taken the Philippians back to the graced memories of the supernatural work of Christ in their souls at salvation. He has activated their spiritual camcorders. They all had experienced encouragement and comfort in Christ. They remember the consolation of Christ’s love when they became His. They through Christ had fellowship in the Spirit. And the compassion and sympathy of Christ had not only graced their souls but had flowed from them to others. Thus, with all of this replaying on their inner screens, the Philippians must heed the exhortation through their beloved apostle to maintain unity and mutual care in the church. And so must we.”

II. Step Two: Add Three Parts Actions: Joyful Unity in the Church Must be Accompanied with Proper Individual Actions (2:2) “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (‘intent on one purpose’ [NASB])”

Action 1: “being of the same mind”

William Barclay: “The one danger that threatened the Philippian church was that of disunity. There is a sense in which that is the danger of every healthy church. It is when people are really earnest, when their beliefs really matter to them, that they are apt to get up against each other. The greater their enthusiasm, the greater the danger that that they may collide. It is against that danger Paul wished to safeguard his friends.”

Action 2: “having the same love” John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jonathan Edwards: “Let a man have what he will, and do what he will, it signifies nothing without love; which surely implies that love is the great thing, and that everything which has not love in some way contained or implied in it is nothing, and that this love is the life and soul of all religion, without which all things that wear the name of virtues are empty and vain.”

- Romans 12:8: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” - John 15:12-13: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” - Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. - John 4:7-8: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Action 3: “being in full accord and intent on one purpose” (NASB)

III. Step Three: Slow Cook to Perfection With Your Heart Set on High Humility: Joyful Unity in the Church Must be Saturated With Humility (2:3- 4) “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”