The Fellowship of the Sprit
Philippians 2:1

January 7, 2007
by C.W. Powell

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,” (Php 2:1)

There is a danger is thinking that because we know something, we know everything. Most truths have many facets to them, that make them shine like the rays from a diamond. In fact, we might say that truth is one, just as the law is one. He who breaks one of the commandments is guilty of them all, for all have their unity in the righteousness of God. In the same way every truth is contained in each truth, and every lie will destroy all of truth, if it is carried to its logical conclusions.

This is the reason that the apostle said, "He who thinks he knows something, doesn't know anything yet as he ought to." and that knowledge puffeth up. (I Cor. 8:1-3) Just as there was at Corinth, so there were factions at Philippi. I suppose there will be factions in the church until the coming of Christ, because we are at different places along the road of our sanctification. At Philippi there were those who were envious of Paul, and preached Christ of envy and strife. A party spirit was developing, that Paul, as a good pastor, must deal with.

Here, in verse one of chapter two he lays down the foundation of Christian unity. Christian unity lies in the knowledge of the truth, but in the knowledge of the right truth in right proportion. A man may know many things, and be filled with great pride and arrogance, because he doesn't know the right stuff.

"IF." Not that there is any doubt in Paul's mind. This is often Paul's method. If you are a Christian at all, there are certain things that you know, because you have been made partaker of the Holy Spirit, and He works in your inner man to teach you certain things. If a man has nothing, then there is nothing to be said to him. He that hath shall be given, and he that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he thinks he has. Paul is not questioning that these things exist, but He is drawing on the knowledge that is common to all the saints.

The Four Grounds:

1. Consolation in Christ.
If you have received any instruction or exhortation, or any benefit from Christ's instructions. What is the purpose of the doctrine of Christ: Consolation for sinners. Christ did not come to condemn; we were condemned already. Have you drunken only of the law and duty; or have your drunken of the consolation of Christ. It the gospel sweet to you, or is it bitterness and misery. If you know Christ, then you know the sweetness of forgiveness of sins, mercy and compassion.

2. Comfort of Love. See I Cor. 8:1-3. Knowledge puffs up; to know God is to know his love.

3. Bowels and Mercies. Just common humanity. Have you joined the human race, or are you sitting over against it in judgment. When Jesus was condemned for healing on the Sabbath, His appeal was to common decency. Why would you have more compassion for your ox in the ditch than you would for a human being?

4. Fellowship of the Spirit.

I left this for last because I want to concentrate on this today. This is the crux. This brings us back to 1:5, for the fellowship of the Gospel is the fellowship of the Spirit, which is the fellowship of Christ.

There are two possible meanings for the phrase "of the Spirit," "The fellowship which the Spirit creates" or the "fellowship with which the Spirit participates." Both ideas are Scriptural, and one is implied in the other.

I Corinthians 12:13 The spirit baptizes us into one body. To be baptized into Christ, is to be baptized into His body. There is commonness of life, that we spoke of when we began this series in commenting on Phil. 1:1-5.

I. The personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer. This nature of this indwelling is set forth in three metaphors:

A. Earnest: 2Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14. A pledge or down-payment. We have newness of life now as a guarantee that we will know the abundance of eternal life in the future. If we have no heavenly life now, we have no hope of heaven. By God's Spirit we have begun to live in heaven now, as a pledge that we will truly be in heaven tomorrow.

B. Firstfruits. Rom. 8:23. We have the beginnings of hope; the beginnings of love; the beginnings of holiness, the beginnings of peace; and so forth. As these things abound in us, we might be said to be filled with the Spirit, as these fruits are seen in an abundant way. But their perfection will be seen only in heaven.

C. Seal. Eph. 4:30. The Spirit Himself is the seal; but He imprints the image of Jesus Christ. This is not a dead or lifeless act of God, in sealing us with His Spirit, but an act with leaves its imprint upon the soul and heart. We begin to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, and God's predestined purpose for us begins to be fulfilled.

This indwelling of the Spirit is not self-validating. In a few verses, Paul will tell us what the image of Christ is. "Let this mind be in you...."

II. The Spirit of Adoption. Romans 8:12-21 is the definitive passage on the personal adoption of the Christian as a child of god.

A. A son is like his father.

B. A son is not a slave.

C. A son "cries" powerfully onomatopoeic; presence of intense feeling. "Krazen." It literally comes from the croak of a raven; but used of Christ's crying out on the cross. Strong emotion and feeling.

Matt. 5:5: Gerasene demoniac
Mark. 9:26: spirit who possessed the boy
Mark. 10:47,48: Blind Bartimaeus

It denotes not tranquillity; but crisis.
D. We cry Abba "Father." Intimate, person, experience of sonship.
E. Two witnesses: The Holy Spirit and my spirit. He speaks of Christ; my spirit speaks of Christ. It is in the CRY that the witness is given. Galatians 4:1-7. The spirit cries. The Holy Spirit cries in my spirit.

I Cor. 12:13. "Jesus is Lord."

Conclusion: Prayer: Read: Matthew 7:11 Luke 11:13 It is by the Holy Spirit that we receive the good things that God has promised to His people. Spiritual blessings. Jesus is not speaking of the things of the world or of the flesh; but spiritual goods. The fruit of the Spirit. May God bless you. More of this next week.

May God bless you.

Amen and Amen.