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The Mind of Christ,Part One
Philippians 2:1-4

January 14, 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, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Php 2:1-4 AV)
Paul now comes to the main reason for his writing to the Philippians. I am amazed at the Scipture, at how relevant it is. I preached the substance of this sermon almost ten years ago in 1997, and as I went over my notes from then, I was amazed at how relevant and up to date my remarks are. I have completely reworked the format and presentation, but much of the content is as I preached it then.

I intend to look at verses 2-4 today, and make applications from a portion of 2Cor. 5.

The purpose of the Gospel, and the end of faith is for Christ to be formed in us. Galatians 4:19 The Spirit of Christ is totally contrary to the party spirit which dominated the minds of so many in Philippi and which was the reason for Paul’s writing. Things were so bad that some even preached the gospel out of envy and strife. Paul was glad that the gospel was preached, but he hated the factionalism and party strife.

This party spirit is the work of the flesh and is characterized by: "contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, etc." (Gal. 5:20,21 NKJV) Paul recognized this work of the flesh is driven by the law, and is overcome only by the work of the Holy Spirit.

His warning to the Galatian church was, "If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Gal. 5:15,16).

It is not sissy to love. It is not weak to love. It is not sissy to turn the other cheek, to endure evil, to bless those who curse. Instead, it requires a strength that is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit of God.

The difference is between external and internal religion. External religion is of the flesh. The precepts of the law can be obeyed externally in the flesh, and rites, ceremonies, outward pieties, and external holiness are emphasized. The law is emphasized in order to change outward behavior. This leads to sectarianism, and the church is divided along party lines over some external ideas concerning religion. No one can see the heart, so the battle lines are drawn over external things, and people seek to judge the heart of their fellow by external things.

Now, when I say this, I am not saying that Christianity does not affect or does not speak to external things. But the externalists rests in them, and condemns others because of them. They often become the means of party strife, faction, and division. This was the error of the Montanists in the early days. There is a secret pride in what we call rigorism. I would illustrate the error by referring to a gentleman who was in my church years ago. He was always campaigning for something. The church was never pure enough for him. Because of this he was never satisfied. No matter what victories he won, they were never enough, for he would raise the ante and continue the battle. His focus had shifted from witnessing to the grace of God, to fighting sin.

What didn’t he like? He made an issue over the idea that I often did not ask for hymns from the congregation at our Sunday evening service. I finally yielded to him and we sang “His eye is on the sparrow” every Sunday evening for over a year or so. He complained that we didn’t join the tax rebellion movement. He got so angry about not having a prayer meeting during the week that he stormed out of a Consistory meeting one night. He want to fight about the two-office vs. the three-office view of church government. And so it goes. Small churches are especially vulnerable to ambitious people who want to transform the church into their own vision.

He finally moved away from Anderson and caused turmoil in two Presbyterian churches in the south, one in Texas, and finally went to jail by running afoul of counterfeiting laws. He made a tract using a copy of a dollar bill on the front. He was always spoiling for a fight.

One thing was certain, he never was without a fight, for you can always find sin to fight. But he never could see that the battle against sin had already been won, and it was won at the cross of Jesus Christ. Our victory is in Him and in Him alone. He does not give us the victory; He is the victory.

Internal religious emphasis is of a different order. The Bible teaches that true religion begins in faith in Christ in the inner man. Externalists do not face the sin of their own hearts, but are always looking around to find some sin they can see in the lives of others. This is a leaven of righteousness that works out salvation. The important thing is to promote true faith, and this transforms the life. This makes it possible to be patient with people.

Grace must not only be the foundation of our theology, it must be the foundation of our life and our dealings with other people. We do not need to teach people everything they need to know, or constantly meddle in their lives. We need to be helpers to their faith; to lead them gently and lovingly to Christ, for if they have found Christ, they will have everything they need. This is the foundation of what Paul says in this passage. But let us look at the text before us:
It does not take any brains to find things wrong with people and churches. Anyone can do it.

I. Verse 2 and 5: This is the goal of our lives that God has for us
A. First, to be of one mind:
1. The work of God's Spirit is to form us into the image of Christ. Christ died for us so that we could receive the adoption of sons. Because He is the Son of God, in him we are sons of God: We are by adoption what He is by nature.
There are three things here: The goal: of one mind and one heart; the means: verses 3,4. The examples: Jesus Christ and others that Paul names.
2. Jesus Christ is the end of the Gospel, and the end of faith. “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” (Heb 13:9 AV)

3. The heart is established with grace; and not with meats. Meats only affect the body. The work of the Holy Spirit is to renew the inner man: See Ephesians 3:14ff. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: not by essence, but by faith.

4. This is what the election is: This is the end of election: [See Romans 8:26-29.]

5. We saw last week:
a. If you have known the Spirit of consolation in Christ.
b. If you have known the comfort of the love of God.
c. If you have known the fellowship of the Spirit.
d. If you have any common decency.

6. Now: BE LIKE-MINDED: What mind? VS. 5. The Mind of Christ. See Isaiah 55:6-13:
Forsake your own thoughts for the mind of Christ: The spirit that causes you to reject others and promote favoritism in your mind is not of Christ, but of the flesh: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isa 55:6-13 AV)

7. Forsake your mind for the mind of Christ. What is this mind? We will explore this over the next several sermons.

B. Same Love: see verse 1. We are to love one another, as Christ has loved us.

C. One accord: means one spirit.
1. as in 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” (Php 1:27 AV)

2. We are to be in the same conversation. Cultivate transparency: no private agenda; no manipulative words; no hidden agenda.
II. Vs. 3, 4 tells us how to get to this place: this unity and oneness. This is not a sentimental unity, or one imposed by bullies on others. The way in Scripture is just as inspired as the goal. We can only get to the GOAL of Scripture if we go in the WAY of scripture. There are two negatives, and two positives:
A. The two negatives:
1. Nothing through strife or vainglory: No party spirit. No private agenda. No private glory.
2. Nothing from a lifted-up mind. Knowledge puffeth up.
B. The two positives:
1. Esteem other better than themselves: We must not only have grace in our theology, but we must have grace in our mind, in our speech.
2. Look not every man on his own things. Look at the good qualities of others; rather than your good qualities. “It is not all about you”
III. For the application let us see II Cor. 5:12, 15,16
A. “For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.” (2Co 5:12 AV)
1. It is necessary that we have an answer to them that glory in appearances. All that matters is that everything looks good. Neat and in order.
2. They must be answered. Self-interest and a spirit of domination and over lordship was present among the apostles; why should we think that we could be immune from it? Like Diotrephes, there are those who love the pre-imminence; not to serve, but to rule over others.
B. “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
1. We are not our own: all means all the elect, all the saints, all the people around you in the pew.
2. That person that Christ died for must be precious to you. You must value yourself a great deal, and count yourself worthy of living for Christ and not bring shame to His name.
C. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2Co 5:15-16 AV)
1. Even Christ is not to be judged after appearances, for He is in heaven and cannot be seen on the earth. You must seek Him in heaven, that is, in a spiritual manner, from the heart and not with outward pretenses.
2. We are not to just others after the appearances. Young Christians are very often carried away by those who make a show in external things and are satisfied if the stable is clean, even if there are no oxen there.
3. We do not judge "after the flesh" after appearances. We do not judge according to the external condition; not external religion, but the heart is the issue. He sees it by faith; by the gospel; not by external condition.
D. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Co 5:17 AV) By faith: we are in a new world. Old things have passed away; crucified with Christ; All things have become new. Everything is new because we have entered into a new relationship in the world: we are now sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

Reconciliation: Be reconciled to God. May God bless you.

Amen and Amen.