The Mind of Christ, Part Two
Philippians 2:1-5

January 21, 2007
by C.W. Powell

I have found that it is profitable in expositing the Scripture, to use an overlap method, or an overlay method—to go back over the Scripture and see it from different perspectives and applications. This is what I intend to do today, after reviewing what has been previously said. This great passage in Philippians 2 is one of the great pinnacles of Scripture, from the heights of this great mountain the whole vista of Christianity stretches out before us. We can see some of the height and depth, the length and width of our inheritance in Jesus Christ and have our energy and strength refreshed and renewed.

Review: Two weeks ago we say the Four Great Reasons why we are to seek to be likeminded in Christ, having the same love, being of one mind and of one accord.

--Consolation in Christ: Have you found the mercy of Christ. Have you come to Christ, weary and heavy-laden; and have you found Christ to be a rest and consolation. I believe: it is more important for a Christian to have a sense of sin and a sense of the consolation of Christ because he believes that Jesus loves him and died for him, than it is for him to know a great deal about predestination and other such things. Or to put it another way: it is more important for a baby to be alive than it is for him to be able to eat beef steak.

--Comfort of love: toward the saints: if God's people and their fellowship is important to you.

--Fellowship of the Spirit: if the Holy Spirit has begin to form Christ in you.

--bowels of mercy: common decency; common humanity.

Then last week we saw in verses 2-4 two things: The goal after which we are to strive, and how we are to get there. The goal is the mind of Christ, resulting in likemindedness, unity, and love; the way we get there is to forsake our own mind. Paul is not talking about a unity of sentimentality and undefined love; or a unity imposed by force and bullies, but a conscious acceptance of the mind of Christ.

The negatives are to do nothing through strive or vainglory, without party spirit and private agendas, no proud speech or vanity. The positives are to Esteem others better than ourselves and to look on the good things of others, not ourselves. Look on the things—all the things that pertain to others, not being filled with ourselves, our importance, our desires and agendas.

Paul's theme in these verses from another viewpoint than the one last week.

I. Strife: Comes from a word for hireling: doesn't care for the sheep. Self-willed; has another agenda than the good of the sheep. Party or faction making; Intrigue; Has another agenda than the good of the sheep. Phil. 1:6 Some were preaching Christ of contention in Rome. So was also the condition at Philippi.

"Quarrelsomeness for advantage. Purposes that are not for the church but for a private reason. This word is quarrelsomeness; but with the strong purpose of gaining a selfish end. Hoping to gain the victory, not by reason or the persuasiveness of the H.S., but by anger, railing, intrigue, etc.

Galatians 5:20: Strife is a work of the flesh--the old man. Order appears several times: strife from jealousy from wrath from faction.

II. Root of Strife: Vainglory.

Empty glory: image, not substance. Glory in outward things. Christ "emptied himself" = made himself of no reputation. Did not empty Himself of Godhood; but of the appearance of God hood. Was content to live without reputation, even though his image was not "vain."

Gal. 5:26. "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." It does not matter who gets the credit; the important thing is that Christ is glorified. Some preached Christ because of contention; Paul said: I rejoice because of Christ is preached.

James 1:19-21 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

--Don't rush to speak the word until you have learned it yourself. Do not be content with the appearance of anything: of knowledge, of godliness, of zeal, etc.

--Remember that resentment, ill-temper, hatred, vengeance (wrath of man) disqualify you to speak the world.

--passion, wrath, makes just decisions impossible.

--It makes it more difficult for men to distinguish between your prejudice and God's righteous dealings. They will not see Him as kind, benevolent, merciful

--Lay off the old man: put aside the "superfluity of naughtiness" Either:

--The corruption arising from the old man: the surplus of evil arising from the old man: we will never be free "Abundance--overflowing" Wickedness that continually arises from the heart. Calvin.

--or: The remnant of wickedness that remains. "Cast in of their abundance" What was left over

--Receive with meekness: the word: fruit of the Spirit.

III. Antidote: Lowliness of mind. To God; and to the people.

I Peter. 5:5,6 READ “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1Pe 5:5-6 AV)

Several things:

1. We are called to humility.
2. Young to elder: young are prone to pride and self-confidence: though they do not have a monopoly on it. Nothing is more obnoxious than a self-important, vain, retired preacher, and I have known a few.

"Experience the best teacher" Maybe not; if we stubbornly resist the word, as Israel did.

3. BE clothed: Put on an apron: as Christ washing the disciples feet. BE CLOTHED: not to feel humble, or to pray for humility, but to ACT :HUMBLE: Do the humble acts. Put on the garment.

4. Serving others: submit to each other. All submit to each other. wife to husband; but also in some sense husband to wife. To be content to serve. There was nothing more contrary to the natural mind than this. Calvin: "Everyone has within him the mind of a king, by claiming everything for himself."

5. Casting your care: We think that we will lose something. We are afraid, that if we do not control it, it will get out of hand. No one will take us seriously; we will be taken for granted; we will be used; or whatever. Leave the matter in God's hands. Serve one another.

"But he doesn't serve me" so will you make him better by being rebellious yourself?

IV. "Esteem" Heb. 11:26: Moses and the riches of Egypt. I Thess. 5:13 of the officers of the church. Philippians 4:12: "I know how to be abased."

1. Haldane: "In this you may lawfully strive: serve one another." Will you be the first to do the dirty job--to take the criticism, etc. Will you take the burden on yourself?
2. Hodge: Take the lead: do not wait for them to honor you: rather, you take the lead in honoring them. Set the example. Abraham and Lot. Love finds a way. Love is the evidence for orthodoxy, as well as truth.
3. Self is not the Christian center: Christ and his church. Men are loved because they are men, in the image of God. Christians are loved because they are Christians. Happiness and feelings of others are to be regarded. Here is a lawful area for strife and competition: Esteem One Another.

V. Look On (Give heed, Mark, Consider.) Things of others: virtues and accomplishments of others. Give honor to whom it is due. Don't be grudging in your praise. Proverbs 3:27: the temptation is to get even, to show him, to win the power struggle.

1. Don't be preoccupied by your own accomplishments: glory rather in the accomplishments of others; the wisest have known this. See II Cor. 5:16,17.

--It took faith to truly see Christ; to know him not after appearances, but according to truth.
--It takes faith to truly evaluate our fellow Christian: to see Christ in him, and not just judge according to appearances. If he is in Christ, he is a new Creature.

2. Magnifying faults, not virtues. Do not look for Adam; look for Christ. We are to know no man after the flesh: according to the understanding of the natural man.

3. Look; consider; praise; thank God for. It is a matter of emphasis. This even comes from the pulpit: Ministers are constantly harping on faults from the pulpit. We do not hide from reality; but neither do me major on faults and infirmities. We do not look on the dark side: Christ has risen from the dead.

Jesus: "I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." [footwashing] John 13:25.

I Peter 2:21-25: Christ is our example.

Principle: God has appointed that we should teach one another. the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth.

a. Let us look on the things of others: we will grow as we see the work of God in their lives.

b. In this way we will do our best and most effective teaching. James 3:14,18: Great paradox. Peace is the soul in which righteousness grows. The greatest teachers are those who seek to be great learners.

May God bless you.

Amen and Amen.