people needing your presence among us, and people, Lord, without whose spirit we are empty, we acknowledge that before you today, we pray that you would speak to us, we pray that you would speak through these humble words that I've prepared. We pray that each one of us could hear your voice calling as to how is it that we are to live out this unity that you've called us to, and that you've modeled magnificently in your son. We offer these things to you, we do pray that you would be with us in your name, amen. I'd like to organize our thoughts on this passage around three basic themes. And they are as follows First, we're going to be looking at Paul's exhortation to the church at Philippi. that'll cover about the first five verses Paul's exhortation. And what is it the Paul exhorts us to to be of the same mind? Secondly, I'd like to look at Christ's example, Paul's exhortation and then Christ's example, that covers up to about verses eight or so six through eight. And lastly, Christ's exaltation from verses nine through 11. So we'll be organizing our thoughts and I don't know if you're a note taking tight, but if you are, those are the three points that we're gonna be hitting on today. Paul's exhortation, Christ's example. And lastly, Christ's exaltation. What is it the Paul's trying to communicate here, he's trying to tell us to be of one mind. Look at what it says in verse to complete my joy by being of the same mind being of the same mind. That's the phrase that Paul is going to give us a number of times here be of the same mind. And then again, at the end of the same verse, in verse two, he repeats himself. Paul isn't the cut the type who just repeats himself for fun? He's got a point he's trying to make here. He's trying to drive this home. In that last half of the verse, he says, but in humility, no, excuse me, I've lost my place. Second end of the second verse being in full accord and of one mind. That's what Paul is trying to hammer home. And look again at verse five. He repeats himself once more, have this mind among yourselves, the language they're in the Greek is the same. I won't bother you with the Greek here, but this is the same being of the same mind and how is it that we are of the same mind when we adopt the mind of Christ? And then Paul goes into the second half of the passage and shows us what that mind of Christ looks like. With that is to beep you know, Paul's exhortation here to the Philippians that they be of one mind is pretty much exactly the same words that Paul gives to us in First Corinthians one, do you remember what he says there, you can jot this down again, if you're the note taking type. in First Corinthians 110, Paul says, I appeal to you brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus, that you all agree that you be of one mind, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. This is the way that Paul addresses the theme of the unity of the church, and he's hitting it hard in Philippians two. Now, we know from New Testament writings, both in Paul's correspondence with the Corinthian church in the first and second epistle to the Corinthians, but also in early Christian literature in the book of first climate. We know that the church at Corinth had a historic problem with Unity, it was a decade's long battle for them. We tap into that correspondence in the 50s ad, when Paul is addressing the Corinthians, we tap into that story again, around the end of the century, run 100 ad when we read in early Christian literature that this spirit of cism this disunity is still festering at the church at Corinth. Now what specifically, was the background for the church in Philippi? What was the issue? Flip over real quickly to Philippians? Four, if you would, Paul just sort of gives us a peek at what's going on. Paul says this, we know that there was this unity in this church at Philippi. Again, Paul writes in for to iron treat yo dia and I entreat Cinta Qi to agree in the Lord. Yes, I asked you also true companion healthiest women who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers. That's a little bit of the backdrop of what's going on in this community of Philippon. May I draw your attention to one point in that is that Paul underscores in his communication with the church at Philippi. Paul underscores that these are believers. Did you catch that and those verses in chapter four, Paul says true companion
Look at that four there. I asked you true companion that's for three who is that true companion maybe a pafford itis we don't know. But that were their true or genuine Paul's acknowledging This is a real Christian. We should share that unity as true Christians. Paul's extending that underscoring the authenticity of the faith of those involved in this dispute. Look at the way he also introduces you do you don't excuse me, you Odia and Cinta ki, those two women who are apparently spending at one another look at the way he introduces them. He says at the end of verse three, whose names are in the book of life, this is not a question in Paul's mind. Are these people saved? All sides are Christians. Can we start there, says, Paul, we are so quick. When we are in conflict with others, we are so quick to retract our confidence in the other person's faith. Maybe they're not even Christians, how could they be Christians and oppose this? We are so quick to not listen to judge. We're just so good at that. Let's deepen our human nature. There was a church in a small town that badly needed a new light fixture, badly needed new lights in the auditorium. And the pastor there in this small country church was at the annual meeting that you're trying to convince everybody trying to propose that they should get a new chandelier. The pastor had done his research, he went down to the lighting store down the road and price this all out it was feasible and so on. And as he was presenting in the annual meeting, why the church he thought should buy the chandelier and old farmers stood up. For pastors even Dutton said, Pastor, there are three reasons why we should not buy this chandelier. First of all, we can't afford it. Secondly, no one here would know how to play it. And thirdly, what we really need is a new light. We're so quick. We're so quick to judge before we even hear what the other side is. But more than just exhorting us to be good listeners. More than just that Paul is underscoring the authenticity of the faith of all parties concerned. Paul is saying your common faith should unite you as Christians. There were two boys in a small town again, who grew up together both of them had an interest in religious things. Both of them showed interest in religion and wouldn't you know that they both became ministers, one in a Presbyterian Church and one a Catholic priest, and they still work together. His fellow ministers in the small town. They continued to keep a good relationship through their adult life every first Saturday of the month, they would go out to the local diner, just enjoy breakfast together. Despite the theological differences the divided them they had a personal friendship that kept them together. And after one of these breakfasts, it was particularly touching to the Presbyterian after they had parted they both got in their cars the Presbyterian was parked out in the north parking lot the Catholic priests was parked in the self kept a parking lot they got in the cars they drove around the building and collided surprisingly damaging their built their their vehicle significantly. And as the Presbyterian jumped out of his car, to just tear just so disappointed that this morning would have to end in such a way jumped over, pull open the door, help the Catholic priest and said are you are you right? Are you alright? And he said, Yeah, Catholic priests. I'm fine. reached into his glove box and pulled out two communion cups and a flask of bourbon. said Let's drink to it. Cheers. While the Presbyterian down his looked at the various Catholic priests are now taking a sip. So what you're going to drink to our unity. The Catholic priests said I'll drink all right, but after the cops arrive.
Faith actually something that unites us. Paul says it shouldn't be. Paul says it's supposed to be that this common faith which he's willing to extend to both parties inside this debate, he says, this faith ought to be grounds for unity. Paul colza calls us to unity. Now, if that's Paul's message, we have to be honest that there's a little bit of suspicion to church unity, and I don't blame those who are suspicious of church unity. Why? Well, there are many different visions of what unity is. There are many different visions of unity on sale at the marketplace of ideas today, is Paul talking about the kind of unity that the church World Council of Churches is talking about institutional unity? Oh, well, we need to talk about that. What kind of unity is Paul talking about? Ever since the World Council of Churches began promoting a theologically watered down highly politicized version of unity is that the kind of church unity that Paul is after what is Paul talking about when he talks about church unity? church unity in our context, so often means at, at best, a dubious enterprise, and at worst, a clear abandonment of the gospel. What is Paul talking about when he talks about church unity? What is the unity that Paul is calling the church, the Christians to at Philip II will look at verse one of chapter two. Look at the way Paul opens this passage, it says so if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love and participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, what does Paul mean with the word if there? What is Paul meeting with the word if I have to tell you, if you want the technical reasons for it, I can tell you later but this is not if as in, it might not be true. This is rather if there is any encouragement in Christ and there is there for is the way that we should be reading these if JB Lightfoot Greek scholar of decades gone by, translated this, this passage this way, he said, If then your experiences in Christ appeal to you with any force. If love exerts any persuasive power upon you, if your fellowship in the spirit is a living reality, dot dot dot, that's the way that's the force that we should hear behind those words. And of course, the answer is yes, of course, there's encouragement in the spirit, of course, our communion with the Holy Spirit is an ongoing living reality. In other words, Paul is saying, the unity to which you are called is based on the work of Christ. You can you can paraphrase this opening these opening lines again, this way, be of the same mind on the basis of the encouragement in Christ on the basis of the comfort of love and on the basis of the participation of the Spirit. That's the basis on which we can be united. Okay, so Paul's exhortation is to unity. Now, where does Paul go with this? He goes to the example of Christ as we move into the next part of the passage, what does Paul focus in on? He focuses in on Christ as our example. verses six reads, he that is Christ humbled himself by becoming obedient, even to a death on the cross. That's the example that we're to be following. Click in verse five again, just this is the transition part. This is where Paul's done with his basic exhortation to unity and he's moving on to look at Christ example. Look at verse five, there have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. How are we to have this unity? How are we to agree? How are we to have the same mind by having the mind of Christ if we have the mind of Christ, we will have the same mind we will be united as Paul's recipe. Maybe you've read the classic texts, the pursuit of God by a W. Tozer Tozer writes this, he says, has it ever occurred to you that 100 pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tude tuned to each other.
They are of one accord by being tuned not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So 100 worshippers or 1000 worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ in heart is nearer to each other than they could possibly be when they become, quote, unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God and strive for closer fellowship. Paul's guiding us to the example of Christ, the key to Christian unity, is to be united with Christ because then we will be united with each other. Now, this is a tall order. This grinds against our human nature at every step. Look at look at what Paul is calling for. And again, I'm going to draw your attention back quickly to versus the end of verse three. But in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. This is what Christ did. This is the example to which we're being called count others more significant than yourselves let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Oh, That's a tall order, if we're going to be honest, this is always and will always be countercultural to treat others as more significant than ourselves. There's no culture that does that naturally. We're all self centered people. There was a pastor, and one Sunday morning, just 20 minutes before the sermon was to begin. He was with his family in the kitchen, his two boys and his lovely wife, and they were trying to get this breakfast on the table and eat their pancakes so that they get get to the church down the road and not be late. And as the mother was quickly working about to get these pancakes, and about to get these first pancakes off, wouldn't you know what the two boys were fighting about? Who would get to eat the first pancakes? And the mother said, boys, if Jesus were here, he would let the other have the first pancakes. To which the older brother replied to his younger brother, okay, you'll be Jesus. Count others more significant than yourselves, okay? You be Jesus. That's our response. That's where the grind is. But that's what it is to have the mind of Christ, to have the mind of Christ. What does it mean? To consider others more significant than ourselves to count others more significant than ourselves? What does that mean? First, it probably means to listen. Why because our opinions are not the only opinions that matter means to get give others access to our time. Because our goals and our priorities are not the only goals and priorities that matter means to be patient when we are experiencing need, why because the needs of the other are important too. And our needs are not the only needs that matter. means not being arrogant, because we no longer feel rejection from others. Because whether we are rejected or not, is not the point anymore. means not being rude. Because we no longer refuse to acknowledge that others worthy of our respect, means not insisting on our own way, because we are committed to breaking with their own self centeredness, and becoming open to God's call to unity. In short, it means to love because Christ loved us first. It's as though Christ under signs our love and makes our love for one another possible.
I want to draw your attention to to that word humility, because something interesting is going on in the Greek and I am a Greek teacher. I'll try not to belabor this with technical terminology. But this term here for humility, that Paul gives us, shockingly, genuinely, shockingly enough is not found in classical Greek literature before this, if this is not the first occurrence of the term, it's one of the very first this this word for humility. Paul may himself have coined it. There was an analogous term in classical Greek this term. We were led to believe Paul coined or the early Christian community coined and Paul repeats it here. First, one of the first instances that for it to appear in literature. Why would Paul do that? Why was a new term for humility necessary? The Greeks didn't have a concept of humility that reflected the Christian sense of humility. For the Greek mindset humility was to run out of options to be debased to be abject in abject survival state. Humility was to be powerless to the Greek mind to be served vile, sycophantic, obsequious, grumbling. That's what it meant to be humbled to the Greek. Now, what's the difference? Paul coins this word, perhaps or uses it from early Christian vocabulary. Why? To communicate that this is not a humility, that's run out of options. This is voluntary. This is voluntary. And it's almost as if when we hear this word for humility, that Christ is the picture for that kind of humility. I used to work in the office when I was doing my doctoral studies in New York City I used to work in the Office of Avery Cardinal Dulles, who is a tremendous Catholic theologian. He was the son of john Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State under President Eisenhower. JOHN Foster Dulles Cardinal Dulles, his father coined the word brinksmanship, brinkmanship, came out of the experience of the Cuban Missile Crisis when the American government was tearing tottering to the edge to try to intimidate The opponents so that they would have a leverage in this highly volatile political situation. It's hard for me not to hear the word brinkmanship and think of the Cuban Missile Crisis, that words associated with that crisis. It's attagirl. To that experience. Paul's word for humility is tied to the experience of Christ on the cross. This word for humility that Paul is coining or using from early Christian vocabulary means Christ's humility. It means the humility of Christ to hang on across although he was God. That's what humility is. means not defending ourselves. Why would Paul coined this word? He's distinguishing humility. This is not humility, the end of one's rope where one is forced to depend on the goodwill of another when one is forced to be at the mercy of another No, this is voluntary humility. Christ emptied Himself. That's humility. And that's the example to which we're called. Now, if we're honest with ourselves, it is almost impossible not to defend ourselves. But that's the humility that Paul calls us to that's the that's Christ, humility, if you will, to not defend ourselves. There was a church in a small town, Nebraska, where everybody knew everybody. You could look out in your bedroom window at night and see halfway across town and see what everybody was up to. Well, one night, it's Sunday services. The church gossip was spreading the rumor that she had seen George's old broken down pickup truck outside the liquor store. She was passing this rumor around. I thought, we know what you're up to George he accused mercilessly you're out in the open now. George didn't say anything. Ever since his wife had passed away three years ago, George had no stomach for this kind of internal bickering. Left that evening without saying a word. But on his way home, he parked his old pickup truck in front of mabels house and left it there all night. It's almost impossible for us not to get even with those who accuse us. Those who challenge us those who try to publicly humiliate us, it is almost impossible not to strike back. Even when we don't say a word like George, but Christ didn't strike back. And that's the example to which we're called. That's the example to which we're called. Christ did not think equality with God was something to be grasped.
The devil did. The devil although far beneath God's grander, grasp at deity, I will be like God said the devil. Christ is the opposite. Christ was God. He laid that aside, he emptied himself, he stepped down. That's maybe in Paul's vocabulary, Christ humility. That's something that the world doesn't know. And that Christ is our example. For that's flowing out of the grace of Christ. Lastly, and we'll just take a moment here, Christ's exaltation, what came out of this tremendous sacrifice that Christ gave on the cross suffering on our behalf. What came out of Christ's humility, the vindication of God. Jesus didn't have to stand up for himself. God raised Him from the dead. And that is Christ exaltation, the promise, the resurrection promise, that we're called to share in. Look at verse 11, just to this magnificent theme, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. If you're taking notes again, you can jot down Isaiah 4523. This is Paul's remake of this classic Old Testament text. This was prophesied that Jesus the Christ would suffer and then be raised, God would raise him that was prophesied. Now what does this mean for us? What is this mean for us? Paul's message of unity is not merely a moralistic appeal, to be more patient to be more kind, although Yes, surely that's for us as well. It's not a moralistic appeal in Paul's vocabulary in Paul's theological system. Paul's message to Christian unity is a call to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. Are you in Christ, than participate in his death and resurrection. That's the call To Christian unity. I told you at the beginning of this message today that I was running a series of interviews with Christian theologians from around the world. I've only been doing this for about two months. And already I've come to a very surprising conclusion, or something's come out that I want to share with you. I've been talking about all of these with all these different Christian theologians from around the world. I think last week, I called somebody in Kenya, somebody in Denmark and somebody in California just talking about the shifts that are going around in the world Christianity, it's an excellent way for me to educate myself about what's going on in the world, in the world of missions, and it's a great way for me to educate my listeners to that to asking these scholars, despite all these differences that are going on in Christianity is despite the wild cultural differences and cultural differences and theological traditions and heritage is, what is it that gives us unity, have been dropping the hard question to all of these theologians. And do you know what has shocked me to my core? So they all sort of say the same thing. Jesus, Jesus is what unites us, amen. Can I just read a few examples to you going to read? This is what this is what one scholar who teaches in Germany and South Africa, he said, Well, the simple Sunday school answer, and probably the only correct answer is Jesus. This is a man who's working on a second PhD. Another scholar from a prestigious graduate school in Texas said what is orthodoxy that unites us? I think it really boils down to is Jesus. Somebody who teaches in Jordan, in the Middle East said, I suppose one has to go back to the cross and the message of the cross scholar in Denmark said for me, what unites the church is Christology. student at Cambridge University said, I am a convinced evangelical and therefore I would want to put the core very firmly in the person of Jesus Christ. scholar in California said, it's always been about the faith. That's actually what unites us, Jesus Christ is ultimately what unites us, Jesus Christ is the unity of the church. scholar from Nigeria said this, I think what unites us is Jesus and His mission, the mission of God, the understanding of his mission and that Jesus is at the center of God's mission. What is Paul calling as to when he calls us to church unity. It's not just a moralistic appeal to be better people, exercise more patience, although sure that's part of our maturing process and part of our journey too. But Paul is calling us fundamentally
to experience the unity that we experience when we participate in the death and in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is at the heart of Paul's theology. This is at the heart of Paul's theology. Romans six he brings this out that the first couple of verses in Romans six you can read the maybe after the service if you want, Christ died, and we are united to Christ's death in baptism. And we're raised with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that He gives us to live his life. Now. Can you imagine what the apostles felt? In the night that Christ was crucified? Can you imagine what that was, like for them, their leader was dying, in the most shameful way possible. They felt betrayed. They felt as though this Jesus must have been an imposter, although they gave their hearts to this man. Deuteronomy 23 tells us that whoever hangs on the on a tree is a curse of God. One theological principle that the apostles knew from their Jewish background is that whoever the Messiah was to be, he couldn't be cursed of God. That would mean that he was an imposter. And to have their Messiah crucified, was sure evidence to the apostles that Jesus was not the Son of God, not the Messiah, who he claimed to be, and that the apostles were deceived. But three days later, when the tune started rumbling, and when the apostles witnessed that evidence, something started turning and their theological minds, oh, Christ was cursed of God, but not for his own life. Christ was cursed for our sakes. Christ became sin for us, although he knew no sin. The Gospel causes us to live in the death of Christ to as were baptized into His death, and to live in the power of his resurrection, the power of the Holy Spirit. May I pray for us briefly and then we're going to have the joy of witnessing several baptisms today. Please bow your heads and pray with To me, by gracious God and Father, we praise you for who you are. That your story, this story of stories is huge enough and massive enough to incorporate us that we can find our place in your story. In your death and resurrection. We can find our place today and God this is the hope that we'll find unity with one another when we are united with you. So, Lord, refresh our spirits. Come in your power, refresh our spirits, we offer our lives to you, we rejoice. We thank you for these baptisms that we're about to witness. In your name, amen.