Title: Unity of Christians
Contents
10. Christian Unity (2:1-4)
There was some division in the Philippian church. However, Paul asks the saints to please him by being one with one heart and one mind.
1. Be of one mind (verses 1 and 2)
What = 3 times, which is an emphasis usage.
① The Four Principles of Christian Unity
a. exhortation in Christ. Council speaks of consolation. b. Consolation of love = union that moves the heart. c. Fellowship of the Holy Spirit = There must be fellowship as Jesus said to eat His flesh and blood. d. Mercy and Mercy = Mercy with one another (forgiveness and reconciliation)
should give
② The four attributes of the church = a. Apostolicity = apostolic faith. b. Holiness = repentance and active renewal. c. Cosmos = completeness, totality, temporal inclusiveness. d. Unity = unity in God, unity in Christ, unity in the Holy Spirit.
③ The attitude of the saints based on the principle = a. Same mind = shared purpose. b. Same love = Show the love of Jesus. c. Same meaning: The action of the will must be united before God. d. One mind = One mind.
2. Consider others better than yourself (verse 3) = condition of unity
① Abandon stripe and vanity = Abandon greed, competitive spirit, and pride.
(James 4:1,2) “Where do stripe and stripe among you come from? Is it not from the lust that fights among your members? quarrels and fights; you do not have because you do not ask.”
② Humility = Humility in the sense of being aware of one's existence before God's absoluteness.
(Romans 12:16) “Be of the same mind with one another, do not set your heart on the high, but rather be lowly, and do not be wise in yourselves”
(1 Peter 5:5) “You young people, in the same way submit to your elders, and all gird yourselves with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
3. Take care of yourself and others (verse 4)
① Each of you look at your own work = Look back on the work entrusted to you and do your best.
(1 Peter 4:10) “As each one has received a gift, serve one another as good stewards of the various graces of God.”
② Look at other people's work
(Hebrews 10:24) “Consider one another, encouraging love and good deeds”
③ Fill my joy = You must become a saint that pleases the Lord.
(Colossians 2:5) “For though I am absent in the flesh, but I am with you in spirit, I am glad to see your scale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”