Reading Phil 2:1-2 – "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Personal examples
We have much in common as Christians
Unity with God’s people is very precious
Example of Pentecost (Acts 2)
Example of dedication of the Temple
We belong to the worldwide Church
Paul is concerned for the Church in Philippi
Chapter 1 – all about Christ
Chapter 2 – honing in on fellowship
The theme of unity begins in 1:27
The theme of unity is picked in 2:1-3
Overview:
The Foundation for Unity (v1)
Paul’s Feelings about Unity (v2)
The Fundamentals of Unity (v2-3)
The Foundation for Unity (v1)
Four foundations:
Consolation in Christ
Comfort of love
Fellowship of the Spirit
Affection and mercy
If these things – because of these things
Examples
Consolation in Christ
How did the Philippi Church start?
Paul’s preaching to Lydia
What consolation she had at her salvation
Paul’s preaching to her family
Paul’s preaching to the Philippian jailer
What consolation they had
Paul was once outside of Christ – but then he was saved
Do you have consolation in Christ – do you know His salvation?
Listen to Spurgeon’s sermon on the ‘Consolations in Christ’
There are many consolations in being united to Christ – examples of eternal life, rest, completion salvation
Comfort of love
Is Paul speaking about God the Father?
The love of the Father – examples
Is Paul speaking about Christ?
Comfort – meaning ‘gentle cheering’, only used once in Scriptures
We can wonder ‘how can God love us?’
Yet this is a great comfort
Christ loves us as the Father loved the Son
Paul is speaking of experiential qualities
Is your Christianity purely doctrinal?
Is your heart moved?
Fellowship of the Spirit
Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit – in dwelt by God Himself
At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out
The third foundation
Affection and mercy
The others have a source and object
Feelings of affection and mercy
Not a cold Christianity
A living relationship with God and with each other
Paul’s Feelings about Unity (v2)
After these foundational motivations – Paul comes to his feelings
Fulfil my joy
Is not his joy already complete?
There will be a problem later on with Euodia and Syntyche (4:2)
Be like minded, of one accord and one mind
Divisions cause great problems
Maintain the unity of the Spirit
Paul’s feelings are not bound up with prison but in the people of God
Not by physical circumstances but the spiritual state of the Church
The Fundamentals of Unity (v2-3)
Like minded / of one mind
Paul mentions the mind a lot
Our mind should direct our affections
We should be united on primary issues but can have different opinions over secondary issues – explanation
The same love
Every member of the church is equal and valuable to Christ
Supporting one another
One accord
It is easy to disagree but harder to agree – explanation
