The Joy of Unity in Christ

1. Read: Philippians 2:1-11

2. About the Text:

1) The apostle Paul is writing this book from imprisonment.

2) He does not want the church to be worried about him.

3) He emphasizes his joy in Christ in every chapter of this book.

4) At the beginning of chapter two, he emphasizes the connection between joy and unity.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Conditions for Unity

1) Must be “in Christ.”

2) Consolation – (paraklesis) call near to encourage.

3) Comfort of love – (paramuthion) persuasive address or exhortation.

4) Fellowship of the Spirit – (kononia) giving, sharing, communion, contribution.

5) Affection – (splagxnon) affection, deep seated feelings toward, mercy.

6) Mercy – (oiktirmos) pity, compassion.

7) There is overlap here.

8) The emphasis is upon our emotional desires for a relationship with others.

9) We must desire unity for the right reasons!

10) These are attitudes that we both give and receive.

2. Desire for Unity

1) Be like-minded.

2) Have the same love.

3) Be of one accord – of one heart.

4) Be of one mind – more intensive than same.

5) Said in four different ways for emphasis.

6) “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

3. We have joy when we have unity.

1) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

2) Acts 2:40-47 is a perfect picture of unity in the church.

1. Actions to avoid.

1) Selfish ambition – creating strife to advance selfish concerns.

2) “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” (3 John 1:9-10).

3) Conceit – vainglory, artificially created accolades, praise of men.

4) “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).

5) “but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:29).

2. Actions to undertake.

1) Maintain a humble mindset – no task too low.

2) “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14).

3) Consider others “better” than self – the idea to grant others power over our lives as a superior has authority over a subordinate.

4) “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15).

5) We must constantly and actively look out for one another’s welfare.

6) “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:10-13).

1. We must let Christ’s mind be in us – a command!

2. What was Christ’s mind?

1) He did not count being an equal with God a thing to be held onto – he let go of His authority, power, and place.

2) He emptied Himself – he left nothing of “self” within him.

3) He took the form of a slave – the lowest caste of society.

4) He took the image of a human being – to experience the fullness of being human.

5) He humbled Himself – as a human, he did not give in to the temptations of humanity.

6) He obeyed even unto death – he did not allow mankind’s greatest fear to sway Him.

7) His death was the death of crucifixion – the worst death possible could not change Him.

8) These are the radical lengths to which we must go to have unity in the body.

3. It is because of what Christ did that He has the authority that He has.

1) God highly exalted Him.

2) He gave Him the name which is above every name.

3) Every knee must bow before the name of Jesus.

4) Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

5) God the Father gave Him this authority for what He did.

6) Matthew 28:18-20.

7) Jesus is the only one who has done this; no other human can stand in His place.

4. The fundamental basis of unity and joy is in Jesus Christ.

1) This is contrary to popular belief in our culture that joy comes from selfish pursuits.

2) “Trust and Obey”

1. Unity brings joy in Christ when we have the right . . .

1) Attitudes

2) Actions

3) Authority

2. Invitation