Jerusalem Baptist Church, Emmerton VA
(2 Timothy 2:22 reference: Pure in heart) Philippians 2:1-15
“She can decorate your whole room for $5.00!”
Stacey and Jim, my new roommates, were telling me about a friend of theirs who lived in Louisville. She hosted bible studies in her tiny one-bedroom apartment, and spent her money on books like Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Living Together” and “Letters and Papers from Prison”, Sheldon Vanauken’s “A Severe Mercy”, Watchman Nee’s “The Normal Christian Life” and “Sit, Walk, Stand” and Eugene Petersen’s “A Long Obedience In The Same Direction.” Those books, and the discussions they prompted between my roommates and myself, and those sometimes monthly trips up to Louisville to gather in Sue’s living room and hang out and hash out what we were learning of what we believed, did more to spur my growth as a follower of Christ than almost anything else. It was my exploration of faith away from the familiar surroundings of church and family.
Sue encouraged all of us with her love, her humor, and her compassion. A week wouldn’t go by that we wouldn’t receive a package from her. Usually it was a big manila envelope, with individual cards or handwritten letters for each of the four of us, along with an article or two she’d copied from a magazine, like Sojourner’s that she thought particularly relevant or insightful.
The text this morning is an exhortation. Paul is writing from prison. Where that prison is, either in Ephesus early in Paul’s career or in Rome towards the latter part of his life is a matter of debate among scholars. But the context remains. Prison is prison, regardless of geography or chronology. I’m sure there are reasons to conclude one way or the other, but for the purposes of the Philippians receiving and reading the letter, the same held true. Paul was in prison, and he took the time to write to us, so we better see what he has to say.
He starts the letter off with a beautiful thanksgiving: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (1:3-6) and that tone carries throughout the letter. There is an assurance, a hope, and a joy that permeates the letter and jumps out at anyone reading it, even more so in light of the fact that Paul was writing it from prison.
There are definite references, though, to be found, which point to problems that have arisen among the Philippians. Chapter 1 verse 15-17: Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. What is so striking about Paul’s response here, though, is how he ultimately turns away from the negativity that prompted the mention, and summarizes in verse 18: What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.”
Before this, Paul presents himself as an example for the Philippians to emulate, but then he cuts loose. In academic circles it is referred to as a Christological Hymn, beginning with the first verse in chapter 2, Paul begins to build momentum.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
We could spend a good deal of time deconstructing the passage, speak of the structure Paul used, the wording and the phrasing, and that all deserves attention, but to simply read the words brings the message.
It seems that Paul is saying ‘do this for me’ – (make my joy complete), when he lays down the challenge: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. His exhortation is towards unity above all else. In the face of opposition from Judaizers like those he was addressing in the letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul’s appeal is to humility, obedience, and selflessness.
Verses 5-11 are some of the most beautiful found in the entire New Testament:
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You can almost hear the words reverberating in the cell … to the glory of God the Father … I can picture Paul pausing after having said, perhaps even sung that part, a Doxology not unlike the one we sang here just a few minutes ago. The New Revised Standard editors have been kind enough to lay out that section in verse format – to separate it from the surrounding text, and set it apart as what it is: a poem, a song, a hymn.
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.
Paul here is asking the Philippians to figure it out on their own. Not only as a matter of personal growth, but as a simple necessity. In chapter 1 verse 27, we read: “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you …” Paul knew he was not going to be around forever. From a practical standpoint, and if his spreading of the gospel of Christ was going to continue at all, he reminds the Philippians that it is not HIS instructions that they are ultimately following, but God’s. Verse 13: for it is GOD who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Stacey, Jim and I went on a retreat together with the students from the campus group called ‘His House’ – which was similar to the Baptist Student Union, and the retreat got started EARLY on a Saturday morning. As we shuffled into the main gathering room, Mark, the president of the organization, started handing out chores to be done, as in cleaning, and cooking, and washing dishes, etc. Being who we were, there was an immediate response … mostly silence, but some mumbled, undercurrent of dissatisfaction. Mark was ready, and gently but firmly reminded us of this verse – do all things without murmuring or arguing. I suspect that, had the context been anything else besides a retreat, the murmuring and arguing would have continued, but for the place and the time, HIS entreaty to be less like ourselves and more like Christ hit home.
In the end, that is what Paul is asking that the Philippians then and we now be: more like Christ: obedient, of one mind, thinking of others first, kind, selfless, giving.
Verse 15:
so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.
I was chatting with Sue last night, and asked how she was doing. She and her husband Shawn adopted two sisters whose mother died several years ago, and who had been shuffled through the foster care system in Louisville for several years. She shared with me that as of December, they also adopted a 13 year-old boy whom they’ve known longer than the girls. His father is an alcoholic and his mother is mentally handicapped.
“It’s pure joy”, she said. “They are fussing and fighting with each other, and I need to go tuck them in. He sleeps over at his mom’s 2 nights a week, and we hope to someday have a home big enough to just bring his mom in with us too.”
Sue still shines like a star in my heaven.
A little over a month ago, Dan Bagby preached from 2 Timothy 2:22: Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart
Over the last 4 Sundays we’ve looked at each of those: Righteousness, Faith and faithfulness, love, and peace. We cannot neglect that last phrase of the verse: ALONG WITH those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
We are together in this. As a congregation, we’ve been presented with a slate of nominees for deacon as well as the list of people who’ve agreed to roll up their sleeves and take it upon themselves to engage in the life and care of the church. As part of our process, we will be meeting in business session Wednesday night to elect those deacons, agreeing to support them, and to affirm our own commitment to take our part in the life of the church, by encouraging others who do not know Jesus or who have no family of faith to come see, hear, and join us as WE pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.
If you are here today, and have not given your life to Jesus, that is our first priority. Have this mind in you that was in Christ, who didn’t puff himself up, but made himself obedient, even to death on a cross. Your call is to obedience, and obedience even to death to sin. God is calling you away from slavery to sin to victory over death through Christ.
If you are looking for a church home, a family of faith that will learn and grow and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace alongside you, we would welcome you to come be a part of this local body of believers.
If this IS your church home, and you ARE actively engaged in that pursuit, my word to you today is of gratitude, for that rightness, that faithfulness, that love, that peace that you are a part of.
Let’s pray.
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