Philippians 2:11If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (Philippians 2:1). "If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any deep affections and mercies..." They had shown all these toward the apostle in ministrations to him in the hour of his distress and trials, and these were sweet to him but he would have them act in these things toward each other without exception. This would be his joy.
There was some difficulty between two women among them, not that which cased divisions, as in Corinth, but personal feeling that might grow, and which showed a need of the exhortation of the second verse (Philippians 2:22Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:2)). "Fulfill ye my joy that ye be like-minded, having the same love, of one accord, of one mired." They had united in sending him tokens of love, let them unite, then, for his joy and forget self; for all differences that are personal come from the putting forward and maintaining of self. So the apostle would make their love, so sweetly demonstrated toward himself, to be exercised among themselves.
Philippians 2:3-43Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:3‑4). "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Most precious and simple rule, impossible to the natural man, yet the very order of being to the new man. Every phase of this may be deeply considered, and written deep in the heart and mind. Nothing through strife or vainglory; esteem others above one's self; think of others in everything—their feelings, their good, their rights, their motives, their circumstances, themselves.
Every child of God is exceedingly valuable. For him the Lord Jesus left the glory and came to the cross; and with him the Lord Jesus is bearing and laboring, meaning to have him in His glory with Himself. How many may be his temptations, how difficult his circumstances, and how right his purpose! At the worst, whatever was wrong may have been but the temporary yielding to sudden temptation, and the real motive of his life was obscured only to assert itself directly.
The things of others, their need, their habits, their joy, are to be our care; and above all things not ourselves, for the grand business of life is practically to account ourselves to have died. What are we, then, and what our errand here, but to shed light, love, and joy everywhere, to illustrate the infinite grace of God that has dealt with us in such unremitting tenderness. The only way to maintain this love was, and is, by setting self altogether aside, and the incentive and power must be to look at Christ. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Here, then, He is held before us in vivid contrast with the first man, who would make himself God by robbing, by seizing that which was not given him by God.
Thus he sought to exalt himself and was debased, listening to the voice of a beast below him as to what would come by eating the forbidden fruit. "Ye shall be as gods." It was not robbery for Christ, for He was in the form of God, and He would not even held on to the form of God, but emptied Himself and took upon Him the form of a bondservant, the lowest social condition of man. What a contrast! Man would become God. God stoops to the lowest place among men, and He could do this because He is God. Man could not leave his first estate without willfulness and disobedience, as all things are made to stand fast by God. Nor could man aspire to a position higher than his own without rebellion and sin, and charging God with folly. He was made lower than angels and this was his place. Having sunk to the lowest place and become the servant of sin, he is, through the infinite grace of Him who came down to his low place, raised up vastly above angels, to the position of a son of God.
But all efforts to elevate man as he is are but infidelity and unrighteousness, the working of pride which ends in destruction.
We are not told that this self-emptying and humiliation wore for us and for the work of atonement, though they were; but they are told here as the simple fact in regard to our Lord, the fact of humiliation, and as an example for us. It was not enough that He should take the form of man, but as such He humbled Himself. No emptying out here, but simply taking the worst thing that was owing to man – death, the death of the cross, a death of direct and distinct judgment upon evil doing. It was a wonderful descent to the cross, the place of a condemned criminal, from the condition even of a man among men, though that is what belongs to every man, unrecognized by him though it may be. But, from the throne of God to the cross! From the form of God to the criminal's doom! Could any one measure this but He? Can anything be named, so far, so low, so thorough?
Here, then, is our model. Let this mind be in you, for it was His mind; He "thought;" He "humbled;" it was simply voluntary. What love, what perfection of everything noble and worthy and great!
This is still the path of honor, for God on this account has highly exalted Him, and given Him who gave up His name and said, "I am a worm and no man," a name which is above every name. And well has He done so, for He is worthy of all glory, all names of honor. No act equals this that signalized the highest, richest thoughts of God, and which renders illustrious the earth on which it occurred, and gives a reason sufficient for its existence and for the allowance of sin upon it!
A Man, the Man of God's designs and delights, a Man exalted to the throne of God! For this is all spoken of the Lord Jesus Christ as man, not God. He became man, and as man went to ignominy and a violent death, and then, as man was raised and exalted to the glory, above the lustrous names that throng the heavens, or all the records of the universe.
And this is righteous in God, who is swift to recognize all that is worthy and to reward according to the full measure. Our Lord emptied and then humbled Himself, the former as God, the latter as man; and God saw it all and delighted in it and celebrated it. And God will do still more, for He has determined that at the name of Jesus, that is the name of the humbled Man, every knee shall bow, of beings in heaven and earth and under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That which God has sworn for Himself (Isaiah 45:2323I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (Isaiah 45:23); Romans 14:1111For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)) concerning every knee, He now gives to the Man who debased Himself, to be exalted in due time. This is in accord with Christ's own word in John 5, that all judgment is given unto Him also, because He is the Son of man; and also with Psalm 8, that all things are put under His feet. He has won all by taking the place of the servant, and dying to bring back to God the lost earth and lost man.
Still, it is not this last thought that is prominent here, but His voluntary emptying and humbling Himself. He gave up everything. He could, without robbery, without exalting Himself, be equal with God. He was God, and as such, man having departed from Him, He could, as far as power is concerned, have stood apart and waited for man to come to Him, as the injured One maintaining His dignity. But who would ever have come? He did nothing of the kind, but, man being lost, He must go out after Him, thinking only of His need, and of God's heart, too. It was thinking of the things of others, and giving up everything of His own at the present. The astounding character of this can never be told or measured.
And God who delights in this shall bring forth His glory to the light. All shall confess Him Lord, to the glory of God the Father. In Psalm 16:22O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; (Psalm 16:2), He had emptied Himself, calling Jehovah His Lord, and saying to Him, "My goodness is not to Thee, but to the excellent, the saints of the earth; my delight is in them;"—thus leaving the one for the other, to take His place in lowliness. But God has made this same Jesus, once rejected and crucified, both Lord and Christ, the One in whom are all His springs, His King, whom He will set on His holy hill, the One now at His right hand, waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
It brings our hearts to meditate upon the grandest designs of God, to enforce the simple, sweet lesson of preferring others' good to our own and giving up self for others. And since God has brought forth Christ, He has no lower argument, no minor examples, and we are to have no other one to fill the eye; Christ is all.
Now we look forward with joyful expectation and deepening interest to His exaltation as King of kings and Lord of lords, as the One who shall be so acknowledged by all, because He is such, acknowledged, whether by those that are His, with intense delight, or by enemies upon whose necks His feet shall be placed, putting down all that exalted itself and opposed.
As this fills the range of our anticipations, let us remember that all this shall come to Him who voluntarily gave up all of self and so take pattern. Let this mind be in us. This is the substance of the whole chapter; the subject mind, the humble mind, having Christ as our pattern, as the first chapter gave the mind according to the gospel; having Christ as the life, the believing mind. For this epistle is all about the mind, the state of the soul, and does not teach about our standing; the actual manifestation of a salvation which we have as believers, and not the opening out of truth as to what we are made in believing, and sin is not even mentioned. We are written to as saints in Christ Jesus, as saved and in the world, but made able to walk through it by having one Object only, Christ Jesus, the Man before us, in the glory of God. It is not many details of instruction, but One Person, filling the heart with joy more and more, engrossing and forming the mind, and so, the continual walk.
Philippians 2:12-1312Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12‑13). "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His own good pleasure," The special exhortation is that they shall do as well as when he was with them, or even better, for they were then consciously cast upon God, which they might not have felt in the presence of the apostle.
It shows the sufficiency of the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. And they were to bring out to practical result this salvation which they had received, which was certainly the crucifixion of self and the expression of the life of Christ, the life they had received as saints, God's holy ones.
The "fear" is fear of failure; the "trembling," the trembling anxiety to do according to the character received. The peculiar character of this work is more fully detailed in the succeeding verses, as well as in the exhortation to self-abnegation and the same mind as was in Christ Jesus. The blessed thing was that they could be called upon to do as He had done. It is because they were His and like Him in nature. They were saved and the salvation was to be lived out, God working in them to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Here is no working in uncertainty for salvation. It is God's own child placed here to show out what His Son did while here. Of Him it was said, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." And of us it is said, "No man hath seen God at any time; if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:1212No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12)). So that now, as then in Christ's day upon the earth, He is yet manifested in His own. Wonderful place! Wonderful dignity!
During Paul's residence with these saints, he had shown them how thus to act, and how nothing need be lost to them, nor in their testimony, by his absence. Even much more in his absence should they exhibit this lowliness, these blessed characteristics of sons of God. It is our condition, for we have Paul's exhortation and not his personal presence, and we have God.
Having the mind which was in Christ, how natural and simple the next exhortation (Philippians 2:1414Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (Philippians 2:14)), "Do all things without murmurings and disputings;" things which so largely characterized ancient Israel, murmuring against God, against Moses and Aaron, and against the bread God provided them in the wilderness; murmuring openly and in their tents. But they were a gainsaying people, of whom Jehovah was ashamed before the nations, making His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles. God says of them (Deuteronomy 32:55They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. (Deuteronomy 32:5)), "Their spot is not the spot of His children: they are a perverse and crooked generation." This spirit of humility and simplicity, without self-assertion and ready for anything, is to be the characteristic of His children. "That ye may be the children of God without rebuke, blameless and harmless, amidst a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life." This is a beautiful and lifelike portrait of Christ, doing what He did without murmurings, disputings, etc. His soul was like the weaned child. And God would have the contrast as vivid now as in His day. He permits us to take the position of Christ here; giving us not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His name, and by no means to ask anything of the world, not even good treatment nor a requital of kindness for love, nor good government.
What are all the activities of Christian people to this sublime and simple unworldliness that negatives self on all occasions, taking whatever comes with the cheerfulness that comes from the heart joyful in God and occupied wholly with Christ? And yet, these activities in their expression so often violate this whole principle and go along with self-seeking and jealousies. But this is all contrary to the spirit of the world, where all seek to be greatest, and they that seek authority over others are called benefactors or well doers. To get the chief places, to gratify self, to patronize others, are the ways of man.
Philippians 2:1515That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:15). We are to shine as lights in the world while we are in it waiting for the Lord, although to the remnant of Israel succeeding us is given the word, "Ye are the light of the world; a city set upon a hill cannot be hidden." They must remain therefore as long as the world endures. Our place is in heaven, and our public manifestation awaits the epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so we are told that we are now to shine individually as lights, for we are light in the Lord by the fact of walking as Christ walked—in all self-emptiness and grace, as a light reproving the selfish ways of the world, and showing what is God's mind in regard to life. The absent apostle desired to have fruit of his own specific gospel, the unselfish gospel of the glory. To be exhibiting these characteristics of Christ Himself and doing all things without murmurings and disputings, would be shedding a light and giving proof of having received His truth, and then he could rejoice and boast in the day of Christ that he had not taught in vain; as he says, labored or run in vain,—running referring to his work of teaching.
While, as believers in Christ and children of God, we look for the coming of the Lord Jesus to take us to Himself in pure grace, as the sequel to the salvation of the soul, and while each saved one alike shall share in the rapture, the servant always refers his work to the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ with His saints as the time when all shall be manifested of what sort it is. And it will be a great revelation !
Many a thing that has commanded the applause of the world, will then appear of little value; while the most obscure labor, by the despised laborer with his eyes on Christ, and his effort more and more to go exactly according to the Word, will have a grand and sweet reward in meeting the mind of the Lord.
Well would it be if the appearing of the Lord Jesus, and not present praise or reward, were more continually before His dear servants. So far is Paul's truth of the Man in heaven left out and forgotten, as to the testimony most given in this day, that any that may be found living according to it now would be esteemed enthusiasts and fanatics. It is most unworldly, most joyful, most self-denying, most tender and gracious, most exacting upon self and liberal towards others, and most simple, living Christ, drawing all supplies from Him. Christ is all. There is no other model, no other style, no way to walk and please God than as He walked. And then they that gave this truth can render account of their work with joy, for it must abide.
It is peculiar that these verses (Philippians 2:14-1614Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14‑16)) exactly describe Christ while down here. And we are to be sons of God also, without rebuke! Oh what a marvel, to have the work, the walk, the life down here, un-rebuked at the appearing of Christ, by being judged and corrected by His word now! And having given Christ as the infinite model of self-emptiness, other lower illustrations are given, of various grades, in their order.
The apostle himself was ready for death, ready to be poured out as a libation, a drink offering, upon the sacrifice and service of their faith.
Philippians 2:1717Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. (Philippians 2:17). Their devotion to the Lord's servant was an offering to God, and his life might be poured out in the same service. But what a low place relatively to theirs, he is taking, quite in accord with the spirit of the teaching, his but the accompanying drink offering, as though theirs were the greater. In the drink offering, the cup was drained of its last drop; so he would be poured out.
This is lovely, and is a sweet example for the laborer and the child of God. So also he counts that they would rejoice to do the same, relatively, to Him and His service. What a dignity it gives to emptiness, to nothingness. Simple Christian living, without effort and without thought of self or of setting examples; becoming the mode of the manifestation of Christ in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. How does having the mind of Christ make His own-one!
Philippians 2:1919But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. (Philippians 2:19). But another illustration is given in Timothy, whom the apostle hoped to send shortly, that he might know their state. Timothy was like-minded with Paul, the only one who would naturally and genuinely care for them. It was the same spirit of giving up of self and of devotion to others, a care that sprung naturally from the heart of a self-emptied one. It was a sad thing to record that all others cared for themselves, sought their own things and not those of others. But Timothy was a son to Paul, entering fully into the needs of the assembly, caring for the saints as belonging to Christ with a shepherd's heart. He seems to have received the truth from Paul very richly, and to have been of the same intelligence as the Philippians, who had Paul in their hearts. Then, as now, Paul's truth and apostleship were the touchstone of the spiritual condition.
In the midst of failure considerably developed everywhere, there was one among the laborers who was entirely in fellowship with the devoted prisoner of the Lord. The Lord was pleased to give his servant occasion for the exercise of his faith, held a prisoner thus, with the care of all the assemblies upon him, and he unable to reach them, and difficulties and decline manifest among them, and even the brethren around him seeking their own ease,—ready to preach while he was in bonds, but not ready to go where he had labored, jealous of his labors and not willing to be poured out upon the sacrifice of his devotion and faith. It was a time of weakness, and he had need to stay his heart upon God and find all things in Him. But Timothy was one after his own heart, as all seemed to grow cold. This is of great value in such a day as this.
The man according to God is he who grasps this same truth which Paul gave, and which kept Timothy with him and made him naturally care for the assembly of God. It is the heart of David in contrast with Saul as king, of Christ in contrast with all that went before Him, who climbed up some other way rather than go in through God's door into the sheepfold. So to-day the laborer who does not hold out and act in the present truth, the heavenly Christ in the glory and the assembly, His body, called out to Him for the glory, is in a way to be of those who seek their own things. The heart of Christ is met by caring for the assembly as His, and not for any sect, Such as Timothy could Paul send. And he also hoped to see them himself.
Philippians 2:2525Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. (Philippians 2:25). The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus with their expression of love and fellowship, to minister in their united name to the apostle; one who, in a lower position of service than an apostle or an evangelist—as Timothy, still was kindred in the motive and character of his service and life. His care for the saints was manifested in his anxiety for them, as having heard of his sickness, which had been especially severe, that they might not be overborne with grief thereat.
How sweet and simple this! If one cannot be as Paul or Timothy, yet the most obscure believer can show the same spirit, even in his anxieties and longings, thinking of others rather than himself. And he counts on the love and grief of his brethren. This is exquisitely fine, coming in this roll and array of true Christian unselfishness; and may we not say that these three, Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, follow Christ in exemplifying the generous and heavenly principle of the exhortation in the beginning of this wonderful chapter.
Epaphroditus had been a companion and fellow-laborer with Paul while ministering to him; and now the apostle, remembering his usefulness and the desire of the Philippians to see him, gives him up in his need and has him return to them. His own sorrow will be the less by their joy. Here then is the rich fruit of the Spirit; and what a reality fellowship in Christ is! How really we are one! The tokens of it in practical life are scattered profusely in these verses.
There is much food for thought in this beautiful unfolding of Christian affection, the sweet yielding of self on the part of all, the exquisitely tender thoughtfulness for others, finding outlet by the most natural incidents of life, the manner of its action, the perfect confidence in each other, and the knowledge of mutual love, the care for bodily as well as spiritual state, the bereavement in others' losses, the joy in their joy, and the simple, open, candid, and unsuspicious utterances that may contribute more fully to it. These are God's own compassions, the deep affections of Christ, the comfort of love, the fellowship of the Spirit. What an enforcement of the exhortation of the chapter! The truth seemed already to be slipping away as to doctrine, but this was left with some. It was not the clan feeling of a sect, the upholding of those who are partisans, right or wrong, or anything like the mere social courtesy of civil life that lets each one alone to care for himself, but the heart of Christ unfolded through and by His own. And the truest feeling is thus open, even telling of sorrows, as Paul mentions his, knowing their interest in all things pertaining to him. It would have been sorrow upon sorrow had Epaphroditus not recovered; but the Lord was gracious to him.
Such pictures are much needed when, in recovering the truth of the power of the cross and the crucifixion of the old man, we are apt not to distinguish what is the true fruit of the Spirit in the love in which we hold each other, and may even think it wrong to have natural affection. It is self that is to be ignored and forgotten, and not others.
Philippians 2:2929Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: (Philippians 2:29) "Receive him, therefore, in the Lord, and hold such men in honor, for he hazarded his life that he might supply all which you could not do in ministering to me." Thus it would seem that his illness was caused by some casualty on the road or by over-fatigue, he taking the service of the Philippians which, as a whole, they could not do. Paul is not here finding fault or meaning purposed or careless lack of service, but service which they were unable to render by the impossibility of all traveling. This thought saves from the interpretation which our old version gave, which would seem to mar and cloud the beauty and sweetness of the chapter.