Key Verse: Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”

At first reading in the context, it looks a bit like over-kill. Paul was concerned about petty personal quarrels which were disrupting the Philippian church (2:1-4). He certainly needed to give a fatherly word of correction. Instead, he breaks forth into one of the most eloquent and powerful bursts of theological poetry in all of written work. Why? Maybe because, in Paul’s thinking, attitude was vital to Christianity. It wasn’t enough just to think correctly about Jesus, you also had to think the way He thought. And Jesus thought in a radical way — He thought in terms of downward mobility. Jesus was disturbingly and refreshingly self-forgetful.

A discussion of the theological implications of this passage is far beyond the scope of this little commentary. I wish only to make a few brief observations. First of all, verse 6 speaks of Jesus in His pre-incarnate state: “being in the form of God.” or, as the NIV translates, “being in very nature God.” Greek thought saw “form” in two ways: 1. shape and appearance, as when a shadow takes the form of a monster on a child’s bedroom wall; 2. the expression of what really is essentially and substantially divine — He shared the divine nature. Secondly, in verse 7, Jesus “made Himself nothing” (NIV), that is, He unilaterally limited or emptied Himself of His divine prerogatives. Only power has the power of self-limitation. In Jesus’ case, He limited himself to the point of death as a human on a wooden cross (v.8). He became, literally, a “slave” (v.7).

Remember the context. Paul is addressing pettiness in the Philippian church. He is challenging his readers to rise above feuds and jealousies. The inference is that a desire for the upper hand, for ascendency, is at the root of these squabbles. Paul is saying, “rise above littleness and drive to serve rather than command.” Follow Jesus’ example. Be downwardly mobile!

Key Verse: Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment…”

There is a remarkable observation made by Paul in Romans 10:2. He is talking about his fellow Israelites when he says, “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” They were zealous but poorly informed; this sounds like a lot of present-day Christians. We’re not talking about baby Christians here, but about Christians who’ve been believers for years but insist on staying in the playpen. Worship for them is feeding enthusiasm instead of feeding faith — swelling the heart and starving the mind.

Paul is alluding to the same phenomenon here. In this case, he’s praying for the Philippians, that their love for God will grow in terms of more knowledge. He wants them to learn more about Jesus, more about righteousness, and more about purity (vv.9-11), in order to strengthen their ability to discern not just what is good but what is best (“excellent” v.10).

The apostle Paul emphasized the same point when he said “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). To grow in grace means to grow in understanding and appreciation of what the grace of Christ is and its implications, not only in terms of personal faith, but evangelism. And, as is obvious, to grow in grace requires growth in knowledge. The heart may start the engine, but it is the mind that determines the car’s direction and supervises its maintenance.

The more we know about God, the smarter we become. That’s why Paul links knowledge with discernment. The heart may do the loving, but the mind tells the heart why God should be loved.

 

Key Verse: Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Jesus didn’t come to make people nice: He came to make them new. Mind you, people who are new in Christ also tend to be nice, but niceness is no antidote for the galloping disease of sin. Only new life will do.

Why? Because we are in a “struggle…agains the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (v.12 NIV). We are in a fight “against the devil’s schemes.” In other words, we are under attack.

But then, so is the devil under attack. Any believers who put on “the whole armour of God” is someone who not only is well defended but is also powerfully offensive to evil. He is no longer victim, but victor. The devil flees.

Little wonder! The devil doesn’t have a chance against believers who have “put on” God’s armour and “stand firm” in “truth…righteousness…readiness…faith…salvation…the word of God…alert[ness]…”, and who “keep on praying” (vv. 13-18 NIV).

“Standing in truth” means you don’t lie, nor do you live a lie. It also means Jesus lives in you. “Righteousness” means you choose to do what’s right regardless off the cost. “Readiness” means fitness — you are in good spiritual shape. “Faith” means you are trusting, obeying, and acting on the basis of your hope that “God is, and is a awarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11). “Salvation” means you are “in Christ.” The “word of God” is your basis for living, and “alertness” means you have your eyes open — you are no fool — and you “keep on praying.”

Such armour! The devil knows when he is defeated.

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:5 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (NIV)

An idolater is a worshipper of idols. He is someone who by his action denies the great foundation statement of faith from Israel, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” The Bible, especially the Old Testament, was written in a world that worshipped a multitude of gods — its message was radical and offensive: there is one God alone, and only Him shall you serve. The contemporary idolater, however, though he may agree intellectually with the Bible’s message, chooses at the same time to “worship” other “gods.” His loyalties are divided.

These days, we hear sinful choices referred to as “compulsive behaviour.” The psychologists look back into a person’ history and blame neurotic behaviour on childhood sexual abuse, deprivation, or any other negative influence which caused some kind of twist in character. We cast the compulsive sinner as victim. It’s as though his history has determined his destiny.

I suppose, to a certain extent, it’s true that heredity and environment have a great deal to do with how our lives are shaped. Nevertheless, the Bible is very clear in its insistence that ultimately you and I are responsible for our choices, whether compulsive or not.

If immorality, impurity, or greediness consistently colour our living, we are setting up false gods in our live. We can point the finger of blame anywhere we want, but from God’s perspective there’s only one direction to point when apportioning blame. If we insist on worshipping other gods, God will abandon us to their care.