A Call to Christian Unity

Paul Young

Philippians • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Philippians 2:1–4

Church Fellowship and Unity

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Father, You have taught us that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from Your mouth. So, we come once again to the life giving Word of God that our souls might be fed. We ask that by Your Spirit You would work supernaturally, enabling us to hear and understand and love the truth revealed to us in these verses of Scripture. Do it, we pray, that Christ might be glorified in HIs church. Amen. Open your Bible, please, to . Once you have found that place, I ask that you stand in honor of God’s Word.

In her book Grapes of Wrath Or Grace, Barabra Brokhoff tells the story of: A group of American tourists were taking a bus tour in Rome led by an English-speaking guide. Their first stop was a basilica in a piazza, which was surrounded by several lanes of relentless Roman traffic. After they were all safely dropped off, the group climbed the steps for a quick tour of the church.

I. The basis of Christian unity (V 1)

A group of American tourists were taking a bus tour in Rome led by an English-speaking guide. Their first stop was a basilica in a piazza, which was surrounded by several lanes of relentless Roman traffic. After they were all safely dropped off, the group climbed the steps for a quick tour of the church.

Then they spread out to board the bus, which was now parked across the street from the church. The frantic guide shouted for the group to stay together. He hollered out to them, "You cross one by one, they hit you one by one. But if you cross together, they think you will hurt the car! They won't hit you." If we as a church allow ourselves to be separated, divided, one by one the devil will hit us. It’s only when we function together, as one, that we can get anywhere or accomplish anything for the kingdom.

This is the message that Paul is trying to convey to the church at Philippi. At the end of chapter one Paul tells them that they are to stand together for the gospel. Now, as we move into chapter 2, Paul stresses the together part of that. Paul calls the church to Christian unity for the sake of the gospel. He essentially tells them to pursue unity by practicing humility.

There is no greater priority for Mt. Zion Baptist Church than that we be united for the sake of the gospel. Today we are going to focus on what it means to have Christian unity and how it becomes reality.

I. The basis of Christian unity (V 1)

The basis of our unity is the work of Christ in us, our common experience of salvation in Christ. It is what makes unity possible, and it is what sustains unity. As those who are in Christ we share an experience that is common only to us. It is an experience none outside of Christ know. Our common salvation experience forms the foundation for christian unity.

One experience we should all share as believers is encouragement in Christ. The word “encouragement” means to give assistance by comfort, counsel, or exhortation. Is your Christian faith a source of comfort? Is your Christian faith a source of wise counsel and direction? Is your Christian faith calling you to what is right and good? When we all experience the encouragement that comes from being united to Christ that shared experience becomes a basis for unity.

Another experience we should all share as Christians is comfort from Christ’s love. This comfort is the kind of comfort you feel when you are consoled in a time of disappointment. Has the knowledge of Christ’s love for you ever brought comfort to your burdened heart? Has the thought that He would sacrifice Himself to save you ever lifted your spirits when you were in a pit of despair? Has the fact that He has made you HIs very own ever cheered your soul when things didn’t turn out like you hoped they would? As Christians we should all know the comfort of our Savior’s love. That shared experience is a basis for unity.

A third experience we should all share as believers is participation in the Spirit. It means we are all partakers of the Spirit. Participation is actually the word for fellowship. Believers all share the same fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB95

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

In the Bible says that as believers we are temples of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us in a very real and very supernatural way. We experience His conviction when we sin. We experience His illuminating power when we are enabled to understand divine truth. We experience His enabling when walk in obedience. We all have an intimate fellowship with God’s Spirit. That common experience is a basis for unity.

Another experience we all share as believers is what Paul refers to as “affection and sympathy.” The word “affection” could be translated tenderness. “Sympathy” could also be translated compassion. The idea is that we all experienced Christ’s tender affection and His compassion when we became Christians. In saving you Christ poured out on you His tenderness and compassion. That is true of every believer. That common experience is a basis for unity.

As believers, we have all experienced the encouragement of Christ, the comfort of His love, the fellowship of His Spirit, and His affection and compassion. These things are common to all who have come to Christ for salvation. This common salvation experience provides the basis for a unity that is so much deeper than the superficial unity that might be experienced by some ball team or other organization. Christ’s work in us has laid the foundation for a unity that is as deep as our very souls. We can see this in Paul’s description of unity in verse 2.

II. The description of Christian unity (V 2)

Paul says, “If you share this common salvation experience, fill my joy to overflowing by walking in unity.” For Paul, knowing that the church was functioning as one in Christ would bring him fullness of joy. But he doesn’t just say complete my joy by walking in unity. He actually describes the unity he wants the church to have. He tells us that Christian unity is characterized by four things.

Christian unity means being of the same mind, or like-minded. To be like-minded is to have the same attitude and disposition of mind. Being of the same mind is not just thinking the same, but it also involves the will.

‘describes the general disposition of harmony which should be the background against which the whole Christian fellowship moves’; the rendering ‘by being like-minded’, which is not to be understood in an exclusively intellectual sense, means being one in intent and disposition.91

One Bible commentator said it “describes the general disposition of harmony which should be the background against which the whole Christian fellowship moves’; the rendering ‘by being like-minded’, which is not to be understood in an exclusively intellectual sense, means being one in intent and disposition.”

This doesn’t mean we all have the same personality, or the same likes and dislikes. It means we share a common worldview. We have the same priorities. We should all see the world from a Christian perspective. We should all think biblically about things. Christ should be foremost in all our our thinking, feeling, and doing.

Christian unity also means having the same love. Here Paul is referring to the Philippians’ love for one another. Our love for one another should be reciprocal. “By this will all men know that you are My disciples, that you love one another.” Christian unity means I have a love for you that makes me willing to sacrifice for your good, and you have that same love for me in return. This is not a love we reserve for the people we like most, but for all who are part of God’s church. To have Christian unity means we have the same attitude/disposition and the same love for one another.

Christian unity also involves being in full accord. Literally this says, being “one-souled.” It means to have the same character, affections and mindset. This is an inner harmony takes the place of strife and self interest. John MacArthur said this unity of spirit “refuses to allow inconsequential differences to divide us or hinder our service for the Lord.” This harmony of soul is what allows us to work together as one person for the gospel and the glory of God.

Paul goes on to say that Christian unity means being of one mind. For the church to be of one mind means we are intent on one purpose and we are all directed towards a single goal. And as I just said, our single goal is the gospel and the glory of God. We cannot have unity if half of us think the church is a social club for the saints. Christian unity requires that we all have the same goal, to exalt the Savior, evangelize the sinner, and equip the saints.

Christian unity is unity at every level. Unity in the way we think. Unity in the way we love. Unity of will and affection. And unity of purpose. Christian unity means that heart and soul we are knit together by the supernatural work of Christ. And there is a reason only true Christians can experience unity at this depth. And we’ll see it when we look at the requirement for unity.

III. The requirement for Christian unity (Vv 3-4)

What makes true unity so hard to achieve is what it requires from each of us. It requires humility. It takes selflessness. That’s one of the reasons only true Christians can have genuine unity. Because only a supernatural work of Christ can enable us to overcome our tendency toward being self-centered. Being truly humble means being selfless, selfless in our actions, selfless in our attitude, and selfless in our interests. This is what Christian unity requires from all of us.

We must be selfless in our actions. Verse 3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.” “Selfish ambition” is a strong drive for personal gain without moral inhibitions. You just want to get what you want and it doesn’t really matter how other people might be affected. “Conceit” is a state of pride or boasting that is without basis. It has been translated as “empty conceit” or “vainglory.” This is a person who, despite the fact that they have no real reason to be, is boastful or self promoting. It’s a person who glories in themselves and has a general disregard for others. Paul is saying, “Your actions should never be driven by selfish desires or a prideful view of yourself.” A preoccupation with self should not be what causes us to do the things we do. To have Christian unity we must be selfless in our actions.

But we must also be selfless in our attitude. Verse 3b says, “In humility, count others more significant than yourselves.” Humility is the exact opposite of selfish ambition or empty conceit. I like this description of humility by one Bible commentator, “An abiding characteristic of humility is a profound concern for the other person.” Humility means just what verse 3 says, to “count others more significant than yourselves.” The word “more significant” means surpassing, to go beyond. Your view of other believers should be that they surpass you in value. You should see them as more important than you.” Christ is the perfect picture of this.

Mark 10:45

Mark 10:45 NASB95

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

We must be selfless in our actions, our attitude, and in our interests. We see this in verse 4 (Read). The word “look” means to look at attentively, fix your attention with deep interest. Paul is not saying we shouldn’t be concerned about our own affairs. But, he is condemning a selfish preoccupation with our own affairs.

Romans 12:10 NASB95

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

1 Corinthians 10:24 NASB95

Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

Here is the problem. The tendency of human nature is to be preoccupied with our own affairs. Just like it’s the tendency of human nature to consider myself more important than others. And it’s the tendency of human nature to let my actions be driven by my own personal concerns. That’s selfishness and it is sown into the very fiber of every one of us. And it will kill any attempt at unity.

The good news is, by the power of the indwelling Christ we can overcome selfishness. Not by trusting in our own strength or willpower. But when we learn to live moment by moment under the controlling influence of God’s Spirit, He will smash selfishness. And when I put you and your concerns ahead of my own. And you put me and my concerns ahead of your own. And when he puts her and her concerns ahead of his own. And when she puts him and his concerns ahead of her own. The Holy Spirit will create a unity among us like nothing the world could ever experience.

Big Idea: Practice humility for the sake of unity.

Leith Anderson, pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prarie, MN tells a story about Joan Hollister Gilbert. Joan was a delightful person who had a long, difficult, and courageous battle against cancer. During her illness, her husband, Jack, was diagnosed with cancer, and she had to deal with that and eventually with Jack's death.

A few years later when Joan was dying, with just a few days left to her life, she invited Pastor Anderson and his wife to come and sit by her bedside. She said she knew she was going to die, and she talked about it. Most people choose not to do that. But she said she wasn't afraid. She said she was excited about entering the presence of God.

But that was by far the shortest part of the conversation. Most of the time she talked about people for whom she was concerned. She talked about Pastor Anderson and his family. She talked about her children and the children of others.

Pastor Anderson found out that on that day, and the day before, and the day after, leading right up to her death, she invited a whole list of people to come to her bedside so she could bless them before she died. Those who could not come she talked with on the telephone.

If anyone ever had a right to be self-concerned, and if ever there was a time when she had every justification to be primarily focused upon herself, it was Joan and it was then. But she lived out humility. She cared more about others and their needs than she cared about herself and her own needs. That’s what humility does.

As wonderful as it would be for you and I to die that way. What would be even better is if we would live that way. Unity only comes through humility. May God strip away any spirit of selfishness in our hearts. So that we can truly be one. And may He do it for the sake of the gospel and the glory of His Son.

Study Guide

How would you define the word humility? How do you think people in our day generally define it?

Describe the personality and behavior of the most humble person you know.

Why is humility such a challenging trait to model? What does this tell us about ourselves?

What four specific areas of unity did Paul desire for the Philippian believers? How would you describe what Paul meant by each phrase?

How are each of these areas represented in our church and in our relationships?

Why would things like encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, and participation in the Spirit lead to unity?

Read . What additional insight does Jesus’ commandment give into the purpose of unity among Christians?

Does unity mean there is absolute agreement on everything? Why or why not?

Why is humility an essential element to this kind of unity?

What does it mean to consider someone “more significant than” yourself ()?

Where can we find the kind of motivation we need to truly consider others better than ourselves?