Philippians Chapter 2 "Exhortation and Example of Christ." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org Philippians 2:1 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies," The word "consolation" in the Greek tongue is "paraklesis", and today we would say "appeal". As in if there be any appeal in Christ that appeals to you personally. If you can feel the love of God through the Holy Spirit, and see the things that Christ has done for you. Those things where by you can claim your part of God's kingdom, and have eternal life and your inheritance. Then if within your heart you can feel your love being returned, as it is touched by the Holy Sprit, bringing a fellowship bond between your spirit and the Holy Spirit. That bond will comfort you and speak to you, and if you feel this happening to you deep within you, then listen to the Words from Christ and accept Him. What is implied here is that we listen to the Word of God and obey when the Holy Spirit speaks to you. If you understand and feel the love of Christ accept Him . Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Paul is saying, my joy would be complete when you are all in tune with the Word of God, that you all have the like-mindedness to keep striving for more knowledge of His Word. It Is important is that you realize that we are all individuals with different desires and levels of understanding and abilities, but that we become alike to the point that we know the Word of God, and have the ability to see that every one of us has different duties within the body of Christ. Once everyone understand that they are different, and that each has his or her own duty within the body of Christ, then all members can get along. Wherever God placed you in doing His work, that is where you witness for Him. Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Today we call "vainglory", "getting on an ego trip". Jesus Christ left his position in the heavenlies to be born in a cave, and live His life in the flesh as a servant. He came off His throne in glory, to reach down and save each soul that would repent and come to him. In His love for each of us He took the stripes, and went to the cross, and gladly gave his life so that you and I could be redeemed from our sins, and be drawn back to Him. So rather then just looking out for old number one, we are to care for others that are unbelievers, that do not know any better, and we are to have concern for their soul. That is why we witness to them and plant seeds of the Word, so that the Holy Spirit can make those seeds grow in their minds, and they come to know Christ. Vainglory is very dangerous, for it will allow that person to go on an ego trip of pride and conceit and cause him to fall. When you are focused on Christ then all glory goes to our Heavenly Father, and His Son and there is no room in your heart or mind for any glory for yourself. Philippians 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others," Don't think only of the things of your own interest, but show concern with the interest of those around you. This applies to all areas of life, when you are with a person and you know what he likes to talk about, talk with him or her on the topics that appeal to them. If their interest is mechanics, then talk mechanics, if it be sports, or knitting, or whatever, make your conversation interesting to them so that you can find the opening to plant seeds to the nonbeliever. This also goes when you are in conversation with believers, always think of the interest of those around you. It will turn people off on you, and cause them to avoid you when all you can talk about is your interest. Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" Let the attitude be in you, that you care about one another. Every place where Christ went He cared about others. He healed the sick, and well as saved their souls. Jesus had feelings for all souls, and everything He did was in concern for others. When you make other people happy, they will try to make you happy. Philippians 2:6 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" Jesus did not try to be equal with God to show of His royal position. He knew that He was God, and accepted the position of the office of the Son and performed the duties of the Son. Jesus did quite the contrary, He showed Himself to be that of a servant, and performed the duties of the servant for that time. As a Christian you know that the Father and the Son are one, and when you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father. John 10:30 "I and My Father are one." The two, the Father and the Son are one in essence, not one in person. An example of this would be the role of the father of a family. As father the kids look up to him, as a husband he loves and cares for his wife's needs, as a provider he is in the workforce making a living and becomes the welder, office worker or whatever that job may be. The same individual has the essence of being one person with many roles to fulfill. When Christ went to the cross, He was fulfilling the role of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, carrying the sins of the world on Him so that you and I would not have to die with them. He went to the cross and opened not His mouth in His own defense. So again going back to verse one, if the thought of Him and His kingdom appeal to you, accept and obey Him. Philippians 2:7 "But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" As Jesus went around preaching and healing, he did not do those things in His own name but in the name of His Father. He did all his acts not as God, but as the servant of God. Jesus was born in a low social family, and He lived all his life in a very common way. The friends that he chose to be with were common, and those that were selected to carry His Word forth were also common. Philippians 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Jesus Christ came in the body of a man, He lived as a humble man, and he was obedient to the Father in fulfilling the Word of God, even to go to His death as a common criminal, when He was falsely accused. Jesus fulfilled all the Prophecies that God gave to man through His prophets of old. As we read Isaiah 53, we can see where Jesus fulfilled the entire prophecy of the cross. Isaiah 53:1 "Who hath believed our report: and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53:2 "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form of comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." This is prophecy of Jesus birth eight hundred years before it happened. This description of Jesus is true. Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; and man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." Jesus Christ did receive the rejection even of His own disciples; even of Peter as he denounced Jesus three times during Jesus' trial. Jesus was scorned, mocked, beaten, whipped, and a crown of thorns run into his head; all before He was hung on the cross to die. Isaiah 53:4 "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." It is by those stripes that our Lord Jesus Christ took that gives you and I the credentials to approach our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, and ask for the favors that are promised to each of us. Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." This is just one of the many prophecies that were given centuries before Jesus was born in the manger, and He lived to fulfill every prophecy written of Him so that we could have our sins forgiven from us. Philippians 2:9 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:" Jesus, through His death on the cross, and by his resurrection has been exalted all the way to the throne of the living God. Jesus was given a name above all other names, He is the Messiah, the Savior, and our coming Redeemer; He is the Christ, the very Son of God who will come and set up His eternal kingdom on earth when this age of the flesh is over and gone. Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" The name of "Jesus" in the Strong's Greek dictionary # 2424 is; "Iosous, ee-ay-sooce', of Hebrew origin [3091], Jesus (i.e.Jehosua), the name of the Lord and two other." It is to say, God's Savior, and at His name every knee shall bow in things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. Even those that have already gone all the way into the pit will bow to our Lord and Savior. Why? Because Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Philippians 2:11 "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Every thing that Jesus did, and even His going to the cross was not for Jesus' glory, but to the Father's glory. All the glory of God will be revealed that moment on the first day of the Millennium Age when every knee shall bow to Jesus, they will do it to the glory of God the Father. We read of this day in Revelation 19:11-18. Revelation 19:11 "And I say heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and He That upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war." The time when the heaven shall open is the sounding of the seventh trump, when the time of Satan's rule on earth as the Antichrist, the "instead of Christ" will be over. Revelation 19:12 "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself." When Christ comes to earth, the burning in His eyes is fixed on one thing, to bring righteousness to the earth, which will bring vengeance and wrath on those who have harmed and cheated His people. The many crowns that Jesus will wear are diadems. These were like a turban with man colors, for white is the presence of all colors. Revelation 19:13 "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and Him name is called The Word of God." The blood that was on His vesture is His own blood from when He went to the cross. It also is the blood of all the righteous saints that gave their blood for the sake of our Heavenly Father, and for our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember this is the day of vengeance, the day of God's wrath upon all the earth. We read in John 1:1-5 that another name for our Lord Jesus is "the Word of God". Revelation 19:14 "And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." When Jesus returns to earth to judge and set up His kingdom, all the saints of God will return with Him, and reign also. The marriage will have taken place, and the rewards passed out. These saints are the saints that have died and their souls gone to be with the father in the flesh age. Revelation 19:15 "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nation: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." This refers to Psalms 2:9, Isaiah 11:4; 49:2, and 63:3. This sword that goes forth is a sharp two edged sword sword which will smite and bring down all nations. The kingdom that will be set up will be a righteous one, without Satan, the false prophets, and the locust army of fallen angels that came to earth with Satan. Revelation 19:16 "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS." There will be no doubt in anyone's mind who is coming to earth. We will all see Him, and we will all know that it is Jesus Christ. Boldly it is written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:17 "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the Great God; " Revelation 19:18 "That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." " This is what Ezekiel wrote of in Ezekiel 39:17. It happens following the two great wars of the end times, called the battle of Armageddon, and the battle of Hamongog, this occurs on the first day of the millennium and all flesh is gone for all men and women will be changed instantly to their incorrupt, or spiritual bodies on that day. Paul talked about this day and moment also in I Corinthians 15:50-54. "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." No person can live in the Millennium kingdom in their flesh body, for all souls will put off their flesh body that gets sick and ages, and will put on their incorruptible body that will never age and get sick. I Corinthians 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," The mystery that Paul is revealing is that there is a time coming when all souls will not die any more, but will be changed into another body that will never age. Ageing and decay is what is referred to as corruption. I Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." The changing of all persons living in the flesh will happen instantly, faster then you can wink an eye. Paul tells us that it will be at the last trumpet, the seventh trumpet when all that other trumpets have sounded and are over, including the reign of Antichrist. This is why all souls will see and know instantly who Jesus Christ is when He is coming as King of kings and Lord of lords. They will all see Him, and know exactly who He is and will bow their knees to Him. This is also the time when all those Christians who have follow the traditions of men, such as the rapture theory, and been let to worship Satan the Antichrist in ignorance will be so ashamed that they cry out for the mountains to fall upon them. They will know instantly what they have done, for they have thrown their rewards to the feet of Satan, including the grace that comes by salvation. They did not have all the oil or truth necessary in their lamps, or minds to see them through to the very end of this earth age. They were taken out of season, by the wrong husband, and upon the return of Christ they will stand as an unfaithful bride. Jesus referred to this in Matthew 24:19 "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" With child means you have given yourself over to Satan the Antichrist, and by giving suck means that you have led other to his system. Most Christians will have done this in ignorance, for they were taught this through their traditions in their church houses. Jesus is not coming the next time as a babe to be crucified, but as a King to reign forever. The full Godhead will not return to earth until after the Great white throne judgment. Philippians 2:12 "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." Paul is urging the Philippians to obey the Word of God, not just when he is there holding a stick over them, but all the time. He is asking them to put discipline in their lives. The rest of this verse is misinterpreted by many today. No one can save themselves by or through any of their works. There is only one Savior, and that is Christ. The working out your salvation comes when you study God's Word, with much prayer for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Your deeper study into the Scriptures will awaken you to the reality of sin and where that end leads; to the very destruction of your soul. True fear within your mind will always bring trembling of your soul, and cause you to repent to our heavenly Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:13 "For it is God Which worketh in you both to will and to do, of His good pleasure." When you get to the point of realizing that you are lost, it is only by the working of God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Notice that there are two things mentioned here that God will do within you. "To will" is to give you the unction to want to do what you are going to do. The will to get up and get going. The will never to quit and accomplish something that others say you can not do. "To do" is to go and do it. God gives you that will for His good pleasure. It pleases God when He sees you striving to do your very best. When you are touched by God's Holy Spirit, you are given the will to want to serve Him. When you stay in the word and strengthen your faith, it becomes your "title deed" to the kingdom of God. It will give you the strength to go out and accomplish things that in yourself you never thought you could do. If the truth appeals to you, fill up on all of His Word. The Spirit of God will reveal to you the love and peace of God that will fill your entire being. So you work out your own salvation through His Word, for you will change yourself and become a different person. Philippians 2:14 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" It doesn't matter what you have to do, when you are working with other people, just do it and don't complain about it. Do the hard things first, and the load will seem so much easier. Try to find pleasure in all things that you do. Philippians 2:15 "That 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;" That you may be blameless and sincere representing our Lord, as one of His sons and daughters. God knows all those in this world who are doing His will, because it is through His Spirit that we know and do the will of the Lord. He put the will in us in the first place. It is because of His Spirit in us that there is a difference between between the sons of God, and the those of the crooked and perverse peoples of the world. When we serve our Savior to try to please our Heavenly Father then you are a light in this world, when He looks down on this crooked and perverse world. We live in a perverse generation of many nations, and is sad how life is being looked upon today. God needs to see your light as you live your daily life. Make a change in the world around you, so that the world can see the difference, and desire to be like you. Philippians 2:16 "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." There is only one "Word of Life" and that is eternal life. Death abounds everywhere, but there is only one life. Living in a flesh body is only part of the ageing process and dying. We are only here for just a quick moment, when compared to the vastness of eternity. Friend, there is only one life, and that is eternal life living with our Lord Jesus Christ. The time is coming very shortly where you will either die, or the Lord will allow you to live to be changed instantly at Christ's return. What you do now and in your living in your flesh body does matter. The works you do for the Lord will be well rewarded, and when that day comes, you will receive your full inheritance in your new incorruptible and immortal body. What you do for our Lord is recorded, and those works will what you will wear throughout all eternity. Revelation 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Revelation 19:9 "And he saith unto me, "Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." " If you sat down and added up all your labors in a spiritual sense, what would they amount to? What could be written in the book about you life for Christ? It doesn't hurt to take inventory from time to time. Remember that when you repent of a sin, that sin is eliminated from all of God's records, what is left is only the works you have done in and for Him. In that book, even a smile is recorded when it is done to show the love of our Lord. Philippians 2:17 "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all." Paul was in prison, and about to go to trial before the emperor of Rome. He knew that he could receive the death sentence for his work and faith in Jesus Christ, and if that should come to pass that his death would be given just for the work done for the Philippians, he would count it all joy. This is quite a compliment to the people of Philippi. Paul rejoiced over all the punishment that he received, when he knew that through that witnessing, other would have joy and faith that the Word of God has brought them. Philippians 2:18 "For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me." Paul knew that the Christians of Philippi would understand Paul's statement for their was a mutual feeling between Paul and those Philippians. Both knew that there was no labor in vain through the Philippians, for there were many that came to be saved through the Philippian Church. Philippians 2:19 "But 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." To trust is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He would send Timothy to them that were at Philippi. Paul was satisfied with the Christians there, as he continually heard good reports of the work done by them. Philippians 2:20 "For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state." It is Timothy's natural personality and conscience that his love for you and your welfare be first. He thinks of not only you but the souls and well being of all people just as I do. Paul is giving quite a compliment here to Timothy. Philippians 2:21 "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." There were teachers that would try to take advantage, to try to better themselves at the cost of the Philippians. Paul is reassuring the Christians that Timothy would not do that to them. Philippians 2:22 "But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel." Paul is telling them that a son of my own could not do any better in serving them with the gospel then Timothy. Philippians 2:23 "Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me." Paul is waiting on sending Timothy until after he sees whether they will kill him, or set him free. Philippians 2:24 "But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly." Remember that the reason that Paul is in prison in the first place was for having taught the Word and gospel of Christ. Philippians 2:25 "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants." Philippians 2:26 "For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick." While Epaphroditus was here in Rome, he worked hard for the Lord, and he was very homesick to be back there with you. While Epaphroditus was in Rome, he became very sick, even to the point of death. Epaphroditus wasn't so worried about himself, his concern that was for folks back in Philippi, and what this would mean for them. Philippians 2:27 "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." It would have been bad enough to have lost Epaphroditus, for he was such a helpmate to me, but to have send you word of his death would have added sorrow upon sorrow. Try to understand the character of Epaphroditus, who was such an influence on all those he touched. His death would have hit everyone around him hard. It is obvious from the manuscripts that Epaphroditus had so loved Paul that Paul felt obligated to him for bringing the good news from the Philippians. This man virtually worked himself to the point of death trying to make things better for all those he came in contact with. Philippians 2:28 "I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful." Paul is stating that he was really impressed by this man, Epaphroditus that the Philippians had sent to him. Philippians 2:29 "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:" Paul is telling the Philippians that when the receive Epaphroditus back in their midst, honor his reputation. Through his caring for other, he earned the respect to be given back to himself. Philippians 2:30 "Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me." When Epaphroditus came to Rome, his sickness did not come from living it up out of the streets. No, Epaphroditus spent all his waking moment in the service of the Lord, and tending to Paul's needs while in prison. He was in the service of Christ and representing the church back home, and trying to make me comfortable. There was a one-ness in spirit within the Philippian church, and every one in the church would have felt the loss of Epaphroditus. They had a true love of each other and each others well being. Paul is reassuring them back home that their representative that was sent to give him help, was one to be honored.
Home .~ Plough .~ Seeds .~ Vine .~ Potter .~ Seasons .~ Sonshine .~ Rain .~ Field |