Today was Week 101 of Rightly Dividing the Word of truth…our study / overview of Paul’s epistles to believers in this dispensation of the grace of God. We were able to complete Philippians 1:27-30 and carryover into chapter 2:1-4, with Paul’s exhortation knit ourselves together, as we face the dangers of these last days.
V.27: Paul compels us to make sure our conversation / lifestyle is worthy of the gospel.
Ephesians 4:1-3: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground.”
2 Timothy 2:2-4: And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Ephesians 6:10-12: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
V.28: Be fearless in the midst of our adversaries!
2 Timothy 1:7: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Peter 5:8-9: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
V.29-30: Two gifts are given to us in Christ:
Belief – Acts 16:30-31, Ephesians 2:8-9
Suffering – Philippians 3:10
Chapter 2:1-4 reveals Paul’s instruction concerning the necessity for us to work together in unity of doctrine and spirit, and fellowship encouraging one another to grow in conformity to Christ! Love begins when someone else’s needs are more important than your own. We should view others as worthy of more consideration than we give ourselves. This safeguards us from the cancer of narcissism, the cultural cancer of this “me first” generation.
V.5-11: The secret of Christian joy is found in the way a believer thinks / heart attitudes. These verses give us the paramount example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He emptied himself of his position and power being equal with God in heaven, and humbled himself in his humanity, and became obedient unto the death of the cross. He alone is exalted and worthy of worship from all of creation. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.