1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Philippians 2:1 -4 (NIV)
Unity is possible because of our shared experience in Christ.
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
- Philippians 2:1 (NIV)
1 Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us.
- Philippians 2:1 (ERV)
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
- Philippians 2:2 (ERV)
Unity requires humility.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
- Philippians 2:3
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Philippians 2:4
The ultimate example of humility is Jesus.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…
- Philippians 2:5
(1) His Incarnation – He left heaven for earth.
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7abut made himself nothing…
- Philippians 2:6
(2) His life – He became a servant
7 by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- Philippians 2:7
(3) His death – He died on the cross
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
- Philippians 2:8
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 2:9-11