Gospel Unity: Philippians 2:14-18 (Caleb Waddell)

Sermon Idea – “Gospel unity is both the foundation and the fruit of a humble and joyful spirit, enabling us to shine brightly in a dark world.”

Outline 

1) Gospel Unity through Humility (v. 14)

2) Gospel Unity causes us to shine. (v. 15-16)

3) Gospel Unity brings joyful service (v.17-18)

Introduction: Let’s take a second to think about where we have been, so that we can know where we are going. 

Last time, Bro. Nate brought a wonderful message on God working in us throughout the journey of our Salvation. Paul gives us this exhortation, in verses 12-13, to be empowered by the fact that it is God who works in us, it is not dependent on our own power. 

It is clear that we are called to work and grow in our faith. And just as it was mentioned last time, this exhortation stems from the main passage of this letter. 

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27)

It is worth noting where Paul writes that it is about a lifestyle. It is about living our life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not something we do on the side while we live our own life! We strive towards living our entire life for Christ and His Glory! 

We are to work out our own salvation, to work toward maturity in Christ, and to become more like him. We are Justified, but we are walking in Sanctification. Meaning, through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, repentance, and faith in Him, we are made right in the eyes of God. However, we are also still working toward Holiness. It is the idea of Already/Not yet. However, we must never forget that it is God who works in us through the Spirit. This should empower us to move forward in our journey of salvation!

I want to provide a better definition of Sanctification that comes from the Baptist Faith and Message, a confession to which we hold here. 

“Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.” (bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/#iv)

Thus, as we know that Sanctification is a journey of maturity, it is important to understand that this journey requires Humility. Specifically, rooted in the example of Christ’s humility as He is the exalted mediator between God and man. And as we journey together as a Church family, we are called to be of the same mind, to be unified in Christ.

This is important because in our passage this morning, Paul is giving an application to the exhortation in which he has been building upon. In Philippians 2:14-18, we will find that Paul is giving a call, both as individuals and a Congregation, to unity in Christ through our humble and joyful service! Why? Because we will shine brightly to a dark and broken world in need of a Savior.

1. Gospel Unity through Humility (v. 14)

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

As I mentioned previously, this passage is a call to application stemming from the exhortation that Paul has been building in this letter. This command is a tangible way that one can work out their own salvation. However, Paul is also connecting this application back to the main point in Philippians 1:27, as well as connecting it to the beginning of Chapter 2.

Thus, it brings a straightforward way of thinking here. We cannot be like-minded, embracing a common love if we are grumbling and arguing. 

But why is this so important? How do we realistically walk in unified humility?

This passage is interesting because it presents itself to be a simple command. “Don’t grumble or complain.” However, it also has a deeper intent. This is a command to Gospel Joy and Unity. As established in Pastor Nate’s intro message to the book of Philippians, “The Christian life is one of joy in the Gospel by the Spirit.” Throughout this letter, Paul is calling us to replace grumbling and complaining with Gospel Joy and Gospel Unity. 

So, let’s look at a few of the connections to this idea of grumbling and disputing and how, through our sanctification journey, we are striving to replace this with Gospel Joy. 

Before I get much deeper, I want to quickly define a few important terms here.

• Grumbling: In this context and in a similar context in 1 Cor. 10:10, we know that Paul intended this word to point toward our complaining and discontentment. The word discontent is super important here.
• Disputing: In this context, Paul is most likely using this word in relation to arguing or literally disputing with others.
  • Its this interesting dichotomy of both inward discontentment and outward quarreling.
• Humility: In this context, it is clear that Humility is a lack of pride and “counting others more significant than yourselves” (Phil 2:3)
  • I always tell my students that humility is not thinking less of ourself because we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but it is thinking of ourself less

Let’s look at Chapter 1 again. 

Paul is describing his circumstances in light of understanding the circumstances of the Philippians. He is in prison, and they are facing opposition from several angles. However, several times throughout the first chapter, Paul describes his joy in the midst of his circumstances. 

Where does this joy come from?

• 1:18 states that “Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice!” 
• Paul is not focusing on his circumstances, he’s focusing on the Gospel, and specifically here, the advancement of the Gospel. 
• He mentions in verse 20-21 that he desires his life to honor Christ and that he can do that with full confidence. 
• He continues to point to our goal of living for Christ in verse 27. 
• Then He starts chapter 2 off with this encouragement toward unity, understanding that Gospel joy is connected to Gospel partnership. 
• But, he grounds this exhortation toward unity and joy with the beautiful truth of Christ’s humility. 

³Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:3-8)

Thus, we know that this joy that Paul speaks of is rooted in the humility of Christ. The one who had true humility, the one who died so that you and I could experience life and life abundantly with the Father!! 

Jesus never grumbled or disputed!! 

Isaiah 53:7 – ⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 

1 Peter 2:22-23 – ²²He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

So, where does our Joy come from? It comes from Christ. It comes from our connection to him. Joy is not measured by our circumstances. Joy is a response to God’s faithfulness and a discipline that reshapes how we view our circumstances. 

Now, I want us to understand a difference between our grumbling and disputing, and genuine lament. I have discussed this before, but I want to reiterate it here. 

The idea behind this verse is complaining, and the fact about complaining is that we are discontent and want out of it. The harmful thing to ourselves in that is our discontent heart, because discontentment is often rooted in selfishness. 

The difference in a lament is that we learn to be content in the Lord and pray for Him to walk with us in a difficult season. To find comfort in the truth that we are dependent upon His deliverance and healing. Because when we choose joy, it trains our hearts to focus on God’s presence rather than our circumstances.

So, you may be asking, how does this tie into Unity?

Its simple. You are not alone. We learn to walk in Christ both personally and communally. 

Just as Pastor Nate noted in His sermon over Phil 2:1-11; “God has granted them to suffer for Christ, but he has also blessed them in Christ with all that is needed to live faithfully with one another through suffering. They can stand firm in one spirit, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel because there is encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, participation in the spirit, affection, and sympathy.”

You see, this journey of Sanctification is both individual and communal. We cannot strive to be like Christ without the Church. This cannot be mentioned enough.

Let me put also show you another passage in which Paul gives this same idea. 

• ¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16

Thus, “Growing together in joy, humility, and unity, we shine brightly, lighting up the world with hope and inspiration.

• Gospel Unity Causes us to Shine (15-16)

Similar to the previous verse, the exhortation here is simple. We strive to do all things without grumbling so that we are blameless and innocent children of God.

But, what does this mean? What does it mean to be blameless, innocent, and faultless (without blemish)?

It is important to remember that Gospel unity and gospel joy is the foundation for verse 15. The word “that” indicates this connection. 

Now, this may initially catch your attention because the exhortation of being blameless, innocent, and faultless brings with it this idea of being perfect. We know good and well that we are nowhere near perfect. So what is Paul saying here? Because even in his own letter, he later states that he has not obtained perfection in 3:12. So how could Paul make this statement?

I could sit here and breakdown each word and the meaning of each word, but Paul does something here that warrants me not doing that and boring you all with the semantics. He writes what is known as a stylistic reinforcement. What is really interesting is that all three words here are actually an alliteration in the Greek text. Each word starts with the Greek letter of a (alpha). George Guthrie, in his exegetical commentary of Philippians, states, “The alliteration of the Greek terms should be read as ‘stylistic reinforcement’ – the drumming home of multiple, similar, potent, rhetorically crafted descriptions to make a point.” Thus, Paul is emphasizing the importance of the Philippians’ testimony to the rest of the world. 

It goes back to this idea of living our lives in a manner that is worthy of the Lord. When we strive for unity through Joy and ultimately through Christ, we exemplify God and his glory. I believe that we often forget that we are called to be witnesses for Christ. We forget the purpose in which we’ve been given. 

Paul is encouraging the Philippians to recognize this calling. So often we make our salvation to be this individualistic thing. That Christ saved us to sit and grow on my own. How do I know that this exists? Because I have experienced it in my own life, and in the lives of others around me. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people talk about how they don’t need a Church. Not only that, but when we do come to church, we do not become connected because it is an item to be checked off of the list. And when these mentalities are at play, our life for Christ gets placed to the side. And when it gets placed to the side, our witness and testimony to the world around us dims.

Are you seeing how all this is meant to come together?

We are called to be together. To strive together. That’s the main theme in this letter. We cannot grow into maturity alone. And as we grow together in unity and joy, we shine as a beacon to those around us for the hope that is in Christ! The church is the main vehicle that God uses to advance the Kingdom. That means our focus is on the Kingdom. Our focus should not be how the church can serve us, its about how we can serve in the church joyfully! Why? Because its not about me. It’s all about pointing to the love of our savior Jesus Christ, its about bringing him the Glory!! We can’t do that if we are caught up in our selfish desires through conflict. 

Thus, We should desire to be unified, being built up towards Christ. 

Unified by what? The Word of life.

There is often debate on whether or not Paul is referring to “holding out” or “holding on” the Word of life here. 

However, I don’t want to dive into the semantics because either way, I believe it has a similar message because there is no life in Christ apart from the Word of God. It is our guide, it is where we draw close to Him, it is where we draw strength, it is where we find peace, it is where we find joy, and it is what has true impact on the world.

• Gospel Unity brings joyful service (v.17-18)

Ministry is worth it. 

It is discussed exactly what Paul meant by “poured out as a drink offering.” There are obvious Old Testament implications in this phrase. And through this, Paul is painting this beautiful picture of Old Testament worship and his sacrificial ministry. 

The Philippians’ faithfulness will result in Paul’s celebration on the day of Christ that his ministry was effective

and

even if he is martyred in the course of his continued ministry, this does nothing to dampen the celebration.

When we are working out our salvation with gospel joy, growing together in gospel unity, we have the opportunity to joyfully serve one another as well as the world around us. We were not meant to come and sit on a pew; we were made to serve one another. We need each other.