Christ-Centered Reconciliation: Philippians 4:2-3

Sermon Idea: Christ-centered reconciliation preserves the unity of the church and protects the church’s mission. 

Introduction: A common issue in unhealthy churches is the abdication of membership responsibility when some members face personal conflicts. In many churches today, Eudoia and Syntyche would be completely overlooked, the consequences of their dispute disregarded, and everyone would continue to maintain a superficial sense of “unity.” 

This perspective on the church undermines its corporate and, dare I say, covenantal identity. It transforms its members into mere individuals who treat the church as a product, devoid of any responsibility toward others or the community as a whole. 

Paul does not embrace this shallow view of the church, and his love for these people prevents him from settling for a superficial mirage of unity. In a 2019 article, Trevin Wax captures this really well. 

“Paul’s willingness to call out two women when he knew the letter would be read to the whole congregation demonstrates the fact that he cared more about the unity of the church than about the church having a superficial, “everything is going to be alright” sentimental warmth. Paul’s most joyful letter expresses his willingness to do the hard work of pursuing unity rather than just papering over problems.”

This morning, I want us to see and believe that the hard work of reconciliation in the church is necessary. If you’re a member here this morning, I want you to embrace a corporate and covenantal view of the church. In other words, I want you to think of yourself as belonging to one another and having responsibilities toward each other. I want us to reject the superficial mirage of unity by embracing the practice of Christ-centered reconciliation as called for in Philippians 4:2-3. Why? 

Christ-centered reconciliation preserves the unity of the church and protects the church’s mission. 

We are left in the dark about the details of this conflict, but we can say something about its nature. On the one hand, the issue is serious enough for Paul to address publicly. These women were influential in the church. They were leaders. It is not hard to imagine the church being divided, with some supporting Euodia and others supporting Syntyche. It is time for this dispute to end so that there is no further damage to the church’s unity or gospel advancement.

On the other hand, the dispute is not over a primary doctrine of the faith or a primary matter of morality. These are issues that are worth dividing over, and Paul’s letters clarify that’s exactly what we should do. 

 ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned (Tt 3:8–11)

Paul’s appeal to these two women to agree with the Lord means that this issue is not worth dividing the body of Christ over. It is not a matter of primary doctrine or ethics. 

In fact, since Paul doesn’t mention the details, it seems that the primary issue is these two women. Their continual lack of unity hurts the church more than the original issue. 

At some point, we will have members who are in conflict, and healthy church members will need to remind them that damage to the unity and mission of our church is too great a price to pay for their disagreement. 

Christ-centered reconciliation preserves the unity of the church and protects the church’s mission. 

As we look at this text together, I want to encourage you to pursue reconciliation in three ways. 

1. Reconcile in the Lord, remembering the cross. 
2. Reconcile for the church, remembering the mission. 
3. Reconcile with joy, remembering eternity. 

I.) Reconcile in the Lord, remembering the cross (Phil. 4:2)

Paul’s call for reconciliation is not heavy-handed or domineering. He does not choose sides or make a judgment; he appeals to them. The word translated as “entreat” in the ESV has a degree of urgency, but the tone is gentle, as a loved one may entreat a family member to action. 

² I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. (Php 4:2)

The primary motivation for reconciliation is that both these women are “in the Lord.” Something binds these ladies together in a way that transcends whatever disagreement they may have: their shared union with Jesus Christ. They have both been saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, baptized into Christ, and incorporated into the body of Christ, the church.

This shared union with Jesus Christ unites these two sisters together, and it is the foundation for their ability to agree in the Lord. In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul also appeals to shared union with Christ as the basis for Christian unity. 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:1–6)

Reconciliation begins by having the right view of the person you are in conflict with. In the church, we are to think and treat our fellow church members as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we are united in a mysterious way. 

Don’t think about one another as you would another customer at the grocery store. You may both be consumers, but you have not shared unity beyond that. Your relationship is merely circumstantial. 

Membership in the church is not merely circumstantial. We belong to one another because we have the same Lord. 

The call to agree has force because their agreement in the Lord will result in following the example of the Lord. Reconciliation in the church is in the Lord, remembering the cross. 

⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Php 2:5–8)

When Paul says that he wants these two women to agree with the Lord, He means that he wants them to have the same mind as Christ, who did not grasp his own right to his advantage but humbled himself, taking the form of a servant. 

Some things we disagree on need to be put in their proper place because we want to share a larger vision: a unified church on a mission to advance the gospel. We can think differently about a number of inconsequential things as long as we are united about the essentials. 

Remembering the cross is also important for reconciliation. The cross achieves the greatest reconciliation and is the very reason all other reconciliation is possible. 

 ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1:18–20)

God made peace with not only a sinful and broken world but with sinful and broken people. Remembering the cross is vital for our pursuit of being reconciled to one another because it is the cross by which we are reconciled to God. 

There is more, though. Through the cross, people who were once hostile to one another find peace with one another. 

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (Eph 2:14–16)

What’s the point? If the gospel is strong enough to reconcile sinful humanity with God, and if it can unite Jews and Gentiles as one people, then it is certainly powerful enough to reconcile two church members who are unable to get along. 

Remember the great work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Remember what grace you have received in the gospel. Remember and go be reconciled with your brother and sister, for whom Christ has also died. 

Reconcile in the Lord, keeping the cross in mind. This is the first encouragement, but notice that Paul urges the church to assist. This specific conflict requires other believers to mediate. 

II.) Reconcile for the church, remembering the mission (Phil 4:3)

³ Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers (Php 4:3)

Before we talk about Paul’s true companion, let’s think about how Paul describes these women. They are co-laborers in the gospel. These women have played some role in assisting with the advance of the gospel. It is safe to assume, then, that the division they’re causing in the church could hurt the church’s mission. 

The gospel and the church’s mission might not be at the forefront of the church’s minds; instead, they might be preoccupied with this dispute. Rather than being united for the sake of the gospel mission, the church may be divided over support for Euodia or Syntyche. 

Friends, please understand that failing to reconcile with your brother and sister in the Lord will affect more than the two of you. It will also affect the health and mission of the church. 

As you think about the temptation toward bitterness and resentment. As you think about the temptation to pride and selfish ambition, you must ask yourself: at what cost? 

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:34–35)

If the world knows we’re followers of Jesus by our love for one another, then our lack of love can only hurt our witness to the gospel. 

Reconcile for the church, remembering the mission. 

Sometimes, though, this work of reconciliation requires help. Notice that Paul calls someone he identifies as a true companion. We don’t know who this person is, but we know what Paul wants them to do: ” Help these women.”

The church is a covenant community that takes responsibility for one another. The conflict between these women is not a personal problem but a church problem. 

I know the word is not used, but this passage assumes a covenantal understanding of church membership. This appeal toward reconciliation, especially the appeal for another church member to be involved, only makes sense in a community with shared doctrinal beliefs, a shared mission, and a mutual understanding of what it means to belong to one another. 

This is not a consumer understanding of membership, like three individuals sharing the same shopping space simply because they have a Sam’s Card. It’s not just circumstantial. Their relationship is significant.

When we have a public conflict among the saints of Waldo Baptist Church, it is not a personal problem but a church problem. Friends, do not settle for a weak and meaningless view of what it means to be a church. Let’s belong together and be responsible for each other. 

As I was studying this week, I decided to reread our church covenant, which articulates the commitments the members of Waldo Baptist Church are to make to one another. You may be familiar with this or not, but we’ll all learn more about it eventually. 

Here is one sentence from our church covenant. 

“…so we do now solemnly covenant with each other, as God shall enable us, that we will walk together in brotherly love; that we will exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully warn, rebuke, and admonish one another, as the case shall require;”

Beloved, we belong to one another and should joyfully embrace the responsibility of exercising Christian care and watchfulness over each other. 

Having said that, we need to note that Paul knows the people to whom he is writing very well. He has a long history with them, so he’s earned the right to address this conflict so directly. 

So, even as I advocate joyfully for a corporate and covenantal understanding of church membership, I recognize that there will be people who can and should speak into your life, and not every member should do so in the same way. 

Since we need one another, and there will come a time when we’ll need to step in to mediate the conflict, let’s spend our time loving well, building trust, and earning the right to speak to one another directly as needed.

Reconcile in the Lord, remembering the cross. Reconcile for the church, remembering the mission. Now, lastly, reconcile with joy, remembering eternity. 

III.) Reconcile with joy, remembering eternity (Phil 4:3) 

With one reference, Paul directs our attention to the eternal life God’s people are assured of, “…whose names are in the book of life. (Php 4:3)

The Bible uses this image in various ways to refer to God’s people who will inherit eternal life. 

²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Lk 10:20)

⁵ The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. (Re 3:5)

¹⁵ And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Re 20:15)

The fellow believers with whom we sometimes find ourselves in conflict have their names in the Book of Life. With us, they will share in the resurrection of the dead, we will feast together and worship God together. 

Not even the most serious disagreements between Christians will matter to us on that day. If you consider your conflict in light of eternity, it may seem very small indeed. This is why we need to cultivate an eternal perspective on all of life, especially on conflict in the church. 

Christ-centered reconciliation preserves the unity of the church and protects the church’s mission. 

1. Reconcile in the Lord, remembering the cross. 
2. Reconcile for the church, remembering the mission. 
3. Reconcile with joy, remembering eternity. 

(Give clear gospel invitation)