The theme of this section is the unity brought about by the Holy Spirit.
Paul is shifting here from the discussion of outside persecution and false teachers to the response needed from the Philippians: unity. There is a vital connection between striving together for the gospel and the unity of the church. Disunity makes everything more difficult. It calls to mind the disciples arguing about who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and there are and they’re arguing, and the prayer of Jesus for unity of believers in John 17. This is the unity brought about by the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.
Paul calls for the church to seek emotional unity, in affection and sympathy; intellectual unity, “of the same mind”; and unity of will, “in one accord.”
Unity, though, is impossible if we are seeking our own gain. Instead, we must die to ourselves and seek the benefit of others, considering others above ourselves. Later, Paul cites Jesus as the ultimate example of humility. Humility carries with it the seeds of the love and unity Paul is calling us to.
Paul is challenging this Philippian community of believers to know each other well so that they can know what other people’s interests are.
This is a direct challenge to today’s “scorched earth” environment of social media, politics and current events that heightens disunity in all our lives. How do we maintain a general sense of unity despite the differing opinions and perspectives within the church? What about within a marriage? Within a business?
In some ways, this can even be more difficult in a workplace where it is easy to slip into selfish ambition under the banner of providing for our family.
In church, we have doctrinal disagreements, operational disagreements, personal disagreements. Because of the importance of the overall questions of God and salvation, it is far too easy to attach outsized importance, and then outsized vitriol, to smaller issues in these spheres.
Then, of course, there is politics. Enough said.
The most essential thing in order to seek unity is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. To put His teaching above all other teaching, and accept his gift of grace when we fail to live up to our. We must be be connected to Jesus and derive our unity from our mutual affection for Him and for His body.
We must let the Holy Spirit guide us in all our relationships, working against our selfish ambition in our marriages, workplaces, churches and even politics.
The beautiful thing about the gospel of Christ and our prayer for Seed Church is that our doors are and will be open to all people, welcoming every kind of person to a community centered around Christ and his Kingdom.
– Sermon Notes, Dave Lester, Seed Church, August 19, 2018
Philippians 1:18-26
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