Look To Jesus

MARCH 28, 2021 STUDY NOTES PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES LOOK TO JESUS INTRODUCTION Paul now explains what he meant in, Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. He tells us what we must do if we are going to be likeminded and of one accord and of one mind In verses 3-5 Paul tells us to “Look to Jesus” In verses 6-8 Paul tells us why he wants us to “Look to Jesus” Look at the world we live in and you will understand why Paul tells us to “Look to Jesus” The way of the world is to look to self, to look out for self-first of all, self is most important That is why our world is filled with strife, selfishness, disrespect for God and others Paul tells us to consider others, who is on your mind more than anyone else? Who is the first one you think of and plan for when you first wake up in the morning? Who are you thinking about when you go to bed at night? How far down your to-do list is Jesus? How much time is there for others in your daily life? Good questions to consider as we look at what Paul is telling us Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. “Let nothing be done” means exactly what it says, not even one thing, don’t even think about it The meaning of the word translated “strife” explains what Paul is telling us The meaning is “selfishness,” it represents a motive of self-interest, one who seeks only their own James instructs us concerning the problem with “strife” in your heart, Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. James states 2 characteristics that identify with each other, “bitter envying and strife in the heart” “Bitter envying” is a harsh, resentful attitude, coming from a jealous, selfish ambition “Bitter” describes how the wrong kind of zeal affects us and appears to others “Bitter” is a self-centered feeling of resentment toward others Bitter words come from a bitter heart, if your words are bitter it is because your heart is bitter “Envy” is a selfish ambition referring to all that a person will do to promote self Even promoting self at the expense of others To the point of taking advantage of others for the sake of personal advantage “Bitter envying” comes from a heart that is not right with God, there is “strife in the heart” “Strife” represents a motive of self-interest, the desire to fulfill your selfish ambitions It refers to the extremes that people will go to, to promote their own interest James tells us the problem is not external it is internal, the control-center is the heart James says that both “bitter envying” and “strife” come forth from the “heart” In scripture, the “heart” identifies with our thinking, our desires, and our decisions James explains what happens when there is envy and strife, Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. “Confusion” is chaos, unruliness, disruption, instability, literally without order “Evil Work” means that which is “good for nothing,” worthless in the sight of God Page 1 of 5 Paul gives us a list of those evil works that accompany “strife,” 2Co 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: Eight sins which will result in church division, no wonder Paul says “no strife” among you Selfish minds go in different directions which result in quarrels and disputes Paul is seeking unity among Christians in Philippians 2 which requires respect for others Christians must first of all respect God and then respect the rights and feelings for others That is why Paul adds, OR VAINGLORY “Vainglory” identifies a person who has a highly exaggerated view of self and boasts about it Their boasting is a desire for praise from others, self-glory seeking glory from others A problem often identified in scripture, Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Wisdom comes from God, Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Vainglory comes from a personal-opinion or a self-assessment, Pro 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. Vainglory blinds a person to who they really are, a fool has a better sense of who he is Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Their opinion of self is not true, it is a “hollow opinion,” futile and groundless, without reality Paul covers it well in, Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. “Mind not high things” means don’t be conceited, arrogant, haughty, or high minded Don’t be a snob and don’t try to act big by making others look small When you think you are “Mr. Super, Superior, Spiritual Saint,” you are not what you think Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Paul has in mind a person who is thinking of self without Christ in mind If someone thinks that he by himself is somebody, he is deceiving himself Someone said that the man who is wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package Don’t sing, “How Great I Am,” sing, “How Great Thou Art” When you are too high for your own self you cannot reach down to help someone else When you are conceited you cannot be concerned about others When you are egotistic you cannot be evangelistic We must have the confidence of the Spirit and not the spirit of overconfidence On our own we are not moral, spiritual, or powerful, we are “Nothing” Only “In Christ” are we “Something” Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Believe it and practice it) Be what God’s grace has made you capable of being, do what God’s grace will do in you--BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND “But” indicates a difference, in contrast to the preceding, instead of strife and vainglory “Lowliness of mind” which literally means “humility of mind,” Peter also instructs us, 1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humility is the opposite of arrogance, conceit, boasting, and the attitude of better than others The subject of humility is often found in Scripture, it is identified as “lowliness” in, Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Page 2 of 5 “Lowliness” is the same word translated “humility,” and notice that Paul said “all” lowliness “Lowliness” is taking a close look in the mirror recognizing the truth of self “Lowliness” is having a humble opinion of one’s-self, knowing who we really are To be clothed with humility is the antidote to pride, it will conquer an arrogant spirit Everything we do in the name of Christ must be done in a spirit of humility, Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, (humility) meekness, longsuffering; The right attitude toward God will result in the right attitude toward others LET EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES Paul tells us to think about it and come to the right conclusion, the right opinion of others, Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; “One another” is a major subject in God’s Word, do a study of the verses related to one another “Kindly affectioned” means to be devoted to one another, share the love of God with one another Paul should not have to tell Christians to love one another with the love of God, listen to John, 1Jn 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. Christians should have deep respect for one another, we should have a high value of one another Humility is a Christian characteristic, the Christian does not put self in first place “In honor” he puts others to the front, Paul tells us to honor one another above yourself It is God’s love that will give preference to others and fill our life with joy To regard others as more important than ourselves is not natural to our human nature It is not what Satan will tell us or what the world will show us Human nature wants to look in the mirror and see a superior person, someone better than others Then human nature looks down on others, Paul tells us where to look--Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. The word “look” calls for full attention, contemplate upon it, pay attention to your attention Pay attention to who or what you are normally thinking about, is your attention upon self? It is important that we give serious attention to our own life but not to the exclusion of others We must understand that what is good for us is being good to others Which is what Paul means when he says, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS Focus your attention on others, be concerned about others, have the desire to help others, 1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. “Hospitality” is love in action, an open heart, an open hand, that opens the door for others And don’t gripe, murmur, grumble, or complain because you have done something for someone Which is likely unless we have the “mind of Christ” Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: This verse leads into one of the greatest passages referring to the mind of Christ in scripture Revealing the example of Christ’s humility, the self-emptying of the Son of God (vss. 6-8) Paul presents Jesus Christ as our example we are to think the same way that Jesus thought “LET” states that it will be our choice, we must accept the responsibility, it is our decision “This mind” is to be the same as the “likeminded” and of one “mind” in verse 2 In verses 2-4 Paul has defined “this mind,” the mind that should be ours In verse 5 he tells us that “this mind” can only come from Jesus Christ Page 3 of 5 In verses 6-8 he will illustrate it and give us an example, the supreme example of Christ “This mind” is the mindset that we should have, Paul said it is to “be in you” We are to be like-minded, this is the way we are to think, the things that we are to have in mind The word translated “mind” speaks of attitude, our understanding, the direction of our thinking Our mind must be directed in the right direction, which is Christ, what would Jesus do? According to scripture the mind is an important subject, there are many references to the mind Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Do not allow your mind to be controlled according to the lifestyle of this present world You must keep your mind upon Christ which will continually transform you The word translated “transformed” literally means to be changed from the inside out Exactly what Christ will do when you let His mind be in you, which is a spiritual process Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. All of which is accomplished by the grace of God, but Paul gives us a warning We are to think of self, but not more highly than we ought to think, an inflated view of self Paul tells us what we must do, “think soberly,” which is sound thinking as a result of our faith Faith in Christ is to be our mindset, Paul said, the mind WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS Paul does not mean the intellectual perfection of Christ which is impossible for us Paul does not mean the “Divine Omniscience” of Christ, the all-knowing mind Paul is telling us to think of the mind that Christ had when he took upon himself flesh, Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. We are to think of why Christ took upon Himself flesh, He came to be the sacrifice for our sins Only God as man could be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world That is why Jesus was born, Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Jesus could pay the price for our sins because He had no sin, 1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. What was Christ thinking at the time of His incarnation, He was thinking of others, of you and I What was Christ thinking when He went to the cross as our substitute, who was in His mind? Christ is our example, we are to have the same attitude, the same frame of mind that Jesus had Is it possible? Listen to, 1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. The “We” is not limited to Paul and the Apostles it refers to all NT believers God instructs Christians how to live through the “mind of Christ” Because we have the Spirit of God and the Word of God, we can have God’s viewpoint of life God’s heavenly wisdom is given to those who are spiritual Which allows us to read and understand scripture Which allows us to live according to what we have learned from God’s Word We can live according to scripture as we think of life in and through Christ A spiritual mind allows us to make the right decisions for the steps of our daily life John called that an “unction” or an anointing of the Holy Spirit, 1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. Actually-the anointing is the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself Which provides an intelligence for us that comes in and through Christ Page 4 of 5 An understanding of life that is a result of knowing Christ, Christians have a heavenly mind-set Christians think different, Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Set your mind upon Christ and follow Him, follow Him wherever He leads you to go Listen to the song Page 5 of 5