Conduct - Phil 2:5-11

I. The Pattern of Christian Conduct (2:5-11)

A. Paul's absolute and unanswerable appeal to unity is Jesus

1. The transmission of this unity to the church is not brought about through creeds or words but by a serious study of the Person of Jesus Christ.

a. Who He is determines what we can be

b. Notice the exhortation is for each believer to have the mind (attitude or disposition) of Christ.

c. The only way we can have this attitude is for Jesus Christ himself to communicate this attitude to us.

d. This is exactly what has been done in regeneration (Phil. 1:6 - 1:20-21 - 2:13 - 4:13)

e. It is possible for every Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit and as a consequence of that, we can be filled with His desires, purposes and goodness.

B. Three Characteristics that exhibited the Mind of Christ

1. Unselfish - He thinks of others and not himself (2:5-6)

a. We must remember that outlook determines outcome

b. If our outlook is selfish, our actions will be decisive and destructive. (James 4:1-12)

c. Jesus is the supreme example of unselfishness

1. Though He subsisted from eternity in the form of God, He did not feel His equality with God was something to "selfishly hang onto"

2. Jesus did not think of Himself, His only thought was for others. He would relinquish His status as God's equal, He would voluntarily empty Himself in order to become our equal.

3. Remember in order to do that He must come down

4. Our God's outlook (attitude) was that of an unselfish concern for others. This is the "mind of Christ".

2. Unorthodox (2:7) He serves others not Himself

a. When Jesus thought of others, He did something about it, He became a servant (slave)

b. Normal thought of the average person is, how can "the others" serve me, benefit me.

c. As you read the four gospels it is Jesus serving others, not His waiting for others to serve Him. (Matt. 20:28)

d. In the tipper room apparently the disciples refused to take the place of a slave and wash dirty feet.

e. Jesus removed His outer garments and put on the long linen towel and washed their feet. (John 13:4-17)

f. How Unorthodox: A master washing the feet of His servants

g. Folks we are not to seek prestige - status - office. We are to serve others. If in serving others prestige and office come our way, beware lest they change your attitude and outlook.

3. Uncompromising (2:8) He dies for others

a. There at's a great many people willing to serve others it if does not cost them anything.

Dr. J. H. Jowett has said, "Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing." If there is to be any blessing, there must be some "bleeding." At a religious festival in Brazil, a missionary was going from booth to booth, examining the wares. He saw a sign above one boom: "Cheap Crosses." He thought to himself. "That's what many Christians are looking for these days-cheap crosses. My Lord's cross was not cheap. Why should mine be?"

4. We are reminded in verse 13 that we can bring our salvation to fulfillment and maturity, because

God is energizing us in this direction.

a. One translation has it - God is at work in you

b. God is not only in us as a companion but He is in us for a purpose - He is at work, He is producing something more wonderful than His vast physical creation.

c. He is working is us to make us like His Son (Rom. 8:29)

A few years ago Albert Einstein took up residence in Pasadena, California, in a modest and unpretentious house not far from the California Institute of Technology, immediately that house became the object of great interest. People drove past it in their cars. They walked by it. They stood outside of it. Why? What was the reason? Albert Einstein was at work in that house. But of greater interest is the fact that God is at work in the Christian.

d. Christian experience lived U in time is the balanced combination of divine energy plus human action which results in achievement and the glory of God.

4. So the Christian life is not a "let go and let God" affair, it is a "take hold with God" business.

5. Life with God is not a series of ups and downs

a. It is a series of "ins and outs"

b. God works in - we work out

c. The energy comes from God by means of the Holy Spirit. The result is a joyous and fruitful Christian life.

d. Sacrifice and service go together if our service is to be true Christian ministry

e. One pastor complained, that his men were changing the words of the hymn from "Take my life and let it be" to "Take my wife and let me be"

f. It is costing you anything to be a Christian

II. The Process that Develops Christian Conduct (2:12-19)

A. Mark Twain said: "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example

1. Admiration for a great person can inspire but it cannot enable us.

a. It takes more than an outward example it takes an inward power.

b. Paul has set before us the Divine Pattern (Christ) Now he presents us with the Divine Power to accomplish the Unity.

B. The Co-operative Relationship (2:12-13)

1. Work out your own salvation - this does not suggest that we "work FOR our salvation"

a. Paul is already writing to those who He calls saints (1:1)

b. The Greek verb is (Katorgazesthai) has the idea of bringing something to completion - to a perfect conclusion.

c. It was used of working out a problem in Mathematics.

d. Paul is warning them not to stop halfway - Don't be satisfied with a partial salvation.

2. This word was also used of "working a mine getting out of the mine all the valuable Ore that is possible

a. Our lives are like that, they have tremendous potential and God wants us to reach that potential

III. What is our goal as believers

The attitude of Christ in all our decisions that is what we desire as a church and as individuals.