Now what the apostle was proving in prison was that there was consolation in Christ, the comfort of God’s love and the fellowship of the Spirit of God, which gave him power in the most dismal circumstances to be a man totally above them. Christ sympathized with him in all the power of that life that had been through every kind of scorn, ridicule, trial, suffering and death, and had risen victorious over it all. The love of God had placed him in union with that Christ in glory, who had communicated to him His own victorious life over sin and death, and the Holy Ghost was his companion in these sufferings, and trials, and griefs. It was all reality to the apostle. If there was any such then, the apostle would have the Philippians fulfill his joy that they might think the same thing, having the same love, the same soul. He would have them be followers together with him, in enjoying the consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, bowels of mercies. It is all fellowship in practical life and walk. The great hindrance to this was in unjudged self. He besought them then that nothing might be done in strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind to esteem each one better than themselves; not to look only on their own things, but the things of others.
How necessary this warning to us, dear reader. How apt we are to let self drive the thin wedge in; then, as far it is allowed, it will have the first place, and think of its own things, instead of the things of others.
The secret for the true maintenance then of this blessed enjoyment of fellowship is what follows, Phil. 2:5-125Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:5‑12).
Christ come down here as the dependent and obedient man, is put before us as our pattern; and fellowship in this practical mind, and following in His path, is what the apostle desires for his dear children in the faith. We have three fine examples of following in His mind and footsteps later down in the chapter, in the apostle Paul, vv. 17, 18; Timothy 19-23; and Epaphroditus 25, 29, and he desired the same mind for the Philippians, vers. 12-16. Wondrous chapter! but easier to take hold of with the intellect than to be held by the heart.
In one sense we can say we have the mind of Christ (see 1 Cor. 2:1616For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)). The faithful have learned that at the cross all their human wisdom and strength have been judged (1 Cor. 1:22-2922For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:22‑29)), that Christ glorified is their wisdom, and that they are in Him as to their standing in grace (1 Cor. 1:30, 3130But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:30‑31)). The Holy Ghost, too, has been the revealer and communicator to them of this Christ, the wisdom of God, so that they are in actual connection with the mind of the heavenly man (1 Cor. 2:6-166Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:6‑16)). They have the mind of Christ. But this is Christ’s practical mind manifested here below, a mind that manifested itself in absolute subjection to God’s will, that was manifested in a perfectly dependant and obedient man, even unto death; and it was on account of this humility, dependence, obedience and subjection that God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He got the Lordship as man after he had manifested His absolute subjection to the Father’s will.
He being in the form of God, it is said, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. This was His first grand step down. He became a man; He took the place of dependence as a man. But to do God’s will in reference to sin he must take a further step, he must be obedient, and obedient unto death, the death of the cross. 1st. He who was God became man, taking the place of dependence. 2nd. As man, perfect in every way, yet He was obedient unto death; that death the death of the cross, the most shameful death in existence. So it is on this ground that He is exalted, and that every tongue shall confess Him Lord as now exalted, whether things in heaven or on earth, or in hell. Everything will finally bow and own His authority as Lord. And now, my dear reader, have you bowed to the Lordship of Christ? You say, Why should not I; He is my Saviour. Why I rejoice to bow to Him as my Lord. Thank God, then you are saved; only remember your path and your profession will be tested. But anyhow, if any do not bow to the Lordship of Jesus now, they will be obliged to do so in hell. But, oh think of the awful agony of conscience, to think you might have been saved, but it is now too late.
I would have my reader mark, that the whole subject here is subjection to Jesus as Lord, and following Him in His path of subjection to God’s will. It is not the reconciling of an enemy to God. That subject is treated of in Rom. 5:1-111Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:1‑11); 2 Cor. 5:16-2116Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:16‑21); Col. 1:19-2319For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:19‑23); Eph. 2:11-1811Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:11‑18). Reconciliation extends to all things in heaven and earth in the world to come, and it is never spoken of as a present thing except in reference to the church (cp. Col. 1:20, 2120And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:20‑21)), never that Christ has reconciled the world by His work. This last is a deceit of Satan, and the foundation of the lie of universalism. God was in Christ reconciling the world when He was down here(2 Cor. 5:1919To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19);) but the world would not be reconciled, and the message still goes on
Why so, if the world is reconciled? Do you find it so, dear believing reader? Is your next door neighbor who is unconverted reconciled to God? Is he at peace with God, or does he hate God? It is all a monstrous delusion of Satan! But the truth is, people do not know what reconciliation is, who talk like that, which is simply an enemy towards another who loves him being turned to be at peace with the same person, who, of course, now rejoices over him as now reconciled, but who always loved him. This loving Being is God, of course; the enemy, man. He believes the gospel of God’s love and is reconciled, the other rejects and is damned.
But here, as we have seen, the subject is subjection. The whole teaching is that way; Christ is an example for us here, which He could not be in reconciliation. He stands alone in making atonement, the foundation of reconciling sinners to God; we cannot follow His example there. But here He is a dependent, obedient man, subject to the will of God even unto death, and the same mind is to be in us that was in Him. He is now exalted, and every tongue is to confess Him Lord to the glory of God the Father. May God give to us increasing fellowship in His mind. It is exactly the opposite of what Adam did. He became independent of God and disobedient, and death was the consequence. He also wanted to be God, whereas He who was God became man, and the only man who had a right to do His own will, became obedient unto death, the death of the cross.
Now these dear Philippians had obeyed in measure in following Christ in this wondrous path. Paul had been with them, and they had obeyed as in his presence, but now he would have them prove the reality of their obedience; and now much more in my absence, he says, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God that works in you, both to will and do of His good pleasure. He would have them rise in simple faith to the truth of God’s presence in each of them and among them corporately. What if Paul departed to be with the Lord, they had God there working in them. That is the great point pressed here. As to the salvation here, I take it in the fullest sense as to the past, present and future. He could not say to the Philippians your own salvation, unless it was a present possessed thing by them. Besides I cannot work out a thing unless it is mine first to work out, but then I work it out actually in the trials and difficulties of the road, and it is not accomplished as to the body till Jesus comes. Thus it embraces the past, present and future; I work it out, too, on the basis that God works in me both to will and to do everything that relates to the working out of that same salvation, Consequently the spring and prime mover of the working out of salvation in the Christian, is God. The believer’s place is to be perfectly dependent and obedient in regard to the God that dwells in Him.
But I must dwell a little longer on this passage, for people are so ignorant of the word of God, ordinarily, and many will not read it for themselves. What I wish to say is, that this passage is only addressed to Christians. It is no question of showing a sinner the way of salvation. These words are addressed to the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, (see ch. 1:2), to those who were already saved. It does not say, “Work for your own salvation,” that would be to put salvation verily on the ground of works; but it says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
Now God was the spring even of Christ’s holy life, and dependence and obedience was the expression of it, and so He is of the Christian’s life, and blessed be God for it; as the little hymn says:
“And now I cannot please Him
In aught I say or do,
Unless He daily helps me His glory to pursue.
Still helpless and still feeble
On His strong arm I fall,
My strength is pressing onward;
Yes, Christ must do it all.”
Thus we see how God is the true spring of all that is Christ in us, but there is also the flesh there, consequently the warning,
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I [the apostle] may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain {Phil. 2:14-1614Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14‑16)}.
Thus the Philippians are, as it were, seen in the same path as the Lord Jesus, and energized with the same life. He was the Son of God; they the sons of God. He was blameless, harmless, and without rebuke in the midst of a perverse nation; they were to be the same. He shone as the light of the world; they were to shine as lights. He held forth the word of life; they were to do the same.
Ver. 17. Paul now presents himself as willing to be offered up as a sacrifice unto death upon the sacrifice and service of their faith. And he would have them rejoice in this same thing in which he could rejoice. Blessed, unselfish devotedness to God!
But he trusted in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to them, that he might be of good comfort when he knew through him of their state. There was no one the apostle had with him like-minded who would naturally care for their state. All sought their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. Sad state of things for the early church of God to have got into! Alas, how much worse is it now. Oh, my dear reader, which is it with you? Christ first and self second, or self first and Christ second; or, still better, which is it, I say again, Christ all and self nothing, or self everything and Christ nothing? Or is it half and half? Wretched, lukewarm, Laodicean indifference to Christ!
The apostle then commends Timothy to his dear Philippians (vers. 23, 24), and then speaks of sending Epaphroditus, another brother, and fellow-workman and fellow-soldier of the apostle. Besides, he gives him the honorable title of being the apostle of the Philippians, the minister to the apostle’s temporal wants from the same saints of God. He assured them how this blessed man was following Christ in the same lowly path; apparently in seeking out the apostle, or on his journey to him he had got sick nigh unto death. He was the conveyer to the apostle of the Philippians’ love gift of money, their token of fellowship in the gospel (see ch. 4). This the apostle calls the work of Christ. For that work, he says, he was nigh unto death, to supply the Philippians’ shortcoming of service towards the apostle.
Thus, though self was quickly manifesting itself and its claims over again in the early church, it is blessed to see men like Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus, and many doubtless among the Philippians themselves following in the lowly, downward, subject path of Christ. But, dear reader, it is the true way of exaltation. He that exalteth himself shall be abased, but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Satan thought to exalt his throne above the stars of God, to be like the Most High, and fell from his first estate. From the heavenlies he shall fall to the earth (Rev. 12), from the earth to the bottomless pit (Rev. 20), from the bottomless pit to hell (see ch. 20). Man followed suit, listened to his lie, thought to be as God, but, in consequence, became disobedient unto death. Oh, what an opposite path to that described in this chapter! Reader, which is best?