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FOLLOWING THE LIGHT OF LIFE IN HUMILITY AND HARMONY

10-10-10

THE CHRIST-LIKE CHRISTIAN LIFE

(Phil 2:1-3)  If there be therefore any consolation [Gk: comfort] in Christ, if any comfort of love [Gk: affection or benevolence: charity], if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels [Gk: pity or sympathy; tender mercy] and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife [Gk: intrigue: contention] or vainglory [Gk: empty glorying, self-conceit]; but in lowliness of mind [Gk: humiliation of mind, i.e. modesty: humbleness of mind] let each esteem other better than themselves.

1.      (Luke 18:9-14)  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised [Gk: found contemptible, least esteemed, set at nought] others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee [a religious leader of the Jews], and the other a publican [a tax collector generally despised by the Jews]. The Pharisee stood [in the temple] and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [Gk: innocent: righteous] rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased [Gk: to depress; fig. to humiliate (in condition or heart): bring low, humble (self)]; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

THE MIND OF CHRIST

(Phil 2:4-8)  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let [permit, allow] this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion [Gk: external condition] as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1.      (Phil 1:6)  Being confident of this very thing, that he [The Holy Spirit] which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of [the Second Coming of] Jesus Christ:

2.      (John 1:1)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

3.      (John 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.

4.      (Rom 12:1,2)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world [Gk: be fashioned alike, i.e. conformed to the same pattern]: but be ye transformed [Gk: "metamorphose": changed, transfigured] by the renewing [Gk: renovation: restoration] of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

a.       (Mat 17:1,2)  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured [Gk: "metamorphose": changed, transformed] before them: and his face did shine [Gk: to beam, i.e. radiate brilliancy: give light] as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

THE NAME OF “JESUS” HAS BEEN MADE SUPREME IN THE UNIVERSE

(Phil 2:9-11)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1.      Lord = Gk: kurios, koo'-ree-os; from  kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by impl. Mr. (as a respectful title): God, Lord, master, Sir.

2.      (John 14:13,14)  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

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WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING

(Phil 2:12-15)  Wherefore, 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure [and to resist “his good pleasure” is to resist God]. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons [Gk: children] of God, without rebuke [Gk: blameless], in the midst of a crooked [Gk: warped, winding] and perverse [Gk: distorted, i.e. (fig.) to misinterpret, corrupt] nation, among whom ye shine as lights [Gk: as illuminators, luminaries; brilliancy] [Mat 17:1,2] in the world [Gk: kosmos; the universe];

1.      Commentary: “fear and trembling” = having an inner, awesome, breathtaking, and profoundly reverential fear of Father God the Creator, in concurrence with experiencing a sincere heartfelt sense of earthshaking trembling of incredible anticipation as we continue daily, momentarily, second by second, to be steadily drawn upward nearer to Him, as a caught fish to the fisherman. And we consequently and inescapably recognize with ever widening eyes of astonishment, the inestimably priceless value of “the wonderful gift of love,” the gift of the high calling in Christ Jesus, and the minuscule closeness of time remaining, for in but “the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor 15:52), we shall each receive the promised fullness of that glorious gift of our own eternal salvation.

YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (Mat 5:14)

(Phil 2:16-18)  Holding forth [as a lamp of enlightenment] the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

1.      (Psa 119:105)  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

2.      (John 9:5)  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world [but now He is in us and we are the light of the world (Mat 5:14)].

3.      (John 14:6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me [i.e., but by following the Light of Life].

Amen