Philippian Christians
The book of Philippians gives four presentations of Christ:
- Christ as the believers life - Phil 1:21
- Christ as the believers mind - Phil 2:5
- Christ as the believers goal - Phil 3:10
- Christ as the believers strength - Phil 4:13
We will outline each of these in turn.
Christ as the believers life - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Phil 1:21
Chapter 1 of this book presents the attitudes and characteristics that exemplify the Christian's life.
- verses 3 ~ 8: the feelings we have
- verses 9 ~ 11: our prayer
- verses 12 ~ 18: the interests we share
- verse 19: our common source
- verses 20 ~ 26: our concern
- verse 27: our behaviour
- verses 28 ~ 30: others attitudes as a result
Christ as the believers mind - In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Phil 2:5
Chapter 2 presents the mindset we are encouraged to emulate.
- verses 1 ~ 2: Exhortation
- verses 3 ~ 4: Exhibition
- verses 5 ~ 11: Exposition
- verses 12 ~ 18: Application
- verses 19 ~ 30: Exemplified
Christ as the believers goal - I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Phil 3:10
Chapter 3 and the first four verses of chapter 4 deal with our goal.
- verses 3 ~ 6: less than the goal - mediocre
- verses 7 ~ 9: the cost of the goal
- verse 10: The goal - to know Him and His power
- verses 11 ~ 12: Pusuit of the goal
- verses 13 ~ 4:1: Process
Christ as the believers strength - I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13
Chapter 4 shows us practically how we can live in victory
- verse 5: Gentleness and yieldedness - see Ez 30:21 - our own strength must be broken
- verses 6 ~ 7: Keep us from anxiety
- verses 8 ~ 9: Natural as part of our new nature
- verses 10 ~ 12: Contentment
- verses 14 ~ 19: Sacrificial
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