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chapter of John as being the badge of dis- cipleship. Lest there be confusion, he pre sents the exhortation from several differ ent angles. Christjans are to be like- minded, having the same love; being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through self-esteem, but showing lowli ness of mind; having regard and consid eration for others. What loving harmony there would be between fellow Christians if these injunctions were followed in let ter and in spirit! However, Paul anti cipated the fact that there would be many who would say that such unity between people of different characteristics is an impossibility. Therefore, he suggests the power which makes possible the love-life between Christians. The secret is found in the simple words, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” To live the life of Christ, we must have the mind of Christ. The secret of loving one another is found in having the love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts. The self-humbling of Christ is an example of the self-humbling which should go on in the heart and experience of every Chris tian, day after day. We should never for get Christ’s statement, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” II. G od ’ s W ork and O urs “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you” (Phil. 2:12, 13). There is probably no passage of Scrip ture that has been misinterpreted more often than the latter part of verse 12. The mistake has been partly due to the fact that, in this passage, the effect is preceded by the cause. Salvation has two sides: the God side and the man side. God’s part lies in the regeneration of the human heart; man’s part lies in expressing the results of that regeneration in service, after God has performed the miracle. From our standpoint, as Christians, there should be intense concern lest we fail to accomplish that which God has for us to do as His disciples. Salvation, con sidered from the standpoint of birth into the family of God, is a definite act occur ring at a specific time; salvation, con sidered from the standpoint of the devel opment of a life of faith, is a process. From this standpoint, we are to guard with fear and trembling lest we miss God’s highest plan for our lives. Discussion 1, 2. Discuss the subject of Christian unity as discovered in verses 2 to 4. Do you think that the unity about which Paul speaks is a unity of minimum require ments, or the finding of one or two points upon which all can agree; or is it a unity of maximum requirements, of taking the entire gospel of . Christ and having unity of mind because all are in perfect accord and accepting that gospel in its fullest sense? What is your opinion of modern attempts at church union, which minimize the importance of Bible truth and doc trinal standards? Is not the unity con cerning which Paul so constantly, speaks an exhortation toward unity of spirit among those who have common doctrinal standards? Note that, in this case, the ex hortation to unity is immediately followed by a tremendously strong statement con cerning the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Can we have unity with those who
that we resent illtreatment and are en vious and jealous the fact that we are centered in ourselves? Was not Paul’s secret of joy and victory to be found in the fact that, with him, it was “not I, but Christ” ? How can we cultivate such an attitude of unselfish devotion as Paul’s? 3, 4. Consider the outstanding words found in the prayer of Paul (vs. 9-11). How can love “abound” ? What has knowledge to do with love? How does a supreme love for Christ aid us in judging what things are excellent and what things are not? How can we develop sincerity and blamelessness? What are the fruits of righteousness which are spoken of here? 5. Study Psalm 66 in connection with verses 12 to 18. Can you suggest illustra tions from history, in which attempts have been made to obstruct the progress of God’s truth, only to have Him overrule and bring triumph out of opposition? Does not Paul’s optimism suggest how we should act in the face of apparent opposi tion and defeat? 6. Discuss the subject of testimony through adversity (v. 13). Cite some ex amples of people whom you k n ow, or have heard of, who have used hardship and trial as a means of glorifying Christ. If possible, give some practical examples from your own life. 7. Compare Paul’s statement, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” with Hamlet’s, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Contrast Paul, who weighs the blessings of life and death, with Ham let, who “weighs the sorrows of life from which death would relieve him against the terrors of death from which life de livers him.” Discuss the meaning of the statement, “For to me to live is Christ.” Key Verse: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). I f w e see Christ as our Life in chapter 1, we find Christ as our Example in chapter 2. In Chapter 1, we are found in Christ; in chapter 2, we are urged to be like Christ. If Christ is our Life, we should live like Him. He came down to show us how to live—honestly, consistent ly, perfectly. When the matchless, holy life of Christ was laid down at Calvary, it was God’s plan that His disciples should take it up and live it over again. He was the Light of the world, and He challenges us with the statement, “Ye are the light of the world.” P rep aration MONDAY: Prepare an outline of your own, naming and writing out subheads and giving thoughts under each point. TUESDAY: Study the exhortation and example found in verses 1 to 11. Write in your notebook the positive qualities which we should cultivate (vs. 1, 2) and the nega tive qualities which we should avoid (vs. 3, 4). Work out for yourself the sixfold self-humbling of Christ (vs. 5- 8) and the fourfold exaltation of Christ (ys. 9-11). DECEMBER 13, 1931 . Christian Joy in Service P hilippians 2
A Daily Devotional Bible Course s pe c ia l D e v o t i o n a l Bible Course prepared for use with university students and also open to adults, which presents more detailed information concerning the chapters which are used in Notes on Chris tian Endeavor, is now available. This course presents a day by day suggestion for investigation, medi tation, and application. It is espe cially designed to enable young peo ple to meet the problems of everyday life. Samples may be had upon re quest by writing to Rev. Milo F. Jamison, 572 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. WEDNESDAY: Write a 200-word comment on verses 12 to 16, showing how the statement in the latter part of verse 12 depends upon that which God works within us. Illus trate it. THURSDAY: From the suggestions found in verses 17 to 30, see if you can construct a brief character analysis of Timotheus and Epaphroditus. What qualities did they possess which we can well emulate? FRIDAY; There are certain sections of Scripture which should be memorized by every thoughtful student. Verses 5 to 11 con stitute one of these passages. The prep aration time for this day should be oc cupied with memorizing this section. SATURDAY: The chapter abounds in additional verses which should be memorized. Se lect one or more and, after reviewing yes terday’s memory work, add them to the list of verses which you have found you can use (cf. vs. 3, 4; 12, 13; 14-16). SUNDAY: Select some passage or verse to be used as the basis for preparing an outline for a short devotional talk or personal tes timony. Analysis I. The Exhortation (vs. 1-4). 1. Positive qualities (vs. 1, 2). 2. Negative qualities (vs. 3, 4). II. The Example (vs. 5-11). 1. Christ, the example (v. 5). 2. Christ’s humiliation of Himself (vs. 6-8). 3. Christ’s exaltation by the Father (vs. 9-11). III. The Exhortation (vs. 12-16). 1. The challenge to obedience (v. 12). 2. The power for obedience (v. 13). 3. Some injunctions to be obeyed (vs. 14-16). IV. The Examples (vs. 17-30). 1. Paul (vs. 17, 18). 2. Timothy (vs. 19-24). 3. Epaphroditus (vs. 25-30). Expression I. T he M ind of C hrist “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). In verses 2, 3, and 4 of this second chap ter, Paul suggests some exercises which are very difficult for the average person. By giving concrete examples of how love should work out in practical experience, he suggests in another form the rule which Christ laid down in the fifteenth
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