February 25, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | The Unity of Christian Citizenship | Philippians 2:1-4

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February 25, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | The Unity of Christian Citizenship | Philippians 2:1-4

The Unity of Christian Citizenship
Philippians 2:1-4

In one, very likely, spoken sentence the Apostle Paul outlines the full expanse of the Christian community experience. Being well-versed in the Hebrew forms of parallelisms and meter, the four “if” statements held over against the resulting “then” responses, bring these stanzas into a form selected for substance by repetition and perhaps even lyrical singing. The Hebrew covenant structure is seen as Paul begins with the four “if” statements and responds with the resulting four “then” statements.

We must recognize what perhaps is obvious. Paul is not setting up a covenant statement of action-response. That is if you do these four things, then you will become God’s people. Never! He is working within the context of what he established in the preceding verses in which he discussed Christina citizenship. His admonition here is given in the context of what the cross has established, already for the Philippian community. His dialog is a set of statements that Christ has already established for them. Therefore, they can participate in the actions Paul describes. Christ has set you in community, Christ has give you the redemptive tools to maintain and encourage relationships in Him, and Christ has set His Spirit among you the guide you into these behaviors, in order that you may fully shine forth as a light to the lost world around you.