Biblical Ecumenism - 6

Question of disunity among Christians is a deterrent to the gospel of Christ was our Lord himself and said love among believers is the main mark of discipleship.

By this shall all men know you are my disciples, that you have love one for another, but fighting and wrangling among Christians is what unbelievers are more inclined to see in the church and thus is not surprising that there are many calls for Christian unity. We are divided we need to unite is what we are told, but sadly, so many of these calls are misguided because they do not understand biblical unity as it is presented to us in Scripture they manifest little understanding of true Christian unity, often thinking that organizational union is in fact Christian unity when it is not ecumenism, which is the big word for Christian unity is conceived by many as uniting different types of religious groups into one big ecumenical conglomerate, one big ecumenical stew, but that is not what Scripture teaches. But what in fact is true Christian unity and our portion for today will help us at least in part, to understand the answer to that question biblical ecumenism. How should we understand how can we develop and how can we maintain it, and there are three things I would like to emphasize in the first few verses of Philippians chapter 2 biblical ecumenism must be grounded in biblical Christianity, biblical ecumenism must be cultivated in sanctification and biblical ecumenism must be perfected in humility and if we can learn these things and apply these things we can strengthen true biblical unity among the Christians that we know biblical ecumenism or biblical unity must be grounded in biblical Christianity. Philippians 21 opens by these words.

Therefore, if there is in the names a number of things. Therefore, if there is sin when you see your therefore we already know this. I'm only reminding you whatever you see your therefore we have to look back and see what it's therefore it's always pointing to something in the preceding context isn't.

It's a conclusion based on what has gone before. So what has gone before, upon which Paul is drawing this conclusion. Therefore, because of what I said previously, I can now add some additional things to it and I think those several things could be pointed to. I think primarily Paul is looking back to verse 27 of chapter 1 the season very close similarity in this verse to what we find in chapter 2. In our text for today.

What he says in Philippians 127 only let your conduct to be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel to see that similarity of language that oneness of mind that oneness of spirit that striving together join together in Christian unity. Therefore, if there are these things that are mentioned in verse one that will issue forth into the Christian unity that the following verses talk about it must be founded upon the gospel of Christ, a Christianity that is grounded in the gospel.

Therefore let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Now the problem is I see it, with many ecumenical efforts today is that nobody wants to be precise about what the gospel is just assume that everybody believes I don't know if we assume everybody believes the gospel. Maybe it would be more accurate to say everybody believes a gospel.

Everybody uses the word gospel. Everybody has something that they call gospel, even if they're talking about feeding the poor and think that's the gospel. Everybody has something they call the gospel. So will just assume that we all know the gospel and will move on to other things.

No, no, no, no, not so fast. Backup backup backup backup if were going to have biblical unity.

We have to start at the beginning we have to start with the biblical gospel, not a false gospel. The biblical gospel. Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Now anybody who reads the New Testament seriously knows that Paul is not ambiguous about the gospel. He's very clear about what that is the message of the gospel. Most of us are familiar with.

First Corinthians 15 the gives a very concise definition of the gospel.

Paul said there moreover brethren I declare unto you the gospel. Here it is the gospel where it is of the Christ died for our sin. The Scriptures was buried, and rose again from the dead, those of the two main elements of the gospel. The vicarious death of Christ upon the cross and the victorious resurrection of Christ from the two and not just the death of Christ upon the cross, the vicarious death of Christ upon the cross wasn't that he died. As an example, he died as a martyr know he died as a substitute, Christ died for our sin. Vicarious death of Jesus Christ you leave that out you don't have the gospel he died in the centers place he died as a substitute.

He died as a sacrifice in the place of sinners upon the cross of Calvary. That's foundational truth number one of the gospel and what's the second one, and how he rose again on the third day, the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. That's part of the gospel. If you don't believe in the bodily resurrection you don't believe in the gospel. If you say that the resurrection is just a spiritual resurrection of the spirit of Christ lives on forever in the hearts of those who believe in him you don't believe the gospel, and there can be no Christian unity among people who don't start with the gospel agreed.

That's where it starts. Biblical ecumenism must be grounded in biblical Christianity, biblical Christianity begins with the gospel of Christ.

It's a Christianity that is grounded in the gospel is also Christianity the changes lives for something to believe in.

And there's something to experience there something that demonstrates the power of the gospel in lives and that too is seen in verse 27 that the therefore points back to only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, there is the change in lives that true faith in the gospel produces. Whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel so were talking about a Christianity number one that is grounded in the gospel were talking about a Christianity number two. The changes lives. It changes conduct that your conduct is worthy of the gospel who changes relationships that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. You see were already starting toward Christian unity because of the changes which the spirit of God makes in the lives of those who believe the gospel were talking about the effects of the new birth. It's a Christianity. The changes lives and then it is number three a Christianity that is rooted in spiritual realities and now this takes us forward into chapter 2 verse one repulses. Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any, affections, and mercy fulfill my joy be like-minded and so forth another word. If, as most of you already know would probably more accurately be translated since that would come closer to the meaning in our understanding of the English language. If raises the possibility that something may or may not be true that's not what this is saying technically in the Greek this is called a first-class condition. What is that mean it made sense instead of if that's what it means to simple as that. That's what it means. We could translate this if, as it surely is. If, as it definitely is.

If this is the case, knowing that in fact it is the case in other words, since therefore, since there is consolation in Christ, since there is comfort in love or comfort of love. Since there is fellowship of the spirit. Since there is affection and mercy. Paul is predicated in what he's calling upon them to do in verse two. Upon these realities that are manifested in their possession as believers in Jesus Christ back to the gospel.

The gospel that is the true biblical gospel. The changes lives and these are some of the changes the rollout of the hearts of those who believe the biblical gospel.

What are the they are one union with Christ to motivation by love three empowerment by the spirit of number four guided by godly compassion, since there is union with Christ, encouragement or exhortation is another way to translate this word but has the idea of being united with Christ and that receiving the encouragement or the teaching. The exhortation that that flows from that union with Christ. That's why Sinclair Ferguson in his commentary says that this first one. If there is any consolation, Christ has to do with our union with Christ, we are joined to Christ and as such, joined to Christ we share in all the blessings which she has been obtained for those who trust in him was a pretty solid foundation to move forward upon disease of real things happen to see some real changes happened to see some real loving and biblical unity among the people of God. This joining to Christ and receiving all the blessings that he has secured with his redemptive work Christianity that is rooted in spiritual realities as such as union with Christ, such as number to be motivated by love the consolation or comfort that comes to us because of the love of Christ. Paul said something similar in another passage where he says the love of Christ constrains me the love of Christ compels me the love of Christ motivates me, what is it, the clock keeps me going on in traveling and preaching and being thrown into prison and suffering to deprive nations and and pains and aches in my body but I can't quit.

I will look I don't want to quit like because the love of Christ empowers me at motivates me. It keeps me from quitting.

He loved me I need to show to demonstrate my gratitude to him for his glove to me Christianity that is rooted in spiritual realities that you have that kind of motivation that kind of love in your heart that will solve an awful lot of problems in this life of what's another spiritual reality empowered by the spirit. The third phrase in verse one is the fellowship of the spirit participation in the spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit of God who birthed us into the family of God, who binds us to Christ with an inseparable union and causes the benefits of Christ's death to flow into our life. The life the very life of Christ to flow into us and who binds us to each other. We are all one in the body of Christ. We don't make that happen. It has happened by the work of the Holy Spirit that we need to live accordingly.

We need to recognize that reality and there is a true biblical way to do it but were not going to make that happen. It's already happened. It's kind like the question or that or the challenge sometimes you need to make Christ Lord will he is whether you make you better not to ease now waiting for you to give you permission to become Lord he is Lord he is Lord is risen from the dead, and he is Lord now, it may be true that you have yielded to him in that capacity and you do need to do that you need to recognize who he is, but you can't make him Lord, you're too late for that. You're too late for that.

And you, not the one that can do that anyway you Make unity in the body of Christ.

You, too late for that. The Holy Spirit is been doing that for thousands of years as he joins each new believer to Christ and to all of those who belong to Christ. One more spiritual reality that Christianity must be rooted in. That's the last part of verse one we are guided by godly compassion, affection and mercy. Affection is tenderness of our inner feelings week we have compassion for others. We have affection for others and mercy that sympathy in reaching out to others. So the first word refers to a softening of our hearts as as a result of the work of God spirit instead of being hardhearted. We are tenderhearted and then as a result of that week.

Reach out to others in loving kindness and helpfulness and that's a good step toward the kind of biblical unity that the Bible describes in so this unity must be grounded in biblical Christianity. For some reason I thought about some of these folks and stand out by the side of the road and ask for handouts that find intersections and I have to be careful on the one hand I don't want to be hardhearted and without compassion. On the other hand, I don't want to be done and the I saw the most honest one on in the Walmart parking lot Friday I had to laugh.

I had my grandson as her with me and he was holding up the sign says I won't lie I need a beer.

Finally, an honest panhandler that was probably funny enough to get in some good response. I didn't contribute to his beer fund that I had to laugh, but I see these people. He looked pitiful and yet somebody I was talking about this with with family the other night and they said yeah we so when standing between two we are hiring science's asking for a handout. Everybody is looking for four workers and hear people evidently are willing to work so it's a tough one is sometimes but you don't want to let your heart get so hard. I know somebody who saw somebody like that by the side of the road and they said I'm hungry need help and she drove home and made sandwiches and brought them back and handed them to. He got mad and threw them back. He tomato sandwiches, of course not. He wanted money for booze probably so I don't want to be done, but I don't want to become hardhearted either the work of God spirit creates compassionate creates tender mercies it creates a kind and sympathetic outreach to others, particularly the body of Christ toward all those who are an unfortunate one of our duties in the body of Christ is to be able to discern what our genuine needs so that we can respond to those as opposed to those that are trumped up needs that are not being so sincere and honest and we that's one reason why why in the body of Christ we have the opportunity to to to know the people that work that were interested in helping them to know their circumstances and to be able to determine how genuine these things are, but let's not become hardhearted, so are we talking about were talking about Christian unity and it must be grounded in biblical Christianity, not some kind of ill-defined general Christianity without definition or even nowadays beyond Christianity any religion whatsoever. Let's gather them all together in one big ecumenical stew and just call it all unity of faith and that is not what the Bible is talking about faith and what faith in Diana of the Ephesians faith in Artemis faith in Zeus faith faith in what friends it has to be faith in the God of the Bible, the Christ of the Bible, the gospel of the Bible.

That's the faith that were talking about, it's rooted in biblical Christianity.

Number two it's cultivated in sanctification.

Verse two pulses fulfill my joy being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord in one mind hear some of the same words and phrases repeated again. We've already heard about love. Now he says, be of the same love. This unity deal one cord accord, be of one mind, it's cultivated in sanctification.

Why do I say that is what is sanctification just for review word actually means to be set apart to be sanctified is to be set apart and most of the time when we use it. Were talking about what we call progressive sanctification vessel. Paul is referring to here even though he doesn't use the term, what is he say he says make my joy complete to make my joy full. Paul has already made it clear that the evidence of genuine salvation of the lives of the Philippians had given them great joy. You were delighted because he had every confidence that they had been saying there was evidence for that filled them with joy. But he says you are unity will increase my joy in other words, you need to grow in the grace of greater Christian unity, you need to progress in sanctification. You need to develop greater maturity, greater love, greater oneness within the body of Christ this and actually even going back to the verse and in chapter 1 is beginning to hint that there water were some divisions in the church at Philippi. We finally get to that specifically in chapter 4 where Paul spells out by name. A couple of people who were getting along and he says hello these people to get along their their their their non-it went oneness. They are at enmity with one another in the church at Philippi that needs to stop. He believes that there godly women Christian women I'm sorry buddy but you in the wrong place at the that thing stung my wife would have to go to the hospital and maybe some of the others of you as well.

Their salvation had produced joy in the heart of the apostle Paul, but he says there's room for more development, more growth you need to progress in sanctification, and so to sanctification that is progressing and were talking about biblical unity cultivated in sanctification. Sanctification that is progressive. Paul wants to see it be made complete in their lives, and it is a sanctification that is manifested. There are evidences of it. Now he goes to some of these evidences, which in some ways are our repeats or near repeats of things.

He's already said, but here's how their sanctification ought to be manifested number one by being of the same mind number two maintaining the same love number three being united in spirit number four being intent on one purpose being of the same mind need to be thinking the same thing about everything know about the gospel about Christ, about the work of the church.

That's what you need to be of one mind about you need to maintain the same love. What lovely said earlier that you're going to be going to be comforted by love. That is the love of Christ as you think of Christ's love for you that's going to motivate you to be what you ought to be so you need to maintain the same love, the same love that Christ has for you. You need to have for him, but more to the point of this passage, you need to have for others. You need to have your fellow believers in Christ, you need to have her fellow members of the church at Philippi. If these two ladies named in chapter 4 were having the same love for each other. The Christ had for them. I don't think the problem would last another day to be solved so maintain the same love, united in spirit and inward unity.

This is not external organization. This is not some kind of of physical union of all the Christian groups into one big umbrella. This is an inward thing united in spirit united in your inner man united in your thoughts about Christ and the gospel and about what is true from the word of God united in your sentiment toward one another in in the gospel of Christ and intent on one purpose and all of the should have the same purpose, which is we live to exalt Jesus Christ.

We live to advance the gospel of Christ because that's what it exalts, the Lord Jesus Christ for all of the same page as to what our goal is, then we won't have so much disunity as this person is going this way of this person's going that way. Of this group has the school and that group has that goal and there is no basis for unity in all of this get back to the center to the gospel which takes us to number three. Biblical ecumenism is perfected in humility and this probably more than anything else is why we have so much trouble with it because humility doesn't come easy to any of us doesn't.

If you think it does.

You don't know your own heart much at all. If you think it does. You really don't understand biblical humility, hardly at all. The more you grow in grace, the more you recognize the ugliness of your own pride in their five aspects of humility. There's delineated before us in verses three, four and five says in verse three let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind.

There's that humility.

Let each esteem others better than himself. Humility purifies our motives.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit before honest before God with our own heart will have to admit that an awful lot of what we do we do out of selfishness we are more concerned about ourselves and others.

We are interested in advancing ourselves over others. We are looking for ways to get ahead. Even at the expense of others.

At times we are selfish and Paul said this unity that ought to exist and I'm sure does exist to some extent in the Philippian church but needs to grow to a greater extent. This unity will be fostered in humility and this is what humility looks like. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. Don't do anything out of pride don't do anything out of selfishness while think I better go home and work on that one for the next several months doesn't matter what comes next. I got got a big job ahead of me on number 109 maybe you don't. But I do so please pray for me as I got some work to do on this one and I suspect you do too. So number one. Humility purifies our motives number two. Humility diminishes our pride that would seem to be pretty obvious, but in lowliness of mind lowliness of mind. I was struggling to find a way to understand the defined that I was combing through various commentator carries I came to one and I didn't even write down which one is was but here's what this author said about lowliness of mind lowliness of mind rests in absolute dependence upon God for everything that's lowliness of mind lowliness of mind rests in absolute dependence upon God for everything I want this long to figure out a way to get it committed to God and be totally dependent upon him give it up to him if he wants you to have it he'll give it to you if you want you to have that position will give it to you if you want you to have that possession will give it to you if you want you to have that honor. He will give it to you, wants you to have that that the increase in salary.

He'll give it to you if he wants you to have that opportunity. He'll give it to you. It's not the were unmindful of these things but we don't pursue them selfishly. We live in lowliness of mind, we commit everything to the Lord and truly depend upon him to accomplish everything in our lives that we desire. If he doesn't bring it about. Apparently wasn't God pleasing desire and were willing to let it go. That's lowliness of mind.

That's humility. It's one thing to say it is another thing to do. It. I know a lot of people who believe in the sovereignty of God in the textbook when it comes in the way they live, they act like it's up to them to make everything happen the way they want to happen and they'll do whatever it takes to accomplish that. That's not humility that's not lowliness of mind lowliness of mind depends upon God for everything okay what else number three. Humility reduces our self-importance. Let each of you regard one another is more important than himself.

Again, that sounds good to say it but that's a tough one are our minds don't work that way. Our Adamic hearts don't work that way. If we can even give to someone else. They honor of being known close to equal, but better. That's right, that's going to take help that's gonna take work from the spirit of God.

That's right, that's gonna take true God-given Holy Spirit created humility.

That's right. That's what it's going to take but each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Aren't we glad the Jesus Christ considered our salvation more important in life. What if he hadn't one commentator I think astutely pointed out the pride before men exposes our pride before God. If we see evidences of our pride with others and that is a signal that should be an indication to us that are, we don't have the humility before God, to the extent that we ought to have. So what we do we go to God and asking for asking for help, Lord. I see these evidences of pride. I can see the horse cropped up in my relationships with others. So therefore, Lord.

I assume that I have more pride than I should. My relationship with you. Please come boldly before your mighty hand you might lift me up. Another commentator said, and I think accurately so that zeal often breeds conceit and a critical spirit. You have to watch this. It's a good thing to be zealous for the things of God.

Whatever it is that you're concerned about. Some people are boy they are all in when it comes to evangelism.

They are bold been given a boldness that isn't given to everybody even given a drive that has been given to everybody they want and and they'd truly and and and and a very God honoring way want to be out there evangelism out evangelizing all the time and if you're not careful there zeal for evangelism is going to create a conceit within their hearts. I'm better, other Christians that the way that I evangelizing. They don't and it's going to create a critical spirit in their heart towards others. I'm better than other Christians because I I'm evangelizing and they're not and shame shame shame shame shame and loneliness of mind let each esteem others better than yourself and if you see God developing true humility within you.

You'll eventually come to understand God has given me the gift of evangelism.

God's given me a drive for evangelism.

God's given me on opportunity for evangelism enough in a fluency in it that others don't have.

But that doesn't make me better than others because other people are doing other things better than I am. I see Christians who are showing the love of Christ to the poor and needy in the way that I'm not. I see Christians who are who are giving far more sacrificially to the cause of the gospel are actually funding though the missionaries who are going with the gospel of evangelism goes and pretty soon you realize I don't have anything to be conceited about what do I have that hasn't been given to me by God to let me take it and use it for his glory with my zeal, but in all humility. The apostle Paul was a good example of this. Nobody was a more zealous evangelist. Nobody was a more zealous missionary nobody was a more zealous church planter than Paul. And yet, what did he say down toward the end of his life. I'm the chief of sinners. Humility reduces our self-importance. What else.

Humility directs our activities. Verse four. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. I don't have time for that.

I don't have time for this. I don't have time to time to design the were busy and many times we have things upon us the legitimate obligations.

But if you're not careful working to turn everything into our life into a a necessity legitimate obligation that we've got to do because we've got all these important is to do and we won't have any time for others.

We won't have any time for the church. Maybe just to attend but certainly can't get involved in anything.

We just don't have time for that because what because it really boils down to at least a lot of these things were looking out for our own interests, but not for the low we've already hit me once or twice and you won't let you keep keep bearing down. Hey, I know wrote it. I just floated right it's God's word which don't merely look out for own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. We need to be careful who were not old, doing our own thing were doing others things were not looking out primarily for number one, were looking out for others equally so. Humility directs our activities toward others and then number five. Humility reflects the mind of Christ and that introduces us to the passage had incredible passage were going to be getting into.

Not next Sunday because Don Theobald will be here beyond that.

But this both closes the passage we have for this morning and introduces the one to come. In verse five let this mind to be and you which was also in Christ Jesus that sums it all up.

If we have the mind of Christ that will purify our motives.

That's the humility that purifies our motives.

We have the mind of Christ that the humility that diminishes our pride if we have the mind of Christ. That's the humility that reduces our self-importance.

We have the mind of Christ.

That's the humility that directs our activities outward as much is toward our own interests. The humility that reflects the mind of Christ. So to wrap this up. Let me ask a couple of questions. In closing, and that is number one. What Christian you what what is Christian unity, not the number two what is Christian unity just a couple of things. This is not comprehensive what Christian unity is not Christian unity is not everyone having the same preferences about everything Christian unity doesn't mean that we all approve of and eat the same foods you know that Christian unity doesn't mean that we all wear the same close of the same style of clothes. This is not putting everyone in our little Christian uniform so that everybody can tell what group we belong to known as not having the same preferences about everything. Not even all have the same preferences about music. I have some thoughts about that but let's be honest Christian unity is not everybody having the same preferences about music or about sports. I had to write that when into my notes after I saw somebody out of the welcome Center with the Duke should and you get into a fight over things like that. Hopefully not in the church, but I knew here's a guy with his Duke shirt here's a guy with his Carolina shirt and sometimes they can get pretty testy toward one another over something that matters about nothing. I picked up a stocking cap years ago. Office sale table probably paid a dollar for it because I needed a nice, warm, But I found out that when I wore it got me into trouble at times it was a red Wolf pack stocking cap I was not promoting state. Cory wishes I did.

I really don't care Cory, I'm sorry about state or Duke or Carolina is off-line, but I'm not.

This is not that important but I find I quit wearing that I got tired of people making comments about it and Bethany in Maine expressed a desire for she remembered it from being that's how how long I've had it when she was home nice and I'll gladly give it to you. There doesn't get in trouble because nobody knows who who who Wolf pack is withdrawn, stated that she could wear that nice red stocking Old style. It has a big round ball attached to the top. You know, and that she enjoys wearing that and I'm glad to be rid of it. It was it was a problem.

Christian unity is not everybody having the same preferences about sports and many other things and listen to me. I'm going to say one that probably gets closer to home. Christian unity is not everybody having the same opinion about politics.

I know Christians that have divided and split because so many of the church work rapidly committed to something and others were not. If you're not for my party. If you're not for my candidate. If you don't see things my way, then I can't fellowship with you.

I don't want to be around you. I don't want to have anything to do with you. You need to soak your mind in Philippians chapter 2 for a good long while and let the word of God. They that stupidity out of your heart. Christian unity is not the same understanding about every little detail every little minor doctrine of God's word is unity.

The gospel is unity. The foundational truths of Scripture. But we can have differences over minor matters.

That's what it's not what is what Christian unity is the same understanding of the gospel. That's pretty important to have unity in the church we need at the same understanding of the gospel and thank God I think that's largely true here may be entirely true. Pretty close to it. Number two. Christian unity is the same understanding of the mission of the church were all agreed as to what we ought to be doing as a church we are here to produce Disciples of Christ were here to develop worshipers of Christ which is another aspect of the same thing. We are here to develop Christian servants.

Another aspect of the same thing to teach God's people to serve Christ and one another.

Can we all agree on that than we can have unity and should have Christian unity is the same passion for the glory of Christ, and we all have that United Way are purpose for living is to bring glory to Christ. The purpose for our churches to bring glory to Christ. The purpose for my family is to bring glory to Christ. The purpose of my marriage is to bring glory to Christ.

The purpose for my job is to bring glory to Christ. The purpose for everything I do is to bring glory to Christ, you agree on that we can have Christian unity, shall we pray father, help us in these matters. It's clear by observation that this is difficult for many people.

Help us Lord to grow in our sanctification that we may grow in humility that we may grow in unity as we ask it in Jesus name, amen