The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 18

Vers. 27--:30.-Practical, exhortation,. I. ClmIBTIAN CONVERSATION THE CONDITION OF CHRISTll.N JOY. 0-nly (the word is emphatic)--only, St. Paul says, whether ho lives or dies, whether he comes again or sees them in the flesh no more, whatever happens to him or to them-let them mind this one thing, holy living. This must be, he says, your one desire, your one aim, to live as Christian men should live. IL ST. PAUL ADDRESSES THE PHILIPPUNS AB MEMllEBB OF A CHURCH; not isolated iudi,·iduals, but members of a community, knit together into oile body. 1. We are citizens of the heavenly commonwealth, under the one heavenly King. We must fight under his banner against the common enemy. '!'here ill need of united action : union is strength ; we must stand fast, keeping our ground as in battle, striving together. Disunion breaks the power of the great army; it dissipate~ Christian energy, and impedes grievously the progress of the gospel 2. Christian union is the unity of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God, abiding in the whole Church .and in each individual Christian, is the bond of union. The spirit of the believer is the sphere of his influence. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit;" "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace." The more fuUy he abideth in us, the more shall we be dispoRed to love one another, to hate party spirit, to remember that we a.re one body in Christ. 3. If we preserve the unity of the Spirit, we shall strive together with one soul. The iodwellina of the Holy Spirit will direct a.II our affections, emotions, and desires to bear uo the on~ great object, the progress of the faith. 4. This Christian energy, thiB holy ew,ra,:;e, is tJ.e gift of Uod. It shows that his presence goeth with the Christian host. lt u; the pled;e uf victory to his servants, of ruin to their adversarieR. 5. .And it i7r,plies willir,gru:86 UJ Buffer. Patience, as well as courage, is the gift of God. It is as hicrh a i,riviit:'-'e to be caUed to suffer with Christ and for Christ, as it is to work for him. Lt:bhlJKS. 1. The gcn;pel is the good tidings of God's unspeakable gift: think of your CLriotiao pri1·ikges, your Christian responsibilities, and walk worthily of the gospel. 2. Pray for tLe grace of perseverance, pray for it dail)'., earnestly. 3. Endeavour ~o ktt:1, the unity of the Spirit. 4. Remember that suffcnng comes from ou~ Fathe_r. rn L,a,·eo; lie chasteuctli us for our profit. Suffering n1eekly borne, borne 1n the la1th v'. Chrii;t aud out of lol'e for Christ, ber.ornes a blessing. OH, I, 1-30.) THE EPIS'rLE TO THK PHlLIPPIANS. 13