The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 92

TB.lue in his d<>nt.h-hanng actually p;iven us the example of a perfect hum:in llfe. The Idea of the .apostle in 2_ Cor. x. 6 i~ that every tho~ght is to be brought into captivity to the obedience of Chnst. That involves our havmg a Christian tJolume and force of th,H1~ht whi~h we ea!'- b~ng to bear on all s1;1bjecta. '!-'here is a philosophical temper of mrnd, winch consists m accnrat.ely observmg facts, m discernin" what are relevant, in gi'l"'ing them their c.ue weight, in investigating the causes, co':inections, explana• tions, of things. So there is a Christian temper of mind, which consists in our being saturated with Uhristian ideas, in looking beneath the surface, in testing the Christian character of 11ctions and courses of action, of thoughts and lines of thought, in readily discovering their bearing upon Christ and his salvation. And that is what is as open to the labourer as to the philosopher. As we have all a power of applying our minds in matt.ers connected with our earthly calling, so there is no reason why we should not have the power of applying our minds in matters connected with our heavenly calling. And we should clearly recognize that as part of the great. work of our salvation which we a.re here commanded to work out, Salvation o..f the affections. It belongs to us a.s social beings to be rightly affected toward other beings. That enters very deeply into the question of our happiness. And part of the great work of our salvation is to work out the right stat.e of our affections. It is a saving work, inasmuch as we need to be saved from a depraved state of our affections. We need to be saved from a depraved state of our affections towards God. We have a natural aversion to goodness, and, because God is the perfection of all goodness, it is true that we are alienated and enemies in our mind, that the mind of the flesh is enmity against God. We need to have our affections changed, so that we love God because of his goodness, and simply because of his goodness, and love him ";th all fervour and st.eadiness because he is supremely good ; and love Christ because be is the glorious Manifestation of the Divine goodness, the Accomplisher of our redemp- tion. We need to be saved from a depraved state of our affections toward beings like oursdvel',. There is much that is beautiful in the affection of parents for their children ; but it needs to be saved ew,n from mere natw·alness or characterlessness. We must love our children, not with a blind affection, but with an affection that is under the izuidance and restraint of moral and religious principle; we must love them as intelligent, spiritual beings, who have been given us to train for God and immortality; we must love them especially for the sake of Christ, who has obtained right to them by his blood, and who wishes to see them transformed into bis image. Our affections need to be saved from mere narrowness. They are not to be confined to our home circle or circle of our acquaintances, but are to have something of the catholicity of the Saviour's love. Onr afiectious need to be saved from shallnwness. Our interest in all must extend bevonci. their temporal well-being to their Christian perfection. Oar affections need to be·sa.ved from everv element of malice. We must not hate or break forth into passion, but be patient and ·forgiving, aft.er the example of the Master. Thus will a. Christ!an character be ci'l"'en to our affections. And that is part of the work of salvallon which we are dist~ctly to place before us as commanded here. Salvation of the _energies. It belongs to us e.s active beings to have our energies rigbtlr employed. This e_nters largely into our happiness, and is part of the work of sa!vat1on that we are app01nted to work out. It is a saving work, inasmuch as our ~nerg1e_s nee~ to be saved from self. One form which self takes is tha.t of sloth. That 18 a sm which besets very many. We are not to work listlessly, bringing little to pass, spreading _the work of one hoU' over many. We are to let onr energies out, and to let our energies out as a whole, no restraining especially our best energies. We are not to b~ discouraged by di!ficulties Lut rather to regard them as an opportunity for our pntttng forth our energies more vigor0rn;ly. We are not to spend our energies simply for a livelihood, or in the 1mrsuit of pleasure, or in the pursuit of a fortune, or in the pursuit of fame. Our e11ergies are to be saved by being lifted above self to God, especially by being connected with Ci,ri~t, laid as a willing tribute at hie feet, concentrated on hie glory, steadily n,LJdtred tu hiro, imbued with his unselfi~h, philanthropic spirit. 'l'hat is the. ~hi~d l,11~ m wl.11cL we are to carry out the 111vmg work commanded here. (2) Bpiril m 'which it ib tc, be cwrried out. " With fear and trembling." Tbe la.tt.er word refers Iu',rt v, ti,e am:i,Jus solicitude that is coonected with what le feared. 'l'his wa.e the j1,irit i11 wuicb l'aul SP,rved among the Coriothiaill!: "I was with you in weakness and OFI. II. 1-30.) THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILTPPIANS. 89