Christ's testimony on earth has been damaged (Philippians 2:1-2) (B.Anstey)

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The enemy (Satan) was not only trying to destroy the testimony of the Philippians in that region through persecution from adversaries outside the Christian company (chap. 1), but he was also trying to destroy their testimony by stirring up dissension within the Christian company (chap. 2). Our adversary has had great success on these lines throughout the history of the Church. What persecution has not accomplished, internal dissension most surely has.

Full text to commentary can be found at Bible Truth Publishers: https://bibletruthpublishers.com/christ-the-pattern-for-the-christian-life/stanley-bruce-anstey/the-epistle-of-paul-to-the-philippians/bruce-anstey/la155972

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Episode Transcript

Mark (00:00):
This is an excerpt taking from Bruce Anstey's book on
Philippians Chapter 2, with anoverview of Philippians and
commentary on the first twoverses.

Bernard (00:09):
Christ—The Pattern for the Christian Life The enemy
(Satan) was not only trying todestroy the testimony of the
Philippians in that regionthrough persecution from
adversaries outside theChristian company(chapter 1),
but he was also trying todestroy their testimony by
stirring up dissension withinthe Christian company(chapter

(00:29):
2).
Our adversary has had greatsuccess on these lines
throughout the history of theChurch.
What persecution has notaccomplished, internal
dissension most surely has.
As a result of the enemy’s workwithin the Christian ranks, the
Church has become divided oneverything in principle and in

(00:49):
practice—to the point where itspublic testimony has been
shattered into a thousandpieces! There now exists a wide
range of denominations andnon-denominational Christian
fellowships that are asdifferent as“chalk and cheese.”
It hardly needs to be said thatthis is not at all what God
intended for the Church duringthe time of Christ’s absence.

(01:12):
The Lord prayed that we wouldlive and move together as“one”
(John 17:11, 21, 23).
He wants Christians to walktogether in practical unity,
even though they are spread allover the whole world, and thus
express the truth of the“onebody” of Christ(Ephesians
4:2-4).
Sad to say, our divided statehas rendered to the world a

(01:34):
distorted view of the gospel andthe Christian revelation of
truth.
Unbelievers look at the Churchas it exists today and are
thoroughly confused.
We might ask,“How did all thisstart?” In many cases, it has
resulted from Christians notbeing of“one spirit” and of“one
mind,” as Paul insists on inthis epistle(chapter 1:27; 2:2;

(01:56):
3:16; 4:2).
Satan has made use of seeminglysmall disagreements and has
stirred up the flesh inbelievers to take opposing
positions on matters of doctrineand practice, and these
differences have become sodeeply ensconced in each that
they have become irreconcilable.
The current state of the Churchtoday with all of its many

(02:17):
divisions has been the result.
The sad thing is that Satan isstill working to shatter the
Church even further.
He has designs on everyChristian fellowship, from the
mega-church in a largemetropolis to the seemingly
insignificant little gospel hallor chapel in the countryside.
His objective is to smash topieces every testimony for

(02:39):
Christ.
Being aware of Satan’s attacks(2Corinthians 2:11), Paul gives
the Philippians the divineremedy for the salvation of the
assembly from the inroads of theenemy in this second chapter.
Since Satan is still working tothis end, what is laid out here
has an important application toChristian assemblies today.

(03:00):
Paul alluded to the need forunity in the Christian ranks in
chapter 1:27, but now launchesinto a lengthy dissertation on
the cause and cure forcontention among Christians.
If the things that he is aboutto present are taken seriously
and applied practically, theenemy would be thwarted in his
attempt to destroy Christianassemblies today.

(03:23):
An Exhortation to Unity inAssembly Life Verses 1-2—In this
chapter, Paul is about to exhortthe Philippians to walk in
practical unity(verse 2).
He is also going to tell themthat this can only be achieved
through each having a lowly mind(Verses 3-4).
Furthermore, he will show themthat that which produces

(03:45):
humility and lowliness of mindin believers is having our
attention focused on thehumility of Christ, who is the
pattern for lowly grace(Verses5-8).
But before Paul speaks of thesethings, he points to the fact
that the grace needed to walk inpractical unity had already been
produced in the Philippians(verse 1).

(04:05):
The evidence of this was thelove and kindness that they had
freely poured out on him, inthinking of him in his need and
sending a gift from so far.
Paul alludes to thisdemonstration of grace and
kindness in mentioning their“comfort in Christ,” their
“consolation of love,” their“fellowship of the Spirit,” and
their“bowels and compassions.”All this had been lavished upon

(04:28):
him(verse 1).
The“if” used in the openingverse is an“if” of argument, not
an“if” of condition.
(See page 11.) It does not implythat there might not have been
consolation in Christ, etc.
The word is used here in thesense of“since.” Paul was
building an argument; he wassaying that since God had

(04:48):
produced these wonderfulfeelings and sympathies in them
toward him, he knew that theywere capable of showing them to
others—and particularly, to oneanother, which is what he really
had in mind.
This being the case, he says,“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the samelove, being of one accord, of
one mind”(verse 2).

(05:10):
It is as if he was saying,“Youhave shown a lot of kindness,
love, and sympathy toward me,and I really appreciate it.
But if you really want to makeme happy and fulfill my joy,
show that same grace which youhave lavished on me to one
another.” When such a conditionis existing among believers,
there will be a happy, cohesiveunity which the enemy will not

(05:31):
be able to spoil.
It seems that while thePhilippians were quite free and
willing to show grace andkindness to Paul, they were not
so diligent in expressing ittoward one another.
Have we not witnessed this inChristian assemblies in our day?
A traveling(“labouring”) brothercomes through town, and the
saints rally with a remarkabledisplay of love and kindness

(05:53):
toward him—in everything fromdelicious food to a monetary
gift.
But when it comes to each other,they fail to manifest that same
degree of love and hospitality.
We can see from what Paul saysin verse 2 concerning being
“likeminded[think the samething]” and being of“one mind

(06:14):
[thinking one thing]” thatcontention often begins with
brethren having differentthoughts and opinions on things
(1 Corinthians 1:10-11).
Oftentimes this comes frombelievers not having a proper
understanding of certainprinciples in connection with an
issue at hand, and throughignorance, they take a position

(06:34):
on the matter that others with afuller understanding of divine
principles see to be a mistake.
Then when pride gets involved,people tend to“dig in” and hold
their position tenaciously, andan impasse results.