GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #441
REDEMPTION - THE
MOTIVE FOR GODLINESS
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
In the second chapter of
Philippians, the Apostle Paul urges believers to seek and promote spiritual
unity among God’s saints, love and affection for one another, and humility and
lowliness of mind. He urges us to exercise genuine care and concern for one
another’s happiness and welfare.
The basis of appeal is the grace of God toward us in and through the
Lord Jesus Christ. Here and throughout the New Testament, believers are urged to
godliness and obedience, not upon the basis of law, but upon the basis of
grace. We are motivated and inspired, not by threats of punishment and promises
of reward, but by gratitude and love to God because of the mercy, love, and
grace we have received and experienced in Christ.
In verse one Paul gives us
four arguments for unity, peace, and love in the Church of God, among all true
believers. Those who belong to Christ, love each other; and we ought to walk in
and build upon that love. Here are four
reason: “If there be therefore any
consolation in Christ” - The word “consolation” means “comfort” or “confidence.” If we have any
genuine ground of hope, comfort, and confidence in Christ, founded and based
upon his person, his righteousness, his death, and his intercession as our
Substitute and Advocate before God, we ought to comfort one another and build
one another up in the hope and confidence of the gospel. “If there be any comfort of
love” - If we enjoy the comfort and strength of God’s love, the
everlasting love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, the regenerating
love of the Spirit, and the brotherly love of grace, we ought to give one
another the strength and comfort of mutual love. “If any fellowship of the
Spirit” - If we have been brought into fellowship with God and with
one another by the Spirit of grace, we should constantly strive to maintain and
build upon that blessed fellowship. “If any bowels and mercies” -
If we have any real depth of affection, any real compassion and concern for
Christ, his gospel, his glory, and one another, if our religion is real, if it
is more than lip-service to God, let us show that love and concern to one
another.
If these things are not in us, if they do not flow from our hearts to the hearts
and lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ, if we do not truly love God’s
people, our religion is nothing but a vain show of hypocrisy! But if these things are in us, Paul
says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (v. 2).
Let all the family of God be likeminded in all things! Let us be likeminded, of
the same mind, of one accord…in love, affection, and care…in unity, harmony,
and peace…in mind, purpose, and desire! These are fruits and evidences of
inward grace.
"Let nothing be done through
strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves." Anything that is done through strife dishonors God. Anything that
divides brethren is a reproach to Christ. Anything that is born of contention
casts a slur upon the gospel of the grace of God.
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others." That simply means that the way to promote this unity and peace, this
fellowship and love is to look out for and look after one another and quit
looking out for yourself. Don’t seek your own praise. Seek someone else’s
praise. Don’t promote yourself. Promote someone else. Don’t be concerned about
your own feelings. Be concerned about your brother’s feelings and your sister’s
feelings.
Upon what grounds can anyone
make such an appeal? The Holy Spirit answers - "Let this mind be in you, (this loving, self-abasing,
self-sacrificing mind!)
which was also in Christ Jesus: (Our
Lord thought not of himself, but of us. He served not himself, but us. He came
not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for us!) Who, being in the form of God, thought it
not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross." If
the Lord Jesus Christ so loved us, we ought, for Christ’s sake, so to love one
another. “Be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath
forgiven you.”
AMEN.