Phil.
2:1-8: “Paul Begins His Exhortation To Unity And Unanimity / We Are To Have The
Same Humble Attitude As Christ”
By
1.
In our last
study, we looked verses 19 – 30 of chapter 1 of the book of Philippians.
1.1.
Paul told the
Philippians that he knew that he would remain in their lives. He knew this because of their prayers which
would cause him to be delivered, and he also knew this through the provision of
the Spirit in his life. He will say that
it was his earnest expectation and hope that he would not be put to shame in
anything but rather that in all things Christ would be exalted in his body,
whether by life or by death.
1.2.
Then, Paul told
the Philippians that for him to live is Christ, and to die is gain. We talked about what that meant to Paul.
2.
In our study today,
we are going to look at verses 1-8 of chapter 2 of the book.
2.1.
Beginning really
in verse 27 of the previous chapter, we began to get into the real exhortation
that is in this book. Paul begins to
exhort the church concerning the need for unity and being of one mind in the
body of Christ, and he initially began by talking about walking in manner
worthy of Christ. Here in chapter 2, he
begins to discuss unity from the perspective of humility and he uses the example
of the Lord Jesus Christ to do so.
2.2.
Paul will begin
here asking the Philippians four rhetorical questions for which the assumed
answer is affirmative. These questions
are designed to show how the work of God within the believer’s life is working
towards a goal of making him humble and so that he is willing and desiring to
be in unity and fellowship with the other members of the body of Christ, intent
upon one purpose with them.
2.3.
Then, Paul will
put before the Philippians the Lord Jesus Christ as their example because of
His voluntary humility in the incarnation, as well as His submission to be
obedient to God even as far as going to the cross of Calvary to suffer and die
for our sins.
2.4.
We will look at
the hypostatic union of the two natures, human and divine, in Christ as well as
the way in which He voluntarily humbled and limited Himself and His power by
coming and dwelling as deity in the likeness of human flesh.
3.
VS 2:1-2 - “1
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any
consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection
and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by
being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on
one purpose.”
– Paul tells the Philippians that if in Christ there is any consolation of
love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any affection and compassion, to please
make his joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, and
united in spirit and purpose
3.1.
This chapter
begins with the word, ‘Therefore’, and it is important for us then to consider
what it was in Paul’s mind that led to his including this verse. This verse is the culmination of some
argument or explanation because it began with this word, and it is important
therefore for us to consider why this word is here. Looking backwards then, it appears that Paul
is referring to what he said beginning in verse 27 of the previous chapter when
he wrote, “therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of
Christ.” Then, Paul wrote that it
was his desire that whether he remained with them or was absent that he might
hear of them that they were ‘standing firm in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel.’ This would be the means by which they would
show themselves to be “worthy of the gospel.”
3.2.
This brings us to
consider the church, or body of Christ, itself.
The body of Christ is not something of the making of man. It is not something man made up, nor is it
something strictly to be under the control or purposing of man. Jesus Christ Himself was forming His body
with His disciples, and He called them “the church.” Jesus told Peter upon Peter’s great
confession that He was ‘the Son of the living God’ that “upon this
rock I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18).
Jesus was establishing and He was building His church. The body of Christ is a living organism that
is brought together and established by the Lord Jesus Christ. It can be looked at universally, every
believer in Christ, as well as from a local perspective, a local fellowship of
believers. The fact that the body of
Christ belongs to Christ and has Christ as its head (as Ephesians chapter 5
says) indicates to us that we as Christ’s followers need to be part of the body
of Christ and also work together with each other in the body of Christ, under
Christ’s leading. Those who are
divisive and create factions in the body of Christ need to realize that they
are opposing He who is the head of the body, and that is not the place that you
want to be, corrupting Christ’s church.
3.3.
Paul knew that there
had been significant strife between two of the members of the body in
Phillippi, and chapter four tells us that the names of these women were Euodia
and Syntyche. Paul exhorts the body of
Christ strongly here to express the 'agape' love of Christ amongst
themselves.
3.4.
Paul encourages
the Philippians in these verses to “be to each other what God in Christ has
been to each of us,” as Motyer puts it.
3.5.
Paul asks the
Philippians four questions which all begin with an "if," yet
the questions are not asked in such a way as to suggest "uncertainty,"
rather he asks them in such a way as to mean “it is certainly the case”:
3.5.1. ‘If there is any 'encouragement' in Christ’?
3.5.1.1.The Greek word for ‘encouragement’ is “paraklesis,”
which means “encouragement, help, or comfort.” It is the same word used for the Holy Spirit
as "comforter."
3.5.1.2.If believers are in Christ, there is a 'comfort'
or 'encouragement' which they have received from God. Therefore, they ought to seek to ‘comfort’
and encourage one another.
3.5.2. ‘If there is any consolation of love'?
3.5.2.1.The Greek word translated ‘consolation,’ is
"paramuthion," and it can be translated “comfort,
consolation, or incentive.”
3.5.2.2.Our unity in Christ is not just a common doctrinal
position which we all intellectually hold.
Rather, our unity is based upon the love of God which He has shed abroad
in our hearts. God gives us “acceptance”
and “understanding” for one another as we live in His love.
3.5.2.3.This question could be broken up into at least five
separate questions:
3.5.2.3.1.Since we have received “encouragement” from
Christ, can we not 'encourage' our brethren in the body of Christ?
3.5.2.3.2.Since each of us who truly know God have known the
truest “consolation” and “gentle incentive” from God's love in
our lives, can we not console in love our brethren in the body of Christ?
3.5.2.3.3.Since each of us Christians have that fellowship of
the Spirit with God, can we not have the same “partnership” with our
brethren in the body of Christ?
3.5.2.3.4.Can we not affectionately care for our brethren in
Christ?
3.5.2.3.5.God has loved us with a sensitive and gentle love, can
we not love in the same way our brethren in Christ?
3.5.3. ‘If there is any fellowship of the Spirit’?
3.5.3.1.“Koinonia” is the Greek word translated ‘fellowship’
and means a “partnership with God,” similar to a marriage partnership or
a business partnership.
3.5.3.2.Paul is asking the Philippians to consider if when
they are together if the Holy Spirit causes them to have ‘fellowship’
with each other. Since he knew that they
had experienced the most tender fellowship in Christ, he is asking them if this
fellowship they have in Christ should not motivate them to be in unity of mind
and purpose and truly love each other as Christ has loved them.
3.5.4. ‘If there is any affection and compassion in Christ’?
3.5.4.1.The Greek word translated ‘affection’ is “splanchna”
which means “one's inmost self or
feelings, heart affection, and love.”
This is a reference to the "new creation" which God has
made of each Christian through his relationship to Christ the savior. God has regenerated Christians' hearts and
loved them first with a tender affectionate love, but also He has given them
that same affectionate love for their brethren.
3.5.4.2.The Greek word for ‘compassion’ is “oiktirmos”
which is translated means “compassion, mercy, or pity.” If we Christians have received such
incredible ‘affection and compassion’ from Christ, can we not show that
same ‘affection and compassion’ to our brothers and sisters in the body
of Christ?
3.6.
It is amazing
that Paul in his situation is thinking not of himself but of others. Writing from prison in the miserable
surroundings which have been so commonplace in his life, he says that they ‘make
my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in
spirit, intent on one purpose.’ Paul
spoke in truth when he said "for me to live is Christ"
(1:21). In this phrase, Paul exhorts
them to be “intent” and focused upon their unity, not allowing a single
action to thwart their acting as one body.
3.7.
This is the exhortation
to individuals of their personal responsibility to maintain that unity and
oneness of mind. They must maintain the
"same love" and thus they will be "united in spirit,"
for "unity" can only be found in any group when the members
walk in 'agape' love.
3.8.
Let me ask you
this question, “If you were in a horrible Roman prison of that first
century, what would constitute your joy?”
Would it be your release and that only?
We Christians should be like Paul such that what constitutes our
greatest joy and preoccupation is the advance of the
3.9.
It is the responsibility
of each of us in the body of Christ to 'maintain the same love' toward
all of our brothers and sisters, as it is God's command. There must be no partiality in our love to
some and not others of our brothers and sisters.
3.10.
Also, it is each of
our responsibility to be 'united in spirit' (the Holy Spirit) with all
of our brothers and sisters, as long as to do so would not cause us to sin, so
that we can each of us work together as a body to advance God's kingdom.
3.11.
Thirdly, each of
us must be 'intent' or focused entirely on the all important work of God
in building His kingdom through the body of Christ. Paul so often made references to athletic
competition in his word pictures he created.
We all love hearing the stories of today's successful basketball,
football, etc., teams which have this team spirit.
4.
VS 2:3 - “3
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
regard one another as more important than yourselves;” – Paul tells the Philippians to
not be selfish or conceited but to have humility and thus regard one another as
more important than ourselves
4.1.
In this verse, we
meet the enemies of unity in the church, and they are ‘selfishness’ and
"pride" or ‘empty conceit.’
4.2.
God wants us to
put aside all of our 'selfish ambitions' and “pride” and regard
our brother as being 'more' important than ourselves.
4.3.
There is not one
thing that we as God’s people are ever to do that is from ‘selfishness or
empty conceit.’
4.4.
Every group
effort can be killed by one person’s ‘selfish ambitions’ and putting
themselves and their desires and needs above that of the group, whether it is
for athletes and coaches on the playing field, or whatever.
4.5.
The year was 2003.
It was Game 6 of the National League Championship Series and the Chicago
Cubs were leading the Florida Marlins 3 to 2 in the series. The Cubs were ahead 3 to 0 in the 8th
inning of this game, with one out.
Moises Alou was playing the outfield when a fly ball was hit up against
the fence just foul. Alou was there to
snatch the ball just before it went over the fence but a Cubs fan named Steve
Bartman in the excitement of the game and wanting to have a very valuable
souvenir for himself, deflected the ball from Alou causing it to land one row
into the stands. This would have been
the second out of the 8th inning and the Cubs up to that point had great
momentum. But, encouraged by Bartman’s interference the Marlins went on to
score eight runs in that inning, and the Cubs, who had been leading handily
lost the game 8-3, and, eventually lost the series in seven games. It was the actions of just one man, a man who
was just a fan, who caused the team to lose all of their momentum, never to
gain it back. The whole stadium started
chanting, “Kill him!,” and security had to lead the man out of the
stadium for his own protection.
Eventually, because of the infamy of his name and image from television,
Bartman had to move completely out of
4.6.
Paul knew that if
the church would simply have "unity," of mind, heart, and
purpose then it would conquer all its adversaries and win the world for
Christ.
4.7.
"Striving
together for the gospel," as Paul exhorted them to do in 1:27, means
working together to win the lost everywhere to Jesus Christ. We have been given the Great Commission and
we need to stay focused on that great goal and not let personal desires get in
the way.
4.8.
With all of our
denominations and cliques these days, this message of "unity"
is largely falling on deaf ears.
4.9.
Paul writes, ‘do
nothing from selfishness or empty conceit.’
In 1:15, Paul related how that while he was in prison in
4.10.
In 4:2 Paul
writes, "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the
Lord." It appears this conflict
between these two ladies was one of Paul's greatest concerns for the Philippian
church. Nothing will destroy a team
faster than someone who is playing for himself instead of for the team, one who
is seeking to fulfill his "selfish ambitions" through the
team. That pride in athletes causes them
to “showboat” their talent and look down at others. This same thing happens in the business world
and causes businesses to go broke. And,
it happens in the church. This 'selfishness'
in the church exhibits itself in many forms and is deadly to the work of God.
4.11.
Are you an
important person? God says that every
member of the body is equally important, and to be like Christ and to follow
the principles of love we must ‘regard one another’ as 'more'
important than ourselves. We must 'value'
our brothers and sisters' opinions and feelings!
4.12.
Paul calls us to
have ‘humility of mind’ and thus not think too highly of yourself. He says that we are actually to think of one
another in the body as being ‘more important’ than yourself. I wonder how many of us do that in the body
of Christ?
4.13.
Since the Lord
never asks us to do anything that He would not be willing to do, we can infer that
God thinks of each of us as more important than Himself.
4.14.
In 1 Cor. 13,
Paul writes that some of the aspects of agape love are that it "believe
all things," "hopes all things," and "endures
all things," and when we Christians are walking in agape love, we will
naturally believe our brothers and sisters in Christ to be following Christ as
best as they know how, and being as righteous or more than we are. We won't be distrusting everyone's motives
until proven otherwise, and then we will be surprised if a brother or sister is
found to be doing wickedness. This trust
and giving the benefit of the doubt to our brothers in Christ is the result of
agape love working in our lives.
5.
VS 2:4 - “4
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for
the interests of others.” – Paul tells the Philippians to not only look out for
their own interests but also for the interests of others
5.1.
Not only are we
to regard our brothers as being more important than ourselves, but Paul writes,
‘do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the
interests of others.’
5.2.
The Christian
shows his complete love and devotion to the Lord by denying himself of his
selfish desires and ambitions and seeking to look after the welfare of others!
5.3.
I have found that
few people in the world actually look out for other’s interests besides their
own. At the places where I have worked
people almost have to be shaken to even consider that someone else has
feelings, opinions, and concerns. But,
that is God's plan and purpose for His body to function, as they live in that 'agape'
love which radiates from Him.
6.
VS 2:5-8 - “5
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did
not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Paul exhorts
the Philippians that they need to have the same attitude of humility in
themselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form
of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied
Himself taking the form of a bond-servant and humbling Himself even to the
point of death upon a cross
6.1.
In these verses,
Paul calls the Philippians to consider Jesus Christ in this exhortation to
unity and humility. He writes, ‘have
this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he
existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant (He of His own
will made Himself a lifetime slave), and being made in the likeness of men and
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to
the point of death even death on a cross.’
6.2.
We need to have
this same 'mind', and lay aside our selfishness and pride, emptying them
and letting Jesus live His life fully and completely through us. As Paul wrote in Gal. 2:20, "I have
been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of
God who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
6.3.
These verses
provide a train load of theological contemplation:
6.3.1. It is a paradox that one who is God over all, creator
of all that exists, should be the one whom we are to look to as being our example
of humility. But, that is exactly what
the scripture here tells us.
6.3.2. First of all, in verse 5, Paul writes, ‘have this
'attitude' in yourselves.’ This
Greek word, 'phroneit' that is translated ‘attitude’ can also be
translated as 'mind,’ and means to “think the thoughts of, or have
one's mind controlled by” something.
"Attitude" or “thinking” is therefore a good way
to look at this word. We as Christians
are to imitate Jesus in these things.
6.3.3. We Christians should look at life with the “mind of
Christ” that we have, and think the same type of thoughts that Christ
thought. We Christians need to pattern
our lives along the same sort of thinking and attitude that Jesus Christ had in
His humbling of Himself and submission to the Father in all things.
6.3.4. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a most precious
truth from the scriptures, and these verses cause us to consider the
incarnation.
6.3.5. Verse 6 describes for us something about the nature of
Christ, or some “Christological.”
It tells us that “Christ was equal with the Father.” Christ is the second person of the Trinity,
and although His role is to be in submission to God the Father as a Son, He
nonetheless was ‘equal’ with God the Father. God exists in three persons who are all of
one essence or being, and each of them is equal to the other, and equally
God. There are not three different Gods,
but rather One God who consists of three persons or personalities.
6.3.6. Even though Christ was ‘equal’ with God the
Father, he willingly did not hold onto his status and freedoms as God, but 'emptied
Himself.' It has been a subject of
great debate as to in what ways the Lord Jesus Christ “limited” or “emptied”
Himself. The hypostatic union of two
natures, both divine and human, created a man that has been called “the
Godman,” One who was 100% God and 100% man.
Yet, in the eternal Son of God leaving His throne in eternity to come
and dwell in a human body indicates that He “limited” Himself in some
ways:
6.3.6.1.Jesus Christ obviously limited Himself of His
privileges and position enthroned in heaven, in taking the form of a man.
6.3.6.2.In order for Jesus Christ to truly experience humanity
and thus qualify to be our “kinsman redeemer” one would think that He
had to be subject to our limitations, at least to some degree.
6.3.6.3.Did Jesus Christ keep all of His powers and abilities
as God yet simply refuse to use them and in this way limit Himself? In other words, were His attributes as God
modified or lessened by the incarnation?
6.3.6.4.Did Jesus Christ have “omniscience” during His
time upon the earth? The scriptures say
that He did not need anyone to tell Him what was in man, for He knew these
things, yet He told some that neither He nor the angels in heaven, but only the
Father, knew the time or the hour of His appearing for the second time. So, did He have complete omniscience during
His time upon the earth? One of my Bible
professors once stated that he doubted that Jesus Christ could, for instance,
recite the entire Arabian alphabet without first learning it. I don’t know if I could go that far.
6.3.6.4.1.Job 9: “Then Job answered, 2 “In truth I know that this is so; But how can a
man be in the right before God? 3
“If one wished to
dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times. 4 “Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him
without harm? 5 “It is
God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns
them in His anger; 6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble; 7 Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon
the stars; 8 Who alone
stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea; 9 Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the
chambers of the south; 10 Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number. 11 “Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were
He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. 12 “Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ 13 “God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him
crouch the helpers of Rahab. 14
“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him? 15 “For though I were right, I could not answer; I
would have to implore the mercy of my judge. 16 “If I called and He answered me, I could not
believe that He was listening to my voice. 17 “For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies
my wounds without cause. 18 “He will not allow me to
get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness. 19 “If it is a matter of power, behold, He
is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon
Him? 20 “Though I am righteous,
my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty. 21 “I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I
despise my life. 22 “It is all one;
therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’ 23 “If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the
despair of the innocent. 24 “The earth is given into
the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He,
then who is it? 25 “Now my days are swifter
than a runner; They flee away, they see no good. 26 “They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that
swoops on its prey. 27 “Though I say, ‘I will
forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be
cheerful,’ 28 I am afraid of all my
pains, I know that You will not acquit me. 29 “I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in
vain? 30 “If I should wash myself
with snow And cleanse my hands with lye, 31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own
clothes would abhor me. 32 “For He is not a
man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together. 33 “There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his
hand upon us both. 34 “Let Him remove His rod
from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me. 35 “Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I
am not like that in myself.”
6.3.6.5.Was Jesus Christ all powerful (omnipotent) during His
time upon the earth? He said that He
only did the things that the Father showed Him to do, so we will never with
complete certainty if He could do anything during His time on earth. He limited His use of His power when He was
tempted by the Devil to turn rocks into bread, but He certainly could have done
this for His miracles show His power over all of nature.
6.3.6.5.1.Isaiah 40:1-31:
“1 Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to
6.3.6.6.Its obvious that during His time on earth that the eternal
Son of God was not omnipresent, as the scripture tells us God is:
6.3.6.6.1.Psalm 139: “1
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down
and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are
intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold,
O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid
Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. 7 Where can I
go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in
Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the
sea, 10 Even there
Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the
light around me will be night,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the
day. Darkness and light are alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my
mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to
You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my
soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden
from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the
depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my
unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were
ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them! 18
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am
still with You. 19 O that You would slay the
wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. 20 For they speak against You wickedly, And Your
enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise
up against You? 22 I hate them with the
utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and
know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any
hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”
6.3.6.7.For Jesus Christ to be willing to come and to dwell in
human flesh, becoming one of us, would be like you or me deciding that we love
mosquitoes so much and because we know that all mosquitoes are condemned to
die, we will limit ourselves and our power and abilities to go and dwell in a
mosquito, and become a mosquito so that we can redeem all mosquitoes. But, in our mission we have to know
beforehand that when we come and live as a mosquito that we will be beaten and
abused and die the most horrible and painful death a mosquito could ever die. This would be necessary in order for us to be
redeemed and saved from death.
6.3.6.8.The question has been asked of what kind of glue holds
the two natures of Jesus together, the human and the divine? We have no idea…
6.3.6.9.The two natures of Jesus Christ are an indissoluble
union, and they do not mix or interpenetrate.
Though they are attached they are separate. Jesus is totally God and He is totally man,
one person. He isn’t two persons, nor
does He have two natures, as the Nestorians believed in error.
6.3.7. The Son of God loved sinful men such as you and I so
much that He left His position and status as God to become incarnate in one of
His creatures with all of their limitations and struggles. There have been many debates about to what
extent we may say that Jesus Christ may have limited His powers and attributes
as God when He became the Godman, if they were limited at all.
6.4.
It is important
for us to realize that Jesus’ humbling of Himself was a complete humbling, and
that this complete humbling of Himself involved Him going all of the way to
Calvary’s cross to suffer horrors unimaginable in order to procure salvation
for mankind. He humbled Himself ‘even
to the point of death, death upon a cross.’
7.
CONCLUSIONS:
7.1.
Are you committed
to laying aside all personal desires and preferences in order to be in unity
with the body of Christ, and be of one mind and united for one purpose with the
body of Christ?
7.2.
Are you committed
to “maintaining” unity in the body of Christ?
7.3.
Do you consider
your brothers and sisters in Christ as being more important than you are?
7.4.
Do you look out
not just for your own interests but also the interest of others.