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In the passage before us, Paul has the gospel of Christ in view. And with the gospel clearly before him, Paul lays out simple imperatives for the church to follow. It’s like he draws out a basic roadmap for vital relationships. He gives them counsel they need. He gives clear steps for life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Listen, dear friends, stand firm in Christ. Hold to what is true. Imitate mature followers of Christ. Keep your eyes on those who walk closely with Christ. Stay alert and grieve those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Remember that our citizenship is in heaven. Eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. Indeed, with all this in view, cheer one another to stand firm in the Lord.

Through faith in Him, we know Christ and become like Christ. We live for Christ. We follow Christ. We press on. We press on because Christ Jesus has made us His own. We press on with our focus on Christ. We live with joy. We worship by the Spirit of God. We glory in Christ. We don’t count on our own efforts to save us. We count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. We press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul sets two men as examples of what living for Christ looks like. These two men, Timothy and Epaphroditus, live worthy of the gospel. They show humble service in Christ. They are humble like Christ. They work for Christ. They think of the welfare of others. They serve with Paul in the gospel. They seek to advance the gospel. They stick close with him. They support and encourage him much. They are men of proven worth.

Paul is in awe of God. And Paul reminds the church that they should be in awe of God, too. Paul wants the church to set the humble work of Christ and the high exaltation of Christ like a banner before them. Paul shows them the glorious work of God in Christ.

With God’s glorious work in view, Paul urges the church to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Why? Paul loves this church. They are his dear friends. They are his partners in the gospel. And whether he is with them or not, Paul wants them to obey God. Paul gives them two practical ways to obey God, two directives for working out their salvation. First, Paul tells them to do all things without grumbling or disputing. Second, Paul tells the church to be glad and to rejoice.

Keep this in mind is more than a nice slogan. It’s a constant and needed call for the follower of Christ to think and act like Christ. In the passage before us, Paul urges the church in Philippi to work at their unity. He’s shown that external strife is a serious threat to church unity (1:27-30), and Paul now shows that internal strife is a serious threat to church unity. Paul wants them to work together. He calls them to be of the same mind. What does Paul want them to keep in mind?

Paul wants to honor Christ always, and he wants the church to honor Christ. As he says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” By God’s grace, Paul is in Christ; the church is in Christ. And that makes all the difference. By God’s grace, He brings a marked change to those He calls. Those who are in Christ behave as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ. They live for Christ.

By God’s grace, Paul has a godly outlook on his current situation. And though he’s in prison, Paul has great joy. He rejoices that Christ is proclaimed. How? What does that look like? First, Paul sees Christ proclaimed in a difficult place. Second, Paul sees Christ proclaimed in divided place.

To a church that started at a prayer meeting by the river Paul says he’s praying for them. His prayers flow. He lays out his prayers for this church that he loves deeply. What does he say? What does Paul pray? Paul prays for the church he loves. He prays God’s grace and peace to them. He gives joyful thanks to God for them. And he asks God that their love abound more and more.