Philippians 2:1-4 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

United in Christ?

If we are in Christ, by biblical faith in Jesus, having died with Him to sin so we might now live to Him and to His righteousness in walks of obedience to His commands, by the Spirit, in the power of God, and so we are being encouraged of God/Christ in our walks of faith, and we are being comforted by His love and affection and compassion for us, and so we are enjoying fellowship with Him in the Spirit, then we who are followers of Christ are to be like-minded with other followers of Christ who have the mind of Christ.

We are NOT, however, to be like-minded with worldly “Christianity,” or with the worldly “church,” or with the worldly “gospel,” which is not the gospel of Christ. You may hear much about “unity” within the gatherings of these institutional “churches” which are partnered with the world and with the government in unholy unions, which God forbids, but we are not to be united with them. God says we are to come out from among them, and He will be our God, and we will be His people, and so we don’t share in their sins.

See[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5]

Human Philosophy?

For these modern-day organizations and businesses of human origin which are being called “churches” are mostly being led by human philosophy and marketing schemes and tricks on how to grow their numbers and on how to attract the ungodly of the world to their gatherings. Most of them have altered the gospel message to make it less offensive to the people of the world who they are trying to attract to their “churches.” And many of them are pushing “unity” but not in unity with God’s will and purpose for us.

So, we need to be guarded in heart and mind against falling into the wrong crowd and into joining in with what is clearly not of God and is not in agreement with the teachings of the Scriptures, as a whole. We need to be careful that we are not being united in heart and mind and love with those who are not united with Christ but who are teaching lies to the people. So we need to be serious students of the Scriptures who are listening to the Spirit’s voice so we become like-minded with those like-minded with Christ.

Selfish Ambition?

So many of these organizations which are partnered with the world and with the government in unholy unions, which are called “churches,” are being led by people whose ambitions are of human flesh and not of God. And so they focus on what is worldly, and on what will draw in large crowds of people from the world, and thus so many of them are not teaching the gospel of Christ, in truth and in righteousness, but they are teaching a man-made version of “the gospel” which is intended to not offend the ungodly.

We who are followers of Christ are not to follow that role model. We should be about the Lord’s business in getting the biblical message of the gospel to the people of the world. For this is not about gaining followers for ourselves or so people will like us and so they will not think badly of us. We must speak the truth of God’s word to the people even if they hate us and reject us and speak evil of us in return. We should care more about other people and their salvation and their walk with the Lord than we care about if we are liked or not, or if people hate us. And some people will hate and reject us.

See: [Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Romans 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; Hebrews 12:3-12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to Him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) Him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to His commands, in His power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

If Any Fellowship with The Spirit
An Original Work / September 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Remain in Him

Based off of John 15:1-17
An Original Work / September 23, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Walk in fellowship with Jesus, Savior and friend.
He’s invited you to be His servant again.
Obey all His commands and do all that He says.
Sit at His feet each day. Worship Him for always.
Call Him master and King. Obey Him in all things.
Turn from all of your sins. Live in vict’ry again.
He’ll restore you today if you call Him and pray;
Forsake all of your ways; take up your cross today;
Follow Him for always.

Follow Jesus your friend where He leads you today.
Abide always in Him. Let His words dwell within.
If you remain in Him, bearing fruit from within,
God will answer your prayers, because for you He cares.
Be His followers now. Remain in Jesus’ love.
You will know peace within; comes from heaven above.
Love your neighbors and friends, and your enemies, too.
God will call you His friend. He will ne’er forsake you.
He has appointed you.