Week 46: Galatians 3-4; Ephesians: 1-6; Philippians 1-4; Philippians and Colossians: Behavior of kingdom citizens

In his letters to the churches at Philippi and Colossae Paul focuses on how we are to behave as citizens of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Philippians: Paul states, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21). We are to represent Jesus to the world through our conduct. By this we will open up opportunity to share with them the gospel – the knowledge of salvation through faith in Jesus. “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27). Paul calls on them to show the unity among believers by “standing firm in one spirit with one mind striving together” (1:27). Unity is a distinctive characteristic of believers.

The basis for this unity is founded in behaving as Jesus did. The most profound statement about Jesus behavior is known as the “kenosis” which is given in Philippians 2:5-8. “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, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Men’s troubles began in the Garden of Eden when he disobeyed God because he wanted to be