Phil 1:27-2:18   Attitude of Gratitude

remember we started with 

1:27 ¶ Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

1:28 in no way alarmed by your opponents — which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

1:30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

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,

2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

here is the attitude and reward

2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

(an echo of Adam’s failure in Genesis, who tried to elevate himself to godhood and lowered the man in the process)

(first adam compared to second adam) (1 Cor 15:21-22, 45-49, Rom 5:12-19

2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(echo of the suffering servant of God in Isaiah 53, Psalm 22 & 69)

2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

2:10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

2:11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

quoting Isaiah 45:23   I have sworn by Myself, 

The ^bword has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness 

And will not turn back, That to Me ^cevery knee will bow, every tongue will ^dswear allegiance.

telling that Christ is the example of sacrifice and servanthood and that Christ is God 

2:12 ¶ So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

2:14 ¶ Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

2:16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

2:18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

another example of following Christ “drink offering”

Paul tells the philippian believers to share in his joy, share in being a drink offering for others

paul also uses this term in 2 Tim 4:6

first drink offering was in Genesis 35:14  (right after God changed Jacob’s name to Israel)

The picture of poured out is from OT sacrificial system. As commanded in the book of Numbers, the people of Israel, as well as Gentiles who lived among them, were first to give a burnt offering of one of the prescribed animals, then a grain offering, and finally a drink offering (Nu 15:1-10). Pouring out as a drink offering refers to the topping off of an ancient animal sacrifice. The offerers poured wine either in front of or on top of the burning animal and the wine would be vaporized. That steam symbolized the rising of the offering to the deity for whom the sacrifice was made (cf. Ex 29:38, 39, 40, 41; 2Ki 16:13 ;Jer 7:18 ; Ho 9:4).

the wine is spoken of each time as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (as opposed to the smell of burning flesh)

is there a NT fulfillment of this practice  ? (what might it mean)

Luke 22:20,

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

John 19:34

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

The Lord’s referred to Himself , his blood, and became as a drink offering (the topping off of the sacrifice)

Jesus both quoted and fulfilled the suffering messiah psalm 22

Psa. 22:1 ¶  ^aMy God, my God, why have You forsaken me? 

Matt. 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “^aELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

Mark 15:34 At the ^aninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “^bELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

Psa. 22:14 I am poured out like water, 

And all my bones are out of joint; 

My heart is like wax; 

It is melted within me.

Psa. 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, 

And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; 

And You lay me in the dust of death.

Psa. 22:16 For dogs have surrounded me; 

A band of evildoers has encompassed me; 

They pierced my hands and my feet.

Psa. 22:17 I can count all my bones. 

They look, they stare at me;

Psa. 22:18 They divide my garments among them, 

And for my clothing they cast lots.

Paul alludes to this idea

Phil. 2:5 ^aHave this attitude ¹in yourselves which was also in ^bChrist Jesus,

Phil. 2:6 who, although He ^aexisted in the ^bform of God, ^cdid not regard equality with God a thing to be ¹grasped,

Phil. 2:7 but ^1aemptied Himself, taking the form of a ^bbond-servant, and ^cbeing made in the likeness of men.

Phil. 2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, ^aHe humbled Himself by becoming ^bobedient to the point of death, even ^cdeath ¹on a cross.

Rom 12:1 sacrifice again mentioned, who is the sacrifice ?

is He talking about an animal, is he talking about Christ ?

no, he is speaking to the believer, telling the believer to be the sacrifice 

there are basically two types of drink offerings in old testament

1. those associated with a sacrifice given up for the people by a priest  (mandatory)
2. those given by individuals in worship (which were completely voluntary)

Eph. 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Phil. 4:18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

Paul clearly thinks of our lives and sacrifices as mirrors of the drink offering offered by Christ Himself, voluntarily

(walking worthy is not earning His sacrifice, but rather, reflecting it to others)