5/ Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
6/ Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
7/ Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance,
8/ he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
9/ Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10/ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11/ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12/ So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
The admonition to like-mindedness and unity (Philippians 2:2-5) is based on the believers' threefold experience with Christ, God's love, and the Spirit. The appeal to humility (Philippians 2:3) and to obedience (Philippians 2:12) is rooted in christology, specifically in a statement about Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:6-11) and his humbling of self and obedience to the point of death (Philippians 2:8).
Have . . . the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus: or, "that also Christ Jesus had." While it is often held that Christ here functions as a model for moral imitation, it is not the historical Jesus but the entire Christ event that Philippians 2:6-11 depict. Therefore, the appeal is to have in relations among yourselves that same relationship you have in Jesus Christ, i.e., serving one another as you serve Christ (Philippians 2:4).
12/ Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13/ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14/ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
15/ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"
16/ The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17/ and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever.
The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling?
Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of that dispensation.
The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poured out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saints were at their conversion. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.
1/ Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude (for whoever suffers in the flesh has broken with sin),
2/ so as not to spend what remains of one's life in the flesh on human desires, but on the will of God.
3/ For the time that has passed is sufficient for doing what the Gentiles like to do: living in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and wanton idolatry.
4/ They are surprised that you do not plunge into the same swamp of profligacy, and they vilify you;
5/ but they will give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
6/ For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead that, though condemned in the flesh in human estimation, they might live in the spirit in the estimation of God.
The strongest and best arguments against sin, are taken from the sufferings of Christ. He died to destroy sin; and though he cheerfully submitted to the worst sufferings, yet he never gave way to the least sin.
Temptations could not prevail, were it not for man's own corruption; but true Christians make the will of God, not their own lust or desires, the rule of their lives and actions. And true conversion makes a marvelous change in the heart and life. It alters the mind, judgment, affections, and conversation. When a man is truly converted, it is very grievous to him to think how the time past of his life has been spent.
One sin draws on another. Six sins are here mentioned which have dependence one upon another. It is a Christian's duty, not only to keep from gross wickedness, but also from things that lead to sin, or appear evil. The gospel had been preached to those since dead, who by the proud and carnal judgment of wicked men were condemned as evil-doers, some even suffering death. But being quickened to Divine life by the Holy Spirit, they lived to God as his devoted servants. Let not believers care, though the world scorns and reproaches them.
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