This section of Scripture is the “how to live out” the exhortation given in Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...”

Namely: To understand our Union WITH CHRIST, to rejoice always IN CHRIST, to pray with thanksgiving TO CHRIST and to set our minds ON CHRIST by meditating on His Word. This is how we not only have the peace of God, but also see that the God of Peace is with us!

After calling the Philippians church to remember that they are right with God through their faith in Jesus, Paul comforts them in the process of their sanctification with a reminder of the promise of their glorification. He’s saying, “Don’t get stuck looking at yourself or the world around. Look ahead to the promise that Jesus is coming back!” With that in mind, the Philippians can ‘forget what lies behind’ and ‘press on toward the goal and prize’ because they know that Jesus will one day fully and finally set them free!

The Bible is relentless about the contrast between works righteousness (self-righteousness) and faith righteousness. Wherever we find a sense of our own righteousness, we’re not resting in the perfect righteousness of Jesus. And perfect righteousness is what we need to truly be “right” before God and therefore is the only real righteousness there is.

Working out what God has already worked in by his grace, through faith in the
finished work of Jesus, is the lifelong process of sanctification that will be attractive to
a watching world, provide opportunities to share the gospel, and produce gladness and
joy in the heart of the believer.

Philippians 2 tells us that unity in the church is demonstrated when believers grow in humility and that humility is grown when believers look to and worship Jesus Christ. When we see that Jesus gave up all that He deserved to give us what we don’t deserve, we’ll stop worshiping ourselves and look to Him. This is the key to local church unity: gospel-centered humility.