Pastor Luther Walker continues teaching from Philippians chapter 4, picking up from the call to unity, the same frame of mind among believers, and the repeated command to rejoice in the Lord because the Lord is at hand. Gentleness is to be known to all men. Believers are instructed to be anxious for nothing, understanding anxiety as a divided mind and an attack from Satan. Instead, in everything, with worship and thanksgiving first, followed by supplication, requests are to be made known to God with confidence according to His will.
This results in the peace of God that surpasses the mind, an unruffledness of mind that guards the heart (the center of the being and source of thoughts) and the conclusions of the mind through Jesus Christ. Peace is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. A mind framed on the things of the Spirit produces life and peace, while a mind framed on the flesh produces death. God is not the author of confusion but of peace. The conclusions of the mind can be veiled, as with those reading the Old Testament under hardness of heart or those perishing whose minds are blinded by the god of this age. Accurate presentation of the gospel is essential because God is the one who shines light into darkness. Christians are to bring every thought (the conclusions of the mind) into captivity to the obedience of the Christ, referring to the new man. False teachers corrupt these conclusions by complicating the simplicity that is in Christ and elevating themselves above the flock.
Philippians 4:8 then directs believers finally to focus on whatsoever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely (literally toward fondness), of good report, if there is any virtue and anything praiseworthy, and to reckon or put these things to account as a logical act rather than mere meditation. Truth is seeing things as they really are, including the new commandment, true statements, and the true grace of God that enables living out righteousness in Christ rather than license to sin. Noble refers to things worthy of respect and reverence in conduct. Just means righteous uprightness lived out from faith, not under law, since the law is not for the righteous person; suffering for doing right is an aspect of grace. Pure means uncontaminated and without mixed motives or defilement, applying to associations, the conduct of older women teaching younger women, the wisdom from above, and purifying oneself in light of the hope of Christ’s return. Lovely involves fondness: not for the world (which is enmity with God), but as friends of Christ who know what is coming (including the rapture as the next prophetic event for the church), kindly affection toward one another, fondness for a quiet life minding one’s own business, and hospitality to strangers. Good report relates to the gospel and things of good report. Virtue pertains to life and godliness given by divine power; believers are to add knowledge to virtue with diligence. These are the rational things mature believers reckon, putting away the reasoning of an inarticulate babbler. Additional resources are available at wordofgracestudies.org for verse-by-verse teachings and at thechristianlife.org for ongoing Bible teaching.
