Near

Philippians 4:2-5 - I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Philippians 2:1-2 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

James 5:9 - Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Romans 13:11 - And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

1 John 2:18 - Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

Conclusions:

• Being like-minded, having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose emphasize the unity that should exist among Christians
• Being like-minded is not uniformity in thought but the common disposition to work together and serve one another—the attitude of Christ
• Being patient means enduring triumphantly—necessary for a Christian, because affliction is his inevitable experience
• One must not only pray in hard times, but also maintain communion with God through prayer at all times
• Gentleness is Christ-like consideration for others
• Gentleness is especially essential in church leaders
• James calls for patience toward believers as well as unbelievers
• The New Testament does not say when the judgment will take place, but its certainty is never questioned and believers are consistently admonished to watch for it
• This hour is the time for action
• Every day brings us closer to the second advent of Christ
• The Christian is to be alert waiting for the return of Christ
• With other New Testament writers, John viewed the whole period beginning with Christ’s first coming as the last days

Application:

• Are you in unity with other Christians?
• Are you enduring triumphantly?
• Do you have Christ-like consideration for others?
• Do you show patience toward believers and unbelievers?
• Do you see this hour as the time for action?
• Are you alert and waiting for the return of Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Day Of Christ

Philippians 2:14-17 - Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Philippians 1:4-6 - In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:27 - No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Conclusions:

• Paul is confident, not only of what God has done for the readers in forgiving their sins, but also of what He has done in them
• The day of Christ Jesus is His return, when their salvation will be brought to completion
• It is God who initiates salvation, who continues it and who will one day bring it to its consummation
• In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul uses the figure of boxing to represent the Christian life, in serving Christ
• Paul does not aimlessly beat the air, but he severely disciplines his own body in serving Christ
• Paul realizes that he must with rigor serve the Lord and battle against sin
• If Paul fails in this battle against sin, he may be excluded from the reward
• The reference “I am being poured out” may be to Paul’s entire ministry as one large thanksgiving sacrifice
• It is more probable that Paul refers to his present imprisonment, which may end in a martyr’s death
• Paul’s life would then be poured out as a drink offering accompanying the sacrificial service of the Philippians
• The Old Testament background for drink offerings is the daily sacrifices
• Genuine faith is active and working
• Paul is making many rich in Christ
• True wealth does not consist in worldly possessions but in being rich toward God
• The believer, even if he has nothing of this world’s goods, nevertheless has everything in Him who is Lord of all

Application:

• Are you confident of what God has done in you?
• Do you serve the Lord and battle against sin with rigor?
• Do you rejoice in tribulation?
• Do you have everything in Him who is Lord of all?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible