“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others” (Philippians 2:1, 3-5).

Only if Jesus is Lord…

Only if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ…

Only if you have been comforted by the love and grace of Christ…

Only if you share in the tenderness and the compassion of the Holy Spirit…

Then do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.

If Jesus is Lord, there is a very particular and specific way God expects followers of Jesus to live:

• Do nothing out of selfish ambition
  • The Greek word for selfish ambition refers to work that is done only for hire, only for selfish gain, only if there is something in it for me
  • We have a word like that – mercenary
• Do nothing out of vain conceit
  • The Greek word for vain conceit literally means “empty pride”, a state of pride that has no basis or justification
  • We have a word for that – confused, fool
• Rather in humility
  • The Greek word for humility literally means “lowliness of mind”. Humility and lowliness of mind happens because we are no longer comparing ourselves against one another, but against the Lord himself. Compared to Christ, we have not basis for pride or vain conceit
• Value
  • The Greek word literally means to regard, to consider, to esteem
  • Because of Christ, because of all that Christ has done for us, because salvation is purely grace, because we are all recipients of grace…we value, regard, consider, esteem others above ourselves

Remember, this only refers to you if you are a disciple, a follower of Jesus. Only if Jesus has saved you from sin and death. If that’s the case, however, then this is how disciples and followers of Jesus live.

Why? Because Jesus lives this way. Doing nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit. Instead, in humility valuing others above himself.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

Everything.

That’s pretty much inclusive of…well…everything.

That’s the thing about words like that – there are no loopholes, no escape clauses, no ifs and or buts.

Everything pretty much includes everything.

Had it said, “So in most situations…”, or even better, “So in some situations…” do to others what you would have them do to you, it would be more to my taste.

Now, what is it that we are to do in everything? What is it that God is calling us to do in every situation? Jesus tells us, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”

But what if the other person really hurt me? But what if the other person really doesn’t deserve respect, kindness, forgiveness? What if the other person is a total jerk? What if I am really the victim? What if I was really wronged? What if I really don’t even like the other person?

Everything.

And there is that word again…everything. In every situation, do to others what you would have them do to you.

• Do you like being treated with respect?
• Do you like being given the benefit of the doubt?
• Do you appreciate being recognized and honored?
• Do you like being included?
• Do you appreciate being forgiven?

In all these things, in every situation, in everything…do to others what you would have them do to you.

Finally, guess what voice the verb “do” is written in. Yup. It’s an imperative. This is a command. If you’re a disciple, you follow Jesus. Jesus commands: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Some things are so plain and clear that it needs no explanation.

Verses like this make it crystal clear that Christ is coming again and at that time:

• We will all stand in judgment
• Each of us will be held accountable for the things we have done

The day of judgment will be truly terrifying for all because we are all sinners.

Then how come the Bible says that this day will be a day of rejoicing and celebration for Christians? How does that work? The text makes it clear that each one will be judged and held accountable for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

This is bad news because we are not only sinners, but we are repeat sinners. So how can this be good news for Christians?

All sin will be judged on that day. Everyone will have to answer for their lives.

BUT…when the time for judgment arrives for Christians, there will be a huge difference for the person who has received God’s plan for salvation in Jesus Christ.

For the person who has received and accepted God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, what will happen at the time of judgment is that Christ himself will stand in our place and remind God that he has already paid the penalty for sin on our behalf. And that he has risen from the dead so that we might share in Christ’s resurrection.

Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, what God will see is Christ’s righteousness. Christ’s righteousness will cover our sins.

We will rejoice and worship not because we are sinless, but because the penalty of our sins have been paid for by Jesus. That is why he is Savior. That is why he is Lord.

The fancy Christianese word for this is “Substitutionary Atonement.” Christ stands as our substitute. Christ stands in judgment on our behalf that we might stand in God’s glory as his sons and daughters.

Friends, listen to what Steven Lawson says, “Every sin in the history of the world will be punished by divine justice. It will either be punished in hell or punished at the cross. But every sin will be punished.”

The reason why Christians will rejoice at the day of judgment is because of what Christ has done on our behalf.

This happens because we humbled ourselves to receive God’s plan for salvation.

The question is, why wouldn’t we all receive Jesus as Lord and Savior? Is he your Lord and Savior? What are you waiting for?