Previously, Paul alluded to his own pursuit of Christ-likeness. Now he very directly calls the church to follow his example and that of others who live the same way. We are to imitate and keep our eyes on such examples. He gives us two reasons why: 1) many live for this world (their influence can drag us down!), and 2) our citizenship is in heaven (our hope is there, not on earth!).

In these verses, Paul transitions from the language of economics to that of arduous effort. Previously, he compared values: the base value of his prior life as a Jew and a Pharisee and the surpassing value of Christ. Paul's focus now shifts to hard work. Using language like "pressing on" and "reaching forward," he shows us that valuing Christ should practically translate into earnest effort toward Christ-likeness. And he intends this mindset for all believers.

Paul has much to boast about in his Jewish/Pharisaic successes (3:4-6). But when he comes to believe Jesus as the Christ, he starts to accurately perceive them as entirely worthless. What he thought was a gain actually wound up being a loss! With this accounting language of gain and loss, Paul reveals to us the two sides of this spiritual ledger: Christ as gain and everything else as loss.

Paul ends the previous section with the command: "rejoice in the Lord" (3:1a). And with this, he calls us to be a community of joyful saints, rid of the interpersonal conflicts so common in the world. Paul then in 3:1b moves on to a new topic to guard us against the foolish practice of trusting in the flesh.

After Paul explains his near-term plans for Timothy and his own future visit to Philippi, he brings up Epaphroditus whose coming is without delay.

Paul ends the section on holiness (2:12-16a) with a reference to a shared joy among God's people. This is the joy gospel ministers have as they serve God's church. And this is the joy the church has as they receive their loving service.

Paul calls us to selfless unity (1:27-2:4) and shows the example of Christ (2:5), who gave Himself up in deference to the Father (2:6-8) and did not exalt Himself (but the Father did!) (2:9-11). Then, in 2:12, Paul signals a conclusion to this section with the words "so then." Here, he harkens back to the ideas of 1:27 and adds two commands: one serious and one practical.

As Paul exhorts the Philippian church to Christian unity (1:27-2:4), he calls them to selflessness. This is because unity always requires the loss of self for the benefit of the group. It is at this point that Paul gives us the apex of all examples of selflessness—Christ. He calls us to tune our minds to His actions of self-denial, self-sacrifice, self-humiliation and non-self-exaltation.

After the call to unity in 1:27-30, Paul tells us the logical and practical ways we can achieve Christian unity. And all of these have to do with our mindset.