In this section, Paul adds two more exhortations to the first three in 4:1-5. These are: 1) anxiety and peace, and 2) thought-life and practice.

A heavenly mindset is the way to stand firm in the Lord (4:1). This is how Paul wraps up the previous section. If anyone desires to have a greater stability in the Lord, he must turn his gaze upward! Paul then adds instructions regarding sundry items. The first three are: 1) harmony, 2) joy, and 3) gentleness.

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.