He Made Himself Nothing

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

COMMENT:

If you remember from yesterday's post, Paul is pleading with the Church to be united. First he motivates them with what they have RECEIVED from Christ. Then he moves on to the actions one does to reach the goal of unity: "consider others more significant than themselves." But for Paul everything begins and ends in Christ. And so he continues today with one of the most extraordinary passages describing just what Christ has done for us, His Church, using His sacrifice as an example for us all to follow:

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been given a new mind. It has been transformed and is being transformed, renewed after the mind of Christ. In Christ, we are given a new power, a new ability to die to ourselves, to pick up our cross and follow Him. What does this look like?

"Though he was in the form of God..." Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. Period. The word "form" here is to be understood as "the outward display of the inward reality." (Rogers & Rogers, pg. 451). The idea is that though Jesus has existed for eternity, He at one point came in flesh (was fully human) and was the exact representation of God in His being.

"did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men...." The idea that's being conveyed is that though Jesus, being God, had every right to claim equality with God the Father (indeed He did receive praise), He willingly emptied himself of the use of His divinity (though not all) while here on earth. Instead of the Son of Man laying on the bed of a King, "he had nowhere to lay his head." Instead of the Lord of Lords stomping on His enemies, He loved them, and wooed them to His Father. Everything He did was done in humble obedience to God the Father.

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Not only did Jesus, God the Son, limit His power and live humbly, the Son of God would submit Himself to death and death of the worst, most cursed kind: "even death on a cross." Why? Because that was ultimately the purpose of His coming. Through this death, He would set the captives free. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." His death was for you.

But as you know that's not the end of the story...

"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Jesus rose on the third day from the grave, proclaiming His victory over sin, death, and the devil. God has vindicated Him through this action. Indeed if Christ truly has risen from the dead than He must be listened to, respected, revered, worshiped. He must be the name that is above every name, for His name is the only One we can say has truly shown His rule over this world. He has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. His is the ultimate place of authority, and all power and glory belong to Him!

Now go back to what Paul's original subject was: The Church working united! This passage of amazing theology about Christ is sort of given as a side-note to explain Paul's main thought! Christ's attitude, His mindset is to be our model. We are to humble ourselves, make ourselves nothing, give of ourselves for the benefit of others (even if at the time, it doesn't seem like there's a bit of benefit to us for doing so). In the end, God will exalt us as well. As Jesus said, "In the kingdom of God, the first will be last and the last will be first."

That all being said, let me re-emphasize and extremely important point about Christ's life, death and resurrection: Though all this is an example to us, that is NOT THE PRIMARY REASON FOR HIS LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION." The primary reason was for Him to pay the price for your sins. Only after you grasp that, hold firmly to it and make it THE thing, can you then look to Him as example.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Erick

RECEIVING...GROWING...GOING....