Christ's Mind Of Sacrifice Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

Christ’s Mind of Sacrifice

Remarks.

1. Today we are going to be discussing the mind of Christ. The beloved apostle Paul encourages the saints at Philippi to: “If there be therefore in a consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each (esteemeth others) better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others,” Philippians 2:1-4. If there is something that we ought to be encouraging the church today, it is that it should cultivate; and maintain the mind of Christ.

2. We will consider the mind of Christ as an obedient sacrifice, even the death of the cross. Notice Paul: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” Philippians 2:8.

BODY OF LESSON

CHRIST’S MIND OF SACRIFICE

A. Christ’s present existence. Even though He is divine; he took upon himself, humanity. Notice our text: “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found fashioned as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” Philippians 2:7-8. Notice:

1. But He made Himself of no reputation. He who had everything, made no claimed on anything; and, He who was heavenly (deity); for our sakes, became earthly (a servant of men).

a. Jesus left the Majesty and glories of heaven; to begin His earthly presence, to be born in a Bethlehem stable; being wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger (an animal’s feeding trough). He did not come wearing a royal robe, or to be nursed in a noble’s court; but, to born of a virgin woman with roots to David, and to be cared for, by an honorable carpenter in the city of Nazareth. Notice:

b. Paul wrote elsewhere: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich,” 2 Corinthians 8:9.

c. Jesus warns some proposed followers: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man, have not where (a place) to lay his head,” Luke 9:58; Psalms 84:3.

d. David said of Him: “For every beast of the forest is (are) mine; and the cattle on a thousand hills... If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness,” Psalms 50:10-12; Psalms 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26.

2. He took upon him the form of a servant. Christ took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man,” Philippians 2:7-8. As mention earlier, we want to consider the meaning of the words before us now. Notice:

a. He took upon Him the form of a servant. The words “the form” here; is the same as that which we discussed earlier, in verse 6. Consider these two references:

1. B.W. Johnson, in The People’s New Testament, referring to these verses (6-8), wrote: “The meaning is not entirely clear, but probably is, that, having a form of glory like God, he did not count it a prize which must be clung to tenaciously, especially when he appeared upon the earth, that he should be equal with God, that is, appear in a divine form, but was willing to lay aside this glory and make himself a servant,” Page 214.

2. W. E. Vine’s, Greek Grammar and Dictionary, referring to the word “morphe;” it denotes “the special and characteristic form or feature” of a person or thing; it is used with particular significance in the New Testament, only to Christ, in Philippians 2:6-7, in the phrases “being in the form of God,” and “taking the form of a servant.”... An excellent definition of the word is that of Gifford: “morphe” is therefore properly the nature or essence, not in the abstract, but as actually subsisting in the individual, and retained as long as the individual ... exists. ... Thus in the passage before us “morph? Theou” is the divine nature actually and inseparably subsisting (existing) in the person of Christ,” Page 359.

b. The word servant, in Gr. is doûlos, or doo'-los; from; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):—a bond (-man), or servant. He took on this form voluntarily. Jesus said: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (serve), and give his life a ransom for many,” Matthew 20:28.