Sermon Central
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Choices & Results
Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: In order to follow the example of Christ’s humility, we must be willing to lay down our rights and reputation for the sake of the gospel. We must humble ourselves and serve others as a bondservant of Christ. If we say, we follow Christ; do we really live
3. Glorified (v. 11)
This is one of the most important verses in the NT. In it we read the aim of God, the dream of God, the purpose of God, is a day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. These four words were the first creed that the Christian Church ever had. It mentions that all those before mentioned should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, or absolute governor, and thus glorify God the Father, who has exalted this human nature to this state of ineffable glory, in virtue of its passion, death, resurrection, and the atonement which it has made, by which so many attributes of the Divine nature have become illustrated, the Divine law magnified and made honorable, and an eternal glory provided for man.
Perhaps the three expressions are designed to comprehend all beings of all kinds, all creatures; as it is usual with the Hebrews, and indeed with all ancient nations, to express, by things in heaven, things on earth, and things under the earth, all beings of all kinds; universal nature. But intelligent beings seem to be those which are chiefly intended by the words of the apostle; for it appears that nothing less than absolute rule over angels, men, and devils, can be designed in these extraordinary words, and by confessing him to be Lord we may understand that worship which all intelligent creatures are called to pay to God manifested in the flesh; for all should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. And the worship thus offered is to the glory of God; so that far from being idolatrous, as some have rashly asserted, it is to the honor of the Divine Being. We may add that the tongue which does not confess thus is a tongue that dishonors the Almighty.
Application: Today many of you may be standing on these crossroads. You are to make these choices in your life: (i) Be Selfish OR Selfless, (ii) Have Pride OR Humility and (iii) Pursue Fame OR be Defamed for the sake of Christ. When we set aside our own interests and accomplishments to recognize that it’s better to care for the interests of others (Phil. 2: 4), we see God’s name glorified. Acting with grace and kindness toward others is one of the best ways to point people to God.
