Go! And Have The Mind Of Christ Series

Go! And Have the Mind of Christ

Philippians 2:5b–7 (NLT): “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form…”

Introduction: The Mindset That Changes Everything

There are moments in life when we catch a glimpse of selflessness that stops us in our tracks. Perhaps you’ve seen a nurse staying long after her shift ends to comfort a dying patient, or a father working two jobs to provide for his children, or a missionary who gives up comfort and family to serve among the unreached. In those moments, we see something beautiful — a reflection of the heart of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Philippian believers, gives us a glimpse of something infinitely greater than human sacrifice — the self-emptying love of God Himself. This passage is one of the most profound in all of Scripture, revealing the humility of the Son of God who became man for our salvation.

Paul’s exhortation is simple but life-changing: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:5 NLT). The Greek word for “attitude” is phroneo, meaning to think, to set one’s mind, to have a disposition. Paul is calling believers to pattern their inner mindset after Christ — not merely to admire Him, but to imitate Him.

This is the message of today’s sermon: Go! And have the mind of Christ.

1. The Humility of the Eternal Son

Philippians 2:6 (NLT): “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”

Before Bethlehem’s manger, before the cross of Calvary, before the foundation of the world — Jesus was God. The Greek word Paul uses is morphe theou — meaning the very nature, essence, and form of God. This is not a mere appearance; it means Jesus possessed all the attributes of deity — eternity, omnipotence, glory, and holiness.

Yet, astonishingly, Paul says Jesus “did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” The Greek verb harpagmon implies something to be grasped or exploited for personal gain. In other words, Jesus did not cling to His divine privileges for His own advantage. He let go — not of His divinity, but of His rights.

As Charles Stanley once said, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

And that’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t cease to be God; He chose to live as a man dependent on the Father, obedient to the Spirit, and surrendered to the Father’s will.

John 1:1, John 1:14 (NLT):

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God…

So the Word became human and made his home among us.”

The eternal Word — God Himself — became flesh. This is the miracle of the Incarnation. Theologians call this the kenosis — from the Greek word kenoo, meaning to empty oneself. Christ did not empty Himself of His deity, but of the independent use of His divine powers. He chose to be limited by humanity so that He could redeem humanity.

In a world obsessed with status, self-promotion, and influence, Jesus calls us to the opposite mindset. To have the mind of Christ means releasing our grip on personal rights, comfort, and ambition, so that the glory of God may be revealed through our obedience.

Tim Keller once said, “The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”

Let that sink in — to have the mind of Christ is to have a heart that serves rather than seeks to be served.

2. The Servanthood of the Saviour

Philippians 2:7 (NLT): “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

Here we see the depth of Christ’s humility — the King became a servant. The Greek word for slave is doulos, meaning one who has no rights of his own. Jesus took the lowest position — the position of submission, obedience, and service.

Mark 10:45 (NLT): “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This verse reveals the heart of God’s mission. The infinite Creator humbled Himself to wash the feet of His creation. Jesus did not come demanding honour — He came bringing grace. He did not wear a crown of gold but bore a crown of thorns.

John Piper wrote, “The essence of greatness is not rising up in power, but bending down in love.”