WHAT KIND OF SAVIOR WAS JESUS
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
INTRODUCTION: ONE IMPORTANT TRUTH FOR US TO REALIZE AD EMBRACE IS THAT WHO WE ARE IS BASED ON WHAT WE ARE. IN OTHER WORDS THE OUTWARD US IS BASED O THE INWARD US. JESUS ALLUDED TO THIS WHEN HE TAUGHT THE DANGER AND REALITY OF SIN BEING IN OUR THOUGHTS, NOT IN OUR ACTIONS.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5 HAVE THIS ATTITUDE IN YOURSELVES WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS,
THERE WAS AN ATTITUDE THAT JESUS HAD – AN INTERNAL FOUNDATION THAT WE WOULD ALL SEE IN HIS LIFE.
HIS REPUTATION WAS NOT A PRIORITY
HE WAS HUMBLE
HE WAS OBEDIENT
HE WAS COMPASSIONATE
HE WAS FORGIVING
HE DID HIS FATHERS WORK
HE CHALLENGED OTHERS TO BE LIKE HIM
HE WAS SYMPATHETIC TO OUR NEEDS
HE WAS PRAYERFUL
HE WAS STEADFAST
HE WAS OBEDIENT TO HIS FATHER’S WILL
HE WAS FAITHFUL
HE WAS RIGHTEOUS
HE WAS PURE
VERSE 5 SPEAKS OF AN ATTITUDE TO STRIVE FOR AND THEN THE FOLLOWING VERSES PLAY OUT HOW THAT ATTITUDE WAS MADE VISIBLE IN THE WORLD FOR ALL TO SEE. IN A SENSE THIS IS THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FOCUS SOLELY ON THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, BUT ON THE ENTIRE PROCESS. FROM BEGINNING TO END, THE FOCUS IS ON THE ACTIVITY OF CHRIST.
I. THE SOVEREIGN SAVIOR – PHIL 2:6
PHILIPPIANS 2:6 HAVE THIS ATTITUDE IN YOURSELVES WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS,
6 WHO, ALTHOUGH HE EXISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT REGARD EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED,
a. THE PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST
b. WE LOOK FOR AT THE PRE-INCARNATE CHRIST
i. BEFORE THE BIRTH
ii. IN ETERNITY PAST
c. CHRIST EXISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD
JOHN 1:1-4 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
2 HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. 3 ALL THINGS CAME INTO BEING THROUGH HIM, AND APART FROM HIM NOTHING CAME INTO BEING THAT HAS COME INTO BEING. 4 IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN.
JOHN 17:5 "NOW, FATHER, GLORIFY ME TOGETHER WITH YOURSELF, WITH THE GLORY WHICH I HAD WITH YOU BEFORE THE WORLD WAS.
i. LITERALLY THE WORD MEANS NATURE
ii. COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD, “MORPHE”
1. OUTWARD FORM
a. ALL THE OUTWARD GLORY THAT WOULD DEFINE GOD
2. INWARD FORM
a. ALL THE ATTRIBUTES THAT WOULD DEFINE GOD
i. OMNIPOTENCE
ii. OMNISCIENCE
iii. OMNIPRESENCE
iv. IMMUTABILITY
d. CHRIST ALSO EXISTED IN EQUALITY WITH GOD
i. PHRASES LIKE
1. THE WORD WAS GOD
2. HE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER
ii. THE GREEK WORD “ISOS”
iii. MEANING THE SAME STUFF IN A DIFFERENT FORM
iv. WE USE THE TERM MANY WAYS; ONE IS “ISOMER MOLECULE.
1. DESCRIBES MOLECULES THAT ARE COMPOSED OF THE SAME MATERIAL
2. THESE MOLECULES LOOK DIFFERENT.
3. DIFFERENT STRUCTURE, YET THE SAME CHEMICAL
e. SO, IN ESSENCE CHRIST WAS THE SAME AS GOD YET DIFFERENT FROM GOD
i. SAME NATURE
ii. DIFFERENT ACTIVITY OR FUNCTION
1. SEE THIS IN THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
2. SEE THIS IN THE SALVATION
A FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF IN OUR FAITH IS THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST
II. THE SERVANT SAVIOR – PHIL 2:7-8A
PHILIPPIANS 2:7-8 BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF, TAKING THE FORM OF A BOND-SERVANT, AND BEING MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. 8 BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS.
a. THIS IS JESUS BECOMING LIKE US
b. IT IS VOLUNTARY; SOMETHING HE WANTED TO DO
c. HE TOOK THE FORM
i. THE SENSE HERE IS “IN ADDITION TO” WHO HE WAS, HE TOOK THE FORM OF A SERVANT
ii. THE INCARNATION
d. “MADE IN THE LIKENESS” OF MAN
i. APPEARANCE
ii. IN OTHER WORDS THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN HIS APPEARANCE THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER MAN!
e. CHRIST WAS ALSO FOUND, “IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN”.
i. DON’T ASK ME WHY LIKENESS MEANS APPEARANCE AND APPEARANCE DOES NOT MEAN APPEARANCE!
ii. THIS IS THE GREEK WORD, “SCHEME”
iii. IT MEANS “CONFORMITY TO HUMAN EXPERIENCE”
1. CHRIST ENDURED WHAT WE ENDURED
2. NOTHING ABOUT BEING HUMAN THAT CHRIST DID NOT EXPERIENCE
a. VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
HEBREWS 4:15 FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT ONE WHO HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN ALL THINGS AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN.
b. A PATTERN FOR US TO COPY WHEN WE ARE SUFFERING
1 PETER 2:21 FOR YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR THIS PURPOSE, SINCE CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR YOU, LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU TO FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS,
c. EVEN LIKE US IN OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS
MATTHEW 23:37 "JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, WHO KILLS THE PROPHETS AND STONES THOSE WHO ARE SENT TO HER! HOW OFTEN I WANTED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER, THE WAY A HEN GATHERS HER CHICKS UNDER HER WINGS, AND YOU WERE UNWILLING.
FOUNDATIONAL IN OUR FAITH IS THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST – GOD BECOMING FLESH AND DWELLING AMONG US
III. THE SACRIFICING SAVIOR – PHIL 2:8B
PHILIPPIANS 2:8 BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS.
a. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST WAS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE
b. THE OBEDIENCE OF GOD THE SON TO GOD THE FATHER IS SEEN IN HIS DEATH
i. NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS!
c. OBEDIENCE IN UNDERTAKING AND CARRYING OUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION THAT GOD SENT HIM TO EARTH TO ACCOMPLISH.
d. POINT OF DEATH
i. DEATH WAS NOT FORCED ON CHRIST
ii. IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER
iii. IT WAS ALSO WILL OF GOD THE SON TO OBEY HIS FATHER
iv. KIND OF INTERESTING THAT OBEDIENCE CAN ONLY BE APPLICABLE IF THERE IS A CHOICE TO BE OBEDIENT OR NOT
JOHN 10:18 "NO ONE HAS TAKEN IT AWAY FROM ME, BUT I LAY IT DOWN ON MY OWN INITIATIVE. I HAVE AUTHORITY TO LAY IT DOWN, AND I HAVE AUTHORITY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. THIS COMMANDMENT I RECEIVED FROM MY FATHER."
JOHN 15:13 "GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT ONE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
e. THERE IS EVEN OBEDIENCE IN THE MANNER OF DEATH.
i. CHRIST COULD HAVE DIED OTHER WAYS
1. STONED
2. BEHEADED
3. CHOSE THE CROSS – WAY OF REDEMPTION FOR US!
DEUTERONOMY 21:23 HIS CORPSE SHALL NOT HANG ALL NIGHT ON THE TREE, BUT YOU SHALL SURELY BURY HIM ON THE SAME DAY (FOR HE WHO IS HANGED IS ACCURSED OF GOD), SO THAT YOU DO NOT DEFILE YOUR LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES YOU AS AN INHERITANCE.
GALATIANS 3:13 CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, HAVING BECOME A CURSE FOR US—FOR IT IS WRITTEN, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"—
1 PETER 2:24 AND HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE CROSS, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SIN AND LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS; FOR BY HIS WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED.
FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR FAITH WAS THAT CHRIST DID IT ALL FOR OUR REDEMPTION ON THE CROSS!
IV. THE SOVEREIGN AGAIN – CHRIST ON THE THRONE – PHIL 2:9-11
Philippians 2:9-11 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
a. FOR WHAT REASON IS CHRIST EXALTED
i. HE IS GOD
ii. HE IS OBEDIENT
iii. HE DIED FOR US
Hebrews 12:2-3 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
b. THE MANNER OF CHRIST’S EXALTATION
i. CHRIST WAS EXALTED IN HIS RESURRECTION
Ephesians 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
ii. CHRIST WAS EXALTED IN HIS ASCENSION
1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
iii. CHRIST WAS EXALTED IN HIS CORONATION
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Acts 5:31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
iv. CHRIST WAS/IS EXALTED IN HIS INTERCESSION
Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Hebrews 7:25-26 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
c. CHRIST THE JUDGE OF ETERNITY
John 5:22-23 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Acts 10:42 "And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
d. THE RESULT
i. EVERY KNEE WILL BOW
1. ALL WILL WORSHIP CHRIST
ii. EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS
1. EVERY MOUTH WILL CONFESS CHRIST AS LORD
iii. GOD WILL RECEIVED HIS FINAL GLORY THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF HIS SON!
FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR WALK WITH CHRIST IS HIS LORDSHIP OVER US.
LORDSHIP IS EITHER EMBRACED NOW OR EMBRACED LATER
FOR THE UNBELIEVER IT IS EMBRACED LORDSHIP AS A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE SO THEA THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE
FOR THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IT EMBRACED LORDSHIP FOR OUR WALK WITH CHRIST.
WHETHER BELIEVER OR NOT, LORDSHIP IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.
IS JESUS YOUR LORD? HAS HE RECEIVED YOUR OBEDIENCE IN THE SAME WAY HE MODELED IT FOR US.
IF SO, AMEN
IF NOT, THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN HE WILL.
WE HAVE A SAVIOR WHO MODELED LIFE FOR US – HUMBLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR GOD. CHRIST IS WORTH FOLLOWING, AND FOLLOWING WITH PASSION AND DRIVE.
FOLLOW HIM TODAY LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER FOLLOWED HIM BEFORE. LET HIM HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR WHOLE LIFE, NOT JUST WHAT YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM CONTROL OVER. IN REALITY, WE ONLY GIVE UP CONTROL TO WHAT DOES NOT MATTER.
