Philippians 2:5-11 Having the Mind of Christ
Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Just a few days before Palm Sunday, the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Ironically, when it came time for the last supper the disciples made all of the preparations, but left out one act
They assigned to no one the role of washing feet
The disciples were laying there with dirty feet because no one was willing to lower themselves
So Jesus, the Rabbi & Messiah, took off his robe and did the lowest job in the house
Imagine the shame the disciples must’ve felt because they wouldn’t lower themselves and serve
Chapter two of Philippians is all about having a Christ-like attitude
Today we see the example Jesus gives us
It’s about having the mind of Christ
Read Philippians 2:5-8
Read Philippians 2:5-8
Transition: A Popular Hymn
Many regard Philippians 2:5-11 as a hymn of the early church that Paul incorporated into his letter.
It has been called a Christological gem, a theological diamond that perhaps sparkles brighter than any other in Scripture.
In a simple, brief, yet extraordinarily profound way, it describes the condescension of the second Person of the Trinity to be born, to live, and to die in human form to provide redemption for fallen mankind.
The “Christ Hymn,” as many have come to call it, characterizes Christ by his self-giving love (2:6–8) and the exaltation that results from this self-giving (2:9–11).
Christ’s life serves as the ultimate example of God’s love and the ultimate model for the outlook and life to which Paul calls the Philippians (2:5).
Only in receiving Christ’s life as their own will it truly be possible for the Philippians to live the life with each other Paul calls for in 2:2–4
Today we are going to look at having the mind of Christ
We are going to see how Christ lowered himself, emptied himself, and humbled himself and then how God exalted him above all others
vs. 5 Have the Same Attitude as Christ
vs. 5 Have the Same Attitude as Christ
For us to have the mind of Christ we need to have the same attitude
Paul asserts that if the church in Philippi had the mind of Christ they would achieve unity
The ESV really translates this verse poorly
The NKJV states it better
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
The NIV explains what that means
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
We are to have the same mind as Christ which means we are to have to same attitude
It is all too easy for us to read the following description of Jesus and admire it from a distance.
God wants us to be awed by it, but also to see it as something that we must enter into and imitate.
Let this mind means that it is something that we have choice about.
Remember also that this mind is something granted to us by God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 says that we have the mind of Christ.
But let this mind shows us that it is also something we must choose to walk in.
You have to let it be so.
The whole church must manifest the humility of the Lord and head of the church.
One of the most revealing instances of that humility was His washing the disciples’ feet during the Last Supper.
The menial task of washing dirty feet was reserved for the lowest servants.
Jesus had just been acknowledged as the prophesied Deliverer and Messiah, the “King of Israel,” at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem
This act was especially poignant because the disciples, insensitive to Jesus’ coming suffering, were engaged in wrangling with each other over which of them would be the “greatest” in the Messiah’s kingdom
vs. 6 Lowered Himself
vs. 6 Lowered Himself
The first example we see from Jesus is that he lowered himself
Jesus was in heaven with God and then he lowered himself and become human
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,
He lowered himself by being born in the likeness of men (vs. 8)
He lowered himself by becoming a servant (vs. 7)
The Theological term for this is Incarnation
The incarnation is the historic Christian doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, that he has in time taken upon himself a complete human nature by being born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The incarnation is the historic Christian doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, that he has in time taken upon himself a complete human nature by being born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Incarnation is the central miracle of Christianity, the most grand and wonderful of all the things that God has ever done.
That miracle of miracles is the theme
He didn’t just lower himself lower than heaven and the angels but he also didn’t bring the royal privileges
From His exalted position as God, Christ’s first step downward was not to regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.
Although He continued to fully exist as God, during His incarnation He refused to hold on to His divine rights and prerogatives
But Philippians 2:6 states an amazing fact: He did not consider His equality with God as “something selfishly to be held on to.”
Jesus did not think of Himself; He thought of others.
His outlook (or attitude) was that of unselfish concern for others.
This is “the mind of Christ,” an attitude that says, “I cannot keep my privileges for myself, I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
If we are to have the mind of Christ we have to lay down our rights and prefer others over ourselves
vs. 7 Emptied Himself
vs. 7 Emptied Himself
The second example we see from Jesus is that he emptied himself
Jesus thought of others and became a servant!
Paul traces the steps in the humiliation of Christ:
(1) He emptied Himself, laying aside the independent use of His own attributes as God;
(2) He permanently became a human, in a sinless physical body;
(3) He used that body to be a servant;
(4) He took that body to the cross and willingly died.
From heaven to earth, from glory to shame, from Master to servant, from life to death
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Many people are willing to serve others if it does not cost them anything.
But if there is a price to pay, they suddenly lose interest
Dr. J.H. Jowett has said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.” If there is to be any blessing, there must be some “bleeding
vs. 8 Humbled Himself
vs. 8 Humbled Himself
The third example we see from Jesus is that he humbled himself
The person with the humble mind does not avoid sacrifice.
He lives for the glory of God and the good of others
The test of the humble mind is not just how much we are willing to take in terms of suffering, but how much we are willing to give in terms of sacrifice
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
It is one of the paradoxes of the Christian life that the more we give, the more we receive; the more we sacrifice, the more God blesses
The person with the submissive mind, as he lives for others, must expect sacrifice and service; but in the end, it is going to lead to glory
vs. 9 Highly Exalted
vs. 9 Highly Exalted
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
vs. 10-11 Every Knee & Tongue
vs. 10-11 Every Knee & Tongue
“I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.