Philippians 2:5-11 The Mind Of Christ

In verse 5, Paul continues to exhort them to have "this mind" (the attitudes of verses 3-4), pointing out that this is also the "mind of Christ"

In verses (6-11), Paul defines the "mind of Christ" (or the attitude of Christ

I. v6 Jesus did not have SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT

1. Jesus was "in the form of God" The word form in Greek is morphe- the essence or literally the essential nature of something

a. In other words He has always existed as God – John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

b. John 1:1-3 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

V6 YET CHRIST DID NOT CONSIDER SUCH EQUALITY "ROBBERY"...

1. Literally, "a thing to be grasped"; that is, something to be laid hold of, and retained jealously

2. The "glory" of equality with God which Christ enjoyed from eternity was not something He felt like He HAD to cling on to

3. A true demonstration of a lack of selfish ambition and conceit on the part of our Lord!

II. Jesus LOOKED OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS (7-8)

He took a servant’s place and approached a sinful people

A. WHEN CHRIST BECAME FLESH...

V7 1. He "made Himself of no reputation" John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

a. Some versions say "emptied Himself" this is the Kenosis or self-emptying

Jn 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

First of all, He gave up His heavenly glory.

Secondly, He emptied Himself of independent authority.

Thirdly, He set aside the prerogatives of His deity. Or He set aside the voluntary use of His attributes. You say, "Did He stop being omniscient?" No. "Did He stop being omnipresent?" No. "Did He stop being unchangeable God?" No. He didn't stop being anything, He just didn't use those attributes.

And then lastly, , He gave up a favorable relationship to God. "He who knew no sin was made sin for us...He who knew no sin was made sin for us." And as a result He says, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He gave up a favorable relationship to God.

He never ceased to be God, never. He remained fully God. He remained fully God.

2. He took upon Himself "the form of a servant" – same word Morphe, literally became a servant. John 13:3

3. He came in the likeness of men He was the same as a man, but different in that He was sinless

Likeness means He was truly human, wept, got hungry, tired in all ways like us but without sin

a. He could experience their temptations and sufferings –

He 2:17-18

V8 And being found in appearance as a man – He looked like us because He was like us.

III. Jesus is HIGHLY EXALTED BY GOD (9-11) – He ascended as a Supreme Prince

V9 JESUS is a good example of Matthew 23:12: "He that humbles himself shall be exalted"

1Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

2. For God has highly exalted Jesus

by giving Him "the name LORD which is above every name"

Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

V10 that at His name "every knee should bow...that every tongue should confess" He is Lord! -

2Th 1:10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

V11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1. We have seen in this passage that "The Mind Of Christ" involves...

a. Humility

b. Obedience

c. Sacrifice

d. Great Reward