Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Philippians

Philippians 2:5-11 06/29/03

Intro: Before Giuseppe Verde died, he was recognized as a master of dramatic composition. His works astonished the world of music with a power, subtlety, and brilliance that marked the ultimate in Italian opera. But he didn’t begin his music career with such success. As a youth, he was denied entrance to the Milan Conservatory because he lacked the necessary training. Although his musical abilities were apparent in childhood, as an innkeepers son he did not possess the formal education and background required. Yet time does strange things. After Verdi’s fame spread worldwide, the school he was once denied entrance to, was renamed the ‘Verdi Conservator of Music’. This turn of events is a reminder that endings are not always like their beginnings. (M.R.D.II Our Daily Bread, March 8)

Background: Our study of Philippians has brought us to perhaps the most glorious passage in all Scripture. The literary form of this passage has caused most scholars to believe Phil. 2:5-11 is actually a hymn, sung by the early church.  Scholars also consider this passage one of the most outstanding Christology’s in the NT. A Christology is the theology or doctrine of Christ.

And as this passage ends it should cause every Christian to pause, and with a lump in his/her throat, and bow in humble adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ. Especially when you remember how it begins.

The next part of the text had confused me in the past. ‘Something to be grasped’ sounds like there is something Jesus didn’t have that he was trying to get. But Paul already said that Jesus was in his very nature and being God. So Jesus wasn’t trying to get something he didn’t have, instead, it means he wasn’t trying to hold on to something he already possessed. In other words, Jesus chose not to cling on to what was already his.

How many times do we hold on to things, cling to them because we don’t want to let them go? What things? : our time, our stuff, our positions, our children. Jesus was God and enjoyed all the benefits, if you will, of being God, yet he was willing to let all the joy  and glory of heaven go, to be obedient to the Father. We must always be willing to let go of those things that stand in the way of our obedience to the clearly revealed word and will of God,

Phil. 2:7
ILL: It is said that Henry David Thoreau once spent an entire day in Walden Pond up to his neck in the water. His idea was to see and experience the world as a frog sees it. He shared the experience but not the reality. God, on the other hand, did not swoop down and survey the human situation from a safe distance. He became one of us.

What did he have to do to become one of us? The phrase ‘but made himself nothing’ or ‘emptying himself’ has caused many problems for theologians over the years.

Jesus did not change his essence, or his nature. He was, all through his time on earth, the Second Person of the Trinity. BUT, he did set aside his glory, not removing it, but concealing it. Except for a brief moment during the transfiguration where his glory was revealed.

The question, however, is not of what did Jesus empty himself but into what did Jesus empty himself? A man yes…but what kind of man? A servant, considered the lowest of all men.  He could have been the king over all but instead he chose to be servant to all.

Phil. 2:8
Not only did God become a man…he became a servant, the lowest of all men... Not only did he die as a servant, the lowest of all men, he died in the worst, most degrading way, he died on a cross! Why did Jesus die on the cross?

1. To remove sin.

Heb. 9:26 ‘But now he (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself’

    Sin separates us from God. But Jesus removes that sin, for those who believe in him.

2. Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the justice of God.

Rom. 6:23a ‘For the wages or penalty of sin is death.’

    God’s justice calls for sin to be punished and the punishment for sin is death. Jesus paid that penalty, he took our punishment. He died in our place. Though faith in Jesus’ death on the cross, there is peace with God and access into his presence.

3. Jesus died to show God’s love.
Rom. 5:8 ‘But God demonstrated his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’

    How much does God love you? This much (spread out hands) He can never love you any more and will never love you any less than when he sent Jesus to die on the cross…for you!

    Think about it. The Second Person of the Trinity, God the Son, gave up the joy of heaven, to became a lowly servant. He was hated, rejected and condemned to death. While on the cross he was alone, abandoned and despised. Then he died a horrible death. That is how much God loves his children.

John. 17:5: ‘And now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.’

The glory that Jesus had from the beginning of time as the Second Person of the Trinity, but had concealed during his life on earth, God the Father was now revealing.

Jesus’ exaltation involves his resurrection, ascension and glorification at the Fathers right hand. And notice that it was God who exalted Jesus, Jesus didn’t do it himself. We can learn much from that alone.

Phil. 2:10
ILL: When a dignitary approaches his subjects they all rise in respect. One day as a British king entered a room everyone stood, he said, ‘Please take your seats, gentlemen, I am not the Lord you know.’ ‘No your highness,’ replied one in the group. ‘If you were, we would have dropped to our knees.’ (Our Daily Bread, Dec 21)

The name Jesus is associated with power and majesty. And only the Second Person of the Trinity has been given that name. Why? Because he humbled himself, by becoming a lowly servant, because he was obedient to the Father, by dying on the cross.

And Jesus authority, power and majesty has no boundaries. All created beings, dead or alive, in heaven, on the earth or in Hell will one day bow before Jesus. Some willingly out of love for their savior. Others will be forced to bow. But all will bow…even Satan himself, before he is cast into the Lake of Fire.

Phil. 2:11
What a glorious sight this will be! Think of it! All heaven will be singing ‘He is Lord, He is Lord, He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.’ Well, maybe not specifically that song, but something like it I believe. All the angels, all Believers will openly confess that Jesus is Lord. And they will praise Him, all to the glory of God. Even those who never came to faith in Christ, will confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord…but it will be too late for them to enter the joy of heaven, because in their life, they refused to experience the joy of submitting to Jesus’ lordship.

Look, the truth is God has already made Jesus Lord. Our response is to submit to his lordship. Are you?

Phil. 2:5 The Connection to Community
Remember I began by saying that this passage is a masterpiece of Christology…a theology or doctrine of Christ? Well, this passage does not have as it primary purpose Christology. As strange as it may sound in light of all that I have just said, Paul had something else in mind. He wrote this great and awesome hymn to help bring the joy of community to the church.

Vs 5 ‘Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus’ When you read the Phil 2:5-11 text, remember the context…joy in the community of the church.

Paul uses Jesus’ life of  humility, servanthood, obedience, sacrifice and love as the example of life, real, joyful life in the community. And Paul tells the church in Philippi if you want to know true community, if you want to be exalted and blessed as a community, think like Jesus thought…then live like Jesus lived.

Conclusion
I started off this morning stating that this passage should cause every Christian to pause, and with a lump in his/her throat, to bow in humble adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ. It also should cause us to pause and with a lump in our throats cause us to reflect on our part in developing and maintaining community here at CBC.

     -Is Jesus Lord? He certainly is, but are we submitting to his lordship?

    -Is the confession that Jesus is Lord found regularly on our lips? Then let me hear it.  JESUS IS LORD!
 
    -Is the humility of Christ being demonstrated in how we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ here at CBC?

     -Is the servanthood of Christ being demonstrated in how we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ here at CBC?

     -Is the obedience of Christ being demonstrated in how we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ here at CBC?

     -Is the sacrifice of Christ being demonstrated in how we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ here at CBC?

     -Is the love of Christ being demonstrated in how we live in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ here at CBC?

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is no one like him…but Church, he is calling us, together, to try!