Many of you know the Thompson’s raise chickens, so when I read this little fact I thought of Sam and his flock!
In an experiment, a San Diego researcher, successfully caused chickens to sound like a quail. In his experiment he took tissue from parts of the quail brain that controlled the bird’s call and implanted it in the brains of five chicken embryos. The experiment worked! The hatched chicks sounded like quail rather than chickens. I guess it is pretty easy to change a chicken’s mind! I need to confirm this is so with Sam!
While it might be physically possible in chickens, spiritually with humans it is different. When we believe Christ’s finished work on the cross for our redemption, God made us into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.)
However, unlike the chickens who simply ended up sounding like quail, we do not sound and act like Christ without continually fostering and submitting to Jesus’ mind in this life (Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.)
The book of Philippians is a letter from the apostle Paul that equipped believers to know the mind of Christ and develop an attitude to face life on earth as Christ did.
In review of our progress in Philippians, in chapter 1:1–2, we studied how Paul admonished the church to be unified. Then in chapter 1:3–11, he offered prayer for them to achieve this unity. In chapter 1:12–26, Paul used his own life as an example; and urged the believers to live lives of humility and unity before those outside faith in Christ in chapter 1:27–30. And then he began chapter 2:1–4 to urge the believers to practice unity and humility within the church. And now Paul continues this topic by bringing their attention to the example of Jesus Christ in 2:5–11.
This is one of the most important passages in the Bible declaring Jesus divinity. Many scholars hold that it is one of the top passages in the Bible to defend and explain that Jesus Christ is God. However, with that said my message to you will not simply be a systematic theology lesson on that topic, since the context is about believers in Christ, learning to have the same mind.
For our time in the word this morning , I intend to present these verses with two emphasis on why a believer should have a changed mind. A believer should…
- Have Christ’s Attitude of Humility (2:5-8).
This section begins with a command to Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
The word “this” (touto) is meant to refer the reader back to 2:1–4, particularly 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Paul encourages believers to have “humility of mind.” As verse 5 serves as a transition from Paul’s exhortation in verses 1-4 to Jesus example.
The phrase “let this mind be in you” is a command that admonishes every believer to be careful to develop our attitudes (2:6) and actions (2:7–8). Living in humility and living sacrificially wasn’t easy for Jesus as He stated in the book of Luke 22:42 “not my will but yours.” Obviously, living up to the character of Christ will not easy. It’s a pursuit that challenges every believer; nevertheless, we are commanded to pursue this lofty goal.
We are to commit to the Lord 24/7 of course. Yet failing to achieve that goal is when we stop governing our attitudes and actions in submission to the Spirit. Each moment of our lives we need to make forward progress and cultivate the mind of Christ.
Paul wrote about the example of Jesus for the believers to learn from. In chapter 2:6, he writes, who,(JESUS) being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.
Paul took a step away from talking about the believers lives and has them consider the role Jesus took on.
As we explore these verses, it is imperative that I emphasize that Jesus Christ isGod. Jesus Christ claimed to be God and He demonstrated that He was and is God! The Bible is clear that we can stake our present life and the life to come on the deity of Jesus and the salvation that He offers.
Verse 6 explains that Jesus took on flesh because He existed in the form of God. Now where does Paul say that Jesus “came to exist” or “entered into existence?” Instead, he used a present tense participle translated “being” to indicate ongoing existence. The time frame of the passage is clearly eternity past and Paul asserts that Jesus Christ existed eternally “in the form of God.”
The English word “form” can be misleading here because it suggests shape or outward appearance. Yet, the Greek word translated “form” (morphe) refers to the essential nature of something or someone. In this context, Paul is saying that Jesus’ nature and character is the same; God.
A New Testament scholar Gordan Fee wrote about this verse thus way: “the expression “The form of God” speaks of Jesus’ essence or nature as God, whereas “equality with God” speaks of the glories or prerogatives of God. Together these two expressions are “among the strongest expressions of Christ’s deity in the New Testament.” (Gordan D. Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, page 207–8.)
In Paul’s day, the word morphe was also used of a Roman stamp. Official government documents were sealed with wax. While the wax was still hot, they would press a ring or stamp into it bearing the emperor’s insignia. The impression made in the wax was an exact representation of the insignia on the ring of the emperor. We do something similar today when we wet a rubber stamp with ink and then stamp it on a piece of paper. The impression on the paper is the exact image of what is on the rubber stamp.
Paul says, “That’s the relationship Jesus Christ bears to God the Father. Jesus is the exact representation of God.
Jesus has never been a junior partner to God, but rather a full-fledged member of the Godhead, equal with the Almighty Father in every way, shape, and form, from eternity past.
So, when you and I talk about Jesus Christ, we are not talking about a person less than God. We are talking about the person who is the “expression” of God.
Though Jesus was fully God, He“did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” Jesus did not have to take anything by title or privilege from God; He possessed full deity. However, the point is that He did not regard being equal with God something to be used for His own advantage. Though equal with God or equally God, Jesus did not seize this as an opportunity to further His own interests. Jesus willingly released His divine rights for the advantage of others.
Here is Paul’s point in this letter to the believers in Philippi, instead of Jesus holding on to His personal rights, He surrendered His rights for us.
Philippians 2:7 but (Jesus) made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
What does the phrase “made Himself of no reputation” mean? The next clause in 2:7 explains; He “took the form of a bond-servant being made in the likeness of men.”
Jesus’ act of “no reputation” or as some translations state “emptied Himself”, describes His act of “taking” on humanity instead of His divinity. In other words, Jesus, being Spirit, took on a human body.
That is fascinating theological information, yet Paul’s point is that Jesus Christ practiced self-denial and self-sacrifice for our sake and became “God-in-a-human body!” Jesus left the glory and splendor of heaven and came to dwell on earth to serve others.
Jesus took “the form of a bond-servant being made in the likeness of men” (2:7b). Which would be humiliation and sacrificial enough for God! Consider our current state of humanity!
Even more than that, there are other general Greek words for Jesus’ subjection to humanity that Paul could have used. Paul used the specific term doulos, which means “slave” or “bond-servant.” In other words, Jesus did not become just any particular kind of human. He chose to be a slave, the lowest position a person could be in that era of the Roman world.
He wasn’t born in a mansion or a king’s palace, but in a stable among the animals. The Almighty God appeared on earth as a needy human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child.
The King of the Universe, the Lord of glory, voluntarily became a pauper for our sake. He had to borrow a place to be born, a boat to preach from, a place to sleep, a donkey to ride upon, an upper room to use for the last supper, and a tomb in which to be buried.
He was insulted, humiliated, and rejected by the people He made. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation. Jesus went as low as He could possibly go.
Practically, this means no matter what we would go through, no matter how low we may get, we can never sink as far as Jesus went. Even more encouraging because of this, there is no place Jesus cannot get under and lift us up. He can identify with you in any situation, no matter how hard: poverty, loneliness, homelessness, rejection, you name it.
Think of this as the opposite of our corporate lingo. The incarnation of Jesus is about His descent on the ladder to the bottom rung in 2:8. Paul writes, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
The words “humbled himself” is very interesting. See, no one humbled Jesus; Herod did not humble Him, Pilate did not humble Him. The high priests did not humble Him. The Romans did not humble Him. Jesus humbled Himself.
He willingly and graciously offered Himself unto death for others.
Paul urges every believer to ponder the wonder of Jesus. As you reflect upon Him, may you be overwhelmed by all the great deeds God has accomplished.
Athanasius (296–373), Bishop of Alexandria, noted that crucifixion was the only death a man can die with arms outstretched. He said that Jesus died like that as a symbol to invite people of all nations and all generations to trust Him and His death for your sin. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior? Will you humble yourself to Jesus, the perfect person and His perfect work? The moment you do, you will cross over from death to life and spend eternity with God. (John 5:24; 1 John 5:9–13)
This evangelistic love is rehearsed here with the express purpose of motivating believers to be humble and sacrificial in the same way.
And that means we certainly need to invest in relationships. What does a wife need from a husband? What does a husband need from a wife? What do children need from mother and father? How should a godly person live to refrain from furthering their own interests, and to pursue the best interests of others? Specifically, how a Church exist to invest in others?
So how can we humbly invest in other people? Maybe it can be described this way; to share your life for others is like $1,000 bill representing your life. How we should see living a life worthy of the gospel would be like taking that $1000 to the bank and cash it in for $1,000 of quarters. Then, go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Those investments would be like listening to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ‘Get lost.’ Go to a committee meeting to improve the opportunity in the future for others to know Jesus. Give up a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home and encouraging them to know God. Usually giving our life for the gospel isn’t glorious or big news. But in reality, it’s done through acts of love, 25 cents at a time.
There are no shortcuts in the Christian life. To follow the model of humility, requires sacrifice for others! This is how you imitate the mind of Christ.
Paul’s greatest admonition for the believers is to consider that Jesus’ humiliation is not the end of the story. God raised Jesus up and exalted Him in heaven. The second emphasis in this passage on why a believer should have the mind of Christ…
- God’s Honor for the Humble. (2:9–11).
With Jesus declaration, God shows what type of life is honorable. What kind of life is worshipful! I want you to catch the fact that Jesus already had all the glory ever known before God exulted Him. The truth of this passage is that God exulted Him for His submission to sacrifice for others. Paul explains: “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (2:9–11).
The phrase “for this reason” shows a cause-effect relationship between Christ’s self-humbling (2:8) and His exaltation (2:9). In these verses, Paul imparts two significant blessings to the humble Christ.
- First, God exalted Jesus to the loftiest height (2:9a). The word translated “highly exalted” (huperupsoo) is used only here in the New Testament and can be literally rendered “super exalted.” In other words, Christ received the highest exaltation.
- Second, God gave Jesus the name, above all other names (2:9b). The name given to Jesus is God’s own name. God bestows on Jesus the name “Lord.” It is the same name used in the Greek Old Testament to represent “Yahweh” (kurios). At this name, “every knee will bow” and “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Yahweh.” This statement is taken from Isaiah 42:8 I am Lord (yahweh), that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another.” It is no one else’s name. Yahweh “Lord” is the name that trumps all other titles.
Note again the process, though. While on earth His name was often despised and He had no great titles. He was called “a friend of sinners,” and a “blasphemer.” Because He did not conform to the world of His day, He did not have an important title beside His name, distinguishing Him. Yet because He did not live to make His name great, God has made His name supremely exalted.
Surprisingly, the primary application of this passage is for a believer, not a non-believer. The implication of Paul’s argument is that believers know to bow the knee and confess with the tongue that Jesus is God. And we need to do so in every area of our lives and live a life worthy of the gospel.
The news of this passage is that God will exalt every believer who humbles themselves. In the future, God will reward a life lived for the gospel. Perhaps you think it is selfish to serve the Lord for a reward? Was it selfish for Jesus to endure what He did because He knew that He would receive a reward from the Father? Not according to Hebrews 12:2 “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I finish with some practical reasons we should change our mind. Having the mind of Christ means we will…
- Submit to God and to others for the glory of God rather than for selfish glory.
- Keep our motivation to be humble correct, by seeking to please God.
- Live a life worthy of the gospel. Jesus died for others and we should live to tell that truth every day.