In our last study, Paul was pleading that the Philippians be unified in their efforts, indicating that this can only come through humility. In our passage today, Philippians 2:5-11, he continues to write about humility, requesting that they imitate Christ who is the ultimate example of humility.
As we dive into the passage, we discover a beautiful portrait of Christ. First of all, He is the pre-existent God. He had every right to cling to the privileges of being God, but He did not take that glorified path. Instead, He set aside His reputation as God and stooped to become nothing. Think about His entrance into this world – a stable not a palace, a few onlookers rather than the masses, a quiet setting with no trumpet fanfare declaring His presence among us, a star in the east rather than a festive party in the center of town. Clearly God’s appearance as man was a lowly affair. Furthermore, He did not live in royalty once He arrived. He came to serve not to be served; to associate with outcasts and sinners rather than the esteemed and religious leaders of His day. And as for His death – He was crucified as a criminal. Those descriptions alone should convince us that Jesus was willingly stripped of His royalty as God. It is, however, crucial to note that foregoing His rights as God does in no way mean that Jesus gave up His deity. This is simply not the case. Just read through the Gospels. The most prevalent argument supporting this is that Jesus never sinned. However, it is a fact that all humans sin. So if Jesus was human yet did not sin, then He must be God.
Another aspect of Christ that is described is of the incarnate God. Jesus took off His royal robes and put on flesh. He became part of humanity, one of us. Through His short earthly existence, He is able to identify with us. Just yesterday one of our elders preached a sermon on one of Jesus’ last words, “I thirst.” Jesus was also tempted (most prominently following His baptism), in need of sleep (asleep on the boat with His disciples during a fierce storm), He cried (John 11:35), He sweat (Luke 22:44), and He bled on the cross. Surely He was fully human, yet in His humanity, though tempted, He did not sin. Further, the final and ultimate act of the incarnate God’s humility was His criminal’s death upon a cross. He was our substitute, paying for the sins that we have committed. It was for us that Christ was nailed to the cross and His blood poured out. It had to be Jesus, the Son of God and Son of man. Alistair Begg stated it like this: “Jesus is the only one qualified to be a savior. If God must save, then the savior must be God. If man must bear the punishment because man sinned, then the savior must be man. If the man who bears the punishment for sin must be himself sinless, who then meets these qualifications?” (When? What? Why? Pt 2) Jesus as God and man is the proper and only sacrifice sufficiently covering our sins once and for all.
I’ll finish out this portion of Scripture in my next entry. What a great text to reflect upon as we head into the Easter season, focusing on what Jesus has done for us. Indeed how blessed we are!
As we dive into the passage, we discover a beautiful portrait of Christ. First of all, He is the pre-existent God. He had every right to cling to the privileges of being God, but He did not take that glorified path. Instead, He set aside His reputation as God and stooped to become nothing. Think about His entrance into this world – a stable not a palace, a few onlookers rather than the masses, a quiet setting with no trumpet fanfare declaring His presence among us, a star in the east rather than a festive party in the center of town. Clearly God’s appearance as man was a lowly affair. Furthermore, He did not live in royalty once He arrived. He came to serve not to be served; to associate with outcasts and sinners rather than the esteemed and religious leaders of His day. And as for His death – He was crucified as a criminal. Those descriptions alone should convince us that Jesus was willingly stripped of His royalty as God. It is, however, crucial to note that foregoing His rights as God does in no way mean that Jesus gave up His deity. This is simply not the case. Just read through the Gospels. The most prevalent argument supporting this is that Jesus never sinned. However, it is a fact that all humans sin. So if Jesus was human yet did not sin, then He must be God.
Another aspect of Christ that is described is of the incarnate God. Jesus took off His royal robes and put on flesh. He became part of humanity, one of us. Through His short earthly existence, He is able to identify with us. Just yesterday one of our elders preached a sermon on one of Jesus’ last words, “I thirst.” Jesus was also tempted (most prominently following His baptism), in need of sleep (asleep on the boat with His disciples during a fierce storm), He cried (John 11:35), He sweat (Luke 22:44), and He bled on the cross. Surely He was fully human, yet in His humanity, though tempted, He did not sin. Further, the final and ultimate act of the incarnate God’s humility was His criminal’s death upon a cross. He was our substitute, paying for the sins that we have committed. It was for us that Christ was nailed to the cross and His blood poured out. It had to be Jesus, the Son of God and Son of man. Alistair Begg stated it like this: “Jesus is the only one qualified to be a savior. If God must save, then the savior must be God. If man must bear the punishment because man sinned, then the savior must be man. If the man who bears the punishment for sin must be himself sinless, who then meets these qualifications?” (When? What? Why? Pt 2) Jesus as God and man is the proper and only sacrifice sufficiently covering our sins once and for all.
I’ll finish out this portion of Scripture in my next entry. What a great text to reflect upon as we head into the Easter season, focusing on what Jesus has done for us. Indeed how blessed we are!
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
1 comment:
Beautiful! This was such a blessing.
alice
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