Morning Moments

Philippians Devotional Outline (cont)

II The Mind of Christ 2:1-30
A. Peace Among the Members 2:1-4

B. Peace About the Messiah 2:5-11

This section is known as the "emptying" or the kenosis". In these verses Paul describes how Jesus touches every human life through becoming one of us. He took the mind and life of man that man might now take the mind and life of Christ. He became what He never was - sin, that we might become what He always was - righteous. He took upon the punishment for our sins that we might take on the peace of His salvation. [2:5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

1. He Demonstrated His Selflessness 2:5-6

[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

This is a critical phrase to pointing to the pre-existence of Jesus as deity. It is "although He existed", which indicates there was never a time when He did not exist and was not God. But the verse says much more. Allow me to share the thought apparent thought behind the verse - although Jesus was divine, as a man he never flaunted his deity or he never lived as God but as a man fully dependent upon God. The HCSB says, "He never used it to his own advantage."

2. He Demonstrated His Servitude 2:7

[2:7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Here is where we get the kenosis or kenosis. The word translated "reputation" means to empty, make void, or nullify. This is very important for Jesus said, "I came not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me." But of course there are those who question whether or not he would have sinned if he had done his own will since he was perfect. It's a waste of time and thought to argue such silliness when the fact is he did not!

The text continues where we see the word "form" again. So having the nature or form of God, he took upon himself the nature or form of a bondslave. The question is then...To whom was Jesus, as a man, a bondslave? The answer is to the Father, just as Paul said he and Timothy were of Him. Jesus demonstrated as a man what man's relationship to God should be. He could have exercised every attribute of deity but he did not, he set that aside to demonstrate the reality of life fully dependent upon God.

[2:8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

3. He Demonstrated His Sonship 2:8

Being in the outward appearance as a man (a son), he abased or made himself low - the idea is that he bowed in submissive obedience to His Father. As the Father prompted him to speak, he spoke. As the Father prompted him to go, he went. When he prayed at Lazarus' tomb he said, "Father, thank you that you have heard me and that you always hear me..." The ear of the Father was always attentive to His humbly obedient Son, and it is the same when we maintain that same attitude toward Father.

5. He Demonstrated His Sovereignty 2:9-11

[2:9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is the key to salvation! THIS is what the Father says about the Son and to CONFESS means to say the same thing, so we must from the heart and by the Holy Spirit, say the same thing the Father has said - JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. We must say it (confess it) before God and we must confess it before man. It must be private (in the heart) and public (with the mouth), for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED! The Lord (my master), Jesus (my savior) Christ (God's anointed Messiah) has been exalted above all and it is before Him that I bend knee and bow before HIM as Sovereign LORD.

EVERYONE will do it! NOW and be saved or before God's Judgment Throne and be lost forever. NOW bring PEACE. THEN brings PUNISHMENT!