The Book of Philippians: Do NOT Be Anxious! (Chapter 2: Verses 5-11)

Hello Friends!

During this week’s gathering we’ll continue to work our way through the powerful book written by the “Apostle Paul” to the Philippians as we consider the perfect PERSON and wonderful WORKS willed of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent Epistle…“Do NOT Be Anxious!”

The Book of Philippians: Do NOT Be Anxious! (Chapter 2: Verses 5-11)

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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 – Philippians 2:5-11

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The amazing “Apostle Paul” has clearly presented for us within Philippians chapter 2 the most profound theology pertaining to the incarnation of our Justifier “Jesus Christ” as our great God becoming a man found anywhere in the Sovereign “scriptures” prescribed. And although it is TRUE indeed that “Jesus Christ” Himself never at absolutely ANY time had surrendered His personal self-existent and eternal DEITY dictated, He DID majestically make “himself of no reputation” concerning His DIVINELY purposed prerogatives as our great “God” in very – PARTICULAR Ways!

From a solemn “study” of the Greek language construct of this poignant passage, apparently this was a solemn HYMN sung by the early “church” fellowship gatherings. And absolutely NO other specific New Testament passage could so COMPLETELY and with so much DETAIL in its perfect presentation purpose concerning – God BECOMING Man! 

Jesus Christ IS Lord!

“Let this mind be in you...” Here the “Apostle Paul” begins this prescribed passage provided for the “Philippians” by perfectly proclaiming the intimate IMPARTATION of the eternal “mind” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” to which ONLY the Helping “Holy Spirit” can aptly accomplish in the regenerate LIFE of the true “believer” begotten:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus – Philippians 2:5

WHAT particular “mind” is the prelate “Paul” referring to here? It is the mandated “mind” of ultimate UNITY by the “Spirit” that the “church” be all ONE found in “Jesus Christ” alone as diligently defined earlier in this DIVINE dictation…

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind – Philippians 2:2

And the means unto this ultimate UNITY was also underscored articulately by the majestic “mind” of a wholesome HUMILTY held…

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others – Philippians 2:3-4

Therefore, “we” are to lovingly “look” unto “others” as much more IMPORTANT than ourselves. And if “we” desire a mindful MODEL mindset in order to meticulously measure how magnificently this HUMILITY heralds, each of “us” should indeed “have this mind” of an apt attitude which was wholly HELD by our loving “Lord Christ Jesus” Himself – Magnificent MODEL!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: This very POWERFUL passage rightly represents the very SPECIFIC scriptural scrawl elegantly expounding upon what is “known” as the “KENOSIS” depicting the willful “self-emptying” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ’s” grandiose GLORY representing the THEOLOGY of His incarnation – Jesus Christ IS Lord!

There are FIVE powerful points of intentional interest that occurred in the Incarnation of “Jesus Christ” entering into the world to be physically born. In fact, from a Biblical and Theological perspective, this amazing "doctrine" represents this TRUE Sovereign “study” session…

FIRST point of interest: “Jesus Christ” emphatically “emptied Himself” of His Heavenly Glory.

“Jesus Christ” is the second Person of the Trinitarian Godhead and had adjourned His sovereign position:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God – Philippians 2:6

The statement concerning this particular “being” denotes His Person in that it cannot be changed. “Jesus Christ” in His essential “being” was in the “form” of God. The Greek word for “form” is “morphe” of which means the deep inner essential nature espoused. Thus, “Jesus Christ” Himself has always, is always and will always exist in the “form” of our great “God” and did NOT at all "consider it robbery" to be "equal" with the great “I am” in His – FULL Form!

This is why “Jesus Christ” could Sovereignly say of HIMSELF wholly:

Jesus said unto them, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, before Abraham was born, I am – John 8:58

In fact, it is also EMPHATICALLY stated in the Gospel of John where we find “Jesus Christ” as the Glorious God and submitted Son in grand “glory” here on earth as He is personally “praying” unto God the Father seated in the heavenly realm:

And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was – John 17:5

The “Apostle Paul” also stated this tremendous “truth” concerning the “pre-eminent“ Person as the "firstborn" eternal “image” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell – Colossians 1:15-19

Therefore, “Jesus Christ” had willingly gave up the great GLORY of a face-to-face relationship with His GOD the "Father" and the adoring presence of the holy angels – FOR the SINFULNESS of Mankind!

SECOND point of interest: “Jesus Christ” emphatically “emptied Himself” of His Independent Authority.

The REMARKABLE truth remains that “Jesus Christ” came to earth in the perfect “likeness of men” and aptly accepted a solemn “servant's” place as the beautiful “bondservant” of our great “God” above. And “Jesus Christ” magnificently “made” Himself of “no reputation” and yet was also in every sense FULLY God! Therefore, He did NOT have to seize His dictated DEITY nor greatly grip it for fear of LOSS lamented:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men – Philippians 2:7

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Therefore, “God the Son” had completely SUBMITTED Himself to the “will” of the "Father" and "fell on His face" as we see illustrated when He "prayed" in the garden:

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” – Matthew 26:39

In fact, “Jesus Christ” came to diligently “do” His Father’s wonderful “will” performed PERFECTLY on earth:

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me – John 5:30

He did NOT come to “do” or "seek" His own waning “will” as He was in COMPLETE submission – To HIS Father!

THIRD point of interest: “Jesus Christ” emphatically “emptied Himself” of the Prerogatives of Deity.

“Jesus Christ” ardently approached a sinful people. This point refers to the voluntary sure "setting aside" of His Godly attributes coupled with the “appearance as a man” in His humanity. Theretofore, He had “humbled Himself” and not only looked like a "man," He was indeed fully eternal “God” and fully a "man" in bold BODLIY form:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross – Philippians 2:8

And as a real RESULT our Beloved “Lord Jesus Christ” was overtly “obedient” to the “point of death” as He lovingly "cried out" on the cross:

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

HISTORICAL HINTS: And the “death of the cross” ultimately MEANT the coming “curse” sent by “God” Himself:

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance – Deuteronomy 21:22-23

In His Incarnation our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” had eagerly “emptied Himself” by rightly REFUSING to cling to His ardent advantages, prescribed privileges and personal prerogatives as almighty “God” alone. And although He NEVER gave up His full Deity demanded, “Jesus Christ” indeed DID relinquish the free exercise of His divine ATTRIBUTES by actually limiting Himself to the point of saying that even HE as the “Son of God” did NOT keenly “know” the "day" nor the "hour" of His physical Second Coming back to earth:

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only – Matthew 24:36

And although the “lost” world MAY recognize His humanness…

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him – 2 Corinthians 5:21 

Sadly, they will NOT recognize – His DEITY!

FOURTH point of interest: “Jesus Christ” emphatically “emptied Himself” of His Personal Riches.

Because “Jesus Christ” aptly adopted a selfless posture, He GAVE up His right to enjoy the real “riches” of eternal “glory” held in HEAVEN and thus was “highly exalted” by “God the Father” Himself:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name – Philippians 2:9

The “Apostle Paul” further described “our” stake in the “grace” of “Jesus Christ” in that “we” became “rich” as a result of His “poverty” state:

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich – 2 Corinthians 8:9

Indeed, “Jesus Christ” was monetarily "poor" in this world, as He owned very little. However, through His "poverty" we became spiritually "rich" unto “salvation” in Him – For HEAVEN’S sake!

FIFTH point of interest is “Jesus Christ” emphatically “emptied Himself” of His Father’s Favorable Relationship:

Because “Jesus Christ” gladly gave up His divine right to remain present with His “Father” in heaven, holy adoration is His alone! God's only “Begotten Son” was “given” the “name” and authority over ALL people, in ALL places and for ALL times of whom will “confess” Him as "Lord" over ALL things:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father – Philippians 2:10-11

In the end, “Jesus Christ” is God’s faithful “bondservant” and thus given a “name above every name” of which is “Lord” of the universe over ALL human lords. Therefore, His exaltation demands worship and veneration from EVERYONE always – EVERYWHERE!

Every “knee” in “heaven” represents the holy angels and ALL the “redeemed” spirits of men made perfect in “Jesus Christ” alone. On “earth” represents ALL the people alive on earth. And “under the earth” represents the fallen demons and the damned spirits of men. They will ALL indeed “bow” their “knee” to His Lordship – To the GLORY of GOD!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In fact, as the “Apostle Paul” also fervently “proclaimed” to the “Christians” in Rome, every SAVED soul’s “tongue” will gleefully “confess” that “Jesus Christ” is indeed “Lord” to the “glory” of His Mighty Name:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation – Romans 10:9-10

And that's EXACTLY what we've done as “believers” in Him! By the “grace” and “mercy” of God, “we” have been lovingly LED to the place where we've “confessed” indeed that “Jesus Christ” is emphatically “Savior” and “Lord” over absolutely ALL things – AMEN!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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