Good morning, I'm Natalie and this morning we're going to be reading from Philippians chapter 1 verse 27 to chapter 2 verse 11.
!
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving for you.
You are not going side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.
This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake.
Engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing,
taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men,
and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome if you're visiting. It's wonderful to have you here.
My name is Martin, and it's my privilege to be sharing, speaking from God's word for us this morning.
Microphone is being adjusted. I'm not as tall as Alex.
Now, at the Louvre in Paris, the most famous painting is the Mona Lisa.
Has anyone been to see it?
Yeah? A few have. I haven't. I've never been to Paris.
But I'm told, I understand it from looking at photos, that the Mona Lisa,
it's displayed in its own climate-controlled case,
behind 600 kilograms of bulletproof glass,
and it's hung on a spacious dark blue panel,
within which, on that panel, if you look at it from a distance,
the Mona Lisa itself is, you know, approximately looks like the size of a postage stamp
relative to the panel as a whole.
Now, in the room that the Mona Lisa is currently housed in,
there are many other paintings hung on other walls,
close together, around the gallery.
But the Mona Lisa stands...
It's alone, on its own, on this single panel.
And, in fact, plans are underway,
and a renovation has begun to move the Mona Lisa
to a room of its very own,
which they hope to do by 2030.
You see, when it comes to a painting of that significance
and that level of beauty, such a masterpiece,
it's best viewed on its own,
uncluttered by any distraction or adornment
or, you know, other paintings that might attract your eye,
but there it is on its own,
in this vast blue space around it.
The curators recognise that this great work of art
is best viewed just by itself.
And the Bible passage before us today
feels, to me, a little bit like the biblical equivalent.
What we have in Philippians chapter 2,
the first half of Philippians chapter 2,
is a text of such grandeur and profundity
that I am a bit reticent to add any of my own commentary to it.
I wonder whether the best thing I might do
would be just to read the passage again
and then stand here in silence for 30 minutes
as the word of God just hangs in the air.
About 30 years ago, when my dad, who's not a believer,
he was remarrying,
he invited me to read a Bible passage at his wedding ceremony
and there wasn't going to be any sermon or anything like that.
There was just, he invited me to do a Bible reading
and this is the passage I chose,
Philippians chapter 2, verses 1 to 11,
a passage which stood alone.
I've been preaching sermons in churches
for around about the same period,
around about the past 30 years,
just about my entire adult life.
I've preached many times, or multiple times,
rather from Philippians chapter 1 and Philippians chapter 3.
As far as I can remember,
and judging from the notes on my computer,
I've never actually preached on this passage.
As we come to Philippians chapter 2,
we really are standing on holy ground.
And yet there's also, I could say,
I could think of no better way to launch 2026
than with precisely this text.
So why don't we pray again and ask for God's help
as we come to meditate on it.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
And we thank you for the scriptures which testify to him.
We thank you for this passage that we come to consider now
at the start of a new year.
I ask please that you would guide me,
that the words of my lips would be pleasing to you.
And Father, please guide the meditation of all our hearts,
that we might honour Christ and emulate him.
And we ask this in his name.
Amen.
Well, the passage before us,
we're actually looking at chapter 1,
Philippians chapter 1, verse 27,
to chapter 2, verse 11.
And in the Greek text,
this passage consists of just four sentences,
which are the four sections I've divided this talk into.
The first two sections contain exhortations to us.
The third and fourth sections are about Jesus,
focus our attention on Jesus Christ,
who is the basis of the exhortations given in the first two sections.
And also,
as we come to that second half of this talk,
I would say this suggests the central passage of this entire epistle.
So let's start with the first two sections,
Paul's exhortations to us.
I've given the first half of this talk the title,
Worthy Citizens,
because of the first part of verse 27.
It would be great if you could have your Bibles open in some form,
so you could follow along with me.
We'll be looking closely at the text.
Chapter 1, Philippians 1, verse 27,
only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Now, grammatically,
this is the main clause of that sentence that runs from verse 27 to verse 30.
But thematically,
I think it hovers over the whole first half of our passage,
up to chapter 2, verse 4, at least.
The first few verses of chapter 2
are just as much about having a worthy life,
a life that's worthy of the gospel of Christ,
as the last few verses of chapter 1.
So taken together,
these two sections,
these two sentences,
show us what it looks like
to have a worthy life
as we face out towards the world
and as we face in toward one another in church.
So let's think about that opening exhortation
and then we'll think about the two spheres
within which we must apply it,
within the world and within the church.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
The first word there,
only is there for emphasis.
NIV translates that as whatever happens.
Paul had just announced his hopes
that he would be released from prison.
He's in chains in Rome.
He'd announced his hopes that he would be released
so that he would be able to come and see the Philippians again.
But Paul says,
whatever happens,
that is whether I come and see you
or whether I remain absent,
whatever happens with Paul
and whatever happens to Paul,
Paul says,
The key verb there is significant.
It can have a general meaning,
which is how the ESV translates it.
Let your manner of life.
That's the verb.
That's how it's translated.
Let your manner of life.
But usually in verses
like where Paul is expressing that idea in his epistles,
he'll use a different verb,
which literally means to walk.
Like walk worthily of the gospel of Christ
or something like that.
But here only,
in all of Paul's epistles,
he uses a different verb
that can have a very specific meaning
and that meaning is to live as citizens.
To live as citizens.
It's related to a family of words
that includes the word
that Paul will go on to use
in chapter 3, verse 20 of this epistle,
where Paul says,
Our citizenship is in heaven.
It's actually the family of Greek words
from which we get in English
our word politics.
So we could translate the first part
of verse 27 this way,
Only live as citizens
worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Live as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippi, this city,
was a wealthy and strategic town in Macedonia.
The Emperor Augustus,
in the first century BC,
after a victory there,
he had settled veteran soldiers
in Philippi
and made it a Roman colony.
And as a Roman colony,
its members were Roman citizens.
So they had all the rights
and all the privileges
associated with Roman citizenship
and along with that,
the loyalty that was expected
to the Roman emperor.
But the believers in Philippi
had a higher citizenship.
They had a higher allegiance.
They were citizens of heaven.
The gospel they had received
declared not that Caesar was Lord,
but that Jesus is Lord,
that Jesus is the world's rightful ruler,
that Jesus is the Christ,
the Messiah.
He's the promised king
over God's everlasting kingdom.
And Paul calls on these believers,
no matter what happens,
to live according to that citizenship,
to live worthily of the gospel of Christ,
the declaration that Jesus is king and Lord.
And then Paul expands on what that entails.
So first in verses 27 to 30,
in terms of how they as the church
face outward toward the world.
And then, as I said,
in chapter 2, verses 1 to 4,
as they as church relate
with one another together.
And notice for each of these exhortations,
notice how emotionally invested
Paul is in the Philippians
and how they're doing.
Verse 27, he says,
so that I may hear of you.
He wants to hear about them,
that they're doing well.
Chapter 2, verse 2, he says,
complete my joy.
Paul is emotionally invested
in how the Philippians are going.
He longs to hear that they're doing well
in precisely these two areas of life.
So firstly, let's think about the Philippians,
the church facing out.
To live as citizens,
worthy of the gospel of Christ,
as we face outward toward the world,
involves three things.
The three things Paul lists in verse 27 and 28.
standing firm in one spirit.
It says that I may hear that you are one.
Standing firm in one spirit.
Two, with one mind striving side by side
for the faith of the gospel.
Three, not frightened in anything by your opponents.
Standing firm in one spirit means that we are united.
And what unites us is the gospel of Christ.
It means we are clear on the gospel message
that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.
He died for our sins and rose again.
We are saved by grace.
We are counted righteous by faith in Christ.
Jesus is Lord and he will come again
to bring justice and life and a new creation.
To stand firm in one spirit means we are united.
United on the central truths of the gospel.
Some of you will know I've been working with AFES,
the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students,
the past 19 years.
And during that whole time,
we've had the same national director,
a man by the name of Richard Chin.
He was national director for 23 years.
He's actually just stepped down as national director.
And there's a new one, Pete Sorensen.
But Richard Chin, the whole time I've been working,
he's been the national director.
And the most important thing Richard Chin did
throughout his entire time as national director
was to keep preaching the gospel,
to keep the AFES centered on Jesus.
Whenever Richard stood up to speak,
whether it was at our annual staff conference
with a couple of hundred staff from around the country
gathered together,
or whether it was at national training event
with 2,000 plus students gathered in Canberra,
whenever Richard stood up to preach,
you knew he was going to preach Jesus Christ.
That was his message.
We had a national fellowship with a growing number of staff,
with 60 plus staff teams around the country,
with more university campuses,
complex challenges,
diverse personalities,
differing views on various things,
and yet enabled in God's grace to stand firm in one spirit
because we were united around what mattered most,
that is the gospel of Christ.
And that's what we need too,
if we're to stand firm in one spirit.
In our Sunday services,
in small groups,
in our kids and youth ministry,
and in our own hearts,
we need to keep preaching what is central,
Jesus Christ.
But it's not just enough that we stand firm in one spirit,
that's the first of three things.
Secondly,
we also must strive side by side for the faith of the gospel.
The gospel is a message.
It's an announcement.
It's good news.
And it must be declared.
It must be proclaimed.
Paul calls us to united,
collective action in contending for the gospel of Christ.
Paul calls us to gospel teamworth.
God calls us to gospel teamwork.
And not just striving,
contending for the gospel,
but striving for the faith of the gospel.
Our goal is not just that we proclaim it,
but that people believe it,
that people come to trust in their saviour.
The Philippians as a church were called to this,
and we as a church are called to this.
Now,
hasn't it been wonderful over the past few years,
if you've been part of this church in that time,
hasn't it been wonderful to see all the gospel teamwork
that has gone into our Christmas carols nights?
To see friends and family members and people from around our community
come and hear the good news
as we strive together for the faith of the gospel.
What a joy that's been.
I've been reflecting recently on how the Lord has blessed us as a church,
of how well the Lord has resourced us as a church.
I mean,
there's the richness of being part of an intergenerational church
with all ages present,
because that means no matter who walks through these doors,
they can look around and think,
there's a place for me here.
And beyond that,
there are so many gifted people in this church
with all kinds of diverse gifts
that Christ gives to his body.
Just think of all the school teachers we have here
who are gifted at teaching children
and youth and young people.
Think about the people in this church
who are administratively able,
who can manage the church affairs
and the church finances.
There are numerous people able to teach God's word
in small groups,
preaching to youth.
Dave is going to go on paternity leave
sometime in March.
I don't start working here till April,
formally.
And I was chatting with Dave about,
what are you going to do for preaching?
in March.
And he said,
oh, that's fine.
We've got plenty of guys who can preach.
And that's true.
God has blessed this church abundantly.
There are people with trade
and technical skills of various kinds
who can fix the church floor
when it caves in.
There are people who excel at serving others,
at just looking out for the personal needs of others
and meeting those needs.
People who pray at home behind closed doors
when only God sees.
And stacks of musicians,
and all of this God has given for our common good
so we can serve one another in love.
And he's also given it so that we can strive side by side
for the faith of the gospel.
Even think about where God has placed this church geographically.
Like, we literally are at a crossroads.
We're amidst some of the growth corridors of Newcastle,
with new housing developments going into the north,
to the west, to the south.
ones that have been built,
others that are planned.
I mean, God has placed us
where we can reach people with the gospel.
We've got Paul with us from Hamilton South,
who I reckon once every couple of months,
he comes up to me and says,
is there anyone who can come and help me evangelise my community?
Begging for others to come and strive side by side with him.
And people around us are searching and questioning.
More and more people in our society are reeling
from the emptiness and moral confusion of this secular age.
They have nothing to grasp a hold of,
no firm ground to stand on.
They are reaching.
People are ready to walk into church
looking for something that is true and good and meaningful.
What more could we ask for?
As a church, we have everything we need
to strive side by side for the faith of the gospel,
to bring Christ to the people he came to save.
But if we're serious about striving side by side
for the faith of the gospel,
we also need to be ready for opposition,
which is the third thing Paul says
as we face outward toward the world.
Verse 28, not frightened in anything by your opponents.
Now, the Philippians were no strangers to suffering.
They knew how Paul had suffered for preaching the gospel
when he was among them.
When he was first with them,
Paul had been arrested,
severely beaten with rods
and thrown in prison.
Now, as he writes this letter to him,
he's in chains in Rome.
They knew how Paul had suffered.
But Paul says to them,
verse 29 to 30,
it's also, you Philippians,
it's been granted to you
that for the sake of Christ,
you should not only believe in him,
but also should suffer for his sake,
engaged in the same conflict
that you saw I had
and now hear that I still have.
The Philippians were facing the same threats
that Paul had faced.
But when we suffer for the sake of Christ
and when we endure it without fear,
Paul says in verse 22,
that in itself is a sign,
a clear sign to our opponents of their destruction,
but of our salvation,
of your salvation, Paul writes.
See, suffering for Christ is a demonstration
that this world is not supreme,
that this world has a ruler,
that there is a judgment to come,
that there is a future world to look forward to,
there is a life to come,
which is why you are able to suffer without fear.
It's why you're able to suffer,
being unafraid of your opponents.
You can say to them,
you have no power to take away from me
what matters most.
Now, Muhammad says in the Quran
that Muslims mustn't form alliances or bonds
with unbelievers,
except if they're afraid of them,
they're allowed to do so.
Muhammad says in the Quran
that Muslims mustn't utter blasphemy
and deny Islam,
except if they're forced to,
that's okay,
they can externally,
you know,
outwardly utter blasphemy,
but as long as in their hearts,
they still believe.
That is,
the Quran permits Muslims
to deny God out of fear.
But Jesus says to us,
we have nothing to fear.
Don't fear those who kill the body
and after that have nothing more
they can do to you.
We have nothing to fear.
We're citizens of heaven.
Even if there were something to fear
for some Christians somewhere in the world,
yet in Australia,
admit it,
our opponents are so small.
They're trivial.
Who are we afraid of?
What can they do to us?
Let's not be frightened of small opponents.
Let's stand firm in one spirit,
holding to the gospel.
Let's strive side by side
for the faith of the gospel
and let's not be frightened in anything
by whatever opponents may materialise.
That's worthy citizenship
as we face outward toward the world.
But there's another dimension
to our citizenship
that's equally important
and that is our life together
as we face inward
toward one another
in the church.
Chapter 2, verses 1 to 4.
Paul begins by reminding us
as he comes to this
of what we have in Christ.
Chapter 2, verse 1.
So if there's any encouragement in Christ,
any comfort from love,
any participation in the spirit,
any affection and sympathy.
Now, it seems to me
that that phrase in Christ
belongs with all five of the blessings
that are listed in verse 1.
So if we were to expand the sentence,
it would read,
so if there is any encouragement in Christ,
if there is any comfort from love in Christ,
if there is any participation
in the spirit in Christ,
if there is any affection in,
you get the idea.
Now, of course, Paul points,
Paul's point is,
in all of these things,
that they are ours in Christ.
They are found in Christ.
So if you're in Christ,
these five blessings of verse 1
are rightfully yours.
Are you afraid?
Then draw encouragement
from the sure knowledge
that in Christ,
God is for you.
God himself is your defender.
Is your soul troubled?
Are you downcast?
Then find comfort in Christ
in the unfailing love of God
he has shown you in his son.
Are you lonely or weak?
Remember God's promise
that you have his spirit dwelling with you.
You're never alone.
Are you despised, abandoned, neglected?
Know that God cares for you.
He has set his affection on you.
You are in his heart.
Are you helpless or ashamed?
Find solace and strength
in the mercies shown to you in Christ.
To be in Christ is to enjoy
all these blessings.
The one who enjoys
all these blessings in Christ
has been filled by God.
And when you bring together
in a community,
in church,
people who have been filled by God
in Christ,
people who have found
everything they need in Christ,
then something wonderful
becomes possible.
With our needs fully met in Christ,
we are empowered to live together
as Paul describes
in verses 2 to 4,
that is,
in the unity
of humility.
In the unity
of humility.
Verse 2,
there's unity.
Verse 2,
complete my joy
by being of the same mind,
having the same love,
being in full accord
and of one mind.
Unity was highly prized
in the ancient world.
For Jews,
Greeks,
and Romans alike,
unity was expected
between brothers,
between siblings.
Psalm 133,
how good and pleasant
it is when brothers
dwell in unity.
That's why conflicts
and division in church
can be so painful
and disorienting.
Because this is the very place
where we may justly expect,
rightly expect,
to find peace.
The unity Paul describes
in verse 2
is not just
agreement for agreement's sake.
It's not just,
you know,
all get along
and, you know,
agree on whatever
it might be.
When Paul desires
that the Philippians
be of the same mind
and have the same love
and be of one mind,
he's not just calling them
to think the same
as each other.
He's calling them
to think in a particular way.
The unity has a centre.
There's a specific frame
of mind,
a specific attitude,
a specific way of thinking
which all alike
are to have
and that's what he goes
on to describe
in verses 3 to 4.
Verse 3,
do nothing from
selfish ambition
or conceit
but in humility
count others
more significant
than yourselves.
Let each of you
look not only
to his own interests
but also to the interests
of others.
In a word,
the centre of our unity
is humility.
It's not just here
that humility
safeguards unity,
it's that our unity
consists in humility.
There are many ways
in which we
as God's people
can and ought
to be different
from one another
and that's fine.
We have different gifts,
different personalities,
different circumstances,
we have different
personal life stories.
Paul in his epistles
even calmly accepts
differences of doctrine
and practice
in matters
that are secondary.
But humility
is a mindset
and a quality
which all alike
are to share.
We are all called
to humility.
What is humility?
Well,
as described
in verses 3 to 4,
humility involves
both our attitude
and our actions.
First in verse 3,
the attitude
of humility,
count others
more significant
than yourselves.
Now think about
that for a moment,
count others
more significant
than yourselves.
Isn't that
a little extreme?
I mean,
we're told today
in our society
that we must
love ourselves
and stick up
for ourselves
but even if we
reject the
egocentrism
of our society,
isn't verse 3
an overstatement?
Because aren't
all people
equally significant
in the sight of God?
You know,
objectively,
before God,
aren't we
all made
in God's image?
You know,
if I count
others
as more
significant
than myself,
isn't that
objectively false
because we're
all equally
significant?
But think about
it a different way.
Consider a
husband's
perspective.
Does a
loving husband
consider his
wife to be
equally
significant?
Of course
not.
She is
more
significant.
He cares
more about
her than
he cares
about himself.
Consider a
parent's
perspective.
Their
children are
more
significant.
A loving
father or
mother cares
more about
their children
than they
care about
themselves.
Consider
even a
bodyguard's
perspective or
a soldier's
perspective.
Willing to
put their
lives on
the line
to protect
the lives
of others.
Their
duty requires
that they
count others
as more
significant
than
themselves.
See,
we can
understand
in the
context
of
relationships
that it
can be
completely
fitting
to consider
someone else
as more
significant
than
yourself.
God
is to
extend
that
same
attitude
to all
our
fellow
believers.
As
citizens of
Christ's
kingdom,
each of us
must
consciously
adopt the
attitude of
humility
toward everyone
else here
and all our
brothers and
sisters in
Christ,
you matter
more to
me than
I matter
to myself.
You matter
more to
me.
You matter
more than
me.
of course,
in the
context of
church,
it ought
to be
completely
safe to
adopt this
attitude
toward one
another
because,
verse 1,
all our
needs are
fully met
in Christ
and because,
verse 2,
everyone around
us is
adopting this
same attitude
too.
The word
translated as
others in
verse 3,
count others
more significant
than yourselves,
is the
plural form
of the
word
one another.
It's the
plural form
of a word
which means
one another.
It doesn't
really translate
into English
that way,
count one
another's as
more important
than yourself,
but that's
the word.
That word
one another
is a very
significant
word in
biblical
ethics,
in New
Testament
ethics,
because the
biblical
vision of
the good
life is
one of
mutuality,
where we
are all
serving each
other,
it's life
together.
Church is
not a
place where
some are
humble and
others
superior,
church is
to be a
community
where all
adopt the
attitude of
humility,
where all
of us
reject selfish
ambition and
conceit and
count one
another as
more significant
than ourselves.
But humility
doesn't stop
with how we
think, it
extends to
our actions.
We have the
action of
humility in
verse 4,
let each
of you
look to
the interests
of others.
Let each
of you look
to the
interests of
others.
That means
actively
pursuing what
is good for
other people,
actively pursuing
their interests.
The action
of humility
is difficult
even for
those who
adopt the
attitude of
humility and
I think the
action of
humility is
difficult for
two reasons.
One is just
a heart
reason,
this is
probably the
biggest
reason,
our own
sinful desires
keep pulling
us back
towards
selfishness.
But there's
a practical
reason why
the action
of humility
is difficult
as well.
The practical
reason,
it's just
much easier
for me to
be aware
of my own
interests than
it is for me
to be aware
of the interests
of others.
See, I don't
need to look
very far to
know what I
want.
I'm constantly
aware of what
I want,
but it takes
effort for me
or for any
of us,
to understand
and consider
the interests
of others.
I need to
know something
about them.
I need to
know their
situation,
their needs,
their preferences.
I need to
know them
well enough
so that I
know what
they need,
what's going
to be good
for them.
That's what
the gospel
of Christ
calls us
to.
A mutual
life where
each of us
actively
pursues what
is good for
our brothers
and sisters,
which means
we need to
make an
effort at
least to
know one
another well
enough that
we can
actively
pursue what
is good for
our brothers
and sisters.
Now let
me just say,
if on an
honest self-assessment
you recognise
that you are
someone who is
consumed with
your own
interests,
please let
this part of
God's word
draw you
back to a
better
preoccupation.
Your worries
and troubles
may be very
great.
Trust God
that he will
help you in
them.
Accept the
support and
love of your
brothers and
sisters here as
you meet those
worries and
troubles.
But also ask
God's help to
listen to those
around you,
to notice their
needs, to
learn the
things that
will encourage
them and bring
them joy.
ask God to
give you the
ability to
serve others
in love.
Now this is
what we're
called to as
citizens worthy
of the gospel of
Christ, facing
out with one
mind to strive
together for the
faith of the
gospel, facing
in with one
mind humbly to
put each other
before ourselves.
And the
reason this is
what we're called
to is because
this is the
perfect model
and example
we have in
our King, the
Lord Jesus.
Verse 5,
have this mind
among yourselves,
which is yours
in Christ Jesus.
When Paul
exhorts us to
be of the same
mind and to
have the one
mind, the
mind we are to
have is actually
the mind of
Christ.
He is the
perfect example
of humility.
Both the
attitude of
humility,
verse 6, and
the action of
humility, verse
7 to 8.
Listen to the
Jesus, the
example of
Jesus.
Have this
mind among
yourselves, which
is yours in
Christ Jesus,
verse 6, who
though he was
in the form of
God, did not
count equality
with God a
thing to be
grasped, but
made himself
nothing, taking
the form of a
servant, being
born in the
likeness of men,
and being
found in
human form, he
humbled himself
by becoming
obedient to the
point of
death, even
death on a
cross.
In verses 6
to 8, there's a
sequence of
three verbs with
Jesus himself as
the subject.
He did not
count.
He emptied
himself, or he
made himself
nothing.
He humbled
himself.
First, Jesus
Christ did not
count equality
with God
something to be
grasped.
The same verbs
used there as in
verse 3, where
in humility we
are to count
others as more
significant than
ourselves.
Well, Jesus, who
is in the form
of God.
Now, that's a
unique expression
Paul uses here,
because he is
reaching for
language that
reflects both that
Jesus is God,
and that he's
distinct from
God, from God
the Father.
In the form of
God, he did
not count equality
with God a
thing to be
grasped.
Verse 6
expresses the
most profound
and wonderful
truth about
God.
When a
husband considers
his wife as
more important
than himself,
when a
mother considers
her children as
more important
than herself,
when a
believer counts
their brothers
and sisters
in Christ as
more important
than themself,
we are echoing
something that
is true of
God himself.
Something that's
true of God
himself.
God the Son
did not count
equality with
God the Father
as a thing to be
grasped.
God the Son
said, he did
not grasp
after and
greedily hold
on to the
rights and
privileges of
divinity.
Instead, he
made himself
nothing.
Literally, he
emptied himself.
He emptied
himself, taking
the form of a
servant, being
born in the
likeness of
men.
Notice there
that Jesus
emptied
himself, not
by subtraction,
but by
addition.
He emptied
himself not
by losing
something, but
by gaining
something here,
or taking
something on.
He emptied
himself by
taking the
form of a
servant.
Notice the
word form
again.
Jesus became
a servant,
fully expressing
what it means to
be a servant.
And the first
step in this
was that he
was born in
the likeness
of men.
He became
fully human,
like us.
Jesus emptied
himself, not
so much by
surrendering
divinity, but
by taking on
humanity.
Notice that the
logic of verse
six to seven
requires Jesus'
pre-existence as
fully God.
Because taking
the form of a
servant, that
is being born
as a man, is
something that
Jesus himself
did.
Jesus himself
willingly took
on.
It's not
something that
happened to
Jesus.
It's something
Jesus chose
for himself.
Jesus didn't
passively receive
his humanity.
He actively
took it on
himself so
that he might
take the form
of a servant.
He was born
as a baby.
His body as
a baby, as
an infant,
was handled
by others,
clothed, fed,
bathed by
others.
He grew as
a boy.
He grew into
manhood.
He grew and
learnt.
He ate.
He drank.
He breathed.
He slept.
Fully human.
Is there any
more stunning,
unexpected
demonstration of
the heart of
God, of the
humility of
God, than
that God the
Son should
become a man?
or perhaps
just one.
Being found
in human
form, he
humbled himself
by becoming
obedient to
the point of
death, even
death on a
cross.
The greatest
act of
humility.
The humility
of the Son
toward God the
Father, expressed
in obedience,
humility of
the Son
expressed
towards us
in service.
Both
accomplished
through his
death on the
cross.
That
wonderful,
terrible
death of
deaths.
death of
God.
When all
the righteous
wrath of
God, that
is due to
my sins and
is due to
your sins,
when it was
absorbed and
suffered and
satisfied in
the body and
the soul of
our Savior,
he emptied
himself by
taking on
humanity, by
taking up the
cross, by
taking away the
sins of the
world, by
taking on
himself the
punishment that
is their due.
Perfect
humility,
sublime
humility, a
humility that
can never be
equaled, but a
humility which
will eternally be
echoed in the
lives and the
praises of the
people Christ
has saved.
Jesus, who
emptied himself
to be the
humble servant
of God the
Father and
the humble
servant even
of us, is
the one that
God has
exalted.
So when you
feel how good
it is what
Jesus has done
for us, then
you feel how
good it is,
wonderful beyond
our comprehension.
You realise how
fitting verses
9 to 11 are.
God has
highly exalted
him and
bestowed on
him the
name that's
above every
name, so
that at the
name of
Jesus every
knee should
bow in
heaven and
on earth and
under the
earth and
every tongue
confess that
Jesus Christ is
Lord to the
glory of God
the Father.
Remember in
verses 6 to
8, Jesus is
both the
subject and
object of the
main verbs.
He did
not count, he
emptied himself, he
humbled himself, but
in verse 9, God
the Father is the
subject, God is the
subject, Jesus is
the object.
Verses 6 to 8
describe what Jesus
did to himself,
verses 9 to 11,
what God has done
for Jesus.
And what God has
done for Jesus is
made him supreme
over all.
The name above
every name, the
worthy king of all
creation before whom
all will one day
bow.
How good it is
that the one who
emptied himself
is the one whom
God has exalted.
How good that is.
See, what kind of
kingdom is the
kingdom of God?
It's a kingdom in
which the government
and the rule and
power and honour
and glory is
bestowed on the
one who is the
humble servant of
all.
The one who gave
himself and gave
everything he has
and everything he
is to serve
others.
And what a very
different kind of
kingdom it is when
the one on the
throne is honoured
and praised and
obeyed and worshipped
precisely because he's
the servant of all.
Exalted because he
emptied himself.
the Venezuelan
president,
Nicolas Maduro,
has just been
seized by the
US army,
taken to the
states awaiting
trial.
It's alleged that
he's guilty of
crimes against
humanity,
of arbitrary
imprisonment of
political opponents,
of violence,
of torture,
of murder.
It's alleged that
he ran and
supported drug
cartels, the
president of a
country.
If those things
are true, then
whatever you might
think of America's
intervention, it's
certainly true that
he is a man not
fit to rule.
But God has given
the highest place
and the highest
name and the
rule over all to
the humble one.
One who never
abuses his
position,
never seeks his
own advantage,
one who is never
corrupt,
the one who
emptied himself,
has been exalted
by God.
The obedience
and worship of
all people
belongs to
him.
And this
is to the
glory of God
the Father.
It is to the
Father's glory
that our God
is the God
who exalts
the humble.
Now, when we
strive side by
side for the
faith of the
gospel, we
are striving that
people will know
and love and
trust in and
worship the one
who emptied
himself for
them.
And when we
count others as
more significant
than ourselves
and when we
look to the
interests of
others, we
honour our
saviour by
emulating him.
We bear witness
to the beauty
of Christ.
We demonstrate
the quality of
his kingdom.
will you pray
with me that
God will do
just that
amongst us.
Lord God,
Heavenly
Father,
you have
exalted
your Son as
name above
all names,
as the one
before whom
all peoples
and all
nations will
bow.
You have
exalted
your Son as
worthy of
all praise
and all
honour.
He is
worthy of
all we are
and worthy
of all we
do, for
he is the
one who
emptied
himself,
who humbled
himself to
serve and
to save.
we thank
you for
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
We thank
you for
all the
blessings we
have in
him,
encouragement
and comfort
and your
spirit and
affection and
sympathy.
May you
be pleased
to make us
worthy citizens
of his
kingdom,
who gladly
and joyfully
serve our
king.
In Jesus'
name we
pray.
Amen.