WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:24.000 Well, I would like to have you turn this morning to Philippians chapter 2, chapter 2. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:28.000 ! 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:35.480 As we look to the Scriptures this morning, I trust you understand that I have an active 00:00:35.480 --> 00:00:41.000 responsibility that I've got to discharge this morning, which is preach the Word. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:51.480 And you have an active responsibility, which is pray for the man who is preaching. 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:58.959 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, verse 1 and 2 should be woven into your thinking, and you recognize 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:07.359 that as I preach, desperately dependent upon the enabling of God and His Spirit to work 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:12.799 in my heart and to communicate effectively the glory of Christ, you have a responsibility 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.599 of sitting there and being actively engaged in preaching. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:18.120 Praying. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:19.120 Praying. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:20.120 Praying. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:21.120 That was a mistake. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:23.120 That's why you need to pray. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:26.600 I trust that you will do that with your eyes open. 00:01:26.600 --> 00:01:27.600 I don't care if you close them. 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:28.600 That's all right. 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:33.120 And if you sleep, I assume that it's desperately needed. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:38.600 But I would prefer that what you do is pray and do so with your eyes open. 00:01:38.600 --> 00:01:46.600 Let's look and let me read here, if I may, beginning there in verse 6, Philippians chapter 00:01:46.600 --> 00:01:47.600 2. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:02:09.659 Let's pray. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:09.659 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:24.500 Our Father God, this morning, we are not careless in the matter of prayer, nor are we engaging 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:30.579 in something that is merely a habit and something that is the preface to the preaching of the 00:02:30.579 --> 00:02:31.180 Word of God. 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:38.019 But we gladly announce that we are your people and we are dependent upon your Word and your 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:40.260 Spirit to work in us. 00:02:40.260 --> 00:02:45.300 And what we ask is this, is that as the Word of God is taught with the enabling of the Spirit 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:52.020 of God, that the Spirit of God would also take that Word and continue to mold and to shape 00:02:52.020 --> 00:02:53.840 us to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:03:01.860 We ask, Father, that you are pleased, both with the things that are said and the things that 00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:04.540 are apprehended by your people and then put into practice. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:10.199 That as we leave here, we would leave with an incredible thanksgiving for the spiritual 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:16.219 truths that you have given to us in your Word, but also thankful for salvation and thankful 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:20.519 for the work that you are doing in forming us to be like Christ. 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:23.439 And we ask this because of Him. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:24.539 Amen. 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:35.120 Now, many of you here were in our Christmas program, and then many of you also were present 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.500 when the Christmas program was put on both Saturday and Sunday. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.539 And I have to tell you, I've said this several different times since we had that program, 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:48.099 that I remember when John brought it in and set it on my desk, actually Pastor Saul did, 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:49.639 and said, here, look over this. 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:53.199 And I've confessed that I am not real good at reading music. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:58.819 I remember reading through and recognizing that the songs were recognizable and the passages 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:06.979 of Scripture, but man, it was fantastic in its outcome and the joy of hearing such solid 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:11.319 Bible truths brought musically, woven in with the passages of Scripture. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:16.459 And one of the things that I couldn't help but think about as we were working our way through 00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:18.779 that program was actually the incarnation. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:25.459 I don't know if that focus came out of the fact that I tend to know where I'm going to 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:31.039 be preaching next week, and as a result of that, I'm kind of doing the early lifting prior 00:04:31.039 --> 00:04:34.219 two weeks out, and I knew I was thinking about the incarnation. 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:41.459 But nevertheless, woven into that musical was the recurring theme that Christ Jesus came to 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:43.459 this earth and came in human form. 00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:52.259 And so there is a sense in which we could say that as we look forward to Christmas and we 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:57.459 look forward to what the holiday really represents, there is another way in which we could phrase 00:04:57.459 --> 00:04:58.159 that day. 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:04.659 We could refer to it as the celebration of the incarnation because really at Christmas, and 00:05:04.659 --> 00:05:09.439 we don't want to debate this morning what the actual date was, etc., but we do recognize 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:16.879 that Christmas is really a Bible truth in relationship to the fact that God sent His Son and He came 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.439 to this earth and He took on human form that He still has. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:22.439 F.F. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:27.319 Bruce, a noteworthy Bible scholar, made a very interesting statement about the incarnation. 00:05:28.139 --> 00:05:29.079 He put it this way. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:29.420 He said, 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:37.060 If there is, among the distinctive articles of the Christian faith, one which is basic 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:37.980 to all others. 00:05:38.020 --> 00:05:43.200 In other words, this truth is the one that kind of is chained and is the starting point 00:05:43.200 --> 00:05:44.000 of all the others. 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:45.140 He said, 00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:53.079 It is this, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man for our salvation. 00:05:54.479 --> 00:06:01.479 This is the affirmation that we have in mind when we speak about the doctrine of the incarnation. 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:07.379 And while there are different passages that we could look to both in the Old Testament and 00:06:07.379 --> 00:06:13.199 also in the New regarding the matter of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, probably the one that 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:19.639 presses it together and takes the largest look at it in terms of history, it would be the passage that 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:22.719 we've turned to this morning in the book of Philippians. 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:28.899 And so as we look at this passage, I want you to consider, first of all, His pre-incarnate glory. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:32.579 Look there, if you will, at verse 6, and it says, 00:06:33.099 --> 00:06:36.459 Who though He was in the form of God. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:42.620 Paul is making a profound statement when he declares that this Jesus, who 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:49.040 later on we're going to celebrate, is someone who came and actually was born in a manger. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:53.579 He was born as a little child, an absolute infant. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:07:00.160 And it tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ actually is in the form of God. 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:06.120 Now when it says form of God, it's not talking about some kind of plastic molding or creation. 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:12.040 You know, it's like, well that's the form of, no, it's identifying that He was the express, 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:14.840 true God. 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:23.340 And verse 6 is a strong declaration of the deity of Christ and His complete equality with God the Father. 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:28.100 I think this is important doctrine because it is the foundation of our salvation, 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:31.639 and it is a bedrock issue in our faith. 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:36.159 Don't think that it's a second tier, one of those subordinate issues that's not that important. 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:39.800 It's absolutely at the heart of what we believe the gospel is. 00:07:40.419 --> 00:07:46.139 I want you to stop and realize that what this passage is telling us is that prior to His coming as a baby, 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:49.259 when He took on human form, 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:56.199 Jesus was and now remains the second person of the Godhead. 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:59.939 The Greek uses a tense to speak of His existence, 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:06.060 and it says that who was always and in present continues to be God. 00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:08.819 That's probably a more accurate way of taking that little statement, 00:08:09.139 --> 00:08:10.039 who was in the form. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:13.079 It's saying who was and always is God. 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:18.099 The Bible is filled with references to the deity of Christ, 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:19.860 and the doctrine is important to our faith. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:24.419 Let me just have you look at a couple different passages in relationship to this. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:29.340 You're there in Philippians, but I want you to turn back just for a moment to John chapter 1. 00:08:31.140 --> 00:08:33.500 And since it'll take me just a second to get there, 00:08:33.560 --> 00:08:37.300 if you're real quick, you could also go to Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3, 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.779 which is another powerful statement about the deity of Christ. 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:45.320 In John chapter 1, looking at verse 1 through 3, it says this, 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:49.879 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.740 He was in the beginning with God. 00:08:54.919 --> 00:09:01.419 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:04.480 I want you also to look, if you would, at Hebrews, 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:09.600 and I referred to the fact that this is another one of those classic statements about the deity of Christ. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:20.620 The author of Hebrews puts together a string of statements that make it clear that Christ is indeed God. 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:22.440 Let me read the passage to you. 00:09:22.800 --> 00:09:29.120 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:32.259 He upholds the universe by the word of His power. 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:38.700 After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of majesty on high. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:46.680 As you look at this passage, we're reminded that the Scriptures make it undeniably clear that Christ is indeed God. 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:50.960 As we consider the glory of Christ before He took on human flesh, 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:57.560 I think one of the things that is profitable for us is for us to ponder what we know about His pre-incarnate glory 00:09:57.560 --> 00:10:04.279 so that His diminution or His willingness to humble Himself is better understood. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:14.959 Going back to the passage in John 1, verse 3, it tells us there that He was the creator of all things. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:22.240 And I want you to understand that what that passage tells us is that He indeed is who He says He is, 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:23.740 God the Father, God the Son. 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:25.400 He is part of the Holy Trinity. 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:33.440 All the stars of the universe and all that we know is part of His creation. 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:41.320 And the magnificence and the awesomeness of all of that make it clear that He is indeed God. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:46.280 When we stop and consider the fact that Christ is the creator of the earth, 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:51.760 I want you to understand that that fact is one of those things that should be humbling to us. 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:53.860 How significant are we? 00:10:55.160 --> 00:10:56.520 How significant are you? 00:10:57.280 --> 00:11:00.840 Truth of the matter is, is all of us, though we wouldn't want to say so publicly, 00:11:01.160 --> 00:11:04.560 here as we are together in church, we have a tendency of thinking, 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:05.980 do you know what it says in Scripture? 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:10.100 Let no man think more highly of himself than he ought to think. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.700 How should we think of ourselves? 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:15.420 We should think like the psalmist did who said this, 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:21.539 What is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you, what? 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.920 Visited him. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:25.899 It's amazing. 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:29.920 When we stop and consider the fact that Christ is the creator, 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:33.819 and we understand that that is the background to his humiliation. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:42.519 Interestingly, the fact of him being creator is significant, 00:11:42.699 --> 00:11:44.399 but it's not the most significant thing. 00:11:45.479 --> 00:11:47.379 By the way, so we understand the comparison, 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:49.519 if you remember in the book of Job, 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:53.519 Job has one recurring question or concern. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.360 Do you know what it is? 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:56.779 It's the question we all have. 00:11:56.779 --> 00:12:00.559 When something goes bad in our life, what do we want to figure out? 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:02.199 Why? 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:03.799 Why? 00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:10.259 And all of us have spent countless hours lying awake or pondering that question. 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:14.259 And by the way, does God ever answer Job's question? 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.019 What's the response? 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:16.439 No. 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:20.079 Instead of answering Job's response, 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:28.960 what God does for three different chapters is he reminds Job of his creative power. 00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:31.600 But I want to tell you, 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.960 in the scope of eternity, 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:35.740 the fact that God is the creator 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:39.940 is not perhaps the most profound of truths. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.920 And I say that because it presupposes, 00:12:44.040 --> 00:12:45.820 number one, the angels rejoice in that, 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:47.100 and they ponder it and look at it and say, 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:52.800 wow, and we understand that the glory of God in Romans chapter 1 00:12:52.800 --> 00:12:56.100 can be recognized by the unbeliever in the power of creation. 00:12:56.800 --> 00:13:02.379 But it is not creativity or God's power to create that really baffled the angels. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:04.860 What was it that really blew the angels away? 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:07.700 It was what he did in salvation. 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:12.120 And as we look at this passage in Philippians, 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:18.240 we recognize that it is telling us about Christ's glory prior to his incarnation, 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:22.140 and we marvel that he who inhabits eternity 00:13:22.140 --> 00:13:25.500 was willing to actually come down here to the earth. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:29.500 That brings us to the second thing that I want us to recognize, 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:30.980 and that is his humiliation. 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:35.560 Stop for a moment to think back to what we know about the fall. 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:41.799 Adam and Eve saw deity as something to be grasped. 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.719 Do you follow what I'm saying there? 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:51.679 Adam and Eve saw the potential and the opportunity of reaching out, so to speak, 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:53.939 and taking hold of being like God. 00:13:54.119 --> 00:13:56.719 That was the temptation that Satan offered. 00:13:57.059 --> 00:14:00.879 If you eat this, you will be like God. 00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:03.359 And they fell to that temptation. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.519 They desired it. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:09.919 It tells us here in the passage, and I want you to look in your Bible, 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.539 in verse 6 it says, 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.439 Who though he was in the form of God, 00:14:13.839 --> 00:14:19.419 did not count equality with God to be a thing grasped. 00:14:20.459 --> 00:14:21.559 Everybody look up just for a moment. 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.099 I'm curious. 00:14:24.839 --> 00:14:25.899 Don't nod your head and say, 00:14:25.979 --> 00:14:27.259 I do, I do, I know, I know. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:36.480 I would venture to say, however, that that little clause is a difficult one to grasp theologically. 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.259 Would you agree with me? 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:42.819 It says that equality with God is not something to be grasped. 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:47.480 Is that saying that he wasn't grasping onto it? 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.800 What is it telling us? 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:52.460 Let me explain it this way, and I think it is important for us to understand. 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:54.620 Christ Jesus, being God, 00:14:55.100 --> 00:15:05.900 did not see his pre-incarnate glory as something that he had to cling to for his own sake and his own significance. 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:14.379 How many of you have ever done something nice but wanted credit for it? 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.019 Raise your hands. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:22.699 In fact, the rest of you, I understand that you're just a little limp today and you don't want to put your hand up, 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:26.980 but all of us have been perverse in our intents, haven't we not? 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:30.299 Bring flowers to the wife, and what do you expect her to do? 00:15:32.699 --> 00:15:33.659 Thank you, Mark. 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:37.759 Either that or do handsprings across the living room, right? 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:39.120 It's like, my husband did that. 00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:40.959 You know, you want to get some benefit from that. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.600 Spend $18 on flowers and have some payback. 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:48.240 You know, we're pretty crass little people. 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:50.319 I'm speaking of myself, not of you. 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.879 But, you know, here it's saying about Jesus, 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:58.839 he being God didn't find it necessary to cling to it. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:04.440 But the logic immediately follows in the very next part that we see. 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.540 I want you to recognize. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:10.720 It says, but made himself nothing. 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:18.660 Now, I do want to take just a little bit of time and recognize that Jesus did not cling to his position in superiority 00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:22.040 so that he was unwilling to give it up for us. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:29.740 He was willing to lay aside his pre-incarnate glory because according to the infinite wisdom and plan of God, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:33.759 it was imperative for him to take upon human form. 00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:42.539 And he chose to take upon humanity and lay aside the outward manifestation of his deity. 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:47.939 He laid aside his visible radiance. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:58.679 I mean, just imagine had the people who saw Jesus been fully exposed to the glory of his person, 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:01.480 what kind of reaction would they have had? 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.099 Does anybody know? 00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:05.980 They would have been absolutely struck down. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:13.299 And we find in Scripture that the glory and holiness of God the Father and God the Son is overwhelming, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:16.039 the amount of transfiguration, an example. 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:21.900 But we know that Jesus willingly, voluntarily, of his own choice, 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:26.460 laid aside much of that outward manifestation of his glory. 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:35.339 He laid aside his infinite power in some sense that he became tired, he was hungry, he was thirsty. 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:39.559 He did these things of his own volition. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:45.700 I want you to understand that this emptying of his pre-incarnate glory, 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:49.500 manifestation of it, does not mean that he stopped being God. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:53.799 One of the ideas that's floating out there is that, well, when Jesus came to the earth, 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.559 he really stopped being God. 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.559 He became all man. 00:17:57.180 --> 00:18:03.180 And our little pea brain can't put together that somebody can be all man and all God. 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.740 And you would agree with that, wouldn't you? 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.980 I can't figure that out. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.099 Can you figure it out? 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:07.380 No. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:12.660 But the truth of the matter is, is that he is all man and all God. 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:18.299 And when he took on humanity, it doesn't mean that he stopped being God. 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.000 How do we know that? 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.440 A couple of illustrations. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:24.740 For one, he knew what was in people's hearts. 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:30.380 How many of you have, on occasion, thought you knew what was in other people's hearts? 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:33.160 We're all guilty of that, are we not? 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.520 Here's how it plays out. 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:41.180 Somebody does something you don't like, and you immediately assume the best of them. 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:41.620 Is that right? 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.240 How many of you here? 00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:44.320 I always assume the best of other people. 00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:47.120 I don't see any hands. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:47.620 Okay. 00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:49.380 Yeah, I know what they were thinking. 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:51.120 They wanted to do me harm, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:53.800 Jesus actually knew what people were thinking. 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.000 Now, who can do that? 00:18:55.919 --> 00:18:56.720 Only God. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:19:03.299 You remember as well that in the case where he healed the man who had been born, he was 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.159 a paralytic, remember? 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:10.720 Led him down through the roof, and the guy had been brought because he was having a physiological 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.940 problem with his limbs. 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:14.940 And Jesus, what was the first thing Jesus did? 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:18.460 Good news, your sins are forgiven. 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:22.099 How did that tweak the Pharisees? 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:22.539 Who? 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:27.459 Who but God can forgive sins? 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:30.379 And Jesus said, well, that's a good question. 00:19:30.439 --> 00:19:31.179 Let's try this. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.759 Take up your bed and what? 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.079 Walk. 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:39.699 And Jesus demonstrated his deity, and people aren't right. 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:41.119 Only God can do that. 00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:47.480 He never stopped thinking of himself as God, even though his pre-incarnate glory was hidden. 00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:50.879 And let me give you a couple illustrations of that from the book of John. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:56.780 And in John chapter 8, verse 58, he really, once again, riled the Pharisees when he said, 00:19:57.080 --> 00:19:59.720 before Abraham was, I am. 00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:06.400 And in John chapter 14, verse 9, he says, whoever has seen me, remember that? 00:20:06.760 --> 00:20:07.840 Has seen the Father. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:12.579 Jesus chose, and that's what we're looking at here in this passage in Philippians. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:19.339 He chose to take the mission of being a servant, and he chose to come here of his own volition, 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:22.519 but also because of his obedience to the Father's will. 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:31.139 Every word that Jesus spoke, every miracle that he did was under the direction of the Father and under the enabling of the Spirit of God. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:38.960 And what we see here in verse 7 is that he permanently took on humanity, not with sinfulness, 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:44.580 but with its natural and biological limitations. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:51.360 Let me come to the third thing that the Scriptures make undeniably clear about the incarnation of Christ, 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.980 and that is his work of atonement. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:56.880 You look there in verse 8, and it says, 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:03.099 being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:08.180 I want you to recognize, for one thing, that Christ Jesus came, first of all, 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:12.440 voluntarily to please his Father by his obedience. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:20.839 I'm struck when I stop and realize that the scope and the level of the obedience of Christ to his Father in all things, 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:25.779 one of the things that is very interesting as you read through the gospel accounts, 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:31.379 Jesus did not act apart from his Father's direction and his Father's purposes. 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:36.379 When he did something, he did it because it was what the Father wanted. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:41.980 When he said something, he said it according to what the Father had intended for him to say. 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:45.039 Turn back in your Bibles, if you will, just for a moment, 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:51.779 to a passage in Isaiah chapter 53 that I find rather stunning in relationship to the will of the Father 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:55.240 in relationship to Christ, Isaiah 53. 00:21:55.460 --> 00:22:00.460 By the way, as you're going there, how many of you are familiar with Isaiah chapter 53? 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:03.039 Wave your hand so I can see what percentage of our... 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:10.039 Again, let's do this slowly because I am in the process of evaluating our scriptural... 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:12.879 Raise your hand and wave at me. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.660 Okay, that makes me feel a little better. 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.800 Anybody else want to wave so I feel better? 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.320 Sorry. 00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:23.220 I know, I know. 00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:25.620 While I'm standing in line, people are going to go by like this. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.220 Pastor, we hope you feel better. 00:22:28.260 --> 00:22:28.920 That's not what I meant. 00:22:29.040 --> 00:22:29.860 Okay, here we go. 00:22:30.300 --> 00:22:31.280 Isaiah 53. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.220 Look at the passage. 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:36.820 Verse 10, we're talking about the Father. 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:45.799 Why did Jesus die? 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:50.339 Well, we could say that He died for our sins. 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:53.599 Why did Jesus die? 00:22:54.599 --> 00:23:00.079 We could say that He chose of His own volition to die in our stead. 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.339 That would also be accurate. 00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:03.460 Why did Jesus die? 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:03.519 Why? 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:13.120 Jesus died because it was the Father's will to do it and He obeyed His Father. 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:23.880 Isaiah 53 makes it clear that it was the Father's will that His Son suffer in our stead. 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:30.480 I think just for a moment also to the prayer that Jesus prayed in the garden, and you probably 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:33.320 remember it where Jesus said this, if it be possible. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:36.380 Another way of saying that would be if there's any other way. 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:39.080 If it be possible. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:42.720 In other words, hey, are there any options on this plan? 00:23:43.520 --> 00:23:46.940 If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.880 What's the next part? 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:55.180 Nevertheless, not my will, but yours. 00:23:58.820 --> 00:24:03.440 I want you to recognize, beloved, as you think about what Christ did when He came here, 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:09.200 and as we read in Philippians, it says that He took on human form and He humbled Himself, 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:11.940 becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:18.920 We have a tendency to find our significance, and I want you to think with me about this. 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:22.860 We have a tendency of finding our significance and doing our own thing. 00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:26.340 Now, Christians don't want to admit that. 00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.740 But here's the deal. 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:33.240 When your own thing gets thwarted, how do you respond? 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.519 Huh? 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:42.740 How many of you had your plans interrupted by other ill-conceived... 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.180 Let's stop right there. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:49.079 I have a tendency of getting beyond myself, and it causes problems. 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:52.640 But you know what I'm saying is other people mess with your brilliance. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.099 You had planned to shop. 00:24:55.099 --> 00:25:01.919 And there are a thousand yahoos that should have been doing it on Amazon when you decided to go to the store. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.000 You know? 00:25:04.199 --> 00:25:10.059 And the people who drive in front of you, what do they demonstrate other than their lack of wisdom? 00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:13.059 They should have their license suspended. 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.240 Okay, there we are. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:25.640 You know, we really come around and think that our significance lies in our own ideas and our own performance. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:34.660 And it tells us that Jesus was willing to do only what His Father wanted. 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:48.420 I want you to realize the passage also tells us that Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:53.160 By becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:26:03.580 How does death take place in our culture when someone is justly condemned and given the death penalty? 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.660 How do they die today? 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.720 They take to Him... 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:10.660 Probably none of you have ever been there, thankfully. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.759 I'm sure you haven't. 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:15.580 But, you know, they take them into a room and they strap them on a gurney. 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:20.319 And then they put a little chemical cocktail into the person. 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:20.819 Am I right? 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:24.699 And how does that cocktail play out? 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:28.179 Well, first the person goes to sleep. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:31.639 And then the person sleeps less. 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:34.899 And then they take a gasp or two and guess what? 00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:39.119 The doctor comes in and checks his pulse and listens and blah, blah, blah. 00:26:39.419 --> 00:26:40.119 He's gone. 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.000 Okay. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:45.940 Now, it says here, He was obedient to the point of death. 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:47.420 And then we have a little comment. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:49.779 It says, even death on the cross. 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:57.059 We view the cross as an accessory today, don't we? 00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:00.839 I mean, if you're a little extra spiritual, you might wear one. 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.200 Nothing wrong with wearing a cross. 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:08.299 Do you know in the ancient world nobody ever wore a cross? 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:20.380 And the reason for that is the cross was the most brutal, vile, despicable, offensive way to be put to death. 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:31.420 It was a penalty reserved only for those that the government wanted to make a strong statement about. 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:36.860 I want to be careful that I don't go left of center here. 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:40.200 But I remember going to a football game down at OSU. 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:47.779 And they had gotten one of those mine-resistant vehicles from the Army. 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:50.640 And it was parked outside of the OSU stadium. 00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:53.740 And I thought, wow, what is that doing here? 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.600 Do you know what I'm talking about? 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:56.080 It wasn't a buffalo. 00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:56.580 It was one. 00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.940 What was it? 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.140 Can you help me here, Seth? 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:08.220 It was one of those big mega, you know, about like 20 tons of armor and all that kind of stuff. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:12.860 And I saw it parked by the front gate and I said, whoa, that's going strong, right? 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:17.640 I mean, it's like if you mess with us, we're going to roll this up and put it right through your front door. 00:28:17.800 --> 00:28:20.400 And you will understand not to mess. 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.140 Do you follow that? 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:25.259 That's nothing compared to crucifixion. 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.259 Crucifixion. 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:40.119 Crucifixion was the most brutal way of telling a population you had better knuckle under or you're going to die screaming your heart out and you're going to suffer for days in public. 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:58.019 When parents would come into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, on occasions they would have to walk by the places that these criminals were being executed by crucifixion. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:06.460 And I can guarantee you that a parent would throw the cloak of their robe across the face of their little boy and say, don't look, don't look. 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:08.900 Put your fingers in your ears. 00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.900 Put your fingers in your ears. 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:12.940 Because it was the most brutal way to die. 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:21.060 And it was saying this, this is what happens to people the government doesn't like. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:31.380 It says Jesus died on the cross. 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:40.940 I read this week of a man who was executed for murdering two elderly women. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:50.460 And I thought to myself as I was reading that article of the contrast between how Jesus died for our sins and how that man died. 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:59.700 Do you realize that Christ's death happened because of me and because of you? 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:04.340 I like the song. 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:07.940 In fact, I almost asked John for us to sing it. 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.660 In Christ Alone. 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.880 I love that song. 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:23.059 By the way, there's been a lot of little hubbub about the fact that several publishers wanted to include Keith Getty's song, 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.880 In Christ Alone. 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:30.340 But he would not remove the words, the wrath of God was satisfied. 00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:35.620 And they thought that it was just a little too strong. 00:30:36.080 --> 00:30:39.200 And it really talked about the penal substitution of Jesus. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:42.460 You know, penal substitution means Jesus died for me. 00:30:44.560 --> 00:30:46.600 I deserved all that wrath. 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.820 Do you follow that? 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:51.559 I justly had it all coming to me. 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:54.259 And Christ Jesus died in my place. 00:30:54.439 --> 00:30:56.119 And he died in your place. 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:00.559 That's what this is telling me. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:04.179 He humbled himself. 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:18.360 He willingly took our place on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins we richly deserve. 00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:25.799 Let me have you stop with me just for a moment now as we come to kind of a summary of all of this. 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:31.819 Because when we consider this passage, if the Spirit of God is working in your heart, here's how it plays out. 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:39.879 Really, we recognize that all of the people who are present this morning can be divided into two separate categories. 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:45.519 One, those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:54.779 And when the Spirit of God is working in the life of the believer, and you are reminded of what Christ Jesus has done for you, 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.680 do you know what the Spirit of God does in your heart? 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:02.859 He stirs it to be thankful that He died in your place. 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:10.539 I remember reading what Martin Lloyd-Jones said about the preaching of the gospel. 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:20.899 He said that a genuine believer who is affected by the Spirit of God can never hear the gospel without having it resonate in their soul. 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.720 Do you think Martin Lloyd-Jones is right? 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:28.980 I do. 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:34.799 So this morning, as we stop and think that Jesus died in my place, 00:32:35.420 --> 00:32:38.779 the heart of those who know the Lord Jesus should kind of like, whoa. 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:42.799 In fact, if that's not going on, here's what I would encourage you to do. 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:46.480 I would encourage you to be reminded of what we read over in the book of Revelation, 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:51.160 where it talks about people whose hearts have grown cold, 00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:56.119 and they have lost their first love. 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.599 By the way, 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:05.000 the longer you're with Him, 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:07.339 and the longer you grow in loving Him, 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:11.099 the more affected you are by the sweetness of your relationship. 00:33:11.219 --> 00:33:11.699 Isn't that right? 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.519 On the other hand, 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:23.139 you may be here as a person who doesn't know Christ. 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:28.600 Now, is it possible to grow up in a church, 00:33:29.360 --> 00:33:31.200 go to Sunday school, 00:33:32.520 --> 00:33:34.920 actually be an Awana participant, 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:36.320 and memorize those verses? 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.540 And I know, 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.780 because I've worked in Awana, 00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:40.240 guess what the first thing is 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.960 that little kids learn in Awana? 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.940 Here's what they learn from the very beginning. 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.160 In fact, I think, 00:33:46.780 --> 00:33:48.000 help me here, 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:48.360 Doug, 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:50.080 you're with this, right? 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:53.759 You have to learn from the very beginning 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.559 that you're a sinner, 00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:55.579 and Jesus died for you 00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:57.699 in order to get anything, right? 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.480 Candy or games. 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.199 I mean, it's important. 00:34:01.939 --> 00:34:03.079 Don't take me wrong. 00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:04.240 But here's the point. 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.139 It's at the heart. 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:05.859 It's at the heart. 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:06.720 And so, 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.960 here's the deal. 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.699 You can grow up in church, 00:34:11.819 --> 00:34:15.199 and you can hear all the stuff about Jesus, 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:18.099 and you can be sitting here this morning, 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.599 and the truth of the matter is, 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.900 is you've never come to faith 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.900 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:25.460 I can't tell you how often 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:27.699 I've ended up in conversation with people 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:29.159 that tell me they know Jesus, 00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:34.579 but their life shows absolutely no evidence 00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:39.519 of the transforming power of the cross. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:39.659 Jesus Christ. 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:50.139 The man who was born blind, 00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:53.259 remember, 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.679 he didn't know who healed him. 00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.280 How many of you know that story in John? 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.880 Didn't know who healed him. 00:34:58.699 --> 00:35:01.019 And the Pharisees are giving him the what for. 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:03.280 They're just beating him up. 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:04.000 And he says, 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:04.639 hold it, hold it. 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:06.099 I don't know who, 00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:07.000 and I don't know what, 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.639 but I do know there was a time 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.500 when I was blind, 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:11.619 and now I can see. 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.960 There is a before and after 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.440 in those who are converted 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:19.119 by the power of the cross. 00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:22.679 And if you're sitting here this morning, 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:24.319 and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:27.119 let me plead with you when Christ said, 00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:29.619 be reconciled. 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:37.940 Christ Jesus came into the world 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:40.819 to save sinners. 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:46.480 He took upon himself human form. 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.480 He humbled himself. 00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:53.880 And that humiliation is beyond our ability 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:55.019 to fully grasp. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.440 The reason why is because 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:59.179 we're into being human. 00:35:59.179 --> 00:36:00.839 And we don't understand being God, 00:36:00.919 --> 00:36:01.239 do we? 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.119 But he did that. 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:09.339 So he could take your place 00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:12.659 and die in your stead. 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:18.000 Let me close with this. 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:23.919 God is holy. 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:28.019 And he will judge sin. 00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:31.659 But I will tell you 00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:33.119 that there must be an amplifier 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.399 in his judgment 00:36:34.399 --> 00:36:38.019 of those who sit and hear the gospel 00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.379 and harden their hearts. 00:36:39.819 --> 00:36:42.679 And in the face of what Jesus has done for you, 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.699 you refuse to receive 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:48.419 the gift he offers. 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:52.899 Let's close in prayer. 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:58.160 Our Father, 00:36:58.160 --> 00:36:58.740 this morning, 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:00.539 we revel 00:37:00.539 --> 00:37:03.780 in the doctrine of the incarnation 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:07.539 that you willingly sent your son, 00:37:07.680 --> 00:37:09.119 second person of the Trinity, 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:13.099 to take upon himself human flesh 00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:15.820 expressly for the purpose 00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:17.680 of dying in our place 00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:19.300 and for our sins. 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:19.440 Jesus, 00:37:19.740 --> 00:37:21.800 and those of us 00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:22.660 who are believers 00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:25.519 have our love tested 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.140 this morning 00:37:26.140 --> 00:37:27.760 by the effect 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:29.220 that that sweet truth 00:37:29.220 --> 00:37:30.660 has upon our heart. 00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:34.140 And those who are here 00:37:34.140 --> 00:37:34.860 that do not know 00:37:34.860 --> 00:37:36.160 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:38.320 it is our plea 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:39.360 and our prayer 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:41.220 that they would come 00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:42.080 to see Christ 00:37:42.080 --> 00:37:43.640 as their only hope. 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:45.519 they would confess 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:46.279 their sins 00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:48.319 and believe upon 00:37:48.319 --> 00:37:49.639 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:51.019 who is the Savior 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:52.519 of the world. 00:37:53.279 --> 00:37:54.119 And we ask this 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:55.099 in your precious name. 00:37:55.699 --> 00:37:55.980 Amen.