Merry Christmas to all of you here as well as all of you joining us from elsewhere.
Please turn with me to Philippians chapter 1 verse 27.
This is now entering into the main body of the letter to the Philippians.
And let me pray and ask God's help.
Heavenly Father, we want to be Christians worthy of the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
We want to be characterized by His humility, His selfless sacrifice.
Because only then can we be united for the sake of the gospel.
Only then can we bring glory to your name.
Amen.
So please God, speak to us now.
May your powerful word have its effect on us this evening.
To make us more like your Son.
In His precious name we pray.
Amen.
Philippians chapter 1 verse 27 to chapter 2 verse 18.
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 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 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.
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 emptied Himself by 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.
Therefore, my beloved,
as you have always obeyed,
so now, not only as in my presence,
but much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish,
in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding fast to the word of life,
so that in the day of Christ I may be proud
that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Even if I am to be poured out
as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
In his memoir, The Heavenly Man,
Brother Yun,
recalls a time when the burgeoning house church movement in China
had two main groups marked by doctrinal disagreements
as well as some rivalry and faction.
At that time, Zhang Rongliang and Zhu Yongzi,
the leaders of the two groups,
decided to get together in an attempt to hash things out.
And when Zhu Yongzi was praying in preparation for the meeting,
Brother Fan said to him,
Brother Zhu, I believe the Lord has given me a word for you,
but I am not sure you can accept it.
He continued,
I feel that when Zhang Rongliang and his leaders arrive,
you should immediately get on your knees
and wash their feet one by one.
Brother Zhu,
who was the leader of millions of Christians throughout China,
responded,
I accept this as a word from the Lord.
I'll certainly wash their feet.
Unfortunately, however,
the atmosphere,
I'm quoting from the book here,
the atmosphere deteriorated
until it became like a business meeting
with everyone talking at once about different subjects.
Many old wounds resurfaced
and it became apparent
the two groups were as far apart
as they'd ever been.
It looked as if Brother Zhu
had missed his chance to wash their feet.
Suddenly, Zhang slept to his knee
and announced,
All this talk is a waste of time.
Let's pray and then we'll leave.
Brother Fan pushed Brother Zhu in the back
and instructed him,
Quick, get some water
and do what the Lord told you to do.
Zhang was praying,
Zhang was praying with his eyes closed
when Zhu knelt down in front of him
and started gently to take his shoes and socks off.
And Zhang opened his eyes and was amazed.
He couldn't believe
that the great Zhu Yongzi,
the leader of the largest house church movement in China,
would ever kneel down and wash his feet.
Zhang cried out
and wrapped his arm around Brother Zhu
in a warm embrace
and that led to a reconciliation
and an unprecedented partnership
in the movement.
All because one brother obeyed the Holy Spirit's prompting
to wash his brother's feet.
And the gospel advanced in China,
continued to advance.
Humility fostered by unity
and unity enabled by,
unity enabling people to persevere
for the sake of the gospel.
That's what this passage is all about.
Humility fostering unity
and unity enabling us to persevere together.
In the preceding passage,
Paul spoke of how we should live
with single-minded devotion
for the events of the gospel,
but he realizes that there are a couple obstacles
that stand in the way
of the Philippian church.
One is external persecution,
which he mentions in verses 28 to 30 of chapter 1.
And then second is internal divisions,
characterized by selfish ambition and conceit,
grumbling and disputing.
And so knowing that Paul deals with those issues head on
in this passage
and exhorts the Philippians
and us, by extension,
to live in a manner worthy of the gospel
by adopting the mind of Christ
who humbled himself unto death.
Following the flow of Paul's argument,
I will unpack it in three main points.
First, unity for the gospel of Christ,
humility with the mind of Christ,
and then perseverance until the day of Christ.
First, unity for the gospel of Christ.
Paul implores the Philippian believers in verse 27,
only let your manner of life
be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
He's emphatic.
Only, whatever else you might forget to do,
do this.
Only let your manner of life
be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
That's literally,
only live as citizens
worthy of the gospel of Christ.
The language of citizenry
and civic responsibility
would not have been lost on the Philippians
since they were citizens of Philippi,
which was a proud Roman colony.
Luke describes Philippi in Acts 16, 12 this way,
as a leading city of the district of Macedonia
and a Roman colony.
Colonial status was the highest privilege
that any Roman province could hope to attain.
Residents of a Roman colony
were granted freedom
as well as exemption from direct taxation.
But Paul is not here referring
to their Roman citizenship.
He's calling them to a higher allegiance
because Christians are citizens
of the colony of heaven.
Paul says this explicitly later
in Philippians chapter 3, verse 20,
where he says,
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we await a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we see in verses 29 to 30,
the Philippian believers were facing persecution,
engaged in the same conflict
that Paul was engaged in.
They saw this,
and it's recounted in Acts chapter 16,
where Paul was accused
of advocating customs
that are not lawful for Romans
to accept their practice.
And consequently,
Paul was torn naked,
beaten with rods,
and thrown into prison
with their feet fastened in the stocks.
And now they see
that Paul is still engaged
in that same conflict
as a prisoner of the Roman Empire.
And the Philippians' believers
were experiencing
that same opposition,
persecution,
which was likely a point
of embarrassment for them
as citizens of Philippi,
citizens of the Roman Empire.
Because they might say,
we're Romans after all.
Should we have to go through
these embarrassments,
these shame?
But Paul reminds them,
no, you're much more
than a Roman citizen.
Don't you forget
where your ultimate allegiance lies.
You are citizens of heaven,
and your Lord is not Caesar,
but Christ.
So only live
as citizens worthy
of the gospel of Christ.
Christ.
So whatever citizenship
or identity
or privilege
you might be proud of,
remember this,
that more importantly,
you are a Christian.
Before you're an American
or a Briton,
before you're Chinese
or Korean,
before you're a Harvard grad
or an MIT grad,
before you're a doctor
of philosophy,
before you're black
or white,
before all else,
you are a citizen
of heaven,
a servant
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But what does living
as citizens worthy
of the gospel
of Jesus entail?
It entails unity
in the gospel
and for the gospel.
Paul explains
in verses 27 and 28,
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 side by side
for the faith
of the gospel
and not frightened
in anything
by your opponents.
The phrase
in one spirit
should be rendered
in the one spirit,
meaning the Holy Spirit.
That's the way
the New International Version
translates it
and that's the way
Paul uses that exact expression
everywhere else
he uses it.
Ephesians 2.18
and 1 Corinthians 12.13.
So he's referring
to the third person
of the Trinity here.
And the phrase
one mind
is literally
one soul.
It's the same word
that's used later
in chapter 2,
verse 2,
translated being in full accord,
being united in soul.
So then,
standing firm
in one spirit
with one soul,
that's paralleled
by chapter 2,
verses 1 to 2.
If there is any
participation
in the spirit,
complete my joy
by being united
in soul,
being in full accord.
So then,
only those
who participate
together
in the one spirit
can work together
in one spirit.
Striving side by side
for the faith
of the gospel
is enabled
by our unity
in the spirit of God.
So then,
the unity
that Paul is
enjoining here
for us
is not a denominational
or organizational unity.
unity,
it's a spiritual unity
established by
the Holy Spirit.
In summary,
then,
a life worthy
of the gospel
of Christ
is a life
that promotes
the gospel,
a life that
adorns the gospel,
a life that
strives for the gospel.
The phrase
striving side by side
is the language
of athletic competition
or conflict.
It refers to
contending together
for the faith
of the gospel.
And as in any contest,
there are opponents.
So Paul tells them
not to be frightened
in anything
by your opponents.
Those who live
to advance
the gospel
of Jesus
will always
be opposed.
But we must
not be intimidated.
We need to stick
together
and fight together.
And this teaches us
that the unity
of the church
that Paul is
commanding here
is not just
a nice accessory.
It's not a bonus.
Rather,
it's something
that is essential
to the advance
of the gospel.
if we do not
stand firm
in the one spirit
with one mind,
we will fall apart
in many directions
with many different minds
in the service
of many spirits.
And Paul says
to the Philippians
in verse 28
that their unified,
steadfast witness
to Jesus
is a clear sign
to them,
to their opponents,
of their destruction,
but of their salvation.
because it will reveal
their hope
in the day
of Jesus Christ
and the judgment
that awaits
those who oppose Christ.
And here's why
a suffering witness
on behalf of Jesus
is a sign
for our,
a sign of our salvation.
Paul says
in verses 29 to 30,
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.
I quoted chapter 3
verses 10 to 11
last week,
but Paul believes
that sharing
in Christ's suffering
is part and parcel
of discipleship.
It is a necessary aspect
of our union
with Christ.
Therefore,
only those
who share
in Christ's sufferings
can hope to share
in his resurrection
from the dead.
In this way,
the Philippians
suffering for Christ's sake
is a sign to them
of their ultimate vindication
and salvation.
This is why
in Acts chapter 5
when the apostles
are arrested
and beaten
for the name,
for preaching the name
of Jesus Christ,
it says that they rejoiced
that they were counted
worthy
to suffer dishonor
for the name
of Christ.
They're not happy
that they're getting
beat up
in and of itself.
They rejoiced
rather in what
their suffering meant,
that they were identified
with Christ,
that they were sharing
in Christ's suffering,
which meant
that they will also
share in his victory,
in his vindication.
And that's why
he says,
it was granted
to you.
It's kind of a,
it's a funny way
to put that,
right?
It means to give
graciously.
God has given
graciously to you
to suffer.
It's a gift
from God
because it tests
our suffering
for the sake
of Christ,
tests our faith,
confirms the genuineness
of our faith,
increases our confidence
in our salvation
that awaits us.
That's what it means
to live in a manner
worthy of the gospel,
adopting the mind
of the suffering Messiah.
But of course,
the Christian life
is not only about suffering
and Paul writes
in 2 Corinthians 1-5,
for as we share
abundantly in Christ's
sufferings,
so through Christ
we share abundantly
in comfort too.
Along this line,
Paul continues
his exhortation
for unity
in chapter 2
verses 1-2
and reminds us
of the comfort
that we have in Jesus.
It says,
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.
We find a close parallel
to verse 1
in 2 Corinthians 13-14
which we use
as our benediction,
that the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
This is the only other place
in the whole Bible
where the phrase
fellowship
or participation
of the Spirit occurs.
They're the two same words.
So then any encouragement
in Christ
and any comfort
from God's love,
the Father's love,
and any participation
in the Spirit,
this is intentionally
Trinitarian.
It's speaking of
our communion with God
which is the subjective
experience
of our union with God,
the objective reality.
If you have any encouragement
from Christ,
our good shepherd,
our redeemer,
if you have any comfort
from the love of God,
our heavenly Father,
if you have any participation
in the Spirit
who indwells us
and intercedes for us
with groanings
too deep for words,
and then to these three conditions,
Paul adds a fourth item,
any affection and sympathy.
This is the only item
on the list
that doesn't have
a modifying phrase
like in Christ,
from love,
or in the Spirit.
So likely here
he's transitioning
to something
that they have
amongst each other,
relationship among believers,
affection and sympathy
that they had
for one another
and for Paul.
So Paul's saying this,
if you have experienced
even a tiny bit
of the blessings
and comforts
of being a Christian,
then do this
above all things.
Be complete my joy
by being of the same mind,
having the same love,
being in full accord
and of one mind.
Once again,
the exhortation
is toward unity
of the faith
for the sake
of the gospel.
Having the same mind
or having one mind
doesn't mean
that they have to have
the same exact opinions
on everything,
but it means
that they should have
the same mindset
or disposition.
Similarly,
they are to have
the same love,
extending the love
that they have received
from God the Father
to one another.
But this kind of
gospel unity
is made possible
only by humility.
So Paul says
in verses 3 to 4,
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.
Notice how categorical
this command is.
Do nothing
from selfish ambition
or conceit.
The word conceit
literally means
empty glory,
vain glory.
It describes
those who think
of themselves
more highly
than they ought to think.
Those who have
no glory
and yet act
like they do.
We should not say
or do anything
out of such
selfish ambition
or empty glory.
Instead,
it says we should
in humility
count others
more significant
than ourselves.
What does that
look like?
Paul explains
in verse 4,
let each of you
look not only
to his own interests,
but also to the
interests of others.
This is essentially
Paul's version
of the second
greatest commandment.
Love your neighbor
as yourself.
Paul's not telling us
to compare ourselves
unfavorably
with other people.
rather he's telling
us to forget
ourselves
in the service
of other people.
He's telling us
to lose ourselves
for the gain
of other people.
Think about it
this way.
The fact that
there are more
important people
in this world
doesn't ever stop
us from thinking
of ourselves
first and foremost,
does it?
The fact that
there are more
knowledgeable people
in the world
doesn't stop us
ever from giving
the greatest weight
to our own opinions,
does it?
The fact that
there are busier
people in the world
doesn't make us
ever stop us
from valuing
our time over theirs,
does it?
The fact that
there are more
needy people
in the world
doesn't ever stop us
from thinking
first of our needs,
does it?
That's because
selfishness is in
our sinful human nature.
But Paul is telling
us that as people
who have been
united with Christ,
we should go beyond
our sinful human nature
and count others
more significant
than ourselves.
Consider others'
interests before
our interests.
What we naturally
do for ourselves,
we do this even
when we are less
significant than others.
We consider our
interests before theirs.
He's saying,
do that for others.
It doesn't matter
whether you think
you're wiser than them
or not,
more significant
than them or not.
Consider their
interests before yours.
Let each of you
look to the interests
of others.
Look,
here is where we get,
it's a Greek word
from which we get
the English word
scope,
to be on the lookout
for something.
Pay careful attention
to something.
We are to be
on the lookout
for others' interests.
Pay careful attention
to their interests
instead of thinking
only of my time,
my life,
my reputation,
my money,
my future,
my health,
my family.
Some people make
much of the fact
that Paul doesn't
say in verse 4,
don't look
for your own interests,
but look only
to the interests
of others.
But says,
look not only
to your own interests,
but also to the interests
of others.
Ah, you see,
they say,
Paul's telling us
about telling us
that we need
to look out
for our own interests,
too.
Just not only
for our own interests.
But to emphasize that
is to miss
the whole point
of this passage.
Paul's not commanding us
to look out
for our interests.
Rather,
he's assuming
that we will look out
for our interests
and telling us
to subordinate
our interests
to the interests
of others.
The concept
of enlightened
self-interest
is a category
of modern psychology,
not of scripture.
This is the scripture's
antidote
to selfish ambition.
This is the scripture's
cure to empty glory.
The grumbling
and disputing
mentioned later
in chapter 2,
verse 14.
Humility fosters unity
and unity enables
the church
to persevere together
for the faith
of the gospel.
This serves
as a transition
to the next section
where Paul speaks
of humility
and how we ought
to live
with the mind
of Christ.
These verses,
verses 5 to 11,
is the crux,
the center
of this entire section.
It's the meat
of the passage,
really of the entire book.
It's sandwiched
between two exhortations
toward unity
in the faith,
but these exhortations
are controlled
by the example
of Christ
at the center.
Many people think
that verses 6 to 11
are lyrics
of an early Christian hymn
because of their poetic nature,
which is possible
but not certain.
Regardless,
these verses
beautifully encapsulate
the magnificent truths
about Jesus
and his humiliation
and his subsequent
glorification.
It begins this way,
have this mind
among yourselves,
which is yours
in Christ Jesus.
This mindset
that he's been speaking of,
of putting others first,
this mindset of humility,
that's what Paul's
commanding here.
And he tells us
that this mindset
is yours
in Christ Jesus.
By virtue of our,
your union with Christ,
by virtue of our union
with Christ,
we are empowered
to live out
this kind of humility
that Christ exemplified
for us.
Verses 6 to 7 continue,
Christ Jesus,
who though he was
in the form of God,
did not count equality
with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking the form
of a servant,
being born
in the likeness of man.
There's several things
about these verses
that can easily
be misunderstood
and have been misunderstood
in the past.
First,
the word form
in English
usually means
the external shape
or appearance
of something.
For example,
the form of that phone
is beautiful,
but inside
it's made of cheap parts.
So sometimes people
mistakenly think
that Jesus was only
in the form of God,
the outward appearance
of God,
but wasn't actually
God in his essence.
But the word form
used here,
it's the Greek word
morphe,
from which we get
the English words
like morphology
or metamorphosis.
It refers to
the essential mode
in which something exists.
It refers to
the nature
or character
of a thing,
the essential nature
of a person.
There's a different
Greek word,
schema,
that's used
to refer to
the external appearance,
merely the formal
appearance of things.
And that's used
later in verse 8
to describe
Jesus' outward
human appearance.
So it's a little
confusing that
the ESB,
translated the two
different Greek words,
morphe and schema,
with the same
English word,
form.
But the New American
Standard Bible
helpfully translates
morphe as form
and schema
as appearance
to make the
distinction clear.
NIV does the same
thing.
The New International
Version translates
morphe as nature
and schema
as appearance.
Christ,
being in very nature
God,
did not consider
equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but rather he made
himself nothing
by taking the very
nature of a servant
being made in
human likeness
and being found
in appearance
as a man.
He humbled himself
by becoming
obedient to death.
So what Paul is
saying is this,
Christ Jesus
was already
God in his
eternal preexistence.
And while
he was divine,
he did not
count equality
with God
a thing to be
grasped.
He did not
consider equality
with God
something to be
used to his
own advantage.
That's the way
the NIV puts it.
The word
translated,
a thing to be
grasped,
refers to a
seizure of
property,
or laying
claim to
something,
or gripping,
or grasping,
or holding
on to something.
It's the
characteristic
of all pagan
gods created
in the likeness
of man,
in the image
of man.
They are
avaricious,
acquisitive,
exploitative,
and self-serving,
always saying
get, get,
get more
from its
worshippers.
But Christ
was not like
this.
He was not
looking only
to his own
interests.
He did not
seek to
exploit his
status as
God to
his own
advantage.
He didn't
clasp
tightly to
the privileges
of deity
that he was
entitled to.
No,
instead,
he emptied
himself.
He says
in verse
7.
But what
does that
mean?
It doesn't
mean that
Jesus emptied
himself of
his deity,
his divine
attributes.
Colossians 2,
9 says of
Jesus,
for in him
the whole
fullness of
deity dwells
bodily.
He never
ceased to be
God,
but without
ceasing to
be God,
Jesus became
a man.
The rest
of verse
7 tells us
that this is
exactly what
this emptying
was about.
Christ
Jesus
emptied
himself
by
taking
the
form
of
a
servant,
being
born
in the
likeness
of
men.
Jesus
didn't
abandon
his
divinity
in order
to take
on
humanity.
He
emptied
himself,
poured
himself
out on
behalf
of
others
by
taking
up
a
human
nature
in
addition
to
his
divine
nature.
And
this
is
the
shocking
message
of
Christmas.
Christmas
season
is
dedicated
to
remembering
that
the
eternal
son
of
God
was
born
as
a
human
being.
As
you
know,
I
currently
have
the
privilege
of
being
a
father
to
an
infant.
And
as
I
was
reflecting
on
this
truth,
I
was
holding
my
third
daughter
in
my
arms
and
was
just
filled
with
wonder,
just
imagining
this,
thinking
about
this,
that
the
eternal
word
which
was
with
God
in
the
beginning
and
which
was
God
was
born
as
a
crying,
babbling
baby.
That
the
omnipresent
God,
God
who
occupies
all
space,
was
born
as a
baby
that
has
to
be
carried
from
place
to
place.
That
the
mighty
God
was
born
as
a
baby,
a
frail
and
delicate
baby.
That
the
eternal
timeless
God
to
whom
a
thousand
years
is like
one
day
enter
the
timeline
of
human
history.
That
the
God
by
whom
all
things
were
created
himself
became
a
creature.
that
the
master,
the
lord
of
lords,
the
king
of
kings,
the
prince
of
peace,
heir
of
all
things
that
belongs
to
God
the
father,
took
the
form
of
a
servant.
Being
born
in the
likeness
of
man,
he
became
a
slave.
Without
rights
and
privileges,
completely
disposed
to the
will
of
his
father,
the
son
of
man
came
not
to
be
served,
but
to
serve
and
give
to
give
his
life
as
a
ransom
for
many.
Jesus
set
aside
his
scepter
and
picked
up
a
towel
with
which
he
washed
his
disciples'
feet.
Jesus
prayed
in
John
chapter
17
verse
5,
and
now
father,
glorify
me
in
your
own
presence
with
the
glory
that
I
had
with
you
before
the
world
existed.
Though
Jesus
was
the
glorious
son
of
God,
in
a
real
way,
by
taking
on
human
flesh,
Jesus
divested
himself
of
that
glory.
His
divine
glory
was
veiled.
Unlike
the
conceited
people
that
Paul
mentioned
earlier
who
boast
of
glory
that
they
do
not
have,
empty
glory,
Jesus
empties
himself
of
the
glory
that
he
does
have.
And
when
he
walked
the
earth
in
his
flesh,
Jesus
didn't
have
a
halo
around
his
head.
He
didn't
levitate
off
the
floor.
He
didn't
speak
with
the
amplified,
booming,
thunderous
voice.
No,
he
was a
baby,
and then
a
boy,
and then
a
man.
He
grew
in
wisdom
and
stature
like
other
children.
He
got
hungry
and
thirsty
and
he
had
to
eat
and
drink.
His
feet
got
dirty
from
walking
on
the
dusty
roads
and
they
had
to
be
washed.
nobody
rolled out
the red
carpet
for him.
I
guess they
kind of
did
on Palm
Sunday
a little
bit.
Jesus
was
humiliated.
It's
humiliating
for God
to take
on human
flesh.
He
should
have
had
the
whole
of
humanity
at
his
beck
and
call,
but
instead
he
was
despised
and
rejected
by
men.
Jesus
emptied
himself
by
taking
the
form
of
a
servant
and
he
endured
this
humiliation
to
save
us.
In
Genesis
1
26
God
said
let us
make
man
in
our
image
after
our
likeness
the
God
who
created
us
after
his
likeness
was
born
in
our
likeness.
Why?
Because
in
Genesis
chapter
3
verse
5
Adam
believed
Satan's
lie
that
when
he
eats
the
forbidden
fruit
from
the
tree
of
knowledge
of
good
and
evil
that
he
will
be
like
God.
Man
sought
to
usurp
God's
place.
That's
what sin
is
in its
essence.
But
God
took
our
place
to
save
us.
That's
what
grace
is
in
its
essence.
Adam
grasped
for
what
was
not
rightfully
his
and
Jesus
did
not
grasp
for
what
was
rightfully
his.
Jesus
came
as
the
new
man
in
order
to
succeed
where
Adam
had
failed.
So
the
Son
of
God
took
on
the
humiliation
of
becoming
the
Son
of
Man
to
bring
about
the
new
creation.
But
his
humiliation
doesn't
stop
there.
We
talked
about
the
humiliation
that
Jesus
endured
as
God
but
now
he
endures
further
humiliation
as
man.
It says
in
verse 8
he
being
he
humbled
himself
by
becoming
obedient
to
the
point
of
death
even
death
on
a
cross.
Because
we've
lived with
the idea
of Jesus
being
crucified
for
two
millennia
now
we have
in
some
ways
become
too
familiar
and
comfortable
with
the
idea.
we
wear
crosses
on
our
necks
and
put
them
up
on
our
walls
but
that
would
have
been
morbid
and
totally
unthinkable
in the
ancient
world.
Jews
had
been
taught
in
Deuteronomy
21-23
that a
man
who is
killed
by being
hung
on a
tree
is
cursed
by
God.
Similarly
for the
Greeks
and
Romans
crucifixion
was a
form of
cruel
and
unusual
punishment.
It
was a
form of
torture
and
execution
wrapped
up
in
one
package.
The
Romans
had
plenty
of
other
more
efficient
means
of
killing
people
but
they
used
the
crucifixion
for
special
occasions
for
low-life
criminals
and
enemies
of
the
state.
In
fact
Cicero
a
Roman
politician
denounced
the
practice
of
crucifixion
in
a
number
of
his
writings.
He
called
it
a
most
cruel
and
disgusting
punishment.
And
he
suggested
the
very
mention
of
the
cross
should
Roman
citizen's
body
but
from
his
mind
his
eyes
his
ears.
Crucifixion
was a
picture
of
humiliating
defeat
that
sent
the
chilling
message
of
Roman
domination
to
all
spectators.
And
that's
the way
our
king
our
savior
our
champion
died.
How
humiliating.
And
he
endured
that
humiliation
for
us
because
Adam
took
an
aid
from
the
forbidden
tree.
Jesus
climbed
up
and
died
on
the
cursed
tree
of
the
cross.
Jesus
bore
the
deadly
consequences
of
our
sins.
We
should
have
been
humiliated
like
that.
We
should
have
borne
shame
in
our
own
nakedness
but
Jesus
hung
on
the
cross
in
his
nakedness
for
us
and
we
learn
all
this
wonderful
theology
not
just
so
we
can
talk
theoretically
about
what
happened
who
Jesus
was
what
his
two
natures
are
but
because
it's
supposed
to
have
an
effect
in
our
lives.
Remember
how
Paul
started
this
in
verse
5
have
this
mind
among
yourselves
which
is
yours
in
Christ
Jesus
that's
the
effect
that
this
is
supposed
to
have
as
Christians
we're
supposed
to
have
this
mind
that
Christ
demonstrated
for
us
in
his
humble
obedience
unto
death
we are
called
to
daily
carry
our
cross
and
follow
Jesus
and
what
does
that
mean
that
means
dying
to
our
personal
preferences
that
means
dying
to
our
entitlements
dying
to
our
selfish
ambitions
Dying
to
our
dreams
of
glory
in
his
book
entitled
Humility
Andrew
Murray
the
19th
century
South
African
pastor
says
this
until
a
humility
which
will
rest
in
nothing
less
than
the
end
and
death
of
self
which
gives
up
all
the
honor
of
man
as
Jesus
did
to
seek
the
honor
that
comes
from
God
alone
which
absolutely
makes
and
counts
itself
nothing
that
God
may
be
all
that
the
Lord
alone
may
be
exalted
until
such
a
humility
be
what
we
seek
in
Christ
above
our
chief
joy
and
welcome
at
any
price
there
is
very
little
hope
of
religion
that
will
conquer
the
world
a
humble
person
does
not
compare
himself
to
others
he
does
not
envy
because
he
has
made
himself
nothing
and
has
made
Jesus
everything
he
seeks
nothing
for
himself
but
Christ
and
he
lives
entirely
for
the
glory
of
Christ
he
is
the
slave
of
Christ
and
for
a
servant
to
everyone
he
can
boast
of
his
weaknesses
he
can
rejoice
even
in
the
midst
of
suffering
he
can
brush
off
the
insults
and
injury
done
to
him
by
others
he
does
not
get
puffed
up
by
the
praises
and
rewards
heaped
on
him
by
others
because
he
has
made
himself
nothing
and
has
made
Jesus
everything
that's
the
blessed
freedom
of
humility
to
have
the
mind
of
Christ
and
we
can
humble
ourselves
in
such
a
way
only
if
we
entrust
ourselves
to
God's
ultimate
vindication
and
salvation
as
Jesus
did
so
Paul
turns
his
attention
to
Jesus
vindication
and
glorification
in
verses
9
to
11
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
the
word
therefore
tells
us
that
it's
because
Jesus
willingly
endured
humiliation
and took
the lowliest
place
out of
obedience
to his
Father
that
God
the
Father
now
exalts
him
to
the
highest
place
in
verses
68
Jesus
was
the
subject
of
all
the
verbs
but
in
verse
9
God
is
the
subject
of
all
the
verbs
Jesus
humbles
himself
God
exalts
him
likewise
it's
not
our
place
to
exalt
ourselves
our
only
lot
is
to
humble
ourselves
it
is
entirely
God's
prerogative
to
exalt
us
verses
10
to
11
quote
from
Isaiah
45
21
to
23
where
God
declares
his
name
as
the
Lord
Yehovah
and
says
to
me
every
knee
shall
bow
every
tongue
shall
swear
allegiance
God
the
proper
name
of
God
in
Hebrew
Yehovah
is
translated
as
Lord
throughout
the
Greek
translation
of the
Old Testament
which
Paul
and other
New Testament
believers
used
and are
familiar
with
and
this
that
title
the
Lord
is
the
name
that
is
above
every
name
that
God
now
bestows
on
Jesus
so
that
every
tongue
confess
that
Jesus
Christ
is
Lord
the
name
of
God
this
is
why
Paul
emphasizes
the
importance
of
confessing
Jesus
is
Lord
in
Romans
chapter
10
verse
9
1
Corinthians
chapter
12
verse
3
and
a
name
is
not
merely
a
name
in
scripture
it
represents
a
person's
character
a
person's
worth
his
accomplishment
and
in
Isaiah
42
8
God
says
I
am
the
Lord
that
is
my
name
my
glory
I
give
to
no
other
nor
my
praise
to
carved
idols
because
no
one
else
is
worthy
of
the
name
and
yet
God
bestows
that
very
name
on
Jesus
this
does
not
mean
that
Jesus
attained
divinity
through
his
death
resurrection
and
ascension
rather
it
means
that
it
is
for
the
first
time
that
the
name
of
the
Lord
is
bestowed
on
Jesus
Christ
as
the
God
man
the
redeemer
of
God's
people
isn't
that
that's
mind
boggling
to think
about
in
Jesus
manhood
is
forever
joined
to
the
Godhead
whether
we do
it
now
as
the
glad
subjects
of
the
Lord
Jesus
or
whether
we do
it
later
as
subdued
enemies
of
the
Lord
Jesus
all
the
heavenly
beings
angels
and
demons
all
the
earthly
beings
we
humans
who
walk
on
it
now
and
all
those
who
are
under
the
earth
the
dead
buried
underneath
every
knee
will
bow
before
him
and
every
tongue
will
confess
his
name
and
his
lordship
because
that's
what
he
deserves
he
didn't
get
that
due
he
didn't
get
what
was
due
to
his
name
his
first
coming
he
was
humiliated
but
in
his
second
coming
Jesus
will
get
his
due
that's
what
we
live
for
and
this
is a
powerful
even
seditious
statement
that
Jesus
is
lord
because
in
the
Roman
empire
especially
in
Philippi
a
Roman
colony
emperor
worship
was
widespread
and
Caesar
was
hailed
as
lord
but
no
Paul
says
the
true
lord
is
Jesus
Christ
who
humbled
himself
to
the
lowest
place
and
died
on
a
Roman
cross
that's
our
lord
not
Caesar
and
as
Christians
we are
to
follow
in
Jesus
footsteps
the
way
to
glory
always
goes
through
the
cross
and
we
are
to
do
this
not
only
at
the
onset
of
our
lives
as
Christians
but
daily
until
the
very
end
that
brings
us
to
the
final
section
verses
12
to
18
where
Paul
speaks
of
perseverance
until
the
day
of
Christ
he
says
in
verses
12
to
13
therefore
my
beloved
as
you
have
always
obeyed
and
so
now
not
only
as
in
my
presence
but
much
more
in
my
absence
work
out
your
own
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
for
it
is
God
who
works
in
you
both
to
will
and
to
work
for
his
good
pleasure
this
is
a
classic
text
that
teaches
us
of
the
Christian's
need
to
persevere
in
faith
and
obedience
till
the
end
there
is
a
sense
in
which
Christians
are
or
have
already
been
saved
we
have
been
justified
by
Christ
we
are
also
being
saved
we
are
being
sanctified
by
the
spirit
we
also
will
be
saved
when
we
are
glorified
by
the
father
so
our
salvation
is
past
present
and
future
the
salvation
that
is
in
view
here
in
verses
12
to
13
is
in
the
process
of
being
worked
out
currently
and
ultimately
lies
in
the
future
it's
the
same
salvation
that
Paul
mentioned
earlier
in
chapter
1
verse
18
where
he
straightforwardly
said
that
salvation
is
from
God
but
that
doesn't
mean
we
don't
have
to
do
anything
Paul
is
very
concerned
here
with
our
obedience
he
put
forward
Christ's
obedience
unto
death
as
an
example
for
us
and
that's
what
he
now
calls
the
Philippian
believers
to
live
in
a
manner
worthy
of
the
gospel
of
Christ
by
standing
firm
in
one
spirit
and
contending
side
by
side
for
the
faith
of
the
gospel
without
being
intimidated
by
opponents
so
then
believers
have
a
real
part
to
play
in
God's
saving
work
out
your
own
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
we
don't
work
out
our
salvation
lackadaisically
we
cannot
be
complacent
this
is
not
something
we
can
take
for
granted
no
we
must
work
out
our
own
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
lest
we
fail
lest
we
fall
short
of
the
goal
it's
important
to note
here
that the
verb
work
out
and
the
possessive
your
are
both
plural
in
the
Greek
of
course
each
individual
believer
is
responsible
for
his
or
her
faith
and
obedience
but
there's
also
an
important
corporate
dimension
to
our
perseverance
we
persevere
together
in
fact
the
church
is
indispensable
to
our
personal
perseverance
because
as
Hebrews
3
13
reminds
us
unless
we
exhort
one
another
every
day
we
risk
being
hardened
by
the
deceitfulness
of
sin
but
this
doesn't
mean
that
our
salvation
ultimately
depends
on
us
verse
13
says
for
it
is
God
who
works
in
you
both
to
will
and
to
work
for
his
good
pleasure
in
other
words
we
work
because
God
is
already
working
God
is
the
one
who
enables
us
to
believe
and
obey
God
is
the
one
who
empowers
us
to
will
and
to
work
for
his
good
pleasure
he
not
only
helps
us
to
do
what
he
wants
he
also
helps
us
to
desire
what
he
wants
to
will
it
he
so
transforms
us
and
gives
us
the
mind
of
Christ
that
we
will
and
work
for
his
good
pleasure
and
this
is
not
a
reason
to
be
complacent
rather
it's
an
incentive
for
us
all
the
more
to
work
out
our
own
salvation
with
fear
and
trembling
because
without
God
working
in
us
it
would
all
be
futile
there
would
be
no
point
in
trying
but
since
God
is
working
in
us
we
work
even
harder
to
win
the
prize
of
the
upper
call
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
precisely
because
God
enables
us
to
will
and
work
the
more
we
persevere
in
our
faith
and
obedience
the
more
we
are
assured
of
our
salvation
assurance
of
salvation
and
perseverance
of the
saints
Paul
further
unpacks
what it
means
for us
to
work
out
our
own
salvation
in
verses
14
to
16
do
all
things
without
grumbling
or
disputing
that
you
may
be
blameless
and
innocent
children
of
God
without
blemish
in
the
midst
of a
crooked
and
twisted
generation
among
whom
you
shine
as
lights
in
the
world
holding
fast
to
the
word
of
life
so
that
in
the
day
of
Christ
I
may
be
proud
that
I
did
not
run
in
vain
or
labor
in
vain
the
command
here
to
stand
to
hold
fast
to
the
word
of
life
echoes
what
he
said
in
chapter
127
standing
firm
in
one
spirit
one
mind
striving
side
by
side
for
the
faith
of
the
gospel
Paul's
main
concern
once
again
is
that
we
hold
fast
to
the
gospel
and
in
unity
bear
witness
to
Jesus
Christ
cracks
were
beginning
to
show
in
the
Philippians
united
contention
for
the
gospel
so
Paul
exhorts
them
to
do
all
things
without
grumbling
or
disputing
and
then
he
drives
his
point
home
with
a
pointed
Old
Testament
allusion
the
word
grumbling
is a
word
that
occurs
again
and
again
throughout
the
first
five
books
of
the
Bible
to
describe
the
Israelites
unfaithfulness
and their
grumbling
against
God
they
constantly
doubted
God's
promises
and did
not
persevere
in
faith
and
obedience
so
much
so
that
Moses
said
of
them
in
Deuteronomy
32
verse
five
which is
quoted
by
Paul
here
they
have
dealt
corruptly
with
him
they
are
no
longer
his
children
because
they
are
blemished
they
are
a
crooked
and
twisted
generation
exact
same
words
that
Paul
uses
here
he's
Paul
using
this
example
to
warn
the
Philippians
that
if
you
don't
want
to
end
up
being
condemned
as
a
blemished
crooked
and
twisted
generation
like
the
unfaithful
Israelites
of
old
then
you
must
hold
fast
to
the
gospel
and
persevere
in
faith
and
obedience
together
when
you
find
yourself
grumbling
against
God
when
you
find
yourself
disputing
with
God's
people
don't
dismiss
that
as
a
small
thing
a
mundane
matter
grumbling
and
disputing
reflect
a
prideful
and
rebellious
heart
and
as
such
they
are
threats
not
only
to
our
unified
witness
for
the
sake
of
the
gospel
but
also
to
our
own
perseverance
in
faith
and
obedience
Paul
doesn't
take
the
Philippians
ultimate
salvation
for
granted
he
exhorts
them
strongly
so
that
he
says
in
verse
16
in
the
day
of
Christ
I
may
be
proud
that
I
did
not
run
in
vain
or
labor
in
vain
Paul
here
employs
the
metaphors
of
race
and
labor
to
convey
the
hope
of
vindication
that
he
has
on
the
day
of
Christ's
return
he
is
running
a
race
to
win
the
prize
and
if
he
doesn't
win
that
prize
his
running
is
in
vain
he
is
laboring
diligently
so
all
his
work
all
his
diligence
is
in
vain
this
shows
just
how
invested
Paul
was
in
the
Philippians
progress
and
joy
in
the
gospel
we
see
evidences
of
their
close
relationship
all
throughout
this
letter
Paul
calls
them
beloved
brothers
he
says
in
chapter
2
verse
12
not
only
as
in
my
presence
but
much
more
in
my
absence
emphasizing
that
just
as
they
were
eager
to
please
him
and
listen
to
him
when
he
was
present
with
them
they
should
do
so
even
more
when
he
is
absent
from
them
he
says
the
same
thing
in
chapter
1
verse
27
he
asks
them
in
chapter
2
verse
2
to
complete
my
joy
because
he
knew
that
the
Philippian
believers
were
eager
to
do
that
he
says
he
rejoices
in
anticipation
chapter
1
verse
18
that
he
will
get
to
continue
to
minister
to
the
Philippians
for
their
progress
and
joy
in
the
faith
and
then
Paul
concludes
this
section
in
verses
17
to
18
this
way
even
if
I
am
to
be
poured
out
as
a
drink
offering
upon
the
sacrificial
offering
of
your
faith
I
am
glad
and
rejoice
with
you
all
likewise
you
also
should
be
glad
and
rejoice
with
me
Paul's
joy
was
so
inextricably
intertwined
with
the
Philippians
joy
and
progress
in
the
gospel
that
he
saw
his
own
life
and
ministry
as
a
drink
offering
poured
upon
the
sacrificial
offering
of
their
faith
in
the
Old
Testament
wine
was
poured
out
as
a
drink
offering
unto
an
animal
or
grain
sacrifice
to
use
a
more
modern
analogy
Paul
sees
his
life
and
ministry
as
kind
of
an
icing
on
the
cake
that
he
is
offering
to
God
in
the
same
way
that
Jesus
emptied
himself
Paul
now
speaks
of
being
poured
out
for
the
sake
of
the
Philippians
faith
and
there's
hints
there
of
potential
martyrdom
because
Paul
knows
that
his
sentence
could
be
an
execution
God
is
a
wonderful
image
of
being
spent
for
the
sake
of
another
but
Paul
he
says
it's
no
matter
to
him
as
long
as
the
Philippian
church
is
standing
firm
in
their
faith
in
the
gospel
and
steadfastly
bearing
witness
to
Jesus
then
Paul
says
no
matter
that
I'm
fed
to
the
lions
no
matter
that
I'm
beheaded
no
matter
that
I'm
executed
no
matter
that
I'm
poured
out
for
you
I'm
glad
and
rejoice
with
you
all
even
in
that
Paul
thought
this
way
because
he's
following
Jesus
he adopted
the mind
of
Christ
who
humbled
himself
unto
death
but
Paul
says
if you
do
not
persevere
if
you
don't
make
it
till
the
end
if
you
don't
hold
fast
to
the
word
of
life
then
I
would
have
run
this
race
in
vain
this
is
what's
so
helpful
for me
to
think
about
Christian
leaders
owe
the
churches
that
they
serve
their
integrity
to be
above
reproach
they
owe
you
they
owe
their
churches
faithful
preaching
of the
word
they
owe
the
churches
their
prayers
as
1st
Samuel
12
23
says
far
be
it
from
me
that
I
should
sin
against
the
Lord
by
ceasing
to
pray
for
you
and
I
will
instruct
you
in
the
good
and
right
way
but
the
people
of
God
also
owe
their
leaders
something
1st
Samuel
12
24
continues
only
fear
the
Lord
and
serve
him
faithfully
pastors
do
not
daily
worry
about
the
spiritual
conditions
of
their
church
members
pray
in
tears
for
them
spend
countless
hours
cooped up
in their
study
preparing
sermons
worrying
about
this
word
or that
and
preach
their
hearts
out
on
Sundays
because
it's
a
job
that
makes
the
money
they
don't
do
that
because
they
care
nothing
about
the
church
but
only
about
doing
their
part
no
that's
not
the
pastor's
mindset
they
labor
for
your
progress
and
joy
in
the
gospel
and
if
you
do
not
persevere
till
the
end
it
would
be
in
vain
the
years
would
be
wasted
so
how
are
you
persevering
today
church
are
you
living
in a
manner
worthy
of
the
gospel
by
adopting
the
mind
of
Christ
are
you
shining
as
lights
in
the
world
are
you
holding
fast
to
the
word
of
life
are
you
glad
and
rejoicing
because
of the
advance
of
the
gospel
that's
my
prayer
for
you
and
I
want
to
end
close
by
citing
this
poem
from
that
same
book
I
mentioned
earlier
by
Andrew
Murray
oh
to
be
emptier
lowlier
mean
unnoticed
and unknown
and to
God
a vessel
holier
filled
with
Christ
and
Christ
alone
yes
father
that's
our
deepest
desire
we want
to be
nothing
we want
Christ
to be
everything
help us
to lose
ourselves
in you
forget
ourselves
for the
sake
of the
gospel
oh
help us
God
to
persevere
in
faith
and
obedience
to
the
end
unite
us
as
the
church
the
body
of
believers
to
contend
side
by
side
together
for
the
sake
of
the
gospel
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen