Let This Mind Be in You
Introduction:
In
Philippians 1:27 – 2:4,
Paul appealed to these brethren to be united, of one
mind. For this to happen, they needed to exhibit the
proper attitudes toward one another. What better way to
do this, than to give them an example of the kind of
mind Paul desired of them, the mind of Christ.
Text:
Philippians 2:5-11
Aim:
To install within each of us the mind of Christ
Body:
I.
The Exhortation
Philippians 2:5
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus,”
NKJV
Model yourselves after Christ; have His submissive
disposition. Use Jesus as the proper example of
the kind of attitude that promotes unity. Jesus washed
the disciples’ feet. (John
13:14-16)
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your
feet, You also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I
have given you an example, that you should do as I have
done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is
not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent
greater that he who sent him.”
NKJV
II.
The Example
Philippians 2:6-8
“who, being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming
in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the
point of death, even the death of the cross.”
NKJV
A.
His Humility
1.
“Being” in the form of God – present tense – has always
been and continues to be divine in nature. Eternal
“Form” – the essence of a thing, its interior nature
He did not give up being God while on earth. (John
1:1-2)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with
God.”
NKJV
2.
“Did not consider it robbery” – He did not consider
equality with the Father as something he had to hold on
to at all costs – not at the cost of human redemption!
He knew He had to change roles temporarily for mankind
to have hope.
3.
“Made Himself of no reputation” – literally He emptied
Himself, not of His divinity, but of the glory and role
[position] He had in heaven before coming to earth.
(John
17:1-5)
“Jesus
spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and
said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son,
that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given
Him authority over all flesh, that He should give
eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this
is eternal live, that they may know You, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have
glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father,
glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which
I had with You before the world was.”
NKJV
We see that He subjected Himself voluntarily to the
Father’s will.
4.
“Taking the form of a servant” and “coming in the
likeness of men” The eternal Word actually became
a flesh and blood human being. Listen to these words.
(Romans
8:3)
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak
through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He
condemned sin in the flesh,”
NKJV
For a third of a century He left the Heavenly realm and
came to this sin-filled earth and lived among sinful
man.
5.
“He humbled Himself” – to make low. If we desire unity,
we must display this same type of humility – placing
other’s best interests before our own. No task is
beneath us.
B.
His Obedience
He knew what He had to do for man to be redeemed.
“Only a divine being can accept death as obedience; for
ordinary men it is a necessity.” Listen to this.
(Hebrews
5:8-9)
“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the
things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He
became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey
Him,”
NKJV
For unity to prevail, we must subject ourselves to God
and to one another. (Take the form of a servant. . .)
III.
The Exaltation
Philippians 2:9-11
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him
the name which is above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of
those on earth, and of those under the
earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
NKJV
He has been exalted to the highest place – returned to
the heavenly throne. His former glory restored.
(Ephesians
1:20-21)
“which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the
dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly
places, far above all principality and power and might
and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this age but also in that which is to come.”
NKJV
God wants people to respect His Son and confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord – that He’s the Savior, the
Anointed One, and that He is King of Kings and Ruler of
Rulers. This is also seen in the phrase “at the name of
Jesus every knee” – should be translated “in the name of
Jesus” – by His authority. Paul used a similar
expression when he was pleading with the Corinthian
brethren to be united. (I
Corinthians 1:10)
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you, but that you be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment.”
NKJV
For us to attain the unity God desires, we must put
aside our feelings and opinions, and respect the
authority of Christ as given in the New Testament. Have
a “thus saith the Lord” for all we say and do!
Conclusion:
If we are to be a united people, we must display to the
world the mind of Christ and to exhibit His attitude of
humility and obedience and service. Along with this, if
we are to be united in Christ, we must practice only
those things authorized by Him in the Word.
Invitation:
While we live here on this earth, we have a choice
whether we will bow to Christ or not, whether we will
humbly subject ourselves to His will. A day is coming,
though, when all shall bow to Him. (Romans
14:11)
“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every
knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to
God.’ ”
NKJV
For many it will be too late.
Bobby Stafford March 10, 2019 Series on
Philippians: Lesson 5
