Tuesday, April 8, 2014

PHILIPPIANS: Christ The Servant, Our Example; "made Himself of no reputation, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross!"

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 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. (Philippians 2:5-7)

God had Paul write to the church in Philippi how they should treat eachother. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4) 

In other words, love eachother the way God wants us to, by getting along sincerely, peacably resolving our differences, and never think of ourselves more highly than we should.  This is exactly what love is: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)

Why are we to love in such a humbling way?  Because that's the love Christ demonstrated towards us. Christ Jesus, 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.  (Philippians 2:6-8) Christ did not come to be served, but to serve, and he has taught each of us to have the same attitude towards eachother. 

This is clearly demonstrated when He washed His disciples feet. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  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 than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.(John 13:3-5, 12-17)

Christ Jesus is Lord God (Genesis 1:26, 2:7); He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-5); He is the Word of God in the flesh (John 1:14-18); He is the only begotten Son of God (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, John 1:32-34); and He was obedient to God the Father, even to death (Luke 22:41-44).  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. (Philippians 2:9-11) 

For each of us who ...confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10) And then, just as God did with Jesus the Christ, Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (I John 3:1)

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