Introduction: When we lived in PNG, I occasionally took hikes into the jungle, but never alone. I always followed an experienced leader. He knew where he was going and how to return. I didn’t.
The Philippian Christians were having difficulty with unity. They needed an example to follow. Christ was that perfect example. Paul challenged them to let the mind be in them that was also in Christ Jesus (v.5). They needed to develop a mind like Christ’s. The CWSD tells us that “The activity represented by this word involves the will, affections, and conscience.” Thayer’s lexicon tells us that it involves our opinion of ourselves. We need a mind like Christ’s.
Transition: In this section we find three facts about Christ that ought to help us develop a mind like Christ’s.
The first fact that can help us is that
1. Christ Let Go of His Rights (v.6)
A. Christ was in the form of God
(1) The word “being” is significant. It means “existing.” Jesus existed eternally as God. He did not become God. He was not a god. He is the eternal God. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
(2) He was in the form of God. M. R. Vincent reminds us that this word has nothing to do with his shape. Instead, it speaks of his nature and character.
B. Christ willingly laid aside his rights.
(1) Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God. The word “robbery” means “a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained.” (Thayer) His equality with God was a fact, but he did not demand that he hold it fast.
(2) The KJ Bible Commentary expresses this well. “Christ waived His rights to: (1) express His deity; (2) display His divine attributes; and (3) demonstrate His equality with God.” However, “He did not and could not lay aside His divine nature. He laid aside the expression of deity, but He did not and could not lay aside His possession of deity.”
(3) Christ laid aside what he rightly deserved as God. We, too, must lay aside what we think to be our rights.
The second fact that can help us is that
2. Christ Humbled Himself (v.7-8)
A. Christ made himself of no reputation.
(1) This phrase means that Christ emptied himself.
(2) Again the KJ Bible Commentary explains, “He was like a king temporarily clothing himself in the garb of a peasant while still remaining king, even though it was not apparent.” Jesus Christ had every right to maintain his form as God, yet willingly he set it aside.
B. Christ submitted to incarnation.
(1) He took on the form (i.e., nature and character) of a servant or slave. He set aside the form of God and took on the form of a slave. Slaves were the lowest of men: without money, without property, without dignity, without any rights, always at the call of others.
(2) He was made in the likeness of men. The phrase “was made” is of great importance. It is the verb “to become.” It does not refer to creation. It is “Becoming, as opposed to what He was by nature; entering into a new state.” (KJ Bible Commentary) Becoming in the likeness of men, he resembled men. He looked like men. He became the God-man. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)
(3) Being found in fashion as a man. He did not have the nature of sinful men. Instead, he was found as having the fashion of men. CWSD defines fashion as “the external form or appearance.” Not only did Christ look like men, but he lived like men (i.e., he grew, got hungry, tired, excited, cried, etc.).
(4) He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death. It was extremely humbling for the Creator of the universe, the omnipotent God to become obedient unto death.
(a) Before his incarnation, death for God was not a possibility. He is life. Remember Jesus’ words at Lazarus’ tomb? “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:25)
(b) Not only did Christ humbled himself to die, He humbled himself to die one of the most painful and disgraceful deaths known to man – the death of a cross.
(5) As our example, Christ emptied himself, took the form of a slave, became like men, and humbled himself unto the death of a cross. We are to have a mind like Christ’s. To do so, we must empty ourselves of any superior feelings over others. We must become the servant of others. We are here to serve not to be served. We are to humbly sacrifice to help others.
The third fact that can help us is that
3. Christ Left All Exaltation to the Father (v.9-11)
A. It was God who highly exalted Christ.
(1) To exalt is to elevate. God elevated Christ to the highest position of rank and power.
(a) God honoured Christ’s humility. God loves humility. Jesus said, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) To that Peter adds, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:6)
(b) God honoured Christ because He died to pay the sin-debt of all mankind. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)
(2) God highly exalted Christ to his previous form as God.
B. God gave Christ a name above every name.
(1) Opinions differ whether giving to him a name was simply a title of distinction or a proper name like Jesus (Saviour).
(2) The emphasis is that his name commands the fear and respect of all creatures.
(a) Every knee will bow. All will bow in submission to Christ. This does not mean they will all be saved. Only those who humbly bow in repentance and faith while yet alive on this earth will be saved.
(b) Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This will glorify God the Father.
(3) We must not seek any honour or praise, but as Christ, we must leave that to God the Father.
Conclusion: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5) To do this, we must let go of superior ideas. We must empty ourselves, become like slaves, and humbly live for others. Having a mind like Christ’s will promote unity in our church, in your family, and in your relationships.
If your relationships are struggling, you must ask yourself if you truly have a mind like Christ’s. If you humble yourself, admit your need to the Lord, study this passage, and meditate on it, God can enable you to develop a mind like Christ’s.
If you have not yet received Christ as your Saviour, that is where you must begin.
