The Ultimate Example of Humility
Notes
Transcript
Paul has been urging the Philippians toward a complete unity in the church. Remember last week he encouraged them to:
Be of the same mind
Have the same love
Be in one accord
He explained to them that this could be accomplished through humility. He follows that with the supreme example of humility, the Lord Jesus.
Verses 6-11 are believed to be an early Christian hymn. Your Bible may separate the text to show that. These words, written in a poetic manner, could be easily memorized, and meditated upon. When pride tried to sneak up on the Philippians, they could sing this song to themselves as a reminder of what God has called us to.
I don’t know if you sing when you are alone, but I do. Singing the truths of God is a wonderful way to overcome temptation. Right after I was saved, I wore out the song “I’m not giving up” by Gold City. I had the single and I would play it and rewind it. I’d listen to it three times by the time I got to work. I had those ten-inch Lanzar’s with an amp thumping.
As I sang that song I was saying:
I won’t cuss
I won’t use tobacco
I won’t smoke a joint after work with the guys
I won’t drink a beer after work
When I got back in the truck, I’d play it on the way back home.
This hymn is way better than anything Gold City has written. This hymn is the very Word of God. We’re going to dissect it this morning. If we pay attention, it will strengthen us spiritually.
1. We are commanded to follow the example of Christ (5).
A. The mind of Christ is the way to a unified church.
Amid all the deep theology we will see in this text don’t miss the fact that Paul is using this as an illustration on how to have a unified church.
Look back at verse 3:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Then Paul says, “This is what I mean by humility”. This is what it looks like.
God has given us the example of Christ to teach us about unity. Think of this moment in Jesus’ life:
He has been arrested and beaten.
While this is happening Peter denies three times that he even knows who Jesus is.
Jesus is killed.
Jesus rises from the dead.
Afterwards Jesus seeks out Peter. He has an angel send word “Go tell my disciples and Peter to meet me in Galilee”.
Why was Peter singled out?
Maybe the other disciples were mad at him.
Maybe Peter thought it was all over, he wasn’t a follower anymore.
Jesus initiated the restoration of Peter. He got him before the group and asked him three times if he loved him. Three times Peter confessed his love for Jesus.
Couple of things we can learn from this:
Jesus didn’t cast people away.
Jesus didn’t overlook sin for the sake of unity.
Peter was restored and became a great servant of the Lord.
The mind of Christ is set on a godly unity. He wants His people to dwell together in truth and holiness.
B. This command is for all Christians.
Notice first that this is a command. It’s not a suggestion.
Notice also the command is given to the entire church “among yourselves”.
He says “it is yours in Christ Jesus “.
In other words, if you’re saved, you can do this.
I remember we used to sing
“Victory is mine, victory is mine…” (Joy, Peace, Love)
We like to declare things like that. But what about:
“Humility is mine, humility is mine…”
Paul does say we have victory in Christ Jesus.
Paul also says we have humility in Christ Jesus.
All Christians have the same opportunity of Christ likeness.
We don’t all have the same level of talent.
We don’t all have the same level of giftedness.
There is a cap on some things in our life.
There is no cap on godliness. You can be just as godly as any other Christian in this world. Christlike humility is yours in Christ Jesus.
C. Christ is our example.
We’re called to have the mind of Christ not the mind of Christians.
Should Christians be an example to others. Absolutely. But the ultimate example for us to look at is Christ.
I don’t want to be the example my kids follow. I’ve tried to be an example to them, but I don’t want to be the ultimate example they look to because they have a much better example to look to in Christ.
I’ve noticed that we often use the deficiencies of other Christians to justify our own lack of Christ like character.
We may say something like:
My grandpa was a racist and he was a good Christian.
My mom never went to church, and she was a good Christian.
My dad was a drunk and he was a good Christian.
You just fill in whatever sin you want: he was abusive, she cussed like a sailor, etc.
I hear things like this at funerals. It breaks my heart. God never meant for bad examples of Christ to be your example. Christ is your example.
There are people in heaven and hell today if they could come back would tell you without a doubt “Don’t follow my example, follow Christ!”
Do not use a poor example of Christ to justify your deficiencies.
The example of David’s sin is not in the Bible for you to justify adultery. It’s there to remind you to flee youthful lusts.
The example of Peter’s denial is not in the Bible for you to justify denying Christ. It is there to remind you to watch and pray!
We are called not called to be like David.
We are not called to be like Peter.
We are called to be like Jesus.
Let this mind be in you!
Have this mind among yourselves!
John said we ought to walk as Jesus walked! (1 John 2:6)
2. Christ humbled Himself (6-11).
A. Christ became a man (6-7).
His Deity- He was in the form of God. That means He shared the very essence of the Father.
Equal in power
Equal in worth
Equal in knowledge
He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
Jesus was willing to let go of some of the privileges of His position to save us. He could have looked at us and said, “I’m God, I have no obligation to come and suffer for you.”
To save us Jesus would have to become one of us.
He did.
He was born of a virgin.
The only thing different about our humanity and Jesus humanity is Jesus did not have a sin nature.
If this isn’t humbling enough Jesus did not even appear to be a great man.
He wasn’t handsome.
He wasn’t head and shoulders above others.
We would not pick Him out of a crowd.
His physical appearance would not have suggested to anyone that He was God in the flesh. Isaiah 53:2 tells us that “there is no beauty that we should desire Him”.
Jesus made His own body and the one He chose to make was below average. That’s not something we would do.
Notice the phrase “emptied Himself” in verse 7. What does that mean?
The good news is the text tells us what it means. It says He emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant.
Jesus didn’t cease to be God when He became man. His Divinity was not subtracted. Humanity was added.
He was 100 % God and 100 % man.
Jesus voluntarily chose not to exercise some aspects of His Divinity while on earth. Let’s think about some of these things.
1) His visible glory was veiled in His humanity.
2) He hungered, thirsted, aged, felt pain
3) His position of being face to face with the Father.
4) The independent use of His authority (submitted to the Father).
5) Certain aspects of His Divinity such as omniscience.
Jesus didn’t lose anything when He became a man. He added something. He added humanity. To be a legitimate human and experience what we experience He limited Himself in certain areas.
B. Christ became a servant (7).
What kind of man would He become?
What kind of person would you become if you could become anything you wanted?
Jesus chose to become a servant. The word is “doulos” It refers to a bond servant. A bond servant was the lowest of servants. He didn’t even own the clothes on his back.
When Jesus was born there was no room for Him in the inn.
He said the foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.
He took the place of the lowest servant at the Last Supper when He washed the disciple’s feet.
Jesus thought of who He was and decided to become a servant.
Have you ever heard someone describe a proud person by saying “He just thinks He’s God’s gift to humanity.”
We use that to describe a person who thinks too much of themselves.
Jesus is God’s gift to humanity but look at how He presents Himself.
No greater human ever walked the face of the earth.
No richer human ever walked the face of the earth.
No smarter human ever walked the face of the earth.
Yet He chooses to present himself as a lowly servant.
C. Christ was obedient to the point of death (8).
Charles Spurgeon said, “There is no humility like obedience”.
That is true. It is humbling to obey. It is especially humbling to obey when obedience leads to our own humility.
Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will led Him to death.
He was born to die for us.
Jesus gave up His life in obedience to the will of God.
What have we sacrificed to obey the Lord?
There have been many who realized they might die and tried to bargain with God.
Lord, if you’ll give me a few more years I’ll live them in obedience to you!”
Jesus knew exactly when and where He was going to die, and He obeyed anyway. He knew that if He obeyed the will of God perfectly, He’d die a cruel death at the age of 33.
Humble people obey the Word of God regardless of where it leads them.
D. Christ submitted Himself to death on a cross (8).
Notice verse 8 says “even” death on a cross.
Not just death. Death on a cross!
A cruel death! A flex of the Roman Empire
A humiliating death! Mockery, nakedness
A painful death!
A slow death! Hours and even days
If you could choose your death, what would you choose?
I bet it wouldn’t be crucifixion!
I want you to notice that when you read this text Christ sinks lower and lower in humility.
Christ becomes man
Christ becomes a slave.
Christ is obedient to death.
Christ submits to the death of a cross.
In verse 6 Jesus is in heaven. In verse 8 He is on the cross.
Paul is saying “Watch Christ as He sinks lower and lower.”
Friend, are you growing in your humility?
Are you sinking lower and lower?
The greatest of the Christian virtues are love and humility. We should be growing in both.
3. Christ’s humility was rewarded with exaltation (9-11).
A. He has been given a name above every name.
Paul says as a result of Christ humbling Himself God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name.
Does this mean that Jesus wasn’t as glorious as He could have been?
No.
What Paul means is through the work of Jesus He has been exalted highly.
You and I experience Christ in a greater way because of His humility.
We experience the mercy and forgiveness of God. We worship God to a greater degree because we have experienced forgiveness.
The name of Jesus is lifted up because sinners are thankful. The highly exalted name Jesus is given is Lord (11).
Every Sunday churches across the globe sing praises to King Jesus!
Why?
Because He humbled Himself and was obedient to the death of the cross.
The first confession of the church was Jesus is Lord!
In the Greek it literally says God super exalted Jesus.
Do you highly exalt Jesus as Lord?
Do you praise Him with energy and passion?
Do you lift up His name?
Because of His work on the cross Christ is:
Lord & Savior
High Priest
The Godhead even points us toward Jesus.
We know that God exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But the God head points us all toward Jesus.
Hebrews 1:6 says, “And again when He brings His firstborn into the world, He says “Let all the angels worship Him”.
The Holy Spirit constantly points us to Jesus.
In heaven we sing praises to the Lamb who was slain.
B. He will be given universal submission (10).
Every knee will bow.
In heaven- saints and angels.
On earth- Those alive when Christ returns.
Under the earth- those demonic beings and unbelievers in hell.
Heaven will bow!
Earth will bow!
Hell will bow!
The question is not “Will I bow?”
The question is “When will I bow?”
I’m glad I’ve already bowed!
C. He will be universally acknowledged (11).
Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.
No one will ask you “What think ye of Jesus?”
When you see the eastern sky split.
When you see the Son of Man come on the clouds!
When you see those flaming eyes!
When you hear that voice like thunder!
When you see Him blazing in all His glory!
You’ll know who He is!
I wonder how that confession will be?
I think it will be every creature saying “Jesus is Lord” simultaneously.
Can you imagine how loud that will be?
Every angel
Every demon
Every saint
Every sinner
All of creation that has a voice shouting simultaneously “Jesus is Lord!”
Highly exalting Jesus!
Declaring Jesus is Lord!
Let’s end this sermon by making it practical. Do you want the Lord to exalt you?
Have the mind of Christ.
Humble yourself.
Christ did not allow His Deity to keep Him from humility.
Don’t allow your pride to keep you from it.
Be humble.
Think of others above yourself.