Philippians - A letter of Joy

The Humble Savior

Intro

Welcome

Pray

Miracles

Main Point: The Son Of God Provided Salvation Through His Humiliation On Earth.

Read Phil 2:5-11.

The Son of God humbled Himself to take on flesh (5-7)

Transition from Exhortation > Illustration (Read 1-4). Look Back & Forward.

Paul is arguing for Jesus’ Preexistence (John 1:1-2, 14, Col 1:15-17, Heb 1:3).

“Jesus did not cling to the full exercise of the prerogatives of His deity. He did not clutch His rights as God but chose to obey the will of the Father.” - Lawson

We should echo that of Christ’s humility!

Kenosis - “View asserting that the eternal Son of God by virtue of the incarnation gave up some or all of the divine attributes which were incommensurate with a fully human existence. The idea of self-emptying is taken from the Greek verb kenoo which means “make empty.”

The Son of God became man, so that man can become Sons of God!

The Hypostatic Union > Truly God AND Truly Man. Central, Very Important, Not just Dogmatic but Bulldog-matic!

2. The Son of God humbled Himself to die on the cross (8)

In both the OT and NT, humility is important for establishing a proper relationship with God, with others, and with oneself.

God does humble the proud - Dan 4:37, Lk 18:10-14, Jam 4:6, 1 Pt 5:5.

But here - “He Humbled Himself…as a man!”

“Christ went more willingly to the Cross than we do to His Throne of Grace.”- Watson

Obedience - To Hear God’s Word and Act According- Jam 1:22-23. Disobedience is a sin (Jonah).

The Cross was always plan A cause God is omniscient (All Knowing-Incommunicable Attribute.) Also God is Holy, Just, and Love - The Covenant of Redemption may be defined as the agreement between the Father, giving the Son as Head and Redeemer of the elect, and the Son, voluntarily taking the place of those whom the Father had given Him.” Berkhof

3. The Son of God humbled Himself to bring forth the victory (9-11)

This is the final phase of the mankind, ALL will bend and confess.

This does NOT universalism (Jn 14:6).

A promise of Isaiah 45:23““I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”

Will either be a welcoming ally/conquered enemy.

Ending

Either we humble ourselves, or God will.

We can look back to what Christ did, and look forward to what He will do.

Pray

SG.