The Mind of Christ

Text: Philippians 2:1-11

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts open and ready to receive Your Word. We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us the ultimate example of humility, love, and service. As we gather to learn from Your Scriptures, we ask that You would quiet our minds and soften our hearts so that we may be transformed by the truth of Your Word. Help us to understand what it means to live with the mind of Christ, to walk in unity, humility, and selflessness. Guide us, Lord, by Your Spirit, that we may not only hear but live out these truths in our daily lives. Be glorified in this time together. In Jesus' precious name, we pray, Amen.

Introduction:

This passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians provides a profound glimpse into the nature of Christ and the mindset we are called to have as His followers. Paul challenges the Philippians—and us—to model our lives after the humility and selflessness of Jesus, who, though God, took on the role of a servant and willingly went to the cross. This passage emphasizes unity in the body of Christ, humility in service, and the ultimate exaltation of Jesus. Let's explore this passage in two parts: first, the call to unity and humility (verses 1-4), and second, the example of Christ’s humility and exaltation (verses 5-11).

As we begin, let’s first explore Paul’s call to unity and humility in the Christian community, which sets the foundation for understanding the mind of Christ in our relationships with one another.

I. The Call to Unity and Humility (Philippians 2:1-4)

Paul begins with an appeal grounded in the blessings believers receive in Christ:

Verse 1:

Philippians 2:1 NKJV

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Paul uses a rhetorical "if," which in Greek can be understood as "since" or "because." Paul is essentially saying, “Since we have encouragement from being united with Christ, since we experience comfort from His love, and since we have fellowship in the Spirit and affection from God, let these truths guide your life together.” He reminds us of the relational blessings of being in Christ—encouragement, comfort, and love.

Verse 2:

Philippians 2:2 NKJV

fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Paul urges the Philippians to make his joy complete by living in unity. Unity in the body of Christ doesn’t mean uniformity—it means sharing the same love for one another, the same goal of glorifying Christ, and the same mindset of humility. Love is the glue that holds the church together in times of trial.

Verse 3:

Philippians 2:3 NKJV

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Paul contrasts two attitudes: selfish ambition and conceit versus humility and service. Selfish ambition drives us to promote ourselves, but Paul calls us to lay that aside. Humility means thinking less of ourselves and more of others. We should consider others better, not in terms of worth, but in terms of priority—placing their needs above our own.

Verse 4:

Philippians 2:4 NKJV

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Paul isn’t asking us to neglect ourselves but to balance our care for our own needs with a deep concern for the needs of others. This attitude is foundational for Christian community and reflects the love Christ has for us.

(Transitional Sentence) Having seen Paul’s call for unity and humility within the body of Christ, we now turn to the ultimate example of this mindset—Jesus Christ Himself, whose humility led to His exaltation and eternal glory.

II. The Example of Christ’s Humility and Exaltation (Philippians 2:5-11)

In this next section, Paul points to the supreme example of humility and service—Jesus Christ Himself.

Verse 5:

Philippians 2:5 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Paul’s command is clear: we are to have the same mindset as Jesus. What mindset is that? A mindset of humility, service, and obedience. He sets the stage to describe Christ’s incredible humility.

Verse 6:

Philippians 2:6 NKJV

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Jesus, who is fully God, did not cling to His divine privileges. He didn’t see His equality with God as something to exploit or take advantage of for Himself. Instead, He willingly set aside the full display of His glory to come to earth as a man.

Verse 7:

Philippians 2:7 NKJV

but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

The ESV translates “but made Himself of no reputation” to say that Christ "emptied" Himself, which is a better translation of the Greek word Kenosis which means “to empty”—now this does not mean that Christ stopped being divine, but simply means that He added to His divine nature humanity. He became a servant. The Creator of the universe stepped into His creation not as a king but as a servant, humbling Himself to the lowest possible position.

Here is how R.C. Sproul puts it...

Christ is not said to have removed from Himself either His deity or His identity as God. Instead, the Son of God added to His person a human nature without surrendering any of His divine attributes. The phrase means that He humbled Himself (v. 8), not relinquishing His divine being but embracing dishonor by becoming human. The nature of His “self-emptying” is defined in three phrases that follow (“taking … being born … being found”)

R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2111.

Verse 8:

Philippians 2:8 NKJV

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.

Jesus’ humility is not just seen in becoming human, but in His obedience to the Father’s will—even to the point of a humiliating and painful death on a cross. This level of sacrifice and obedience is the ultimate expression of humility.

Verse 9:

Philippians 2:9 NKJV

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

Because of Christ’s humility and obedience, God exalted Him. His resurrection, ascension, and glorification are a result of His obedience. He now holds the name above every name, a position of supreme authority and honor.

Verses 10-11:

Philippians 2:10–11 NKJV

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.

One day, every being in existence will bow before Jesus. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. This is the ultimate outcome of His humility and exaltation. Jesus’ glory will be universally recognized, and this will bring glory to God the Father.

Life Application

Live in Unity and Humility:

Paul’s call to the Philippians is clear. As followers of Christ, we must strive for unity in the church. This unity is built on humility and love. When we look out for the interests of others, we reflect Christ’s selflessness.

Ask yourself: Am I more concerned with my own desires, or do I prioritize the needs of others?

Follow the Example of Christ:

Christ’s humility is the ultimate example for us to follow. He was willing to lay down His glory, serve others, and even die for our salvation. We are called to the same mindset.

In what ways can you humble yourself, serve those around you, and be obedient to God’s calling in your life?

Rejoice in the Exaltation of Christ:

Christ’s humility led to His exaltation. This is a reminder that God honors those who humble themselves before Him. While we may not seek recognition, God sees our obedience and will reward us in His time. More importantly, we rejoice in the fact that Christ is exalted, and one day every knee will bow to Him.

Conclusion:

Philippians 2:1-11 is a call to reflect Christ’s humility in our lives. As we live in unity with one another, humbly serving and prioritizing others, we follow in the footsteps of our Savior. Jesus’ ultimate example of humility led to His exaltation, and as His followers, we are called to the same path of service, obedience, and joy in His lordship. Let us seek to have the mind of Christ, embracing humility, and living in such a way that brings glory to God.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the example of humility and service shown in Jesus Christ. Help us to live in unity, with the same love, and the same humility, as we seek to serve one another. May we always look to Jesus as our example and our Lord, exalting His name in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.