The Mind of Christ

TURN—PHIL. CH. 2

GOING THROUGH: VS. 5-8 TODAY...

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(T) THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

!!!READ PASSAGE!!!

PASSAGE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

!!!OPEN in PRAYER!!!

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INTRO: YOUR IDEAL ROLE MODEL

I’M SURE AT SOME POINT, WE’VE ALL HAD GOALS of WHO’D WE LIKE to BE WHEN WE GROW UP

Based on profession?

FIREFIGHTER

POLICE OFFICER

VET/NURSE/DR

SELAH—ZOOKEEPER

Based on person?

BE LIKE/DO.... WHAT MOM or DAD DOES...

UNCLE/AUNT

GRANDPARENT

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I’M SURE AT SOME POINT WE’VE ALL THOUGHT:

WHEN I GROW UP…I WANT to BE LIKE ...BLANK...

**SOMETIMES STILL USE SAME LANGUAGE as ADULTS!**

WANTING to BE LIKE/ OR DO WHAT SO & SO DOES

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GOING THROUGH LIFE: AT SOME POINT WE’VE LOOKED UP to SOMEONE

PARENT

COACH

TEACHER

TOWN HERO

CELEBRITY

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NEED:

(Q) WHO IS the ROLE MODEL YOU LOOK to MOST TODAY?

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NEED: THE CHRISTIAN’S PRIMARY ROLE MODEL is JESUS CHRIST—ONE of the REASONS WE NEED THIS TEXT TODAY...

LIVE a PERFECT LIFE—LOOK to JESUS

LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY—LOOK to JESUS

LIVING PLEASING to GOD—LOOK to JESUS

“W.W.J.D.” CAN GET a BAD RAP—BUT IT’S SO TRUE!

CHRISTIAN MOTTO: “WHEN I GROW UP (SPIRITUALLY) I WANT to BE LIKE JESUS”

I WANT to REFLECT HIM

I WANT to BE LIKE HIM

I WANT PEOPLE to SEE HIM WHEN THEY LOOK @ ME...

---KEEP THESE THINGS in MIND---

(T) BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO OFFER A SHORT RECAP TO BRING EVERYONE UP TO SPEED.

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RECAP: “A SELF-CHECK LIST”

Two weeks ago:

PAUL CONTINUED ETHICAL TEACHING BEGUN in CH. 1

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End of CH. 1:

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,

“CONDUCT YOUR LIVES, AS CITIZENS of HEAVEN”

UMBRELLA COMMAND—SUMMARIZES ALL ETHICAL TEACHING in PHILIPPIANS..

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Last time:

IN LIGHT of WHAT WE HAVE in CHRIST

ENCOURAGEMENT in CHRIST

COMFORT FROM LOVE

PARTICIPATION/FELLOWSHIP in HOLY SPIRIT

AFFECTION & SYMPATHY...

PAUL ADMONISHES: COMPLETE MY JOY—BEING of SAME MIND

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HOW??

Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

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

IN LIGHT of OUR COMMON GROUND as CHRISTIANS— AND LOOKING to OTHERS— WE SHOULD BE ABLE to GET ALONG...

THIS = MINDSET for CHRISTIAN UNITY

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(T) AND NOW, WE’RE GOING TO SEE HOW HE FURTHER QUALIFIES THIS,

IF YOU’D BEGIN BY LOOKING WITH ME AT VERSE 5.

o THE SCRIPTURE SAYS:

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PASSAGE PREACHING: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

THOUGHT 1: THE COMMAND & WHAT CHRIST DIDN’T DO

Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

PAUL TRANSITIONS---

COMMAND + THEOLOGICAL BASIS for IT...

Last Wk:

THINKING SAME WAY/HAVING SAME MIND

NOTHING FROM SELFISH AMBITION or CONCEIT

HUMILITY—OTHERS = MORE SIGNIFICANT

NOT MY OWN INTERESTS—BUT OTHERS TOO

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FURTHER QUALIFIED W/ ANOTHER COMMAND

“HAVE THIS MIND”

“THINK THIS WAY”

HAVE THIS MINDSET/ATTITUDE”

THE MINDSET THAT is BOTH in CHRIST (AS OUR EXAMPLE)

& FOR THOSE in CHRIST (US)

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(Q) WHAT is this MINDSET???

FIRST HE GIVES SOME BACKGROUND:

“THOUGH HE WAS in the FORM of GOD”

**SPEAKING of CHRIST’S PRE-INCARNATE STATE**

ONE COMMENTATOR HAS SAID, “PAUL’S POINT WAS THAT CHRIST EXISTED AS THE VISIBLE MANIFESTATION OF GOD—OF HIS GLORY, MAJESTY, POWER, AND STATUS. BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT HIS BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD IMPLIED THAT HE SHARED THE DIVINE ESSENCE,”[1]

“FORM of GOD”—DENOTES DIVINITY

PRE-EXISTENCE—DENOTES DIVINITY

**THIS = WHO CHRIST WAS.... NOT WHO HE BECAME**

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BUT...EVEN THOUGH HE’S DIVINE...

I. HE DIDN’T COUNT EQUALITY W/ GOD a THING to BE GRASPED

**NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT PASSAGE**

GK: ἁρπαγμός = “HAPAX”

**THESE WORDS = DIFFICULT,, CAN’T LOOK to OTHER USES in SCRIPTURE

HENCE DIFFERING TRANSLATIONS:

NIV: “Did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage”

ESV: “Did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (NASB also uses “grasped”)

NLT: “He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to”

KJV: “thought it not robbery to be equal with God”

(Q) What in the world does this mean then?

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THE GREEK WORD ἁρπαγμός CAN MEAN:

GRASPING AT SOMETHING IN THE SENSE OF TRYING TO SEIZE IT/ROBBERY...

KJV: “NOT ROBBERY” to BE EQUAL W/ GOD.

ESV/NASB: GRASPED

OR IT CAN ALSO HAVE THE SENSE OF GRASPING AT SOMETHING IN THE SENSE OF HOLDING ONTO IT/CLUTCHING IT (AND ALSO EXPLOITING THAT THING.)

ESV/NASB: “GRASPED”

NIV/NLT—ASSUME CHRIST HAS IT.

LOUW-NIDA, A GREEK LEXICON, SUMMARIZES HELPFULLY, “SINCE ἁΡΠΑΓΜΟΣ MAY MEAN NOT ONLY ‘TO GRASP SOMETHING FORCEFULLY WHICH ONE DOES NOT HAVE’ (57.235) ........BUT ALSO ‘TO RETAIN BY FORCE WHAT ONE POSSESSES,’ IT IS POSSIBLE TO TRANSLATE PHP 2:6 IN TWO QUITE DIFFERENT WAYS...”[2]

COULD BE STRIVING to TAKE/ROB HE DOESN’T HAVE

COULD BE HOLDING ONTO/CLUTCHING SOMETHING HE DOES HAVE (W/ ADDITIONAL IMPLICATION of EXPLOITING IT)

Question Becomes:

A. Is Christ trying to grasp/seize equality w/ God that He doesn’t have?/Striving/robbery

B. Is Christ holding onto His equality w/ God---and not considering that to be robbery,, but His right?

C. Is Christ equal with God—but refuses to clutch/grasp that position tightly/to abuse it/exploit it?

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Helpful to look to rest of Bible:

John 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:58 (ESV)

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

JOHN PRESENTS a MESSIAH WHO is DIVINE

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Titus 2:13 (ESV)

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Peter in 2 Peter 1:21--- “God & Savior Jesus Christ”

PAUL & PETER PRESENT a MESSIAH WHO is DIVINE

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Matthew 1:23 (ESV)

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

MATTHEW PRESENTS A MESSIAH WHO is DIVINE

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Hebrews 1:2–3 (ESV)

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

THE AUTHOR of HEBREWS—PRESENTS a MESSIAH WHO is DIVINE...

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Paul’s already shown us in Phil. 2--

Christ was pre-existent

Christ was in the “form of God”

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SCRIPTURE SO CLEARLY POINTS to DIVINITY of JESUS CHRIST...

SCRIPTURE ALSO SHOWS US GOD is ONE:

§ THE GREAT HEBREW SHEMA IS “HEAR OH ISRAEL THE LORD (YAHWEH) IS OUR GOD, THE LORD (YAHWEH) IS ONE.”

SCRIPTURE SHOWS US:

ONE GOD

BUT ALSO FATHER—SON—HOLY SPIRIT…THERE’S THREE.

ONE GOD—THREE PERSONS

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o THE FAMOUS COUNCIL OF NICAEA CAME UP WITH THE NICENE CREED IN 325 A.D. WHICH STATES:

§ “WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, MAKER OF ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE;

AND IN ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, BEGOTTEN FROM THE FATHER, ONLY-BEGOTTEN, THAT IS, FROM THE SUBSTANCE OF THE FATHER, GOD FROM GOD, LIGHT FROM LIGHT, TRUE GOD FROM TRUE GOD, BEGOTTEN NOT MADE, OF ONE SUBSTANCE WITH THE FATHER, THROUGH WHOM ALL THINGS CAME INTO BEING, THINGS IN HEAVEN AND THINGS ON EARTH, WHO BECAUSE OF US MEN AND BECAUSE OF OUR SALVATION CAME DOWN, AND BECAME INCARNATE AND BECAME MAN, AND SUFFERED, AND ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY, AND ASCENDED TO THE HEAVENS, AND WILL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND DEAD,

AND IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

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IT’S BEEN CONCLUDED for OVER 1,500 YEARS OFFICIALLY BY the CHURCH GOD is BOTH ONE & THREE.

THERE’S UNITY

BUT ALSO UNIQUENESS

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SOME TRY & EXPLAIN: “DIFFERENT MODES/APPEARANCES”

HERESY of MODALISM

LOOK @ JESUS’ BAPTISM

FATHER’S VOICE FROM HEAVEN

SPIRIT DESCENDING as DOVE

SON is BAPTIZED

—VODDIE B. “HE’S GOT to BE CHANGING HATS PRETTY QUICK!”

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HOW DOES THIS WORK?.... GOD = BOTH ONE & THREE?

WE REALLY DON’T KNOW.

TERM “TRINITY” —COINED to TRY & HELP

TRI + UNITY

“PASTOR, CAN YOU OFFER ME an ILLUSTRATION?”

NOT REALLY.

**MANY ILLUSTRATIONS = HERESY**

WATER CAN BE BOTH GAS, SOLID, LIQUID = HERESY of MODALISM

GOD = GREATER THAN the TRIANGLE

**ALMOST LIKE GOD is TOO GREAT to BE ILLUSTRATED**

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DIFFERENT HELPFUL EXAMPLE:

JOHN LENNOX—CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST—DEBATING ATHEIST

“WHAT’S GOD?”

JOHN LENNOX: “WHAT is ENERGY?”

WE DON’T KNOW the NATURE of ENERGY AS REGARDS ITS BEING....

WE KNOW WHAT IT DOES,, WE KNOW ABOUT IT…BUT WE CAN’T EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS...

—>> HOW MUCH MORE—GOD.

HOW CAN THE FINITE COMPREHEND THE INFINITE?

HOW CAN THE CREATED FULLY COMPREHEND THE CREATOR?

· WE CAN’T!

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TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD:

HE’S ONE GOD

BUT THERE’S a FATHER, SON, SPIRIT

UNITY W/ UNIQUENESS...

A.W. TOZER: “IF I CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT GOD, THEN HE’S NOT WORTHY OF MY WORSHIP.”

WE CAN ACCEPT JESUS’ DEATH & RESURRECTION BY FAITH

PERHAPS WE CAN ATTEMPT to ACCEPT PERSON of GOD BY FAITH...

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BACK to DISCUSSION of PHIL. CH. 2....

SCRIPTURE SHOWS US CHRIST’S DIVINITY

CLEARLY HE’S NOT GRASPING FOR an EQUALITY HE DOESN’T POSSESS

NOT LIKE ADAM TRYING to BE “LIKE GOD”

CONCLUSION:

CHRIST HAS EQUALITY W/ GOD

KJV —TRUE CONTENTION,, BUT DOESN’T FIT CONTEXT AS WELL

CHRIST DIDN’T CLUTCH HIS EQUALITY— MORE SPECIFICALLY,, HE DIDN’T EXPLOIT IT.

(T) SO WHAT DID HE DO?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 7-8

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THOUGHT 2: WHAT CHRIST DID DO

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

CHRIST DIDN’T ABUSE HIS DIVINE STATUS

HE DIDN’T HANG ONTO IT WITH A DEATH-GRIP

INSTEAD: “BUT” ((HUGE CONTRAST))

HE EMPTIED HIMSELF

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HE DIDN’T LIVE FROM SELFISH AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT, HE EMPTIED HIMSELF.

(Q) HOW DID HE DO THIS?

BY (MEANS of) TAKING on FORM of SERVANT

THE ONE in FORM of GOD

TAKES on FORM of SLAVE—HUMAN FORM

***NO GREATER CONDESCENSION—

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**IMPORTANT....CHRIST’S EMPTYING = METAPHORICAL/ POURING OUT...

IT’S EMPTYING BY ADDITION.

CHRIST = PRE-EXISTENT GOD

—>> HE NEVER CEASED to BE GOD.

HE DIDN’T BECOME GOD ((HERESY of ADOPTIONISM))

@ BAPTISM

@ RESURRECTION

@ ASCENSION

SCANDAL of CHRISTMAS: IMMANUEL— GOD W/ US!!

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HE DIDN’T COME DOWN to a PALACE

BUT a HUMBLE MANGER

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CHRIST EMPTIES HIMSELF—ADDING HUMANITY to HIS DIVINITY...

BOXER ILLUSTRATION—HAND BEHIND BACK

FORM of SLAVE = HUMAN FORM—BEING BORN in LIKENESS of MAN

CHRIST WAS FULLY DIVINE

CHRIST WAS FULLY HUMAN ((CONTRARY to HERESY: DOCETISM))

CALLED “HYPOSTATIC UNION”

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CHRIST DOESN’T ABUSE HIS DIVINE PRIVILEGES...

BUT EMPTIES HIMSELF

**AS IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH!!**

(V8) BEING FOUND in HUMAN FORM— HE HUMBLES HIMSELF FURTHER!

BECOMING OBEDIENT to DEATH

AUTHOR of LIFE—SINLESS ONE— SUBMITS HIMSELF to WORST PART of HUMAN EXPERIENCE

**AS IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH!!**

EVEN—DEATH on a CROSS.

· SCHOLAR DAN WALLACE POINTS OUT THAT THE WORD “EVEN” (GK: DE) IS SO INTRUSIVE IT MESSES UP THE CADENCE, IT MESSES THE FLOW, IT’S SUPPOSED TO JUMP OUT IN BOLD, ITALICS, AND UNDERLINED…

CROSS WAS RESERVED for COMMON PEOPLE & SLAVES

“REFERRED to AS “SLAVES’ PUNISHMENT”

MOST HUMILIATING WAY to DIE

ROMANS WOULDN’T CRUCIFY THEIR OWN CITIZENS

HIGHER CLASSES WOULDN’T EVEN SPEAK of IT

CRUCIFIXION = GREATEST DETERRENT

IMAGINE: BLEEDING,, DYING,, SUFFERING,, NAKED on PUBLIC DISPLAY....

**DO YOU SEE HOW CHRIST GETS LOWER & LOWER?

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(Q) HOW DO MOST PEOPLE RECOUNT THEIR CAREERS?

---LADDER ILLUSTRATION---

STARTED OFF LOWLY EMPLOYEE

WORKED WAY to MANAGER

TO C.E.O.

TO OWNER

PEOPLE LOVE STORIES of SUCCESS

STARTING BUSINESS

PROSPERITY

**CLIMBING the LADDER

END of STORY—YOU’RE AT the TOP!

DO YOU SEE WHAT CHRIST DID???

---LADDER ILLUSTRATION---

ALTHOUGH HE WAS at the TOP--LITERALLY....

HE CAME LOWER & LOWER

TO the LOWEST PLACE YOU COULD GO.

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NOT ONLY DID HE NOT ABUSE HIS PRIVILEGED POSITION—EVEN THOUGH HE RIGHTFULLY COULD HAVE!

HE EMPTIED HIMSELF

HE TOOK on HUMAN FORM

HE HUMBLED HIMSELF to DEATH

EVEN DEATH on a ROMAN CROSS...

(T) AND SO WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT,

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

· CHRIST’S HUMILITY AND SELF-EMPTYING IS the CHRISTIAN’S EXAMPLE for LIFE

(T) AND CAN I TELL YOU THIS MORNING, THAT HE DID THIS FOR MUCH MORE THAN JUST BEING OUR EXAMPLE.

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GOSPEL: THE REASON HE DIED

CHRIST = ROLE MODEL

BUT HIS DEATH = MORE THAN OUR EXAMPLE

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HE DIED FOR US...

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

HOW AWESOME!

Romans 5:6–7 (ESV)

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

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HE DOESN’T JUST SET the EXAMPLE—BUT DOES THIS FOR US...

TO DISPLAY HIS LOVE for US

TO MAKE a WAY FOR US to BE FORGIVEN

GREATEST SCANDAL of the CROSS— JESUS = the ONLY ONE UNDESERVING of DEATH

WAGES of SIN = DEATH

PAYMENT WE DESERVE

BUT GOD OFFERS a FREE GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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THE RIGHTEOUS ONE DIED for the UNRIGHTEOUS

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

HE TOOK OUR PLACE

SO WE COULD BE SAVED BY GRACE

NONE of US = WORTHY

NONE RIGHTEOUS

NO AMOUNT of GOOD WORKS/CHURCH ATTENDANCE

SALVATION = FREE GIFT of GRACE—RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH!

***IF WE COULD’VE SAVED OURSELVES HE WOULDN’T HAVE HAD to DIE!!***

HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING FAITH/ASSURANCE

TALK AFTER SERVICE

(T) AND NOW, IN CLOSING, I’D LIKE TO ADDRESS THOSE WHO DO BELIEVE AND HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,

WITH THE WHOLE REASON THAT PAUL BROUGHT THIS UP.

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APP: “IF CHRIST DID THAT…THEN I CAN DO THIS…”

PAUL OUTLINES CHRIST’S HUMILIATION AS an EXAMPLE of the MINDSET of the CHRIST-FOLLOWER

CHRIST = ULTIMATE EXAMPLE of HUMILITY

Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

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

THE ONE FULL of GLORY—EMPTIED HIMSELF.

HOW COULD I BE PRIDEFUL & SELFISH IF MY LORD DID THIS??

ONE SCHOLAR HAS SAID THAT PAUL’S AIM HERE IS MORE ON ECCLESIOLOGY THAN THEOLOGY..... EVEN THOUGH BOTH CERTAINLY APPLY!

CHRIST = OUR EXAMPLE of SELFLESS SERVICE…OF HUMILITY...

HE = OUR ROLE MODEL.

THE WORLD WILL TELL YOU to CLIMB the LADDER

EVEN to KICK OTHERS OFF ON YOUR WAY to the TOP

DO WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU...

REMEMBER: CHRIST CAME DOWN.

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(Q) IS IT WRONG to BE “AT the TOP?”

SAY YOU’RE the BUSINESS OWNER W/ EMPLOYEES

YOU’VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL

YOU’VE GOT POSITION

SHOULD YOU EMPTY YOURSELF AND LEAVE YOUR POSITION AND GO WORK SOMEWHERE FOR MINIMUM WAGE?

I DON’T THINK SO.

BUT YOU DON’T TREAT OTHERS LIKE YOU’RE @ the TOP & THEY’RE @ the BOTTOM...

THE CHRISTIAN NEVER TREATS OTHERS as THEIR SLAVES

BUT THEMSELVES as the SLAVE of OTHERS.

REF. MK CH.10???

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THE CHRISTIAN LIFE is ALL ABOUT SERVICE

MINISTRY = SERVICE...

SERVING GOD & SERVING PEOPLE...

PUTTING OTHERS’ NEEDS BEFORE OUR OWN

THAT’S WHAT CHRIST DID

&& WHAT HE CALLS US to AS WELL...

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IF CHRIST WHO WAS MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS WILLING TO COUNT NOT HIS EQUALITY WITH GOD,, BUT to HUMBLE HIMSELF...

IF THE KING WORE a CROWN of THORNS

IF HE SUFFERED HUMILIATION ON MY BEHALF

SURELY I’M NOT GOING to PUT MYSELF FIRST AND CLAIM I’M a CHRIST-FOLLOWER.

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HOW COULD I HAVE an OUNCE of PRIDE or SELFISHNESS IF I CONSIDER the CROSS of CHRIST?

CHALLENGE: ANYTIME YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE FIRST—LOOK to the CROSS—

WHERE the ONE WHO WAS FIRST HUMBLED HIMSELF

IF the ONE WHO IS TRULY GREAT COULD HUMBLE HIMSELF,, THEN I CAN TOO.

I CAN PUT OTHERS BEFORE MYSELF

I CAN DO NOTHING FROM SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT

I CAN HUMBLY CONSIDER OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT

I CAN LOOK to the INTERESTS of OTHERS NOT JUST MY OWN

AND I CAN HAVE the MIND of CHRIST, AMEN?

LET’S PRAY.