When you read and study the Bible, one of the things you quickly discover is how there are multiple layers and depths to the words there. That is true whether you’re reading the Bible for the first time and noticing connections, or you’ve been reading it for decades. For me, it’s been 46 years of reading - 44 as a Christian, and I’m still finding new depths, new connections, and new insights.

Today’s Scripture is actually the scripture I missed out on reading last week, and it fits so well with finishing up with the sermon two weeks ago.

Last week I reminded you that the journey began with the ashes on Ash Wednesday, we went through the triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the waving of palm branches - those branches are fading now. We went to the last supper - the plates remain here. We remember Jesus was crucified on the cross - which is right here. And the cross is not only empty, remembering the sacrifice has been made once for all, it is on it’s side signifying that the cross as a symbol of death has been conquered - death no longer has a sting.

And today we go back to the cross and all that it represents.

There are a good portion of you here who attend one of our weekly Bible Studies (which by the way I will not be having this week), and so you’re no doubt aware of the rabbit holes that you can wander down. That’s a part of the reason todays sermon came into being - we gained so many different insights I had to add another sermon to our series on the cross.

Of course it focuses on Christ Himself. I’ve been asked how is Jesus different? It’s here in our passage this morning.

Philippians 2:1–3 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

He goes on to challenge us in how we live. I’ve asked how many of you wear a cross, and a number of you do. What does it represent for you? Paul gives us a glimpse of what it should represent.

Philippians 2:4 ESV

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

Then we get into 4 very precise points for us to grow in our faith.

1. Pursue Christ’s Humility

When we examine who Jesus is - the one and only Son of God, one of the person of the Trinity. Paul writes:

Philippians 2:5–7 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

When you and I pursue Christ’s humility, it means having a mindset that puts oneself first. Remember Jesus prayer in the garden, “Lord, take this cup from me. But not as I will, but as you will.”

Right there we have humility. He was not expecting to be treated equally, he emptied himself. He adopted an attitude of selflessness, and rather than asserting his position as 1/3 of the Trinity.

This mindset prepares us to reflect the love of God to a divided world.

So step one is:

1. Pursue Christ’s Humility

Step 2, in our passage today is:

2. Practice Costly Obedience

As we continue to read on in our passage we come to verse 8

Philippians 2:8 ESV

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

When one thinks of Jesus obedience it is impossible to think of it as anything other than total. It’s costly.

In his book “discipleship” Dietrich Bonhoeffer compares cheap grace and costly grace.

He says, “Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without the discipline of community; it’s grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.”

He goes on to say: “Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which has to be asked for, the door at which one has to knock.”

And then perhaps one of my favorite passages:

Discipleship Chapter One: Costly Grace

It is costly, because it calls to discipleship; it is grace, because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly, because it costs people their lives; it is grace, because it thereby makes them live. It is costly, because it condemns sin; it is grace, because it justifies the sinner. Above all, grace is costly, because it was costly to God, because it costs God the life of God’s Son—“you were bought with a price”[10]—and because nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God. Above all, it is grace because the life of God’s Son was not too costly for God to give in order to make us live. God did, indeed, give him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.

The Apostle Paul in another letter wrote to the church in Rome, Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Our obedience to God is costly. So number 2 is:

2. Practice Costly Obedience

So we have:

Pursue Christ’s Humility

Practice Costly Obedience

Number 3 is:

3. Promise of Exaltation

We continue to read through our passage:

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is exalted. so is there a promise for us too? Again, the Bible so often interprets the Bible. We read in James 4:10

James 4:10 ESV

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

There is a promise of reward for not living according to the worldly standards, but focusing on things above.

We pray in the Lord’s prayer: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Those are powerful words.

It is important for us to recognize this reward or exaltation may not happen this side of glory. Our viewpoint is to be eternal, not temporal.

So that’s the

3. Promise of Exaltation

So we have:

Pursue Christ’s Humility

Practice Costly Obedience

Promise of Exaltation

and finally, we get to

4. Power in His Purpose

As we get to the end of our passage, we come to verses 12 and 13, which begin with a powerful word in literature, and in Scripture. It’s Therefore. When you come to a Therefore in Scripture you know that it is summarizing and often giving you something to do, think, or know. Paul gives us all three, he writes:

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Paul was a traveling pastor and he’d spent time with the people at the church in Philippi, but he’s not there now. Still he encourages them to remember the power in the purpose of living this way for Christ - it is God working in us and through us, and it brings pleasure to God.

As we reflect on the cross, and on Jesus Himself, we recognize that greatness in this life does not come from asserting oneself and demanding respect, but from willingly serving others. Christ’s humility and obedience serve as the model by which we too are to live our lives in relationship to one another.

There is definitely Power in His Purpose.

4. Power in His Purpose

So our four points this morning:

Pursue Christ’s Humility

Practice Costly Obedience

Promise of Exaltation

Power in His Purpose

THE CROSS: The Crux of Christianity (Part 2)

The Cross is definitely central, it is where everything in the Christian life intersects. We’ve made our journey to the cross throughout the Season of Lent, now in the Easter Season, let us continue to make our journey FROM the cross celebrating the resurrection life that is our in Christ.

To God be the glory.

Let me pray for you.