RTBS: 10/22 Philippians 2:5-9

RTBS | Philippians 2:5–9 — “God Came Down”

Focus: The Deity and Humanity of Christ

📖 Main Passage

Philippians 2:5–9 (NKJV) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…”

1. SEEK

Start with prayer:

“God, help me see Jesus as He truly is—not just as a Savior, but as the eternal Son who stepped into flesh. Help me grasp the mystery of the Incarnation with reverence, awe, and worship.”

Reflect privately:

Do I really believe Jesus is fully God? Do I live like He has full authority?

Does His humanity ever feel more relatable than His deity?

How does it change me to know God Himself walked, wept, and was wounded for me?

2. EXPLORE

Let’s break down what this passage shows us about Christ’s nature:

“Being in the form of God”

Greek: morphē theou – This doesn’t mean Jesus merely looked like God. It means He possessed the essential nature of God—His deity was not borrowed or bestowed.

He is God in every divine attribute.

Jesus didn’t become God at the resurrection—He has always been God.

Q: What are some implications of Jesus already being God before the Incarnation?

“Did not consider it robbery to be equal with God”

“Robbery” = something to be grasped or clung to.

Jesus didn’t feel the need to clutch His divine privilege, even though He was equal in essence with the Father.

Q: How does this reshape how we define greatness and authority?

“Made Himself of no reputation…”

This is the kenosis (self-emptying).

He did not stop being God, but laid aside the privileges and glory that were rightfully His.

He added humanity—He didn’t subtract deity.

Jesus was never less than God, even in the manger, even on the cross.

Q: What does it mean that Jesus “emptied” Himself? What did He not empty?

“Taking the form of a bondservant… in the likeness of men”

He didn’t just look like a man—He became fully man, while remaining fully God.

He experienced fatigue, hunger, emotion, pain, grief—not as a role, but in reality.

Jesus is the only Person who has ever been 100% God and 100% man at the same time, without confusion, division, or dilution.

Q: Why is it essential that Jesus was truly human—not just divine in disguise?

“Obedient to death… even the death of the cross”

As man, He submitted. As God, He sacrificed.

The eternal Son died—not in His divine nature, which is immortal, but in His human body, which was united to His deity.

The cross wasn’t a temporary demotion—it was the ultimate collision of divinity and death.

Q: What does it mean that God died for us? How does that deepen the gospel?

3. ANALYZE

3.1 Key Doctrine

➡ The Hypostatic Union Definition: Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures—fully God and fully man—united without confusion, change, division, or separation.

This doctrine guards the gospel.

If He wasn’t fully God—He couldn’t save us.

If He wasn’t fully man—He couldn’t stand in our place.

Key Insight: The Incarnation is not subtraction (God becoming less) but addition (God taking on flesh). He veiled His glory, not His deity.

3.2 Cross References

VerseThemeJohn 1:1,14The Word was God… and became fleshColossians 2:9In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodilyHebrews 1:3He is the radiance of God’s glory and exact image of His beingIsaiah 9:6“Mighty God… Everlasting Father” born as a child1 Timothy 3:16“God was manifested in the flesh…”

4. RESEARCH

Historical Context: Early Church Heresies

This passage was a bulwark against heresies that denied either Christ’s full deity (Arianism) or full humanity (Docetism).

The early church bled for this truth: Jesus is God. Jesus is man. No compromise.

Paul is planting deep theological roots in a Roman world obsessed with honor and hierarchy. He’s saying:

“The eternal God stooped low—and that’s the foundation of your salvation.”

5. CONNECT

5.1 Trinitarian Application

Father – The One Christ was eternally equal with, yet willingly obeyed in the flesh.

Son – The divine Word who added humanity and descended for our salvation.

Spirit – The One who enables us to grasp this mystery and live in its power.

5.2 Discussion Questions

What’s the danger of seeing Jesus only as a man—or only as God?

Why did Jesus have to be both fully God and fully man to be our Savior?

What privileges or positions am I clinging to that Jesus let go of?

How should this doctrine shape the way I worship, pray, and serve?

6. HEAR

Read the passage aloud again slowly. Let the weight of it fall fresh on you.

➡ Do I worship Christ as God—or just admire Him as an example? ➡ Have I grasped that the Creator took on skin for me? ➡ Does my life reflect awe at the Incarnation—or apathy?

Prayer Focus:

Worship Jesus for who He truly is—eternal God made man.

Confess any reduction of His nature in your thoughts or life.

Thank Him that He didn’t cling to glory—but came down to save.