When Christ Stepped Down

** The baby in the manger is the Lord on the throne. **

1. When Christ stepped down… Christ thought of you. (v.5-6)

Context: Paul was writing to the church in Philippi because there was division amongst them - they were being selfish.

“Mind” - Gr. phroneo - to hold an opinion, perspective or attitude (v.5)

Our perspectives, worldviews, and attitudes should be the same as Christ’s.

“form of God” - outward expression of the inward nature (v.6)

Jesus is God

John 1:1–4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Hebrews 1:1–3 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Jesus, being God, had need of nothing - he had the full worship and glory of heaven. He had nothing to gain from stepping down into a sinful world.

“did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” - did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped/something to covet/something to selfishly cling to

Having the mind of Christ means having the perspective that I cannot keep my privileges' and preferences to myself - I must use them for others. I will gladly pay whatever price necessary.

Luke 2:4–7 “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Jesus traded the grandeur of heaven for the grime of the world because he - God - was thinking about you.

John 3:16–17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

2. When Christ stepped down… Christ sacrificed for you. (v.7-8)

“made Himself of no reputation” (v.7)

Christ sacrificed his own divine privileges, made himself to be nothing

“taking the form of a bondservant” (v. 7)

he embodied a servant/slave

Christ sacrificed his own glory and worship that is rightfully his in order to serve others

Having the mind of Christ means having the perspective that I cannot keep my privileges' and preferences to myself - I must use them for others. I will gladly pay whatever price necessary.

Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””

“coming in the likeness of men” (v.7)

Jesus came physically in the flesh - there were those who claimed Jesus was a spirit or he never came at all. Jesus Christ was a historical figure, a real human. Fully God and fully man.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus experienced a physical birth

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”

“He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the point of death” (v.8)

Jesus had to be fully human in order to free mankind from sin

Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Jesus lived the full human experience apart from sin. He can understand us, empathize with us, and advocate for us to the Father.

Romans 5:18–19 “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

3. When Christ stepped down… God glorified Christ. (v.9-11)

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him” (v.9)

Because of Christ’s obedience to the Father, God exalted Christ as evidenced by his resurrection.

Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

“given Him the name which is above every name”

God has given all authority to His Son - this authority even extends over death and sin

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah who takes away the sins of the world.

The whole purpose of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation is the glory of God - Warren Wiersbe

“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow’ (v.10)

Right now, you have a choice to make. Does Jesus have lordship over your life? He has lordship over everything else.

Guilty sinner —> Broken God’s law —> Jesus paid the fine —> repent and believe to receive forgiveness

“confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (v.11)

Romans 10:13 “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”