God, Man, and Humility

Philippians 2:3–11 NKJV

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer

Psalm 19:14 “14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts and minds Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.”

Introduction

In 325 AD, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome convened the Council of Nicea in what is now modern day Turkey.

To address the theological and practical divisions fracturing the church, particularly the teaching of Arius.

Arius fundamentally denied that Jesus had always existed, instead arguing the Son was created by God the Father. He positioned Christ as a finite being, emphasizing God’s supreme divinity in contrast to the Son’s subordinate status.

While Arius acknowledged Jesus as Redeemer and Savior, he insisted Christ could not have been God.

What made Arianism so divisive was its challenge to fundamental Christian confession. Though Arius intended to protect God’s uniqueness and transcendence, his teaching instead subordinated Jesus and diminished his divinity. The result was a fundamental split in the church.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

I. JESUS IS FULLY GOD!

Philippians 2:5–6 “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,”

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament μορφή

μορφή -ῆς, ἡ; (

Colossians 2:9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;”

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Hebrews 1:3 “...[Jesus is] 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,”

Colossians 1:15–17 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

Titus 2:13 “.… our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

2 Peter 1:1 “… the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:”

Romans 9:5 “… Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Isaiah 9:6 “... His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The things Jesus did:

Forgave sins

Rose people from the dead

Healed from afar

Claimed that He was the one that would judge humanity in the end times

Bread from hevaen with the 5000.

CLAIMED TO BE GOD

John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.””

Emphasis...

Philippians 2:9–11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 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.”

Isaiah 45:18–19 “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.”

Isaiah 45:22–23 “ “Look to Me [YHWH], and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.”

Revelation 19:12 “His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.”

II. JESUS WAS FULLY MAN!

Philippians 2:6–8 “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 μορφή (morphē) 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.”

John 1:1, 14: Defines the eternal Word (God) becoming human ["flesh"] and "tabernacling" or living among humanity.

Matthew 1:22–23: Explains the prophecy of Immanuel, which means "God with us," highlighting the virgin birth.

Galatians 4:4: States that at the right time, "God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law".

1 John 4:2: Emphasizes that recognizing "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" is a key marker of faith.

Hebrews 2:14: Explains that he took on blood and flesh to identify with humanity and overcome the power of death.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus had to be fully human

Jesus needed to be fully human to serve as the mediator reconciling sinful people to a holy God.

His assumption of humanity established solidarity with all mankind, which is essential to atonement because humanity stands or falls together.

This relational dimension matters fundamentally—sin itself is a disruption of the relationship between personal beings and the personal Creator God, so the remedy had to operate at that relational level rather than merely as an external transaction.

Jesus had to share our lot in all respects—including human suffering—in order to make atonement for sins and offer expiation for our transgressions. What remains unassumed cannot be healed, so Christ had to share humanity’s fallenness; otherwise, real transformation in the human relationship to God could not occur. If Jesus Christ is not fully human, the human condition remains unrestored from within.

Additionally, no mere human being—especially a sinful one—could have fulfilled this role. Although Jesus died as a human being, his unique identity as both truly God and truly man made the atonement effective. Christ’s humanity was what was offered to God for the renewal of creation. His full humanity was thus not incidental to the atonement but constitutive of it—the very means through which reconciliation becomes possible for all people.

III. JESUS MODELED  HUMILITY!

Philippians 2:7–8 “ but made Himself of no reputation [emptied Himself], 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.”

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

4 Things that show Jesus’ Humility

His Circumstances

Born in humble circumstances,

He acknowledged having “nowhere to lay His head.” (Matt 8:20)

His triumphal entry fulfilled prophecy as he came “lowly, and riding on a donkey.” (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:5)

His Self-Emptying Nature

Christ as existing in God’s form yet choosing not to cling to equality with God, instead “making Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” and ultimately “humbling Himself and becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil 2:5–8)

Ultimate expression of voluntary self-limitation.

Jesus “was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9)

His Service and Example

Jesus “rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself” and “began to wash the disciples’ feet.” (John 13:3–5)

Jesus explicitly stated that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:28)

When questioned about greatness, he asked, “who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?” then answered, “Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” (Luke 22:27)

His Death on the Cross

Matthew 27:46 “46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?””

IV. WE MUST WALK IN HUMILITY!

Philippians 2:3–5 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind [humility] let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,”

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The Great Example (Philippians 2:1–11)

The person with the submissive mind

If the Lord of Lords and King of Kings can humble Himself and come to earth - then so should you.

If the Word of God, the creator of the universe can become a servant and wash His disciples’ feet, shouldn’t you be willing to serve others?

If the Second person of the Trinity can say, “If there is any other way, yet not my will be done but Thy Will Be Done, shouldn’t that be our mindset too?

Jesus humbled Himself.

Jesus took on the curse we deserved.

Jesus was beaten unrecognizable and died on a cross for us.

The least we owe Him is Humility.

Fall on you knees.

Humble yourself.

Take on the mind of a servant.

Tell God you know you cannot earn your way to heaven.

Call on the name of Jesus.

Humble yourself before God, and man.

Closing Prayer and Invitation