Mindset of Christ

Intro

Philippians 2:5-11

As I have been wading through Commentaries and the thoughts and musings of other pastors and preachers on the scripture we are now diving into, one thing rises to the surface. The Christological nature of this passage has been studied to unbelievable degrees. We could really chase down some interesting thoughts, some wild rabbits, and some speculation of the ancient church. However, I want to hone our attention in on that which is the most important, namely that which the Lord intends for us to learn from this passage today.

I’ll touch on what I can, mention some possible avenues of further study, but for the most part, I want us to stick to the text and to walk the path that we usually try to walk as we examine scripture. For those that might not remember, or weren’t here when I’ve described it previously, we must keep a few steps in mind before tyring to apply the text to our lives.

Firstly, we must ponder the original reason for the writing of the text. Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians for a purpose. That purpose is important to consider as we exmaine what we might learn from it.

Secondly, we need to strive to understand what the text might be teaching us about Jesus Christ. The nature of this passage in particular is quite easy to see how it points to Jesus and His righteous character, but I feel it needed to be mentioned any way.

Thirdly, then we can strive to understand how this passage reaches through history from Christ until now so that we might glean our lessons from the text as best as we are able to. What does it say about how we follow Jesus?

Paul’s admonition in verse 5 is our main thought for the day, namely, “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Introduction

Philippians 2:5 NIV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

There is a great deal of controversy over the verses that follow, but in many instances, verse 5 is seen as an introductory sentence to what will follow.

We have an imperative command to have the same mindset as Christ in our relationships. I am preaching out of the NIV today, but other translations such as the KJV and the NASB declare something along the lines of: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” They are saying the same thing, but I kind of like how the NIV talks about having the same mindset. By comparrison, the Message, which I’ve used in a previous message in this series says: “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself.” While I appreciate this paraphrase, I think the notion of having an attitude or mindset is better than how you think about yourselves.

No matter which way it is stated, at the heart of it is a sense that we need to look to Christ for an example in all things. Whether in our relationships with others, or how we think about ourselves, or the attitudes we carry, emulate Christ and we will be doing well.

Account of Christ’s Condescension

Philippians 2:6–8 NIV

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

This Christological statement hammers home the reality that Jesus is God, but at the same time leaves the mystery of the nature of the Trinity intact. We can learn from this, but if we try to explain how the Trinity works, words will fail us. Jesus Christ is God, the Son of God, and with God all at once. He is fully God and fully Human, all at once. But Paul here almost takes a “from the beginning” approach and declares that “He existed in the form of God” and didn’t see that as something to hold on to. It seems that Paul is saying that Jesus took His own standing for granted, and in many ways He did, but without the negative undertones we might use were we to say the phrase.

He humbled Himself to become man.

Andrew Murray

This attitude that Christ demonstrated is critical for believers to have. It is absolutely full of humility. The one most deserving, most entitled, most powerful did not view those things as important and shed them.

Jesus gave up His power and authority. God became one of us. And more than that, He became one of the common people. He could have been born to a wealthy family and had an easy and comfortable life, but rather He was born to a poor family in a small villiage during a tumultuous time in Israel’s history. Of course, we know that this was all part of the plan and that in the end, it would work out so much better than even our wildest dreams could have come up with. But the creator of the universe shed His divine authority to be born as a baby, to be raised by a young woman and an earthly father as though He were a part of a normal family.

More than that, Jesus chose to live by even humbler means than the security and stability of a carpenters apprentice. Jesus took on the role of a servant even as He took on the role of the Great Teacher. He showed us through His actions as much as He showed us through His Word. Matthew 8:20 “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”” As the great traveling preacher, did He even have a home to call His own?

Jesus became a servant. And He wants us to walk in His footsteps. Therefore, we must also become servants if we want to be disciples of Jesus. Empty ourselves and serve one another.

The idea of servanthood is important and one worthy of consideration for further study, but is beyond the scope of the message this morning. But the degree to which Jesus was obedient to the role of servant is what ought to be inspirational for us all. Verse 8 boldly declares that as a human, Jesus was obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Commentaries explain that there is so much more to this statement than we might otherwise consider. We know that Jesus was crucified; we celebrate it every Easter season. But what we might not think about is that this form of execution was about as evil as it could get. Crucifixion was a public display of what happens to the disobedient in society. If not for the Passover and the requirement to take the bodies down, often times, those subjected to crucifixion were left there for days, humiliated, mocked, abused. Defenseless against the elements and against nature, the victims would die of asphyxiation, thirst, heatstroke, bloodloss, all the more made worse from what they would do before the event. Animals and birds could come and bite and peck. It was a horrifying way to die, and a very public way to die. Jesus willingly subjected Himself to that fate on behalf of the sinner… sinners like you and me. Obedient unto death, even death on a cross!

Account of Christ’s Exaltation

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The result of Jesus’ radical humility and obedience is ultimate exaltation! God exalts Jesus… holds Him up as worthy of praise! This in itself is a clue as to the nature of the Trinity because while we might be tempted to see two separate beings, one exalting the other, God is a jealous God and does not share praise. Why then would He exalt Jesus unless He too is God… not another separate God, but one and the same. I’m not going to be able to fully explain the mysteries of the Trinity, particularly in a short message such as this, but it offers food for thought with regards to God’s Trinitarian character and how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit interrelate with one another.

Jesus is exalted. Every knee bows. He is due all praise and it would seem that one day, He will receive it! However, there is speculation about what Paul might mean by those in Heaven, earth, and under the earth. Could he mean all those in heaven, as in our eternal destination, as in those who have died already? Perhaps he is indicating the future beyond the final judgment? On the earth is easy enough to understand, but what about under the earth? Is he talking about those who did not make it to heaven, but rather have been sentenced to hell?

There is a debate within Christian circles as to the existence of hell. Would a just God really sentence people to eternal punishment? The question itself betrays our ignorance of the crimes we’ve committed. Remember that we are guilty of murdering the Son of God… because of our sin, He died on a cross! While earthly courts might attempt to avoid having a judge preside over his son’s murderers trial, that is kind of what we are facing when we come before God on judgment day. It is only through the grace of God that we are saved. It is only because of Jesus that the Father can even look at us. Clothed in His righteousness, we are granted access to heaven, but without it, we are on our own and our righteous deeds are not enough to outweigh the sin in our lives. The Bible is clear in describing a place of eternal punishment where those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of life will be thrown, along with the devil and the servants of the devil. The last couple chapters of Revelation are a great read on that topic, but there are other strong references throughout scripture. Here in the letter to the Philippians, it might not explicitly mention a place of torment, but it definitely talks about a place contrasting with heaven, and the earth is somehow in the middle. And people in all three locations will bend the knee to Jesus Christ.

Regardless, the focus of the passage is on Jesus Christ, His humility, and His exaltation!

Conclusion

Let us be humble that we may not need to be humbled, but may be exalted by the grace of God.

Charles Spurgeon

God has humbled Himself, but man is still proud. —Augustine

Saint Augustine of Hippo

He humbled himself to the accursed death of the cross. There were no lower depths possible, for the cross bespeaks the whole curse of God upon sin. It is humiliation inimitable, unrepeated, unrepeatable.

John Murray (Professor)

Paul’s admonition in verse 5 is our main thought for the day, namely, “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Humility is at the heart of this passage. Christ’s humility is fully on display. And as Christians, we are to emulate Jesus as much as we can… have the same attitude as Christ. Humility is a key component and critical to understand as we consider how we are to behave in this world.

Christ had it all and gave it up so that He could come and live His life, giving us an example of faith and faithfulness which we could emulate and follow. His obedience is exemplary to the highest degree and we can know with certainty that God will not ask anything of us that He Himself was not willing to do on our behalf.

And because of Christ’s obedience, He is glorified to the highest degree such that everyone, past, present and future, in heaven, on earth or under the earth will one day praise His holy name! Christ is exalted, the king is exalted!

And all of this is for the glory of God!