Name above All Names

Review 2:1 -8

Paul has been ascending in thought beginning with his own recent experiences in Chapter 1 and then he has moved to his desires for the believers at Philippi. Paul has an issue with the fellowship.

Does anyone remember what it was? Lack of unity

He has answer to the unity issue in verse 3. What is the answer.

Last week we spent our time studying the various doctrines of Jesus Christ The God man.

Who remembers what the “kenosis” is? The emptying that Jesus went through to become a man.

And finally, we pondered just what he emptied Himself of.

Discuss..

Vs 8 says He humbled Himself… In what ways did He humble Himself?

He was humble in that he took the form of a man, and not a more glorious creature like an angel.·

He was humble in that He was born into an obscure, oppressed place.·

He was humble in that He was born into poverty among a despised people.·

He was humble in that He was born as a child instead of appearing as a man.·

He was humble in submitting to the obedience appropriate to a child in a household.·

He was humble in learning and practicing a trade – and a humble trade of a builder.·

He was humble in the long wait until He launched out into public ministry.·

He was humble in the companions and disciples He chose.·

He was humble in the audience He appealed to and the way He taught.·

He was humble in the temptations He allowed and endured.·

He was humble in the weakness, hunger, thirst, and tiredness He endured.·

He was humble in His total obedience to His Heavenly Father.·

He was humble in His submission to the Holy Spirit.·

He was humble in choosing and submitting to the death of the cross.·

He was humble in the agony of His death.·

He was humble in the shame, mocking, and public humiliation of His death.·

He was humble in enduring the spiritual agony of His sacrifice on the cross.

Tonight we will pick up in verse 9 but before we do I thought it would be helpful to discuss the concept of a name.

What is a name?

What does it represent?

What are some important names? Historically and now?

All names are not important to everyone?

Tonight we will be discussing the most important name in a eternity.

Let’s read vs 2:1- 11

Vs 9-11 The Name above all names

Therefore God has also highly exalted Him: the literal meaning here is that, because if His humiliation the Father has “super exalted” Him.This is a basic of the Christian life, humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. Those who have faithfully served God with their lives can expect to be exalted and rewarded as well.

 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

(NKJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Vs 9 ..Given Him the name which is above every name: it’s not just a name, but THE NAME, which is above all others.

Read Wuest page 72

This goes beyond giving Jesus the Divine name Yahweh. When we consider the Hebrew concept of the name, it also implies that God declares that Jesus has a character and person above all.

Vs 11 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.

So does this mean that everyone ultimately will be saved? No.

It means you can bow the knee in joy and worship now or reluctantly with shame later.

Lord is the Greek “Kurios” the word used in the LXX for Yahweh. In this, Paul draws on the idea of : 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. Notice that in Isaiah, it is to Yahweh that all knees bow and tongues confess. In Philippians it is to Jesus, showing that Jesus is Yahweh.

The Deity of Jesus Christ

For many this a statement that is difficult to accept, that in fact Jesus is God. So I thought it would be helpful to review some of the texts that make that case.

- “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

- 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.

, - “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.” ; - (Jesus is the First and the Last)

- (God is the Redeemer) (Jesus is the Redeemer) - “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ”

- (God created the world by Himself alone) ; - (Jesus made all things)

- 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... 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

, - “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

- that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

- “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM [He], you will die in your sins.”

- Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

- Jesus answered them, “I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

- Jesus said to him, “I AM the way, the truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

- Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?”

- And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

- “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

- (God purchased us with His own blood) ; - (Jesus' blood purchased us)

- 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 bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men.

- For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily

- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

- looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

- But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

- For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

- “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

- “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”... 22:16 - “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.”

- “our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” All cults attack the Deity of Christ? Why?

NWT JW’s

1 In the beginning was the Word,+ and the Word was with God,+and the Word was a god.*+ 2  This one was in the beginning with God. 3  All things came into existence through him,+ and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.

Must one believe that Jesus is God to be Saved?

All cults attack the Deity of Christ? Why?

“The short answer is that it is not quite accurate to say that belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is essential for salvation. Doctrinal accuracy on any theological subject is in any case at most a litmus test or barometer of the genuineness of a person’s salvation, not a prerequisite for receiving the gift of salvation. There is no theology exam on which a person needs a passing score before God will accept that person’s trust in him for salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith, that is, through our trust and reliance on God’s gift of salvation in Christ (; ; ). On the other hand, deviation from the basics of sound Christian doctrine can be evidence that a person is either immature in faith (see ) or has not genuinely come into a saving faith relationship with Christ (). Resistance to doctrinal correction would generally be a tip-off that the latter problem is the case.” IRR.ORG