How's Your Attitude?

Introduction

Paul closed chapter 1 by urging the church at Philippi to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The question is what does that mean? What does it look like to conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel?

When we get to chapter 2 Paul explains what that looks like.

Philippians 2:1–4 NIV84

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Being Like-Minded

Paul gives us five characteristics that each follower of Jesus should have:

Encouragement from being united with Christ

Comfort of His love

Fellowship with the Spirit of God.

Any Tenderness

Any Compassion

Paul urges the followers in Philippi to make his joy complete by being: like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit, and purpose!

What About Others

Paul gives us two characteristics that should NOT be seen in followers of Jesus, and one that should be clearly seen.

Selfish Ambition

Doing what I want to do to get what I want.

Vain Conceit

This really means “empty glory.”

Mark of Humility

Paul says, “but in humility. . .” The connective word “but” is used to contrast the different between what should and should not be displayed. The mark of a follower of Jesus should be humility before God, and humility with man.

Paul says in humility consider others better than yourselves. The way we do that is by caring about what is going on those around us.

Philippians

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV84

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Same Attitude

Paul says that followers of Jesus should have the same attitude as Jesus had.

It would be horrible if Paul just told us to have the same attitude as that of Jesus without telling us how to do that.

Jesus Knew Who He Was

He knew He was part of the Trinity, but knowing that allowed Him to lay it all aside, because Jesus did not believe He had to hang onto His Godly attributes.

Made in Human Likeness

In verse 7 you read, “made himself nothing.” This is the word in Greek, kenoō which means to empty or lay aside. So this passage is often called the Kenoosis passage.

While Jesus laid aside His Godly attributes in order to become a man. But it is important for us to understand that Jesus remained 100% God, while becoming 100% man.

But He didn’t just become a “man.” Jesus became a servant—the servant of all.

He Humbled Himself

Jesus further humbled Himself by becoming obedient unto death. There are many theologians who suggest that it was necessary for Jesus to voluntarily become obedient to death or He would not have died.

Still, Jesus was obedient to all that it meant to be human.

The Extra Mile

Yes, Jesus was obedient to death, but He went ever farther—He went to the most horrible type of death imaginable—the death on the Cross.

Obedience Leads to Exaltation

Because of Jesus’ obedience, God exalted to the highest place!

Two things will happen. First every knee will bow, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth. EVERY knee will bow.

The second thing is that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

All of this will be done to the glory of God the Father.

So What?

We are told by Paul that we are to have the mind of Christ in us. Here’s the big idea of this passage. If we are going to have the same mind of Christ, then you and I need to:

Know who we are

As followers of Jesus Christ we need to know what it means to be a child of God.

Be able to serve

Knowing who we are allows us to be a servant of all. There is no job below us.

Humble ourselves

Humility should be a hallmark of the follower of Jesus.

Obedience

Followers of Jesus must learn to be obedient to God’s Word.

Extra Mile

The final characteristic of the follower of Jesus is we need to be willing to go the extra mile.