The Christ Hymn in Philippians 2:5-11 (2)

I am inadequate to preach or teach this passage.

So I will simply pray the same prayer that Spurgeon prayed on the day he was to preach on a portion of this passage: “Oh, Spirit of God, magnify thy strength in thy servant’s weakness, and enable him to honour his Lord, even when his soul is cast down within him.”

C. H. Spurgeon, “The Exaltation of Christ,” in The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, vol. 2 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1856), 378.

C. H. Spurgeon, “The Exaltation of Christ,” in The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, vol. 2 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1856), 378.

Jesus promised a sword

Matthew 10:34–35 CSB

Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

What was this sword?

Matthew 16:13–15 CSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:13-

Mark 8:27–29 CSB

Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”

Luke 9:18–20 CSB

While he was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Luke 9:

The sword sets before us two opposite commitments.

This passage, this great Christ Hymn is a bold, public confession of one side of Christ’s “sword”.

The passage brings us face to face with a Lord and Savior who, because he is worth dying for, is most certainly worth living for.

This is our confession on one side of Christ sword. This is worth dying for. This confession is worth living for.

Read responsively

The Christ Hymn

Philippians 2:5 CSB

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

The note in the NET Bible is helpful. There are two ways to read this verse and the differences are important:

n Grk “Have this attitude in/among yourselves which also [was] in Christ Jesus,” or “Have this attitude in/among yourselves which [you] also [have] in Christ Jesus.”

Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).

Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).

Look closely at the text comparison

We have the same mind that Christ has.

We have the same mind as each other when we are in Christ.

Romans 8:5 CSB

For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.

1 Peter 2:21 CSB

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

This is not to suggest that the principle work of Christ on the cross was to provide an example for us. But rather in his decision to absolute obedience as he approached the work the Father gave him is our model.

Oct. 19, 1856 Charles Spurgeon preached to an enormous crowd at Surrey Gardens Music Hall. As he preached, someone in the crowd yelled fire and in the chaos that followed several people died. Spurgeon was devastated.

Nov. 2, 1856 Spurgeon preached his first sermon after the tragedy and the dark burden of that event weighed heavily on his heart. He would suffer from terrible bouts of depression for the rest of his life. For this first sermon, Spurgeon chose as his text.