The Attitude of Christ

What is Attitude?

Before we get into some Bible verses, would anyone like to venture an attempt to what an attitude is? Like how would you define it?

One definition goes like this: It is the ways in which people think or feel about something or someone and which affects their behavior. The Greek word which we translate this from goes a bit deeper. It can mean to think, to be like-minded.

Let us turn to Philippians

Philippians 2:5 NIV84

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

So basically we need examine Christ’s attitude and we need to adjust the way we think and feel about:

our attitude toward God

our attitude toward fellow Christians

our attitude toward the unsaved

our attitude toward the world

The rest of the passage give us a blueprint which on how we need to think. Not just think, this is not a behavioral thing, but something that we must incorporate as a complete mind set, a view of the world, the filter through which all your speech thought and interaction with others stems from.

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV84

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revealing Christ’s Attitude

So what can we take away from this?

Humility

Paul has just stated here that Jesus was in the very nature, God. What the greek word means and stresses here is that Christ’s inner essence or reality was that of the Almighty God, but embraced perfected humanity, the second Adam, in the form of the man Jesus Christ. So although Christ was fully God, He did not hesitate to set aside His deity and humble himself as God incarnate in the human form. As God, Jesus had all the rights of deity but set that aside so He could manifest Himself to us visibly. Let me be clear, at no point did He empty Himself that he ceased to be God. His deity was willingly put to one side, he wasn’t emptied of deity at all.

Remember what Moses asked God after the Golden calf? The Israelites had sinned greatly, and Moses had to intercede on the behalf of the people of Israel. Incidentally this is a picture of what Christ does for us. Moses asks God to show him His glory and God replies with

Exodus 33:19–23 NIV84

19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

For God to be among us, he needed to hide away His deity. Chris is often referred to as the rock, as I have said in a previous sermon. This rock is who we interact with, that protects us, a way we can glimpse the revealed glory of God.

The key about all this is that God humbled Himself so that he could express His love towards us, to save us. Christ’s humility included making himself in nature , that of a servant, even death on a cross.

Lets read a few verses before our main passage here.

Philippians 2:1–4 NIV84

1 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Staggering Contrast

I wanted to do like a video of some guy presenting all the evidence about the world focusing on self on youtube. I mean I actually searched “the world’s focus on self”. I don’t need to play a video. Check this out, I pulled a few screenshots to show you.

2 x slides

What staggers me is the overwhelming focus on self in this day and age. I mean we live in the selfie era. Again I turned to youtube to find things, but again, all I need to do is take some screenshots. The evidence is so abundant I don’t even need to look very hard. I mean we live in in a time where people can make a lot of money by taking vain pictures of themselves and post it on Instagram. There are all too many cases documented where people have actually died before taking a selfie. They risk their lives to capture the “perfect moment”, yet no one risks even shame or embarrasment or being a fool, a slap in the face or a hard talking to by athiests or other antagonists for the sake of the Gospel, or for that matter put others before yourself.

2 x slides

We live in a society that has fallen down the steep and slippery hill of what can be called “aggressive self expression”.

Mark 10:45 NIV84

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Who in this world would even think of doing that for another human being?

What is clear here is that this is a call to Christians to look on Christ’s example as the Servant who is Lord, and to acknowledge His lordship through our servanthood.

The Grace of God in Jesus Christ calls us to a graciousness which in contrast to the world is a self-abandonment to the love of God and the love of the neighbour.

Christ emptied himself, put His deity aside, became humble, a servant,to die on a cross for others.

Romans 5:8 NIV84

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Servant Hearted

This basically includes the notion of being obedient. Not many of us want to be servants.

There can be a confusion in this, and one could think that the notion of Christianity centers in service, but there needs to be a distinction between the physical acts of doing something and the willful decision to become a servant.

Most of us serve by choosing when and whom and how we will serve. We therefore stay in charge.

Jesus is calling for something else, he calls us to be servants, and when we make this decision, we give up the right to be in charge. After that we experience freedom.

We become available, as well as vulnerable. We lose the fear of being stepped on, because we are serving Christ, and we can see Christ’s example.

If anyone was stepped on it was Christ. We also fear being manipulated and taken advantage of.

The attitude and joy should come out of the act of being a servant, rather than the pride of choosing how to serve, when to serve and where and whom to serve.

Christ in the garden of gethsemane said,

Luke 22:42 NIV84

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

What does it mean to be a servant of Christ?

To be Christ’s servant you set aside your rights to serve another. You know in ancient times, slaves were either borne into a household or were purchased and they remained a slave until they died or were set free. Some slaves developed such a close relationship with their masters family that they wanted to continue serving, even when they could go free. This is the idea Paul is trying to convey.

To be a servant of Christ is to seek His will in all things. Our primary desire every day as servants of Christ, is to honour and glorify the One glorify the One who bought our freedom from Sin.

Just as a master in the ancient world took on the responsibility of caring for his bondservants, so our Lord says He will provide for us all we need when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Matthew 6:33 NIV84

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Philippians 4:19 NIV84

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Servants of Christ do their work:

Humbly

Selflessly

With the only desire to please Christ

With no pretense

No self-importance

Seek no compensation

Luke 17:10 NIV84

10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

Apart from the World

Being a servant, you are apart from the world and you work exclusively for Christ, representing Christ, even the mundane things.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV84

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Romans 12:2 NIV84

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We are to be apart of the world, we are sojourners in this land, as Israel were strangers and sojourners in Egypt and in the desert until God called them to their own land which He gave to them. Remember this is not our home, we are only here on this earth for a short time.

James 4:14 NIV84

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

If you are a child of God, then His will will be all you want to do. It will be pleasing and satisfying, but that does not mean that the pull of the lust of the flesh of this current world will not try to pull you in again. You have renew your minds every day, to conform to Christ.

We are going to take a bit of a long segway now to the Bible where Paul teaches on this very well. You cannot word it any better than he did. Take note how you contrast the mind or thinking of Christ to what Paul describes as the mind or the thinking of the Gentiles.

Ephesians 4:17–31 NIV84

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

What then should our attitudes be toward others?

I want to list a few aspects what this passage and the Philippians passage was saying in summary:

Forsake this world, be humble and submit your whole life to Christ; be a servant

Let Christ’s light shine in your hearts, let Him lead and you follow. Be a servant of Christ. Give up your rights to do His will

Seek the truth that Christ imparted - read your Bible daily.

Put to death each day your desires and the lusts of the flesh.

Have a new attitude and new worldview, view the world from Christ’s perspective.

Strive for Holiness and righteousness - be apart from this world and let the Word of God through His Holy Spirit work sanctification (being more like Christ) in you each day.

Be honest, stop being deceitful. Put on Christ . Do not call yourself a Christian and don’t act like it.

Don’t sin in anger. Anger can be good in some circumstances, but do not be angry at or with one another - ask for forgiveness and talk to a person if you are angry. Let the anger seep out of you. When you get angry at someone you need to realise you are a sinner too. Forgiveness amongst believers and the unsaved is paramount, as we were forgiven by God, we need to forgive and let things go. It only gives the devil a foothold in your life.

Be productive, work everything you do towards God. Not all are called to evangelists, pastors or the like. We are all however called to proclaim the good news in our everyday lives, we are all called to teach our children the ways of God.

When you talk, do not tell crude stories, stories you would be ashamed of. We are all guilty of this.

Preach the word in season and out of season, when its popular and unpopular. Make people thirsty for Christ, to be like Christ by your example.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 3094 Salt Creates Thirst

At a meeting some young people were discussing the text, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” One suggestion after another was made as to the meaning of “salt” in this verse.

“Salt imparts a desirable flavor,” said one.

“Salt preserves from decay,” another suggested.

Then a Chinese Christian girl spoke out of an experience none of the others had. “Salt creates thirst,” she said, and there was a sudden hush in the room. Everyone was thinking: Have I ever made anyone thirsty for the Lord Jesus Christ?

Don’t hold a grudge

Do not gossip.

Above all be Christ-Centered and Christ-like

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 650 Century-Old Prayer

There is a fifteen-hundred-year-old prayer which still stirs our hearts. It is particularly inspiring and helpful to those who want to follow Christ. It is called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.”

Here is part of it: Christ be with me, Christ in the front, Christ in the rear, Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the Chariot seat, Christ at the helm, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.