Sermon 071496

Phi. 2:5-7                              Have This Attitude in Yourselves-II                                    7/14/96

ABCC

I.   Introduction and Review                                                                                    529

¨       Paul’s appeal Christian unity was based on gospel motives (2:1)

¨       Paul’s appeal was based on the example on Christ (2:5-11)

¨       The Attitude of Christ

       A. His divine pre-existence (v. 6) - Jn. 1:1; Heb. 1:3, 8 ; Tit. 2:13

       B. His eternal pre-existence (v. 6) - Is. 9:6; Jn. 1:1-4; 17:5; Rev. 22:13

Other divine attributes: Omnipresence (Mt. 18:20; 28:20), Omniscience (Jn. 2:24-25; 21:17), Omnipotence (Phi. 3:20-21; Rev. 1:8), Immutability (Heb. 13:8)

       C. Did not cling to His divine privileges as something for His own advantage (v.6)

Þ     Heavenly glory & honor (Jn. 17:4; Is. 6:1-3); riches (2Co. 8:9); full & independent exercise of authority & power (Heb.5:8; Jn. 5:30)!

SUMMARY OF Verse 6:  The divine privileges of Christ in His eternal pre-existence DID NOT cause self-centeredness nor selfish ambition in Him!

II.  Christ Laid Aside His Privileges (v. 7)

The phrase “emptied Himself” DOES NOT mean that Christ emptied Himself of divinity - He could never cease being God, even in the incarnation! 

     A. He “emptied Himself”’ in regard to His divine privileges - This was not a pretense!

Þ     He willingly laid them aside; made His privileges void or ineffective

Þ     He laid aside His reputation by releasing or giving up His divine privileges

Have This Attitude in Yourself-II, pg. 2

Þ     His reputation = being worshipped, praised, served, obeyed; no hunger, thirst, tiring

     B. Christ took on an additional form or nature (Jn. 1:1, 14)

          1. “the likeness of men” = flesh & blood (Heb. 2:14, 17)

¨       He had some similarities & dissimilarities to mankind (Gal. 4:4; Rom. 8:3; Heb. 4:15)

¨       Jesus Christ was not simply a man; He was The Man; The Unique Man (Jn. 19:5)

           2. “bond servant” = humility & servanthood; no rights, privileges or advantages

¨       Christ was not pretending to be a servant; He was a servant! - He served the unlovely, the unclean, the outcasts = lepers, prostitutes, poor, demon-possessed, tax collectors, educated & uneducated, deceivers & true disciples, etc.

Behold, the Man!  Look at the heart & character of God reveal in Christ.  God is not one who uses His divine privileges, His rights, His advantages with selfish motives or empty conceit (v. 3).  Look at Christ as He considers the interest of others as more important than His comfort, pleasure or rights!  Have this attitude in yourself!!!!

What are you clutching & clinging on to as your right & privilege?  ….more sleep & rest; better car or nicer clothes, nice vacation this year, best education for children, good health, good job, good neighborhood, etc.  What things are causing you to be self-centered?  What’s holding you back from thinking about other people’s needs, praying & then meeting those needs?  Christ Himself who have given us the  example of His life also gives us the DESIRE & POWER to be humble!