Sermon 072896

Phi. 2:8                                 Have This Attitude in Yourselves-IV                                   7/28/96

ABCC

I.   Introduction and Review                                                                                    531

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

¨       The Attitude of Christ (v. 5)

       A. His divine & eternal pre-existence (v. 6)

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

       C. Christ took on an additional form or nature (v.7)

¨       Christ became flesh & blood without the advantage of His divine privileges = servant

II.  The Humanity of Christ (v. 8a) = “appearance as a man”

     A. Christ was recognized & acknowledged as a human being (Mt. 13:54-56)

     B. Christ literally experienced the weakness of a human being

¨       Hunger, thirst, weariness (Mt. 4:2; Jn. 4:5-7; Mk. 4:38)

¨       Emotions of joy & weeping (Lk. 10:21; Jn. 11:35)

¨       Learned a trade for work (Mk. 6:3)

¨       Attended social functions (Jn. 2:1-2)

III. The Humility of Christ (v. 8b) = “He humbled Himself”

     A. “tapeinoo” = to take the low place or rank or level

     B. He had a mindset of lowliness (v. 3)

          He was willing to lay aside all His divine privileges in order to redeem sinners

          He took the lowest place by leaving the glory of heaven (2Co. 8:9; 1Co. 2:8)

Have This Attitude in Yourselves-IV, pg. 2

Þ     Christ’s divinity nor none of His divine privileges kept Him for taking the lowest place for the benefit of others

IV.  The Obedience of Christ (v. 8c) = “obedient to the point of death”

       A. Christ willingly submitted to the Father, though equal (v. 6; Jn. 10:30; Mt. 26:39)

       B. The consequence of death did not change Christ’s obedience

       C. The cruelest & lowest form of death did not change Christ’s obedience

            (Is. 52:14; 53:1-12; Rom 5:6-9)

Have you believed this message of the gospel?  Do you know that your sins are forgiven?  Have you been justified by faith?

Have you set limitations of service toward certain people? Or maybe even just limitations of service in general - THERE ARE JUST THINGS YOU WON’T DO REGARDLESS OF WHO NEEDS YOU HELP!  Are you wondering how many times you should forgive someone else?  Do you have fresh memories of other people’s rudeness, offenses, lack of compassion, impatience, stubbornness, immaturity, lack of genuine concern, etc.?  Look at Christ my brother & sister, He had a mindset of lowliness - ready to forgive, ready to serve, ready to meets the needs of the outcasts, unlovely, etc.  ARE YOU READY TO DO THE SAME - Have this attitude in yourself!