Sermon Tone Analysis

Liz coming down to go up= to go down.

Crazy

C. S. Lewis writes in his book Miracles that the central miracle asserted by Christians is the incarnation (143).

He explains the descent and ascent of Christ vividly:In the Christian story God descends to re-ascend.

He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity.…

But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him.

One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden.

He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders.

Or one may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in midair, then gone with a splash, vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to color and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing that he went down to recover.

--CS Lewis

Philippians 2:5–11 (CSB)

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.

9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth—11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Perfect Example:The Text In Its Context

Today’s text was probably an early hymn or creed.

Something the early church recited or sang often during their worship.

As you heard the words- what went through your mind and emotions?

They give us the detail on Christ’s mind or attitude.

Liturgies are often repeated, hymns are often song, in order to fix a truth in the worshiper’s heart and mind.

These particular words provide with a crucial perspective on Jesus’ mindset.

Christ modeled a servant attitude when, rather than maintaining his exalted status, he became a man and suffered a humiliating death for others.

Every believer should strive to have and live this same mindset.

AMEN?

Philippians 2:5 (CSB) 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

Christ’s Humility

Philippians 2:6–8 (CSB) 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.

Renunciation

Big word- easy concept.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Renunciation)

renunciation /rɪnʌnsɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/■ noun1 the action of renouncing.2

Law express or tacit abandonment of a right or position.—DERIVATIVES

renunciant noun & adjective renunciatory /rɪˈnʌnʃət(ə)ri/ adjective—ORIGIN Middle English: from late Latin renuntiatio(n-), from Latin renuntiare (see RENOUNCE).

Jesus was always, and will always, be God.

God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.

The Trinity is a central dogma of Christian theology, that the one God exists in three Persons and one substance, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God is one, yet self-differentiated; the God who reveals Himself to mankind is one God equally in three distinct modes of existence, yet remains one through all eternity.

God is perfect in every way, and perfectly at peace and contentment within Himself.

Jesus enjoyed His preexistent exalted position, but He laid it aside.“

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

Jesus has always existed, was never created, and is God!

John 5:18 (CSB) 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.

He had no point of origin.

He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

John 1:2–3 (CSB) 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

He is Creator; He wasn’t created.

This is an essential belief to understanding God.

Many cults and religions say they honor Jesus and follow him.

But they think of Jesus as created, not equal to God.

This failure to understand Jesus as God separates them from being part of the Universal Church and labels them as a cult.

Paul says Jesus existed “in the form of God.”

He isn’t saying that Jesus only “appeared as God.”

He is saying that Jesus continues being in the very nature or essence of God.

The Greek word Morphe (“form”) doesn’t speak of external appearance or outward shape but of the essential attributes and the inner nature of Jesus.

Paul uses the same word in verse 7 to say that Jesus was in very nature a slave.

He was fully human and fully divine.

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

Jesus set aside His rights and privileges as God.

This is one of the most powerful phrases in our text.

What do you do with your rights and privileges?

If you are like me you probably hold them tight and defend them fiercely.

Jesus… well Jesus said could have said “it is good to be God.

It is right that I am with the Father and the Spirit.

I think I will stay right here.”

Paul calls for us to imitate Jesus and put the needs of others ahead of our own.

Romans 15:1–3 (CSB) 1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.

2 Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself.

On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

Jesus could have clutched His rights, His blessings, and His benefits as King of glory.

But He lived open-handedly, showing us what benevolent generosity and service look like.

Adam and Eve are the best illustration you can use to show the difference between us and Jesus.

God gave Adam and Eve the privilege of living in Paradise and walking with God.

They would never know pain or death.

That my friends is greatest of privileges.

AMEN?

Yet Adam and Eve listened to the Devil’s temptation and ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge .

They were privileged and had no needs, but they wanted to be God’s equal.

In the doing they rightly lost their privilege and the world has never been the same.

Jesus has the privilege of being God because He is and always has been God.

Nobody gave Him this, it is part of who He is.

Yet Jesus set aside that privilege, and came to earth to be with us.

To die for us, knowing that was the only way we could ever see paradise again.

True humility.

Incarnation

Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Incarnation)

incarnation■ noun1 a living embodiment of a deity, spirit, or abstract quality.▶

(the Incarnation) (in Christian theology) the embodiment of God the Son in human flesh as Jesus Christ.2 (with reference to reincarnation) each of a series of earthly lifetimes or forms.

Philippians 2:6–8 (CSB) 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.himself

nothing”

Emptied Himself (ESV,CSB, NASB95,NET)

Made Himself nothing (NIV).

Made Himself of no reputation (NKJV)

“Christ refused to hold onto His divine rights and prerogatives.

He veiled His deity, but He did not void His deity “--Tozer