The Attitude of a Savior

Introduction Easter Sunday. Continuing on with our series through the book of Philippians. The way the passages broke down led specifically to this passage.

Philippians 2:1–11 CSB

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 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, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Curing the Disease of Selfishness

There is an apparent problem with selfishness and disunity in the Philippian church. Paul has expressed several times the need for unity in Christ, and later addresses specifically an issue between two women in the church.

Selfishness definition: lacking consideration for others; chiefly concerned with one’s own profit and pleasure.

All decisions that we make are motivated by what we want. Selfishness is when our desires are primarily concerned with ourselves rather than with what God would have us do or how our actions might impact others.

Here is a hard truth in life: All people are selfish.

Selfishness is one of the root attributes that I think could be argued is present in every sin.

Selfishness leads to great difficulty.

We have seen this in our lives. When people are selfish there are ramifications. Selfish people don’t always feel the ramifications of their actions, but others do.

The toilet paper at the beginning of Covid.

From the beginning of Scripture we see this selfishness:

Eve wanted what she was told the fruit would give to her more than she wanted what God had commanded.

Cain was jealous of his brother and desired revenge, and satiated that desire.

Abram feared for his life and lied about his wife calling her his sister.

All of these things have something in common. These people had a desire that was wrong, but they acted upon it anyway.

This is why Paul tells them to think one way, having the same love, united in Spirit, and intent on one purpose.

The antidote to selfishness is not to stop wanting, but rather to change what you want. To allow it to be changed by God.

Instead of wanting what we want, we should be changed by our faith to want what God wants.

Instead of doing things from selfish conceit, we must desire greater things.

To be motivated by our love for God.

To be motivated by our love for one another.

We are called to consider others as more important than ourselves. Not looking to our interests, but the interests of others.

This is a very difficult idea from our own nature and inclinations.

Naturally we seek to do things that benefit us and we are inclined to seek these things.

This is a very backward idea from how the world tells us to live.

The world says to focus on yourself. To do what you want. To “get yours.”

The idea of the rat race.

Paul says consider others as more important than ourselves.

This is in line with what Jesus said, saying “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This is not simply a call to love your neighbor, but to love them as yourself.

This will require that we consider them as more important than ourselves.

You can only do one or the other.

For the good samaritan to love the man on the side of the road as himself, he had to look out to the man’s interest rather than his own.

So how do we overcome selfishness? What Example can we look to?

To defeat this selfishness, Paul encourages the Philippians to adopt the attitude of Jesus Christ.

The Humility of Christ

In Christ we see the perfect and ultimate picture of humility.

“Existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.”

John 1 walks us through this understanding of who Jesus is and how He “existed in the form of God” yet did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

John 1:1–3 CSB

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

This is who Jesus is. He is God. Not created, but co-eternal and existing forever with the Father and Spirit.

This is the Trinity, one God, three persons.

It is through the Word, Jesus Christ, that we see the supreme attitude of selflessness.

Though he was God, he concerned himself with those created that were below him.

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

Going back to John 1 we see what the Word did John 1:14

John 1:14 CSB

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The name that we often refer to Jesus as, Emmanuel, God means God with us.

He took on flesh. This is what we see in Jesus. Though he was God, he took on flesh in the form of a servant.

There is something about seeing a person in high position taking on a task that is beneath their station.

We are so fascinated with it that there is an entire show that has come from this premise.

Undercover Boss.

Though the whole thing is basically just a marketing stunt.

This is essentially what Christ did, he left the throne to walk among his creation.

A key word in what Jesus did in his incarnation is that he took the form of a servant. He made this clear himself.

Matthew 20:28 CSB

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

Jesus had and has all authority and power. But he came willingly to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

He served in so many ways that we can see and learn from:

Associated with the despised and the rejected.

“Sinners” - Drunks, prostitutes, and generally publically sinful people who were looked down upon in society.

“Unclean” - Those with diseases that did not allow them to associate with society.

“Tax Collectors” - Jewish tax collectors for the Roman Government. Looked at as traitors.

He healed those who had lost hope.

Multiplied food to the hungry.

He raised the dead.

He washed His disciples feed.

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

Jesus died so that we could be reconciled to God.

He died so that all who would believe would be forgiven.

The benefit of his sacrifice is available to everyone, including you.

Jesus died for you.

The humility of Christ I believe is captured beautifully in the chorus of the song, “How Many Kings”

How many kings step down from their thrones? How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? And how many gods have poured out their hearts To romance a world that is torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only one did that for me

The Humility of Christ, is what leads to the...

The Exaltation of Christ

Friday night we observed Good Friday. We remembered Jesus crucified, dying on the cross for our sins.

The disciples were scattered. There was morning, it seemed as though all was lost.

But then came Sunday. The grave could not hold him, death could not keep Him, Jesus had conquered the grave!

On this our hope hinges on the resurrection of Christ. It says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19

1 Corinthians 15:17–19 CSB

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

But our hope is not in vain, He is risen!

This is why He is exalted!

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

This is where He remains until he comes again.

Christ is highly exalted. The name that is above every other name.

There is no name that is greater than the name of Jesus.

There are often conversations about who is the greatest at this, the greatest at that. The only name we need to be concerned with is the one above every name. The name of Jesus!

At the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Dead, living, angel, all will confess that Jesus is Lord.

There are so many in the world who do not acknowledge Christ as Lord. All bowing and confessing Him as Lord can be a hard thing to imagine.

There are very few things in the world that are universally agreed upon.

Make any statement of truth or any statement of fact, and there will be someone who will disagree with you.

The only things that are universally agreed upon are things that have undeniable evidence.

If you have two apples and add two more apples, it is clear that 2+2=4.

We see this reality when it comes to the resurrection and the Lordship of Christ.

There are many reasons as to why people do not believe in Jesus.

There are those who devote their life to giving answers to these reasons for doubt. The defense of the faith is known as apologetics. Giving a defense of the faith.

We do know is that there will be many who do not believe.

The reality is that one day every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

The most ardent atheist, the most devout follower of another religion. One day they will all bow before Jesus and confess that He is Lord.

For the believer, knowing that we will one day bow before Jesus is a realization of the hope that we have.

The Bible is clear, that this will not be a joyful experience for all.

Jesus is coming back, and when He does, he will judge the living and the dead.

If we were to face this judgement based upon what we have done, we would all be condemned.

That is what we celebrate today. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. His victory over death and the grave. We know that because He lives, we can have life everlasting if we will:

Acknowledge that we are a sinner,

Believe that Jesus died for our sins and was raised to live,

Confess Him as our Lord and savior.

It is so simple. A child can understand it. The work has been done.

There are many who will reject this.

They will walk through life intent on their own way, and will one day face Him.

They will kneel before Jesus. They will confess that He is Lord. They will confess it not from faith, but because of the overwhelming reality that it is true.

In a UFC fight, when one fighter taps our, they are acknowledging their defeat. They are admitting that they have lost. They don’t do this with joy.

This will not be a moment of joy, but of sorrow. Realizing the weight of their sin, and the judgement they now face.

They will have sorrow, sorrow because of their sin. Sorrow because of what they have brought upon themselves.

This would be the fate of all people, had Christ not intervened.

This is why we preach the Gospel.

Because Christ made a way for us. Because Christ made a way for all who would believe.

That because of what Jesus did, we can have life!

I heard on of the most beautiful explanations of this, this past week in a sermon excerpt from Allistar Begg.

There is often the scenario put forth of God asking you as you stand before the gates, why should I let you into my Kingdom?

He stated that if we don’t preach the cross to ourselves regularly we revert to a Jesus + Works based salvation.

The answer to that question should never be in the first person. “Because I” “Because I believed” “Because I had faith”

He challenged the hearers to think of the thief on the cross.

Angel asks him, “What are you doing here?”

I dont know

Do you understand this doctrine?

No

Do you understand this?

No

On what basis are you here?

The man on the middle cross said I can come.

If you were in this situation, what would you say?

Can you say, Because He paid my price, I can have eternal life.

Do you know Jesus? Have you made him your Lord and Savior?

If you have, today is the day to celebrate the resurrection. To remember the victory of your Savior over death. To look at the attitude of humility and service that he demonstrates for us so that we might walk in it proclaiming Him to the world.

If you haven’t, today is the day. Christ’s death and resurrection are the evidence of his love for you. He loves you more than you could possibly imagine. He died for you, so that you could be made right with Him. Won’t you turn to Him today?