Sunday, January 9, 2000   

INTRODUCTION: This passage is considered by man scholars as being the greatest doctrinal statement in the New Testament pertaining to the person of Christ. In this passage, we find that Christ "emptied Himself," He "made himself of no reputation" (verse 7a). This is known as the doctrine of kenosis or "to make empty."

This is one of the most moving passages Paul ever wrote about Jesus. The essence of what Paul writes can be found in II Corinthians 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

In verses 1-4, Paul pleads with the Philippians to lay aside petty differences, personal ambition, pride and desire for prominence and

prestige. His desire is for them to live in harmony with humble hearts, desiring to serve not be served.

What Paul desired for the Philippians is the very essence of the life of Christ. He is our example.

Friends, there is a ladder that Jesus trod rung by rung for our redemption. When Jacob saw his dream ladder in Genesis 28:12, he found angels ascending as if carrying news of his needs, and descending as if coming down with supplies to meet the needs.

Our Lord Jesus uses the story of a ladder to picture himself in John 1:51. We pray in "Jesus name" because it is through Him that our requests mount up to God and it is through Him that the answer of supply reach us.

Climb, with me, the Glory Ladder that Jesus trod for our redemption. Every rung was a rung of gladness for us and for Him "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" [top rung] (Hebrews 12:2).

We will first study the way down and then the way up.

I. Verses 6-8, THE WAY DOWN

      A. Step one, verse 6a, "Who being in the form of God..." This is the top rung.

           1. The word "form" is the Greek morphe meaning "an outward expression of the inward nature."

           2. "Form" is not speaking of shape for God is Spirit. It is speaking of the inner essence of God, His essential abiding being.

                 a. "Christ Jesus had always been (and always continues to be) God by nature, the express image of the Deity. The specific character of the Godhead as this is expressed in all the divine attributes was and is his eternally" (Hendriksen 105).

                  b. Jesus is God (Hebrews 1:3; John 1:1-3).

           3. Verse 6b, "....thought it not robbery to be equal with God." He was not taking something to Himself that did not belong to Him.

                 a. "Robbery" is the Greek word harpagmos which means "to snatch, or to clutch." Jesus did not have to cling to Deity; it was His by right and nature; and He was not going to lose it.

                 b. So here stands our Divine Lord Jesus at the top of the ladder. Watch Him as He takes His first step down.

      B. Step two, verse 7a, "Made himself of no reputation."

           1. Jesus emptied Himself. Imagine a king wishing to travel incognito, divesting Himself of all of his royal apparel, food, etc. He would till be king, but he would have emptied himself of his glory.

           2. Jesus divested Himself, not of deity, but of the glory of deity. He never used deity for His own benefit.

           3. Christ allowed Himself to be limited, yet without mistakes. At the Temple, we have this description of Christ at twelve: "All that heard Him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:47).

           4. This is the sacrifice of the Incarnation.

      C. Step three, verse 7b, He "took upon him the form of a servant...." Remember the word for "form" used in verse 6. It is the same Greek word here.

           1. He donned the apron of the servant to God.

                 a. Isaiah 42:13 "Behold, my servant....."

                 b. Psalm 40:7 "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God."

           2. At the moment, Christ divested Himself of the approval of the Son of God. He put on the apron of a servant to man.

                 a. "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister" (Mark 10:45).

                 b. "I am among you as he that serveth" (Luke 22:27).

                 c. In John 13, He "took at towel" rinse the disciples feet.

                       1) "He laid aside his garments." (Royal splendor rung two).

                        2) "He took a towel and girded himself" (rung three).

           3. He didn't come to dominate but to serve.

      D. Step 4, He "was made in the likeness of men."

           1. He became man. He looked like a man for He was a man, yet without sin.

           2. There are many Bible illustrations of His manhood.

                 a. He was hungry (Matthew 4:2).

                 b. He was tempted (Matthew 4:3).

                 c. He was tired (Mark 4:38).

                  d. He knows what we go through (Hebrews 4:15) yet, He did not sin.

           3. That Christ became a man is like you or I becoming a roach it was condescension.

      E. Step 5, Verse 8a, "He humbled himself."

           1. Think of it:

                 a. Born in a stable, laid in a borrowed cradle.

                 b. Lived in an insignificant village, in a small house, with a poor mother, a poor trade.

                 c. During His ministry, it was said: "The Son of man hath not where to lay His head."

                 d. He was crucified with thieves.

                 e. He was laid in a borrowed tomb.

           2. It seems that the use of the poor and despised are a principle with God (I Corinthians 1:26-30).

                 a. After a battle many years ago, a soldier was recognized for the many men he had slain with his sword. The king sent for the sword and upon inspecting it the king sent it back in scorn with this remark: "But it is a very ordinary sword." The soldier sent back his reply: "His Majesty should send for the arm that wielded it."

                 b. Friends, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us (II Corinthians 4:7).

      F. Step 6, Verse 8 b, He "became obedient unto death."

           1. By His suffering death He should obedience to God.

           2. Hebrews 5:8-9; Romans 5:19.

      G. Step 7, Verse 8c, "Even the death of the cross."

           1. The cross was not gilded in gold; it was rough-hewn and coarse, stuck in common crucifixion ground.

           2. Three crosses were on the hill that day.

                 a. Two of them were for a couple of base malefactors.

                 b. The middle cross was intended for the leader of a gang, Barabbas. That cross was occupied by his substitute and ours.

           3. To that place, to that death, to that depth, His journey from heaven has brought Him nailed to a cross.

II. Verses 9-11, THE WAY UP

      A. Step one, Vs 9 a, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him..."

           1. He did not exalt Himself; He humbled Himself but God exalted Him.

           2. God raised Him the grave could not hold Him.

           3. God exalted and honored the one despised and rejected of men.

           4. He is super exalted by God.

      B. Step two, Verse 9b, God has, "given him a name which is above every name."

           1. The name Jesus like His body is raised and exalted.

           2. This name above every name, Jesus, also refers to the rank and dignity that has been given Him.

      C. Step three, Verses 10-11.

           1. All will bow, the saved and the unsaved, the angels elect and damned, even Satan himself.

           2. Every tongue should confess...

                 a. The pagan tongue.

                 b. The atheists tongue.

                 c. The foreign tongue.

                 d. Your tongue.

                 e. My tongue (Revelations 5:12).

III. THE WAY FOR US

      A. Verse 5, Tells us to have the mind of Christ.

      B. We are to have a:

           1. The selfless mind which thinks of others.

           2. The sacrificial mind prepared to go the extra mile to help others.

           3. The serving mind happy to render service where needed.

CONCLUSION: Jesus came down that we might go up to be with Him.