Old Testament Reading – Daniel 7:1-14
New Testament Reading – Acts 4:1-31
The Epistle of Joy
“The Humbled and Exalted Christ”
Philippians 2:5-11
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
In Philippians 2:5-11, the Apostle Paul described the condescension of the Son of God into a human being, i.e., “The Incarnation of Christ.”
- Verses 6 to 8 reveal the Lord’s downward descent to total humiliation.
- From the highest point of glory, equality with God, Jesus became a man, a lowly man, a bond-servant, and he died the most humiliating death possible, even the death on the cross.
- Verses 9-11 reveal the Lord’s upward movement to His glorious exaltation.
- Then, from that lowest point on earth, His humiliating death, Jesus was raised from the grave, and having won the victory over sin and death, God highly exalted Him and returned Him to the position of glory which He had with the Father, even before the world began.
1. Christ’s Humiliation – Verses 6-8
- (Verse 6): Jesus, though divine, did not see equality with God as something to be grasped or held onto.
- Paul could not be clearer. Before He became that child in Mary’s womb, Jesus existed as the Son of God, co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, the three in One.
- But Jesus did not consider His equality with God as something to hold on to, to be grasped or seized, as if someone could take it away from him. Jesus knew He was equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and that nothing could change that.
- Even if he had to let go of such a glorious position to accomplish the Father’s will, He would not lose His deity.
- (Verse 7) Jesus willingly relinquished His divine prerogatives and took the form of a servant, becoming human.
- The Greek word “Kenosis” means “to empty” or “emptying.”
- In Christian theology, “Kenosis” refers to the Son of God emptying Himself of His outward glory and divine privileges to become a human being so He could serve as God’s sacrifice for our sins. However, in no way did Jesus renounce His deity.
- If Jesus wasn’t truly God in the flesh, His death only paid for His sins, not ours, and we are still living under the law of God and looking for a Savior.
- Paul used the word “morphe” to describe this transformation, “Who, being in the morphe of God, became in the morphe of man.”
- (Verse 8): He lived as a man, experiencing the limitations and challenges of human existence.
- In Matthew 1:22-23, the gospel writer said everything that happened regarding Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of the Prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which means God with us.”
- Immanuel was not given to Jesus as His name but rather as the nature of His name: the purpose in His coming.
- God came to earth as a man to show the depth of His love for all mankind.
- God intentionally became one of us, to be tempted in all ways, as we are tempted, never sinning, but feeling the results of the Fall.
- Jesus wept! Jesus felt! Jesus hungered for food and thirsted for water.
- Jesus was weak and weary, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; He suffered and died as a result of man’s sin to prove Himself to be our Savior.
- (Verse 8): He willingly submitted to God’s will, even to the point of death.
- As a man, Jesus made Himself lowly and lived a humble life.
- He was humble because He was born from the womb of an outcast woman, who lived among a despised people, in an obscure place.
- He was humble in that He submitted Himself to the obedience of a man and a woman who were created by Him, and in His image.
- He was humble in His submission to the will of God the Father and in His obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
- He was humble in His submission to the Roman soldiers when they came to arrest Him and in His silence toward those who beat Him and scourged Him, and mocked Him and belittled Him.
- He was humble in submitting to the death of the cross.
- (Verse 8): He obeyed God, even to the point of death on the cross, a humiliating form of execution.
- Crucifixion was the most wretched and despicable of deaths. There was no form of execution from which one would shrink as “the death of the cross.”
- No dignified person would ever be put on a cross – only the rankest of criminals, the lowest of the low, the worst of the worst. It was the ultimate in human degradation, but Jesus, who knew no sin, bore the punishment of sin for us: the just was crucified the unjust.
2. Christ’s Exaltation – Verses 9-11
- (Verse 9): Because of His humility and obedience, God raised Him to the highest position.
- The biblical principle is clear: Humility comes before Exaltation.
- Luke 18:14 – “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
- 1 Peter 5:5-6 – “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.”
- (Verse 9): He was given a name that is above every name, signifying His ultimate authority and power.
- Because Jesus went down through the steps of humility in obedience to God the Father, culminating in His death on the cross, therefore, Jesus was lifted up through the steps of exaltation by God the Father, and is given “the name which is above every name.”
- Ephesians 1:15-23 – God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all ruling authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only the present age but also in the one to come.
- Revelation 5:9-10, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
- (Verse 10): At the name of Jesus, every knee in heaven, earth, and under the earth will bow in submission.
- This does not mean everyone will be saved – i.e., universal salvation.
- The provision for salvation is available to everyone, but those who reject Jesus Christ in this life will be condemned to hell forever in the next life.
- (Verse 11) Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- When Jesus comes again, every unbeliever will openly confess that they rejected the God-sent Savior, and their confession of unbelief will be eternal.
