March 26, 2017
Joy is the theme of the book of Philippians and was the character of that church.
The way that Paul sought to challenge them to experience the greatest joy was by attaining the “mind of Christ.”So Paul appeals to the greatest theological and Christological passage in the New Testament to allow them to see what the mind of Christ looks like.
As Paul addresses the mind of Christ, He does so by looking at the incarnation, the crucifixion and the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
it is from these three pivotal theological subjects that Paul helps the church discover her greatest joy.
As Paul addresses the mind of Christ, He does so by looking at the incarnation, the crucifixion and the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
it is from these three pivotal theological subjects that Paul helps the church discover her greatest joy.
How did Jesus experience His greatest joy? (Hebrews 12:2)
His example. (vs. 5)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
- We achieve Unity. The greater unity, the greater manifestation of God.
- Or mind must be in unity with the mind of Christ.
- My true joy comes from having the mind of Christ. Hebrews 12:2.
- His example becomes our example.
- Jesus grew in maturity because of His obedience to the Word, not because of His diety.
His existence. (vs. 6)
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
- Jesus was, is, and always will be with/is God. Before sin, God made provision for me.
- He did not use His diety for His own purposes. He had the power to do so.
- I should humble myself even though I am a child of Christ.
His emptiness. (vs. 7)
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,
- He was God, but became man.
- He didn’t lose his divine attributes, but set the example for me to follow by denying His rights.
Our greatest joy comes with possessing the mind of Christ!