April 2, 2017
Philippians 2:5-11
Joy is one of the virtues of the Christian life that we desire.
Paul desired for the church at Philippi to live with the joy of the Lord yet the disunity of the church threatened that joy.
So in order to preserve the unity and to experience the joy. Paul challenged them to pursue the mind of Christ.
The mind of Christ was best seen in the humility that was exemplified in His life.
Last week we looked at how that humility was demonstrated in the incarnation and this week we want to see it in Jesus’ crucifixion.
His descent was from heaven, a perfect place, to become man. He experienced hunger, rejection, temptation. Therefore His sacrifice demonstrates His perfect love for me. Jesus was consumed by His Father’s will.
- His descent was a selfless act as the Son of God (vs. 8a)
- Jesus humbled Himself for others (for me) by becoming man. (Vs 3-4).
- His descent was a sacrificial act as the Son of Man (vs. 8b)
- His humility was voluntary. He volunteered to be a slave. He did this to die for others (me).
- His descent was a submissive act as a Sacrifice for Sin (vs. 8c)
- Deuteronomy states that a crucifixion is the worst way to die. His willingness to go to the cross was the will of His Father.
His obedience was a demonstration of how He was consumed by His Father’s will.
Truths to apply!
- The church must be selfless.
- The church must sacrifice.
- The church must be submissive.