Humbling ourselves as Jesus did

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

By Bruce Humes

Pastor

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness (humbleness) of mind let each esteem (consider) others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his interests, but also for the interests of other” (Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV).

The apostle Paul wrote these words to believers in Philippi, a church he had established on his second missionary journey through Greece. He was writing from a Roman prison in 60-61AD.

He is giving sound instruction concerning treatment of others. Sounds a lot like the second greatest command that Jesus gave us, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But he goes much further by giving us a perfect example and application of these instructions.

He starts out in Philippians 2:5 with “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” which is the mind set of putting others interests ahead of our own. In verse 6, he says, “who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” This is another way of saying that would be “something to be held onto, to be equal with.”

In verse 7 he says, “but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,(willing servant of others) and coming in the likeness of men.” The phrase “of no reputation” means to “empty,” which bodes the question of “emptied himself ” means. Some would say of his deity. That makes no sense, if you are God, the agent of creation, how do you stop being the creator, or God? What Christ did was set aside his attributes of deity, while never ceasing to be God.

Moving on to verse 8, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.”

Humbled himself and became obedient(submissive)to the end, which was death on the cross, putting our interests ahead of his, suffering the most painful death imaginable for my and your sins, redeeming us from the curse of death, and an eternity separated from God. That’s putting our interests before his own. What an example for us to follow.

As we move to verse 9, we see a change from what Jesus did in the previous verses to what God (the father) will do because of what Jesus has done.

Verse 9 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted him (Jesus) and given him the name which is above every name.”

Because Christ humbled himself and did not seek a name for himself, the father’s response was to exalt him, and give him a name that is above every name.

And because he became a bondservant, a willing slave that lowered himself to others in his service to them (namely the crucifition) the father, with complete satisfaction in the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross, says this to us in verses 10 and 11, “that at the

Pastor Bruce Humes name of Jesus every knee should (willingly) bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, (all of mankind) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory God the father.”

Because of what Jesus did on the cross for each one of us, we should willingly bow before him, many will or have, many haven’t and won’t, but Scripture tells us clearly that there will be a day when all will be compelled to bow and recognize Jesus for who he was, our savior.

If you want to speak to someone at the church or if you have a need, call the First Christian Church office at (562) 431-8810. Leave a recorded message and someone will return your call as soon as possible.