THE CHRIST HYMN

---

Philippians 2:5-11 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, 

which is yours in Christ Jesus [which was also in Christ Jesus], 

6 who, though he was in the form of God, 

did not count equality with God 

a thing to be grasped [a thing to be held on to for advantage], 

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant [slave], 

being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself 

by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him 

and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus [which was also in Christ Jesus], 

• LITERAL TRANSLATION:

• ‘Among yourselves, 

• be intent on this posture of humility, 

• which we also see in Christ Jesus,’

• ‘Among yourselves,’

  • Within community.

• ‘Among yourselves,’

  • Within one’s own personal, interior life

  • ‘Among yourselves’ (i.e. “inside you”)

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

• Personal + Internal + Within Community

• ‘Among yourselves,’

• ‘Be intent on this posture of humility,’

  • Be intentional about cultivating a posture of humility.

  • Selflessness

  • Generosity

  • Service

• ‘which we also see in Christ Jesus,’

  • Refers to Location.

  • Also points to Imitation.

  • When we become Christians, Christ’s mind is put into our mind.

  • Location.

  • We are given the mind of Christ.

  • But not a one-time thing.

  • It’s an ongoing, mutual relationship with Jesus.

  • Imitation.

  • Life in Christ.

  • Life with Jesus.

  • It’s an Invitation to Participation.

  • Jesus wants to live His life → through us.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 ESV

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

• This is Life with Jesus.

• Wherever you want me to go. I’ll go.

• Whatever you want me to do. I’ll do.

• Whatever you want me to STOP doing. I’ll stop.

• I want You to be my Lord and lead me.

• Imitation.

• Humility.

• Service. 

• Selflessness. 

• Sacrifice.

• Generosity.

• Encouragement.

• True freedom.

• Life with Jesus

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus [which was also in Christ Jesus],

The Christ Hymn

Philippians 2:6 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped [a thing to be held on to for advantage], 

• “...who, though he was in the form of God…”

• Form can refer to appearance, rank, or status.

• Jesus was the very form of God.

• LITERAL TRANSLATION:

• ‘Who being robed in divine glory’

  • This is the preincarnate Jesus.

  • This is Jesus even before the world was created.

John 1:1-4 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men.

Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by [in] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:19 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

John 6:38 ESV

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John 17:5 ESV

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

• Jesus is God.

John 5:18 ESV

18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

• Jesus is God.

• Jesus has always been God.

• Jesus will always be God.

Philippians 2:6 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped [a thing to be held on to for advantage], 

• “...did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped…”

• LITERAL TRANSLATION:

• Did not regard equality with God

• As a status to be used for his own

• Advantage

  • Posture of Humility

  • Jesus relinquished his status…NOT His divine nature.

  • Jesus left His home in glory to take on humanity.

  • Vulnerability

  • Temptation

  • Suffering

  • Death

Philippians 2:6 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped [a thing to be held on to for advantage], 

Philippians 2:7-8 ESV

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant [slave], being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

• Verse 6 was what Jesus did NOT do.

• Now we’re going to look at what Christ DID do.

  • Jesus emptied Himself.

  • Jesus humiliated Himself.

Philippians 2:7 ESV

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant [slave], being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

• LITERAL TRANSLATION:

• But stripped himself of the status,

• Taking the outward appearance of a slave,

• By becoming like human beings

• Looking like a normal person,

• He humiliated himself

• By becoming all the way to the point of death,

• Even death on a cross!

• This is Jesus’s condescension

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• This is the INCARNATION

• Slaves & servants were the lowest class in their society

• Countercultural to Roman Philippians.

• Servants / Slaves → shameful & humiliating

Mark 10:42-45 ESV

42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• Isaiah’s Servant Song:

Isaiah 52:13 ESV

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely [shall prosper];

    he shall be high and lifted up,

    and shall be exalted.

Isaiah 53:10-11 ESV

10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

    he has put him to grief;[g]

when his soul makes[h] an offering for guilt,

    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see[i] and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

    make many to be accounted righteous,

    and he shall bear their iniquities.

Philippians 2:8 ESV

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

• Jesus humiliated himself

• Jesus became a slave…a servant

• What do slaves do?

• What do servants do?

• They obey their master.

• They obey their Lord.

• Jesus humiliated himself by becoming obedient.

• Nothing would’ve been more humiliating to a Roman than a slave being crucified

Isaiah 53:3-6 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected[b] by men,

    a man of sorrows[c] and acquainted with[d] grief;[e]

and as one from whom men hide their faces[f]

    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs

    and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

    smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• The phrase: “Therefore” or “For this reason”

Philippians 2:9 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

• God does 2 things because of Christ’s obedience:

• 1) God highly exalted him

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many [great],

    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,[k]

because he poured out his soul to death

    and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

• 2) God gave to him the name above every name

  • The Lord

  • YHWH

  • Jesus Christ is Lord

Isaiah 45:22-25 ESV

22 “Turn to me and be saved,

    all the ends of the earth!

    For I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn;

    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

    a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’[d]

24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

    are righteousness and strength;

to him shall come and be ashamed

    all who were incensed against him.

25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

    shall be justified and shall glory.”

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• Jesus Christ is the sovereign king & Lord of all the universe

• Every knee will bow

• Every tongue will confess

• “In heaven…

• and on earth…

• and even under the earth”

• What will everyone confess?

• Jesus Christ is Lord

• Why?

• For what purpose?

• To the glory of God the Father

Isaiah 45:22-25 ESV

22 “Turn to me and be saved,

    all the ends of the earth!

    For I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn;

    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

    a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’[d]

24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

    are righteousness and strength;

to him shall come and be ashamed

    all who were incensed against him.

25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

    shall be justified and shall glory.”

• God’s glory is why we exist

• What is God’s glory?

“...the weight of the majestic goodness of who God is, and the resulting name, or reputation that He gains from His revelation of Himself as Creator, Sustainer, Judge, and Redeemer, perfect in justice and mercy, loving-kindness and truth.” – Jim Hamilton

• God’s glory is revealed in Jesus Christ

• We exist for the glory of God

• We exist to bow our knees to Jesus…

• And to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord.