8/27/23 Philippians - Part 5 “Down is Up”
Philippians – Part 5 “Down is Up”
Philippians 2:5-11
Once upon a time there were 5 guys on an airplane. A doctor, a lawyer, a preacher, a boy scout, and the pilot.
They were flying along at cruising altitude when suddenly the engine blew, and the plane began to take a nose-dive. The pilot came out of the cockpit wearing a parachute and said “The plane is going to crash, ya’ll need to find a parachute.
However, there are 5 of us and only 4 parachutes. Then the pilot said “Personally, I’m not ready to die”…and he immediately jumped out of the plane.
Then the doctor grabbed a parachute and said “I’m a doctor. The world needs my abilities to heal the sick”…then he proceeded to jump out of the plane.
Likewise, the lawyer said “I’m the smartest man on earth – mankind needs my intellect and my ability to form logical arguments.” With that he also strapped on a pack and jumped out of the plane.
Now it was down to just the preacher and the boy scout. The preacher said “Son, you’ve got your whole life in front of you and I’ve lived most of mine. Go ahead, take the last parachute and jump out before it’s too late.”
The boy scout looked at the preacher with a grin and said “Actually, there is still a parachute for each of us. You know the smartest man in the world?....well, he just jumped out of the plane with my boyscout backpack.” 😊
The moral of this story is that pride comes before a fall….In this story, quite literally!
I’m so encouraged that all of you made the decision to be here this morning because our passage for today from Philippians chapter 2 is one of the most important passages in all of scripture! ….and that’s no exaggeration.
It is a passage saturated with theological truth concerning the nature and humility of Christ, as well as being packed with some golden nuggets of life application for the believer.
Many theologians consider this passage from Philippians to be the “magnum opus’ of Paul’s epistles…his Holy-Spirit inspired revelation of who Jesus really was…and is…and forever will be.
In this text we see Jesus (The second person of the Triune Godhead) lowering himself to unimaginable depths, then being lifted to unimaginable heights.
In this text we see Jesus willingly take on the humility and shame of the cross, then being granted the title “Lord” for all eternity.
This text is, indeed, special. So, let’s dive in.
Verse 5 (Philippians 2:5) provides the framework in which we are to view this entire passage.
As mentioned, it includes some amazing information concerning the nature of Christ, but Paul wants us to also be thinking about how these attributes of Jesus ought to influence our relationships with one another…..with the ultimate goal of there being unity in the church.
In other words, what can we learn from the attitude and nature of Jesus that will translate into our treating others in such a way as to promote harmony, peace, and love?
Anyone remember back in the 90’s, it seemed as though every young Christian was wearing a WWJD bracelet? (The acronym stood for What Would Jesus Do)..anyone here still have one?...I’ve got a couple still hanging around the house.
The whole emphasis of the acronym WWJD is to remind us of how Jesus would act (or react) in any given situation.
Overall, I think these bracelets were a good idea to help us consider a biblical perspective, However, in certain circumstances, it becomes difficult to know with 100% certainty what Jesus would actually do – so they served as a good guideline in most situations.
Fortunately, our passage for today leaves no room for doubt as to what Jesus did do for us in the past – and what He will continue to do for us in the future.
Verse 6 is an incredible verse. Here, Paul is essentially telling us in no uncertain terms that Jesus is God.
This is one of those “mic-drop’ verses from scripture that provide undeniable evidence of Jesus’ divinity.
The NIV uses the phrase “being in very nature God” which does convey the idea of divinity, but I like how the ESV and King James translate this verse by using the phrase ‘Form of God’.
If we look at the original Greek, Paul uses the word Morphe, which means ‘form’ and conveys the idea of ‘an outward manifestation of an inward reality.’ In other words, the incarnate Jesus (Jesus in the flesh) was an outward manifestation of his divinity.
Paul could have used the Greek word schema to describe form, but he chose not to. Schema refers to an outward form that changes over time, while Morphe describes something that is unchanging.
For instance, your Morphe is your humanity. This does not change over time.
Conversely, your Schema is continually changing: you started out as a an embryo, then a fetus, then a baby, then a toddler, then a child, then an adolescent, then a young adult, then a middle-age adult, then a….well, let’s just say, a mature adult.
When describing Jesus’ divinity, Paul intentionally uses the term Morphe, reminding us that Jesus was, is, and always will be, God.
Paul reiterates this truth again in Colossians 1:15-17 “He (Speaking of Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by him and for him.”
Many of you also know the passages in John chapter 1 that directly speak to the divinity of Jesus:
John 1:1-2 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
John 1:14, then, brings it all together: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
As Charles Ryrie describes it “Jesus Christ was unique, for He was God from all eternity and yet joined Himself to sinful humanity in the incarnation. The God-man possessed all the attributes of deity and the attributes common to humanity (Apart from sin) and He will exist forever as the God-man in His resurrected body.”
The deity of Christ, the divine nature of Jesus, is what separates orthodox Christian doctrine apart from all other religions and cults.
Every single pagan belief and false religion ever constructed views Jesus as something less than fully divine, less than fully God.
Not long ago, I got a knock on my door. I opened it and there were two gentlemen there to greet me wondering if I’d like to know who is in control of the world. I responded by telling them that I would love to inform them as to who is in control of the world.
All I can say is that if you want the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Mormons (Or any other purveyor of false theology) to leave your porch in a hurry, mention the GOD-MAN JESUS CHRIST and start quoting some of the verses we just looked at.
Folks, it is vitally important to know your scriptures so when moments like this arrive, you can be a witness of God’s truth to others…rather than others being a witness of falsehoods to you!
The 2nd half of verse 6 through verse 8 of our passage for today (Philippians 2:6b-8) describe the ways in which Jesus voluntary humbled himself by giving up His divine privileges and taking upon himself mortal flesh.
The text uses phrases like “Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”, “Made Himself Nothing”, “Taking the very nature of a servant”, “Made in human likeness”, and “Became obedient to death.”
All of this describe an emptying of Divine attributes and prerogatives on the part of Jesus while, at the same time, adding mortal flesh to his divinity.
Some of you may be familiar with the Greek word Kenosis, which literally means to empty.
By coming to earth in the flesh, Jesus voluntarily emptied himself of His heavenly rights and privileges – all in an act of unfathomable love for mankind.
When I was 9 years old, my parents took me to see the movie Superman II. This was the film in which Superman gets tired of being earth’s savior and wants to become a mere mortal. So, he travels to his Ice Fortress and exposes himself to Red Kryptonite, which takes away his superhuman powers.
I remember wanting to yell at the screen “NOOOOO!” You’re SUPERMAN, you can’t do this! If I remember right, one of the reasons Superman wanted to give up his powers was so that he and Lois Lane could get married and start a family.
For a 9-year-old kid, that made no sense whatsoever. I mean, who would give up the ability to fly….because he’s in love with some chick? What are you thinking, Superman…get your head in the game!
Well, if you saw this movie from 43 years ago, you may remember that, in the end, Superman does regain his powers – so it was a happy ending, at least for a 9-year-old kid….maybe not for Lois Lane.
I can’t help but wonder if the angels in Heaven perhaps felt like 9-year-old Andy when they saw the second person of the Trinity willingly give up his place of glory in Heaven just to take on dirty, mortal, and for a moment, SINFUL flesh….and subject himself to eventual death on a cross!
Why would he do that?....... Because He Loves us. Because He loves us.
It was the will of the Father for Jesus to come to Earth, live for 33 years, and then sacrifice himself as an atonement for the sins of the world…and Jesus obeyed.
Jesus didn’t have to be obedient to the Father, but he chose to comply with the Father’s Will.
Shortly before his arrest, Jesus withdrew to one of His favorite places, the Garden of Gethsemane, and prayed these words in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
In his humanity, like us, Jesus did not look forward to dying…but he chose to be subservient to the Father’s Will, and it was the Father’s Will for Jesus to sacrifice himself on the cross.
Not only would Jesus die physically for you and I, but he would also take upon himself our sins, forcing the Father to pour out His wrath upon him…It was this impending spiritual reality that I believe caused Jesus to sweat droplets of blood as he prayed so fervently in the garden just hours before his death.
Physical death was one thing, but having to be spiritually separated from the Father had never occurred from eternity past – and will presumably never have to happen again. This sin-induced, temporary separation of the Father from the Son is by far the most cataclysmic event in all of space & time.
No wonder the sun grew dark, earthquakes occurred, the temple curtain was torn, and people came out of graves – this was no everyday event. In fact, it was THE event in all of history.
When we pause to consider the heavenly heights of which Jesus willingly fell from to take on the humiliation of human flesh – should that not inspire us to live our lives void of selfishness, vain conceit, pride, anger, jealousy, greed, etc.?
When we consider the eternal glory that Jesus gave up for us – should that not motivate us to live our lives filled with love, self-lessness, compassion, empathy, peace, and unity with our brothers & sisters in Christ?
There are some major differences between Satan and Jesus:
Satan’s pride says: “Not Thy Will but My Will……Jesus’ humility says: “Not My will but Thy Will”
Satan’s pride reveals: A creature who wanted to be creator….Jesus’ humility reveals: The creator who willingly became a creature.
Satan’s pride entails: A Subversive Mind….Jesus’ humility entails: A Submissive Mind
Verses 9-11 in our passage for today (Philippians 2:9-11) pivot from the emptying of Christ to the Exaltation of Christ.
Look at verse 9 (Philippians 2:9) Now, whenever we see the word ‘therefore’ in scripture, we need to ask the question “What is it there for?”
Because of the Son’s obedience to the Father while in the flesh (Covered in verses 5-8) He is now rewarded in Heaven by being given “The name that is above every name.” (V.9)
Verse 11, then, discloses to us what that name is.
Verse 11 (Philippians 2:11) reads: “And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is….Lord”
Do you see what’s happening here in the Heavenly realms? God the Father is bestowing upon Jesus the title of ‘Lord’.
When Jesus returns to earth, His we see an expansion of his title.
John’s vision in Revelation 19:16 describes it this way: “On His robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’
John MacArthur puts it this way: “Whoever is Lord has absolute supremacy and the right to be obeyed as divine master.”
Jesus lowered himself below all others, and by so doing, was subsequently exalted above all others.
To put it another way – the way up was down.
God loves humility.
Proverbs 3:34 says: “He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.”
Jesus himself says in Matthew 23:12 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
So, how can we apply today’s passage in Philippians to our lives?
Let’s circle back to verse 5, remember what it said?
Philippians 2:5 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
Has anyone heard of ‘Absolute Zero”?
It’s a temperature that scientists say is impossible to go lower than – at least as far as we know. Absolute Zero has been calculated to be -460 degrees Fahrenheit…that’s even colder than January in Wisconsin!
In fact, the coldest temperature ever recorded on earth was back in 1983 in Vostok, Antarctica where the mercury dropped to -128 degrees Fahrenheit.
Imagine being 332 degrees colder than that – you would then be at absolute zero.
Jesus’ attitude was one of absolute humility – It would have been impossible to be any more humble than Jesus.
Therefore, each of us needs to strive toward achieving “Absolute Humility” in our lives as well.
Back when our daughter Lexy was in high school, she played tennis in the Fall. So, before school resumed in September, she and I would go to the courts near the high school in the morning before it got too hot and we’d play tennis for an hour or two.
That time of morning was also the time of day when the high school football team would be practicing nearby so we could occasionally hear the coaches barking out instructions to the players.
I remember one specific phrase from the coaches being repeated over and over, day after day…LOW MAN WINS!
The coaches intentionally repeated this phrase as often as they could in order for it to become second nature to their players. They knew that a player has more balance and power when they are lower to the ground – thus, the player who has a lower position typically has more success.
Brothers & Sisters, the same holds true for our spiritual lives. The more we humble ourselves, the lower we esteem ourselves, the more we will have spiritual victory.
The more we lower ourselves to each other in the church, the more unity we will experience within this body of believers.
Low man wins…Low man wins.
Let’s Pray.