King's Business - 1916-02

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THE KING’ S BUSINESS

that He was God. The word translated “ being” in verse 6 ( “ existing originally” in the A. R. V .), is not the usual word for “being,” but a very strong one, signifying almost “ being originally” or “ being essen­ tially.” The word translated robbery in the Authorized Version means rather “a thing to be seized hold of,” and the thought is that Christ Jesus instead o f seizing hold o f equality with God, let this go and seized hold o f the death on the cross. The words translated “made Himself o f no reputa­ tion,” mean, literally, as translated in the Revised Version, “ emptied Himself.” He poured out what belonged to Him to the uttermost. O f what He emptied Himself the context clearly shows: (1 ) His Divine “ form,” taking a human one instead; ( 2) His Divine glory, the last atom o f it, tak­ ing instead o f the Divine glory that belonged to Him the place o f utter shame and dishonor. Oh, wondrous love! There is not a wgrd here to show a surrender o f Divine attributes, but solely o f Divine glory, o f His Divine attributes and nature, has The theory built upon this passage that Jesus during His earthly life was limited in knowledge as He had emptied Himself no warrant whatever in the text, they utterly ignore the context. The words “was made” (R . V. “ being made” ) more exactly “coming to be” “ in the likeness of men,” contain an implication that while He really became like a man and indeed was a man, He was essentially more than man (cf. Rom. 8:3 ). When “ found in fashion (i. e., outward guise) as a man,” He went even lower yet, “ He humbled Himself,” and that not merely to be a poor man born in a stable and a servant o f others (cf. John 13:3-5), but to die on the cross, a form*of death which expresses not only the utter rejection and condemna­ tion o f men,.but also being under the curse o f God (cf. Gal. 3:13; Isa. 53:6; 2 Cor. 5:21). This humiliation o f self was an act o f obediente to God the Father1(v. 8) who bade Him do this,„and it was love and obedience to God the Father even more than (or before that) it was self-sacrific­ ing love to us that led Jesus to the cross

(cf. John 6:38; Ps. 40:7, 8> Heb. 10:5-10). So we see the atoning sacrifice o f Christ for us had its original source in the will o f God (cf. John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). vs. 9-11. “ Wherefore God also ( also God) hath (omit, hath) highly exalted Him, and gave unto^Him a (the) name which is above every name: that in the name o f Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in (on) earth, and things under'the earth : and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory o f God the Father.” He who had humbled Himself to the lowest place God exalted to the highest place (cf. Luke 18:14; 14:11). Humiliation o f self is the path to exaltation by God: exalta­ tion o f self is thb path o f humiliation by God. God gave unto Jesus the name which is above "every other name. This does not mean th%t the name Jesús is in itself above every other name, but being the name o f this One who had so deeply humiliated Himself, and God having there­ fore exalted this One above all others, the name “Jesus” thus becomes above every name. The reason God gave to Jesus-the name that is above every name is “in order that in the name o f Jesus every knee should bow, etc.” Bowing in His name indicates not merely that all should worship God through Him, though that is true (Tohn 14:6), but indicates worship paid to Jesus' Himself (cf. Ps. 45:6; Heb: 1:6). The phrases, “ every knee shall bow” and “ every tongue confess,” are taken from Isa. 45:23, where they are used o f Jehovah, and there­ fore they are a clear assertion o f the one­ ness, o f Jesus and Jehovah. The knees which are to bow and the tongues'which are to confess are “in heaven,” “ on earth,” and “under the earth,” (i. e., Hades), and every one o f them in these three localities (c f. Rev. 5:13), even the lost; angels, and men who now refuse to bow in Jesus’ name will have to do so some day. This does not teach that they will all be saved., If it is done willingly now, there is saving power in it, but if done by compulsion later there is no saving power in it for them. The most blatant infidel this world ever

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