Philippians. Here we see Jesus Christ revealed as being humbly obedient to the will of God. His true great ness is shown not only by His eter nal position with the Father, but also in His willingness to be made flesh, born of the virgin Mary, and living His human life only to die for the sins of mankind. While Paul was in prison he wanted the people at Phil- ipi to enjoy not only real fellowship with Jesus Christ, but also fellow ship with one another. This is why he said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We, too, need this attitude. It shows a willingness to serve and not just to do our own will. In verse six Christ is spoken of as being “in the form of God.” Christ’s spirit of humility and self-abnegation were amply illustrated in His be coming a man, incarnate in the flesh. Christ willingly came into this world in human form so that substitution- arily He might provide the atone ment and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. This section is known as the “kenosis” passage since it speaks of the self-emptying of the
Son of God. But our Lord did not set aside one iota of His Deity. It was His glory that He left in heav en, coming to this world that you and I might have everlasting life. The word “form” in verse 6, in the Greek, really means an outward ex pression of one’s inner being. It does not refer to the physical shape of some object or person. Christ’s di vine nature was the very essence of the Deity of God. He was co-equal, co-existent, and co-essential with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the expression of the absolute perfection of the Godhead. The Lord did not consider equality with the Father a thing to be grasped after as some thing that did not belong to Him; He knew He could never lose His Deity. In becoming man he was no less God. “Then Christ made Himself of no reputation” (vs. 7 ). Notice it does not say “character” but rather repu tation, which is what men think of us. He did not divest Himself of His attributes of God. His form was that of a servant or a slave. Such is pic tured in John 13:1-7 where Jesus girded Himself with a towel and washed His disciples’ feet. He was still their Lord, but this very act showed His humanity. Just as He laid aside His outer garments to serve men, so our wonderful Lord laid aside the eternal garments He had in glory to come to this earth to die for lost mankind. This is how He was able to become your Saviour. He came from the glories of heaven to accept the agonies of Calvary. Could you ever doubt His love for you? This is what makes Jesus Christ so different. And believing this can also make you different as you trust Him as your own personal Saviour. Most of the world’s outstanding leaders have been men of real humil ity. Without question, the Lord Jesus Christ was the most humble of all. We need to have the mind or atti tude of Christ toward life as behev- Page 33
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