Calvary Baptist Bible study: Philippians 2:5-8

“Lord, I lift Your Name on High”, Part 1
Text: Philippians 2:5-8

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The title of this message is a well-known and cherished song in Christian circles. It is the theology of Jesus Christ; “You came from Heaven to Earth to show the way, from the Earth to the cross my debt to pay, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky.” This week, we will consider Jesus’ earthly ministry.

In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul exhorts Christians at the church in Philippi to be of one mind, as it relates to doctrine and how to relate to each other. Paul wanted the Philippians to realize that selfishness and pride were not to be a part of Christian living. In verse 5, he writes, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” What was Jesus’ attitude while earth? Verses 6-7 tell of Jesus, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

These verses declare Jesus’ existence as God the Son before the world was created, and his pre-incarnate existence. He was equal to God, but when He came to earth, He did not hold onto His divine authority in order to “throw His weight around.” Instead, He “emptied himself” of His divine right to bail himself out of trials and temptations. He took the form of a bond-servant, which, in the Greek text, means that God the Son willingly took the form of a slave. He was also made in the likeness of men, which means that, unlike Heaven, Jesus was now subject to pain, fatigue, sickness, and temptation like other human beings.

Verse 8 tells us that Jesus, “being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus Christ had no stately form in his appearance, nor did he wear clothing that suggested that he was royalty (Isaiah 53:2). Despite this, He lived in perfect obedience and in submission to God’s mission for Him. Jesus not only set aside His rights as God, but He willingly humbled Himself all the way down to the lowest form of humiliation, death on a cross. Death by crucifixion was reserved only for the worst of the worst, and who the culture viewed as being cursed by God. Imagine that! Jesus, being God, was considered by men as being cursed by God!

Friends, this text has told us that God The Son, who had existed in a perfect and holy residence, came to live in a “neighborhood” that He created; one that had been cursed by sin, to become a slave, in order to seek and save lost sinners who He also created (Luke 19:10, John 1:3)!

After considering this text, how can any of us think that we can earn entry into Heaven by the obedience of any type of man-made doctrines regarding salvation, or what WE THINK we are worthy of?

Friend, if that’s what you are placing your trust in, we pray that the Spirit of God change you, place a humble heart in you, and that you would surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Steve Visconti