4.3. BY STUDYING CHRIST'S OWN PATTERN (Philippians 2:5-11)

Pattern follows precept - when the Holy Spirit enjoins some aspect of Christian life, He points to Christ. Preaching lowliness, Christ is presented as the meek and lowly one, who stooped to save our souls. Many opinions prevail about His self-emptying.

Made Himself nothing: the Kenosis (emptying) of Christ during his incarnation does not mean He surrendered any attributes of deity, but that He took on the limitations of humanity. This involved a veiling of His preincarnate glory (John 17:5 ) and the voluntary waiving of some of his divine prerogatives during the time He was on earth (Matthew 24:36 ). Ryrie

Remember that the surrender of position, and the giving up of possessions is not the foremost, it is the yielding up of Himself, gave Himself, without any reserve, in submission or sacrifice. He stooped to fulfill covenant obligations. He willingly became NOTHING to save us. Study Christ's own pattern of the precept before us.

Note:- "Let this mind..." (Philippians 2:5 KJV) and "Who, being..." (Philippians 2:6 KJV). Being in the form of God, positive teaching of Christ's deity. Bethlehem did not begin His existence, He was ever with the Father.

John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. "

John 17:5 "... with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."

In the form of God - before He took "the form of a servant." "Form" i.e. "essential nature as well as outline".

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. "

Christ is very God - co-equal - same possessions - attributes - authority - displays the same grace - demands obedience - receives worship - bestows mercy and pardon. In every respect equal. The teachings of the Lord Jesus were so clear - His hearers cry "making Himself equal with God" (John 5:18 KJV). "Thought it not robbery" (Philippians 2:6 KJV), i.e. not claiming something that was not His by inherent and eternal right.

But what He did surrender was His right to "the outward glorious self- manifestation of God." Jamieson, Faussett and Brown

He willingly put aside His own interest for those He came to redeem (Philippians 1:4 ).

His life was one lowly act. "Made Himself of no reputation..." (Philippians 2:7 KJV). Or, "emptied Himself." Went all out to save us.

	Psalm 22:14 (KJV) "I am poured out..."
	Isaiah 53:12 (KJV) "Poured out His soul..."

Philippians 2:8 "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Seven immeasurable steps from the Father's right hand to the middle cross on Golgotha:

	He emptied Himself (Philippians 2:7 ) R.V.
	He took upon Him the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7 )
	Coming in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7 )
	Found in appearance as a man (Philippians 2:8 )
	He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8 )
	He became obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:8 )
	Even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8 )

	This humiliation was VOLUNTARY - No compulsion - humbled Himself.
	This humiliation was VICARIOUS - That we might not be eternally humiliated - Stooped to raise us up to glory.
	This humiliation was VICTORIOUS - Jesus was not humiliated in His humiliation - no defeat in His death.

Having come down - God raised Him up. Seven steps from the shame of the cross to the glory of the throne.

	"... God also has highly exalted Him ..." (Philippians 2:9 KJV)
	"... and given Him the name which is above every name," (Philippians 2:9 KJV)
	"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ..." (Philippians 2:10 KJV)
	"... of those in heaven, ..." Celestial beings. (Philippians 2:10 NKJV)
	"... of those on earth, ..." Terrestrial beings. (Philippians 2:10 NKJV)
	"... every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, ..." (Philippians 2:11 KJV)

1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

"Highly high" - raised to the highest. Jesus, the name of names:-

	ABOVE - His name is higher - "God also has highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:9 KJV).
	OINTMENT - Your "name is as ointment poured forth" (Song 1:3 KJV) - Brings all blessing - evokes aid.
	WHATEVER YOU ASK (John 16:23 ).
	SALVATION - "For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13 KJV).
	FORGIVENESS - "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name ..." (Luke 24:47 KJV).

His peculiar dignity (Philippians 2:9-11 )

	AS GOD - the Lord has inherent sovereignty.
	AS MAN - An acquired sovereignty.

Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

"Made Himself of no reputation" (Philippians 2:7 KJV) i.e. nothing in the sight of men to be everything in the sight of God. We want to be something and consequently we are accomplishing nothing for God.

'NOTHING' - have we the effrontery to pose as anything more? The pattern leaves us no choice - we must be God's nothings if He is to do something through us, and it is in the gathering of His nothings that we will experience happy fellowship.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What difficulties do you encounter in living out Christ's self-emptying example? (Philippians 2:5 ).

2. How damaging is the seeking of self rights, no matter how legitimate to the interests of the fellowship? (Philippians 2:6 ).

3. To what point of obedience are you willing to go to bless others? (Philippians 2:8; Romans 5:19 ).

4. Do you see in the example of Christ Jesus, that the kingdom principles of self-humiliation and serving obedience are the way to recognition? (Philippians 2:9 ).

5. Do you glory in the all power and supremacy of Christ the Lord? Do you allow anyone or any thing to rival Him? (Philippians 2:9-11 ).