May 1, 2022

Communion Service: Christ Emptied & Christ Exalted

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Philippians 2:1-11
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Tonight's text (v6-7)
  • The heart of the Christian Gospel - the Incarnation
  • The Philippian church was in the grip of 'superiority' - Paul is exhorting the Philippians (v1-4)
    • Spiritual and class pride was destroying the church
    • The people had a wrong attitude - it was not that of Christ Jesus (v5)
  • Paul presents Jesus Christ as humble (v6) who made Himself nothing (v7)
    • Christ emptied Himself
  • Two truths:
    • Christ Emptied
    • Christ Exalted

Christ Emptied

  • The wrong interpretation
    • That Jesus ceased to be God when born as a baby
    • That Jesus was no longer Divine
    • That Jesus was just a man
  • The right interpretation
    • Taking on something He had not had before - human nature, which was immeasurably away from His Divinity
    • The word became flesh - John 1:1-3,14
      • An emphasis on vulnerability
      • Knowing all the 'fullness' of humanity except sin
    • The Son of the Most High becoming the 'son of Mary'
      • Luke 1:31
      • Matt 13:55 - questioning His parenthood
    • The throne gives way to the manager - Luke 2:7
      • From a palace to the pits
    • From riches to poverty
      • 2 Cor 8:9
      • Ps 50:10
    • Became a servant of God
      • He was equal with God yet became a servant - Phil 2:6-7
      • Isa 40:41, Ps 49:3, Ps 50:4-9, Ps 52:13-15
    • Became a curse for us
      • Phil 2:8-9
      • Gal 3:13
    • Seen at Calvary
      • Becoming sin and hanging on a cross
      • Phil 2:8
  • He laid aside all the privilege and dignity that was rightly His
    • Quote
    • Do we have an attitude problem? (v3)
    • Praise God that this is our only means of salvation

Christ Exalted

  • It cannot be taken away from Him
  • The Son of Man - represents His emptying and His exaltation
    • Burial and Ascension
  • Exalted in location
    • God raised Christ from the lowest to the highest place
      • Christ was humbled to the lowest of the low
      • He hung on the old rugged cross
      • 1 Cor 1:23 - His crucifixion a stumbling block
    • He was exalted to the highest place
      • Ps 24:7ff
  • Exalted in identification
    • He was given the name Jesus - Luke 1
    • Acts 12
    • Phil 2:10 - all shall bow to Him
      • Have you bowed to Him?
  • Exalted in vindication
    • Phil 2:11 - all will confess this
    • Every opposing tongue will be silenced
    • His resurrection shows this
    • Jesus is Lord
      • Can you say this?
    • His alone is the glory
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