Communion Service: Christ Emptied & Christ Exalted
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