December 25, 2024

He became poor that we might become rich

Preacher:
Passage: Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Corinthians 8:9
Service Type:

Introduction

  • What do you think of at Christmas?
    • Example of homeless and the causes for this
    • As Christians we seek to alleviate poverty
  • 2 Cor 8:9
    • Poor Jewish Christians
    • A famine causing extreme poverty
      • Paul encourages the Gentile churches to set aside some giving each week
    • "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
      • A simple and straight forward verse
      • Jesus was rich but became poor – He went to the cross for us
      • He emptied Himself of all the majesty of heaven and went to the cross
      • Those who know this have become blessed in Christ
    • Therefore, do not withhold blessings from others
  • Phil 2:5-11
    • The doctrine of the incarnation has practical implications
    • Have the mind of Christ, be humble
    • God becoming man – very powerful
  • Overview:
    • What did it mean for Him to be rich?
    • What did it mean for Him to become poor?
    • What did it mean for us today?

What did it mean for Him to be rich?

  • It speaks of His Deity
    • There is no-one greater than God – examples
    • Omnipotent, Omnipresence, Omniscient
    • Jesus has all the characteristics of God
    • He is eternal – He was not created
      • Micah 5:2, Isa 9:6
    • He is immortal – in Him is life
      • 1 Tim 6:15-16
    • Rom 9:4, Heb 1
    • Jesus used the Divine title "I AM" – examples
      • The Jews felt this was blasphemy
    • He said "I and the Father are one", He accepted worship
  • It speaks of His relationship with the Father
    • Matt 11:27 – He had an exhaustible knowledge of the inexhaustible knowledge of God
    • He had a perfect love for His Father
    • He did not need us – but in grace He came to save us
    • He was in perfect love in the Trinity
  • It speaks of all His ways
    • Abundant kindness
    • The riches of His grace
    • The care He takes for His people

What did it mean for Him to become poor?

  • We are to contemplate and think upon these things
    • We will not full understand the incarnation – how God became man
    • Contracted to a span but not losing any of His Divineness
    • We see the limitations of human existence – examples
  • Not physically impoverished – but becoming man and going to the cross, to make us rich
    • He lived in the power of the Holy Spirit
    • He humbled Himself
    • He lived with the outcasts of society
    • He gave of Himself to others
    • He offered Himself on the cross – "for your sakes He became poor"
    • God must punish sin but Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice
    • He lost communion and fellowship with God the Father on the cross

What does it mean for us today?

  • It does not mean we will become materially rich
    • The Jewish Christians were impoverished – they needed help fro the Gentile Churches
    • You will become eternally rich, know the forgiveness of sins, be clothed in the rightness of Christ, be given a home in heaven, be a co-heir with Christ
  • What does it mean to be made rich – examples
  • Paul used this text to impact believers in Corinth
    • How does it impact us today?
    • It should lead us to tremendous thankfulness at the grace of God
  • "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
  • Feast upon His riches
    • Christ invites you to cast yourself upon Him
    • Ask Christ for forgiveness
    • Ask Christ for mercy
    • He will hear this prayer and save you
    • You will become rich in Him