Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Humility of God Philippians 2:5-11 American marketing has turned Christmas from a holiday into a day of stressful obligation I want to remind you of the true meaning of Christmas and what it reveals about the God that created us

Scriptural Context Philippians The theme of Philippians is joy in all circumstances It requires humility for believers to walk in unity with one another Phil. 2:5 - Paul points to Jesus as the example of the humility for believers to follow

Scriptural Context Philippians You cannot understand the humility of Jesus without contrasting it to the glory that belongs to Him (The idea that humans can become gods or god-like is a blatant heresy)

The Deity of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:6 Who being in the form / appearance / look / likeness of God Hebrews 1:3 Colossians 1:15-16 John 1:18 John 14:8-9.

The Deity of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:6 "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped / snatched at" as in robbery (KJV) Jesus is God Isaiah 7:14 / Matthew 2:23 Isaiah 9:6

The Deity of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:6 Humility is demonstrated in the contrast between position and practice God is self-existent and self-sufficient. He is the uncaused cause of everything and needs nothing

The Deity of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:6 Infinite in relationship to time, space, knowledge & power (eternal, omnipresent, omniscient & omnipotent) God is the supreme sovereign - He is only restricted by His own character and attributes God is holy - of infinite virtue and purity - He is other than all He has created

The Deity of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:6 His holiness is part of all His moral attributes including characteristics which are normally negative in men Jesus also has all the offices & prerogatives of deity - Creator, preserver, all authority to forgive or condemn Jesus has the right to receive honor and worship that belongs only to God

The Humanity & Humility of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:7-8 Jesus “emptied Himself” - at minimum, He placed limits on the expression of His attributes Jesus took on the form - character and nature - of a slave (douvloV / doulos) To be humble is to lower oneself to an inferior position

The Humanity & Humility of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:7-8 Jesus humbled Himself (caused His heart to bow down) even to obedience to death on the cross Jesus came for the purpose of dying - John 12:27; Luke 24:25-26

The Humanity & Humility of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:7-8 Jesus had to die in certain way to fulfill the ancient prophecies - Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Jesus could not be murdered - He had to die in a particular manner at His own initiative Jesus had to die on the cross - Galatians 3:13; Deut. 21:22-23

The Humanity & Humility of Jesus Christ Philippians 2:7-8 Jesus died according to the plan of God - 1 Peter 1:18; John 3:14-15 Christmas is about the incredible humility of God in becoming a man to redeem by His own death

The Exalted Position of Jesus Philippians 2:9-11 Jesus’ prayer in John 17:5 is fulfilled Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father to intercede for His disciples as their sympathetic high priest John 14:1-3 - Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for His follower and will return for them

The Exalted Position of Jesus Philippians 2:9-11 All beings, physical and spiritual, will bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord fulfilling Isaiah 45:23 Believers and angels worship Jesus willingly and joyously Unbelievers and demons will be forced to submit and then spend eternity in torment shut out from God

Conclusion Jesus humbled Himself to become sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him Will you humble yourself to believe and submit to Him voluntarily? Come, let us worship our humble, but glorified King today

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ