A Specific Request Text: Phil. 2:3-8 The Mind Of Christ Text: Phil. 2:3-8 Love Humility Obedience Prepared by Nathan L Morrison All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated For further study, or if questions, please Call: 907-252-3708, or visit www.frr-churchofchrist-ak.org Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro Our example and reputation are necessary to be lights A Specific Request Intro Our example and reputation are necessary to be lights (Mt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15) How do we accomplish this? How do we make the right choices? (Rom. 6:3-13) Phil. 2:3-8 3. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4. do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6. who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Emphasis in Scripture mine! Attitude (NKJ: “Mind”) G5426 phroneō [fron-eh'-o] From G5424; to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience): - set the affection on, (be) care (-ful), (be like-, + be of one, + be of the same, + let this) mind (-ed, regard, savour, think. The Mind Of Christ Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro Paul sought to get men to bring their thoughts into A Specific Request Paul sought to get men to bring their thoughts into captivity to Christ (II Cor. 10:5) Prov. 4:23; 23:7: The heart or mind is the “control center” of life and conduct. Mk. 7:21-23: Jesus declared the power of perverted thought to influence action. Image courtesy of www.shutterstock.com The Mind Of Christ Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro If Jesus Christ is the center of our life, then we will truly A Specific Request Intro Image courtesy of www.shutterstock.com If Jesus Christ is the center of our life, then we will truly have the mind (or attitude) of Christ! The Mind Of Christ Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Christ Had a Loving Mind Phil. 2:6-7 6. who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Phil. 2:6-7: He was rich with God in glory II Cor. 8:9: He became poor that we might become rich. Jn. 1:1-3: He was in the form of God. Heb. 1:2: With God, Jesus had power and honor. He gave up the honor and glory of heaven for a life of poverty on earth (II Cor. 8:9) Lk. 9:58: No place to call home. I Tim. 2:6: He gave Himself a ransom for all. The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had a Loving Mind Why did He give up His home in Heaven? (What was His motivation?) – Love! Rom. 8:35-37 35. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Eph. 5:1-2 (II Thess. 2:16-17; Heb. 12:1-3) 1. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2. and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had a Loving Mind Saints are to be like Christ and “put on” love – Col. 3:14 (Eph. 5:2: “Walk in love”) Phil. 2:1-4: Out of love & humility look out for the interests of others, not just your own! We can see the churches in Macedonia exhibiting the attitude of Christ! (II Cor. 8:5) If you have the attitude of Christ, out of love you will put others first! The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had a Humble Mind Phil. 2:8 8. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Saints are to have the humility of mind that Christ had! (Col. 3:12: “Put on…humility”) Rom. 12:3: Not to think of oneself more highly than he ought to think (Phil. 2:3-4) I Pet. 5:6-7: Humble-minded people are dependent on the Lord Eph. 4:32: Humble-minded people are forgiving as Christ forgave! Humility is often hard to find in our culture because it is erroneously equated to being weak! The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had a Humble Mind Think about Moses in relation to humility: Num. 12:3 3. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) Was Moses weak? Could a weak man stand up to Pharaoh and not bend to any of the compromises offered? Could a weak man have stood up to the multitude in the wilderness without giving in? Could a weak man talk to God and remind Him of His own righteousness? (Ex. 32:9-14) God was ready to destroy the people and make a new nation out of Moses – Moses interceded! The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had a Humble Mind A Specific Request Christ Had a Humble Mind Think about Jesus in relation to humility: Heb. 12:2-3 2. fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Was Jesus weak? Would a weak man have gone through with the plan of the crucifixion knowing He could have stopped it? (Mt. 26:53) Could a weak man go through the mock trial and face Pilate saying nothing? Could a weak man endure the torture & punishment without fighting back? Could a weak man endure the cross for not just His friends, but also His enemies? The Mind Of Christ Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Christ Had a Humble Mind Humility is not weakness, it is strength! (Strength under control) He gave Himself completely to God’s will Jn. 4:34: His “food” was to do God’s will. Jn. 5:30: He sought not His own will but to do God’s will. Jn. 6:38: He came down from heaven to do God’s will, not His own. It takes more strength of character and will to resist those temptations, to do what is right, and to be in subjection, than it does to be rebellious! If you have the attitude of Christ, you will humbly submit to the will of the Lord! The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had an Obedient Mind Phil. 2:8 8. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil. 2:8: From humility He became “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” Heb. 5:8-9: The Lord became obedient in order to save men! (Heb. 2:9) Lk. 22:42: The Lord was obedient to God to the degree that He could say “Not My will, but Your will be done.” Saints are to be obedient as Christ was in order to be saved! (Heb. 5:9) The Mind Of Christ

Christ Had an Obedient Mind There is an evident disrespect for authority today Eph. 6:1-3; Lk. 2:51: Lack of authority in the home (Rom. 1:32; II Tim. 3:2) Rom. 13:1-7: Disrespect for authority seen in rejecting authority of civil government (Mt. 22:21: Attitude of Christ – “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s”) The solution to this problem of rejection of authority is to have the attitude (mind) of Christ! (Phil. 2:5) If you have the attitude of Christ, you will live a faithful life! The Mind Of Christ

Conclusion Rom. 12:2: In order to have the mind (attitude) of Christ, our mind must be renewed! (Rom. 6:4: “Walk in newness of life”) I Pet. 3:15: The Lord must be sanctified (set apart) in our Heart! Phil. 2:5: We will only have the attitude of Christ when we let Him be our example! Love Humility Obedience Will you let Christ be your example in love, humility, and obedience? The Mind Of Christ

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)