Philippians 2 Our Basis for Unity

Phil. 2:1-4 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Phil. 2:5-8 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. 1Cor.2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Prequisites… zPhil.2:1 Therefore IF there is any encouragement in Christ, IF there is any consolation of love, IF there is any fellowship of the Spirit, IF any affection and compassion… 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… IE, UNDERSTANDING IMPERATIVE: INDICATIVE…

Christ’s Sacrifice: Began Before the “Incarnation”  The “Kinosis” (  ) yPhilip. 2:5-8 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. zA Different Environment y1 Tim. 6:16 God, who lives in unapproachable light, whom no man can see nor has seen…

Christ’s Sacrifice: Continued Throughout His Life zRejected by the Religious Establishment. zRejected by the Masses (Jn. 6) zRejected by his Family (Jn. 7:5) zRejected by his Friends (Mk. 14:27f)

Christ’s Sacrifice: #1 The Cross z “Punished with limbs stretched, they see the stake as their fate, they’re fastened and nailed to it in the most bitter torment, food for birds of prey and grim pickings for dogs.” -Pseudo Menetho z “The most wretched of deaths” - Hispasian z “That evil instrument” – Lucian z “Far be if from the lips of any cultured man even to mention the cross in polite conversation.” -Cicero Salvador Dali, “Crucifixion”, 1954

Christ’s Sacrifice: #1 The Cross z “I see crosses there, not just of one kind but made in different ways: some have their victims with head down to the ground; some impale their private parts; others stretch out their arms on a gibbet.” -Seneca, Dialogue 6 Salvador Dali, “Crucifixion”, 1954 Luke 22:42 saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

Christ’s Sacrifice: #2 Moral Guilt zHe “Became Sin” for us yGod made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. --2 Cor. 5:21 zBarabbas: a picture of us.

Rembrandt’s “Raising of the Cross”

Mt.27:51 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Christ’s Sacrifice: #3 Rejection by the Father zMark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Col. 2:14 He canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

The Cross: “The Foolishness of God” 1 Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

The Cross: “The Foolishness of God” “An alleged son of god who could not help himself at the time of his deepest need and who rather required his followers to take up the cross, was hardly an attraction to the lower classes of Roman and Greek society. People were all too aware of what it meant to bear the cross through the city and then be nailed to it. They feared it, and wanted to get away from it. How offensive this notion of a crucified lord must have been to those ancient people!” - Martin Hengel

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. The Cross: “The Foolishness of God” 1 Cor. 1:22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles... Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

Phil. 2:5-8 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. Ephes. 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2and 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.

Phil. 2:2-4 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

A Good Question: z“Can anyone be found willing to be fastened to the accursed tree, long sickly, already deformed, swelling with ugly wheals on shoulders and chest and drawing the breath of life amid long drawn-out agony? Can any man be found who would prefer wasting away in pain, dying limb by limb, or letting out his life drop by drop, rather than expiring once-for-all ?” - Seneca

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