HAVE
(habitually, as your
lifestyle)
THIS
ATTITUDE
IN YOURSELVES WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: touto phroneite (2PPAM) en humin
ho kai en Christo Iesous:
(Mt 11:29;
20:26-28;
Lu 22:27;
John 13:14,15;
Acts 10:38;
20:35;
Ro 14:15;
15:3,5;
1 Co 10:33;
11:1;
Eph 5:2;
1Pet 2:21;
4:1;
1Jn 2:6)
For an excellent discussion of the
doctrine in this section see John MacArthur's sermon the
"Humiliation
of Christ".
"Have
this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (ASV)
"and
think the same way that Christ Jesus thought" (CEV)
"Let
the same disposition be in you which was in Christ Jesus"
(Weymouth)
"this mind
be constantly having in you which was also in Christ Jesus"
(Wuest), "Let Christ
himself be your example as to what your attitude should be"
(Phillips)
"Let your
attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with
the Messiah Yeshua:" (Jewish NT)
Vine
introduces this section writing that...
In order to enforce the earnest
exhortations just given as to lowliness of mind and unselfish
consideration of the things of others, the apostle sets forth the Lord
Jesus Christ as the supreme example of this, and in doing so declares
the outstanding doctrines of the faith, “the deep things of Christ,”
His voluntary self-abasement, His incarnation, His obedience even unto
the death of the cross. The passage combines Christian doctrine and
Christian practice. The immediate connection is between the principle
in Phil 2:4, of having regard to the condition and needs of others,
and this sublime example of Christ. For all that now follows declares
how He looked upon our dire needs as sinners. We are the “others”
whose “needs” were the great object of His actings of grace. And it is
His mind, as thus expressed, that is to be our mind. (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
)
The KJV renders
it "Let this mind be in you" which gives one the impression
that Paul is giving them an exhortation that is optional. As most of
the modern versions convey more accurately, this instruction by Paul
is a command. Paul is making it very clear that, if one is to be a
child of God in whom the Father takes great delight, this command will
be lovingly obeyed.
And so Paul
proceeds to lift up before the eyes of the Philippians the example of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
What kind of
attitude did He exhibit? What characterized His behavior toward
others? One has summed up the mind of the Christ as:
(1) The selfless mind;
(2) The sacrificial mind;
(3) The serving
mind.
The Lord Jesus
consistently thought of others. Now literally Paul commands the
saints at Philippi...
"This
be ye constantly thinking in you which also was in Christ Jesus”
This (5124)
(touto) is emphatic (placed first in the Greek text for emphasis) and shows that the
command relates
refers to the what Paul has just instructed in the preceding passages
Philippians 2:3-4.
Have
this attitude
(5426)
(phroneo) means to set one's mind or heart upon something,
to have understanding, to be wise, to direct one’s mind to a thing, to
seek or strive for. The idea is not to give just a casual thought to
something but a thinking that involves the affections and will as well as the
reason.
Phroneo refers to the basic orientation, bent, and thought
patterns of one's mind, rather than to the intellect itself. Paul is
announcing this in the
present tense (continuous action,
lifestyle)
active voice (personal decision of the will)
imperative mood (command
not suggestion).
Paul is not
making a suggestion but is commanding the saints at Philippi to be transformed by the “renewing of the
mind” (see note
Romans 12:2) because he
knows that only in this way can we carry out the command for
Christ-like
behavior. Right thinking should produce right actions.
Paul is calling
the saints at Philippi (and in every place and every time) to a daily
lifestyle of vigilance in maintaining a Christocentric orientation to
life that could be eroded easily for as the hymn says
"O
to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy
goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to
Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave
the God I love.
Here’s my heart. O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy
courts above."
(Play
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing)
Sing this hymn to the Lord as your prayer right now and then
empowered by amazing grace, go forth making the decision to
continually chose Savior over self. God will provide "plenteous
opportunities" during the day as well as "plenteous grace" to enable
you to practice this important spiritual discipline of thinking like
Christ would think in every situation and in every circumstance, to
the glory of the Father. Amen.
Remember as
Robert Murray M'Cheyne said...
"It's not great talents that God
blesses, but great likeness to Jesus."
The saints at
Philippi (as is true of all believers) had "the mind of Christ" (1Cor 2:16)
but Paul is them to continually think like Christ. He knew that when
they had their Lord's attitude, they would not be defending their own
rights, promoting their own selfish interests and living for
themselves. How did you begin your
morning today? Did you choose to put on Christ and His attitude or were you
influenced by the world system which incessantly promotes and "exalts"
selfishness (see note
2 Timothy 3:1-2,
2 Timothy 3:3-5).
Christ Who is "gentle and humble in heart" (Mt 11:29) is
to be our daily example of selflessness. He was lowly-minded and we
should be like-minded. As followers of Christ, we should imitate His "example"
and "follow in His steps" (see note
1 Peter 2:21).
"The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the
same manner as He walked" (1Jn 2:6).
We should
"walk in love, just as Christ also loved (us), and
gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a
fragrant aroma" (see sermon
Ephesians 5:2)
We should
"not be conformed
(stop doing this) to this world, but be transformed (continually =
present tense) by
the renewing of (our) mind" and then we will be able to
test and discern "what the will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect." (see note
Romans 12:2).
As we
"with unveiled face (behold) as in a mirror the glory
of the Lord" in passages such as the one we are studying, we will
be "transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as
from the Lord, the Spirit" (2Cor 3:18)
What was the "attitude"
in Christ Jesus? The
answer follows in one of the most profound descriptions of our Lord in
the entire word of God. If you have not memorized this section of
Scripture so that you might be "blessed" by meditating upon ("beholding
as in a mirror the glory of the Lord") it's precious truth "day
and night" (Ps 1:2),
you are missing the "opportunity of a lifetime". Take a week
and memorize at least verses 3-10. You will never regret it.
|
CHRISTOLOGY
IN PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11 |
Christ's
Preexistence
Christ's Humiliation
Christ's Exaltation |
Philippians 2:6
Philippians
2:7-8
Philippians
2:9-11 |
|
Matthew Henry rightly reminds us that genuine
"Christians must be of
Christ's mind. We must bear a resemblance to His life, if we would
have the benefit of His death" for as Paul writes "you are not
in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in
you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Him" (see note
Romans 8:9)
A T Robertson comments that
"Paul presents
Jesus as the supreme example of humility. He urges humility on the
Philippians as the only way to secure unity."
The Lord of glory consistently
thought of others first which prompted Charles H. Gabriel to pen
these powerful, poignant words...
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat-drops of blood for mine.
><> ><> ><>
F B Meyer in
Our Daily Walk has the following devotional entitled THE MEANING
OF THE CROSS - FAITH IS not simply an intellectual experience of a
statement of fact, but it is our personal trust and confidence in Him
of whom the fact is true. We are not saved merely because we believe
that Jesus Christ died for us on the Cross, but because we trust in
Him who died. It is the personal touch between Christ and ourselves
that causes His life to pass into our nature, making us sound and
healthy, as well as secure and safe.
What does the Cross mean to you and me? Does it not mean that there
our Lord gave Himself absolutely to the Father's will. Never in any
way did He make Himself the origin and fountain of His action, but was
ever the empty channel through which God poured Himself. "He humbled
Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
It seemed as if He went down lower and lower, on rung after rung of
the ladder until He reached Hades, giving up everything only to follow
the Will of God; but out of the lowest depths God raised Him to the
Eternal Throne.
In each one of us there is strong serf-will. You say, "I am resolved
to be a good man or woman, to live a noble life, to give up bad
habits--I will" But it can never be accomplished in that way. It is
only when we are willing to see ourselves, our own energy, our good
self as well as our bad serf brought to an end on the Cross of Jesus,
that we shall be able to enter into and live His eternal life.
At this moment I would summon you to stand beneath the Cross and to
see there One who entirely yielded up His own will. More than that, I
want you to see your serf-life nailed there, and turn from it to God
in adoration, saying that you are prepared to be weak and helpless so
far as your own energies are concerned, that He may put forth in your
life the mighty energy of that power which raised Christ from the
dead. It is only when we are weak that we are really strong; it is
only when we surrender ourselves to the power of the Cross, so that we
realize that we have been crucified with Christ, that we are able to
share in His eternal victory over the devil and the power of evil.
PRAYER - O God, Thou hast revealed Thyself to us in Thy Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord. We love Him, because He endured the Cross, and
despised the shame in order to save us. May we follow Him by the way
of the Cross, bearing His reproach, sharing His griefs, obedient even
unto death, that we may also live and reign with Him here, and more
perfectly at last. AMEN.
><> ><> ><>
The following devotional is
from Our Daily Bread (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved)
WHAT is "the
Christmas spirit"? Is it jovial family festivity, the sound of
familiar carols in a busy shopping mall, the flow of cheery greeting
cards that keep us in touch with old friends, a tree covered with
twinkling lights peeking out of a pile of brightly wrapped packages,
or the general good feeling we get at this season of the year? These
are what most people think of when they hear the expression "Christmas
spirit." But for Christians much more is involved.
J. I. Packer defines the Christmas spirit in his book Knowing God. He
writes, "We talk glibly of the Christmas spirit, rarely meaning more
by this than sentimental jollity on a family basis. . . . It ought to
mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of Him who for our
sakes became poor, ... the spirit of those who, like their Master,
live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves
poor—spending and being spent—to enrich their fellowmen, giving time,
trouble, care, and concern to do good to others—and not just their
own friends—in whatever way there seems need."
In Philippians 2 we read that the Son of God laid aside His divine
glory and became your servant and mine by being made in human likeness
and dying on the cross for our sins. Following His example means
letting the mind of Christ be in us and humbly serving others. That's
the true spirit of Christmas!—DJD
><> ><> ><>
A former
missionary told the story of two rugged, powerful mountain goats who
met on a narrow pathway joining two mountain ridges. On one side was a
chasm 1,000 feet deep; on the other, a steep cliff rising straight up.
So narrow was the trail that there was no room to turn around, and the
goats could not back up without falling. What would they do? Finally,
instead of fighting for the right to pass, one of the goats knelt down
and made himself as flat as possible. The other goat then walked over
him, and they both proceeded safely.
In a sense, this is what Jesus Christ did for us when He left heaven's
glory and came to this earth to die for our sins. He saw us trapped
between our sin and God's righteousness with no way to help ourselves.
He humbled Himself by giving up His right to use His divine power. He
came in the likeness of men and took the form of a servant (Phil.
2:5-8). Then, by dying for sinful mankind, He let us "walk over Him"
so that we could experience forgiveness and receive eternal life. —DCE
Christ emptied Himself.
Behold our pattern. St. Ambrose.
><> ><> ><>
God's Paradoxes - Whoever desires to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. --Matthew
16:25
The Bible tells us there is a wisdom that is foolish and a foolishness
that is wise (1 Cor. 1:20-25). There is a gain that is loss and a loss
that is gain (Phil. 3:7-9). And there is an exalted way that leads
downward and a humble way that leads to exaltation (Phil. 2:5-11).
Statements like these seem to be contradictions, but they are actually
paradoxes. A paradox is a statement that contains two truths, which at
first glance seem to be incompatible.
A psychiatrist once unknowingly referred to one of God's paradoxes,
remarking, "The greatest secret of mental health comes down to us in
the words, 'Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever
loses his life will save it.'" He added, "I forget who said that, but
it is a great truth."
Who said that? Our Lord Jesus Christ! He gave us that principle in
Matthew 16:25. And the apostle Paul lived it out as he endured
countless hardships for the benefit of others (2 Cor. 4:8-12). Yet
Paul knew that even as his physical body was dying, his spirit was
being renewed (v.16).
You cannot find your richest personal fulfillment until you sacrifice
your time, strength, and resources to God's will. "Lose your life" for
Christ. Start really living! --VCG
Take up thy cross
and follow on,
Nor think till death to lay it down,
For only he who bears the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown. --Everest
Christ showed His love by dying
for us;
we show our love by living for Him.
