Philippians 2:1-11 … First, we want to recall the purpose of the letter which was to celebrate partnership with Paul’s favorite church and to provide encouragement in becoming what a true church of Jesus Christ should be. The first chapter identified a focus for life (Philippians 1:21 … for me to live is Christ…) and now we’ll explore the means of doing just that as we’re given the pattern for Christian living.
If we’re to live on the highest plane, we’re encouraged to have the mind of Christ. In the King James Version, Philippians 2:5 reads this way: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. And the pattern identified for us is first to be lowly minded, to consider others better than ourselves. Henrietta Mears, a great Bible teacher in Hollywood in the mid-1950s used to encourage her students to picture others with a sign that said: “Please help me feel important.” That’s a great way to catch the intent of Philippians 2:3. Look out for the interests of others (v.4) and have the mind of Christ, which was sacrificial, even to the point of death.
Christ is our model because God was in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19), coming into the human experience for our salvation. For that reason, God has exalted Jesus and the name of Jesus above all other names. Philippians 2:9-11 is a great memory verse reminding us of the confession and proclamation of believers: Jesus Christ is Lord, Yahweh God, our Redeemer and Savior and the object of our worship and adoration. Thus far in Philippians, we’ve seen two great attributes of believers:
- Christ is our life (Philippians 1:21)
- Christ is our mind (Philippians 2:5)
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