Christ the Exalted

Our final look at the life and work of Christ in the few verses the Apostle Paul spoke, through his letter to the Philippians will focus on Jesus the Exalted. Paul wrote these words in Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Because of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf God has exalted Him.  Not only are we told of this great exaltation of Christ by Paul in our text in Philippians, but many other times throughout the New Testament.  John tells us that Jesus is above all in his Gospel. "He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth He who comes from heaven is above all.”  (John 3:31)  In Peter’s great sermon on the Day of Pentecost he tells those there that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)  Both Peter and the Apostles testified to the glory of Jesus in Acts 5:29-32.  But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.  "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.  "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."  Paul sums it up best from our text in Philippians 2. “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Every knee will bow, because God exalted Christ.

Jesus came down from Heaven to earth in fleshly form to be sacrificed for all man’s sins; therefore, God highly exalted Him.  Jesus sits at the right Hand of God, not only to intercede for us with the Father, but to Judge us.  He is qualified as one who suffered in all things as we did.  J.H. Jowett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”  Jesus’ ministry cost Him His life and cost God His only Son.  A great price was paid for this marvelous and sin shattering ministry.  Jesus’ blessing came to us through His bleeding for us.  Thanks be to God for this sacrifice.

God Bless!

God's Friend

 We will continue with part 3 of our study of Christ.  The life and work of Christ is represented very well in a few verses the Apostle Paul spoke, through his letter to the Philippians.  Paul wrote these words in Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”   This time we will look at Christ the sacrificed.

This leads us to the fact that Jesus, God in the flesh, was willing to be sacrificed for the sins of all of eternity.  He became the perfect sacrifice needed to give grace and mercy to humankind.  The Hebrew writer gives this in Hebrews 9:26-28, “He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,  will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”  I have often thought about this ultimate sacrifice in a much more personal way.  If you could imagine your child, if you have one, or another that you truly love,  dying for someone that you didn’t even like, one that had abandoned you and shown you no love, then this will begin to let you and me understand the love and sacrifice this truly was. 

John pens these words of Jesus in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one  than  this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  Jesus had this amazing love for us, but as a side note to this lesson, Jesus calls us His friends.  That puts us in an amazing category with Abraham and Moses (Isaiah 41:8, Exodus 33:11) as friends of the almighty God.  That alone is enough to leave me smiling all day today. God plus one is always a majority.  Jesus leaves us no doubt why He came to earth in Matthew 20:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”.  We are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice by Peter in 1 Peter 2:24, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed”.  So Jesus Christ became flesh so that He might become our sacrifice.

God Bless!

Christ the Humbled ... Amazing Grace

We pick up our study in Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Second point Paul makes is that Christ was willing to be humbled.  Christ was God, but was willing to empty Himself and humble Himself.  He was willing to come to earth in the form of man to suffer all things like we do.  Jesus was even willing to come as a “bond-servant”, so that He may serve others.  Jesus, God in the flesh, became a slave to save you and me.  “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)  Jesus allowed himself to become flesh and actually dwelt among men.  God was on earth.  What a thought, God walking among man, the creator mingling with the created.  God sent Jesus to do what the law couldn’t do.  Man was too weak … too sinful to be able to keep the law.  We needed mercy.  Our sins demanded grace.  We got grace with a capital G. We got God’s only Son.  “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:3) God was willing to send His only Son, Jesus, to earth as a man.  God came down from heaven just for you, just for me.  Jesus humbled himself and stepped out of eternity to become a man to save mankind.  “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. “ (Hebrews 1:17)  Jesus coming to earth was an act of amazing sacrifice and grace so beautifully expressed by John Newton.  Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see. T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.  And Grace, my fears relieved.  How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.  Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.

God Bless!