Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:… t: — The apostle was exhorting the Philippians to imitate the humility and disinterestedness of the Saviour. But there could have been no force in the example if Jesus Christ had not been God. I. A BRIEF ILLUSTRATION OF THIS IMPRESSIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE REDEEMER. 1. Jesus Christ is here presented as subsisting originally in the splendour of Deity. "Form of God" must not be explained to mean any temporary manifestation such as the Theophanies of the Old Testament. Fire, e.g., is the symbol of Deity, as was the Shechinah, but not the form. That has an integral meaning. 2. He humbled Himself. Had He not done so God would never have been seen by His creatures. Notice the gradation. (1) Subordination. "He took the form of a servant." (2) Human subordination. (3) Obedient subordination. (4) Self-sacrificing subordination. 3. Elevation. (1) A name above every name. (2) A dignity recognized by all. II. THE ALL IMPORTANT LESSONS. 1. Disinterestedness. "Look not every one on His own things," etc. This is just what Christ did, and that, not because there was any worthiness in man, but out of love. 2. Self-sacrifice. There is no religion without an imitation of Christ's self abandonment. 3. Perseverance. If anything could have stopped Christ in his work He would have been stopped.Conclusion: Let, then, this mind be in you. I argue with you on the ground — 1. Of your Christianity. O Christian, from whence did you derive your name. 2. Of gratitude. What do you owe to Christ? 3. Of the intercession of Christ. 4. Of the great worth of the soul. 5. Of the glories of the kingdom of Christ. (T. Lessey, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:WEB: Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, |
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