Download MP3
Read: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
We are all familiar that Paul wrote letters to the churches he established and to those who had been with him in proclaiming the Gospel, from the book of Romans to Philemon. In this short exhortation, we will not be talking about Paul but instead, we will be reminding ourselves through the letter of Paul to the Philippians, and be encouraged in not only knowing the Gospel but also living it out.Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being even found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)
If you have read the book of Philippians or, you are currently reading it in your devotion or, you are about to read it, Paul has been encouraging the people of Philippi to live their lives as how they saw Timothy and Epaphroditus (Phil 2:19-29) and Paul has shown and taught them and, most importantly, as how Jesus modeled it out for us.
Jesus as God
V6. who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,Jesus has been with the Father before he was born in Bethlehem and this truth has been evident in the bible as we read John 1:1-4, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus as human
V7-8. but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being even found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.The self-emptying of Jesus or kenosis is commonly misunderstood. Some may ask if Jesus temporarily gave up his ‘divine attributes’ while he was on earth, or if He became less of God? Paul is emphasizing here that Jesus has all these privileges, all these power but He gave it up and became human bound for the cross not because Jesus was sinful but because of this great love that He became sin for the salvation of those who will believe and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. This is the same as what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Remembering the pain that King David sang and prayed in Psalms 22, we could imagine the pain that Jesus endured for all of us.
Jesus as Salvation
V9-11. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.According to Crossway ESV Study Bible, the ‘name’ refers to the God’s personal name YHWH which is regularly translated to Greek as ‘Kyrios’ or Lord. This means that the eternal Son of God received a status and authority that had not been hos before he became incarnate as both God and man.
The last verse of this poem usually referred to as ‘Hymn of Christ’ where Paul said that all these that Jesus has done of for the glory of God the Father. One may think that this is just another valediction of a letter but this last verse speaks so beautifully how the life of Jesus remains the perfect example of how a life of service to God is. In 1 Corinthians 15:28 Paul said, When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
So, after all these discussions, how could we live out the Gospel?
Well, we cannot out-do what Jesus has done neither am I suggesting you and myself to make an attempt in doing such. Living the Gospel is first acknowledging and then allowing God to work in us both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phili. 2:13) and in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Paul said, You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Connect With Us