The poured out life of Christ

Today I want to encourage you to heed the admonition that Paul gave to the Philippians. He asked them to resolve to do something and I'll show you what that was and ask you to resolve to do exactly the same. Jesus was fully God and fully man. Another scripture that speaks of the loss of His divinity is found in Philippians.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 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” (Philippians 2:5-11).

I would like to raise two things with these verses:

1. What Paul says about the nature of Jesus.
2. Why he says that.

Having determined why he has testified about Jesus' nature, we also have our decision for the year to come. However, the meaning of the verses 6-7 could easily be misinterpreted as meaning that Jesus had given up his divinity in whole or in part somehow. But Paul did not say that. Let's analyze these verses and see what he really says.

He was in the shape of God

Question: What does he mean by the figure of God?

Verses 6-7 are the only verses in the NT that contain the Greek word Paul uses for “form,” but the Greek OT contains the word four times.
Richter 8,18 "And he said to Zebach and Zalmunna, How were the men that you killed in Tabor? They said: They were like you, each one as beautiful as royal children."
 
Hiob 4,16 "He stood there and I didn't recognize his appearance, a figure was before my eyes, I heard a voice whispering:"
Jes 44,13 “The carver stretches out the guideline, he draws it with a pencil, works it with carving knives and marks it out with a compass; and he makes it like a man's image, like a man's beauty, to dwell in a house."

Dan 3,19 “Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger, and the appearance of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave the order that the oven should be made seven times hotter than usual.”
Paul means [the term form] that means Christ's glory and majesty. He possessed glory and majesty and all the insignia of divinity.

To be equal to God

The best comparable use of equality is found in John. Joh. 5,18 “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Paul thus thought of a Christ who was essentially equal to God. In other words, Paul said that Jesus had the full majesty of God and was in his nature God. On a human level, this would be the equivalent of saying that somebody had the appearance of a member of the royal family and was really a member of the royal family.

We all know people who act like royalty but aren't, and we read about certain members of royal families who don't act like royalty. Jesus had both "the appearance" and the essence of divinity.

held up like a robbery

In other words, something that you can use for your own benefit. It is very easy for privileged people to use their status for personal benefits. They are treated preferentially. Paul says that even though he was God in form and in essence, Jesus, as a human being, did not take advantage of this fact. Verses 7-8 show that his attitude was diametrically opposed.

Jesus disentangled himself

What was he missing out on? The answer is: nothing. He was completely God. God can not stop being God, not even for a while. He gave up nothing of the divine attributes or powers he had. He performed miracles. He could read thoughts. He used his power. And in the Transfiguration he showed his glory.

What Paul meant here can be seen from another verse in which he uses the same word for "emptyed."
1. Kor. 9,15 “But I have not made any use of it [these rights]; I didn't write this for the sake of keeping it that way with me. I would much rather die than have my fame ruined!”

"He gave up all his prerogatives" (GN1997 trans.), "he did not insist on his prerogatives. No, he renounced it” (Hope for All). As a human, Jesus did not use his divine nature or divine powers for his own benefit. He used them to preach the gospel, train the disciples, etc. - but never to make his life easier. In other words, he didn't use his power for his own benefit.

• The heavy test in the desert.
• When he called no fire from heaven to destroy unfriendly cities.
• The crucifixion. (He said he could have summoned armies of angels in his defense.)

He gave up voluntarily all the benefits that he could have enjoyed as God in order to fully participate in our humanity. Let's read again the verses 5-8, and see how clear this point is now.

Philip 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.”

Paul then concludes by noting that God ultimately exalted Christ above all people. Philip 2:9
“Therefore God exalted him above all masses and gave him a name above all names. 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.”

So there are three levels:

• Christ's rights and privileges as God.
• His choice not to exercise these rights, but rather to be a servant.
• His ultimate increase as a result of this lifestyle.

Privilege - Service - Increase

Now the bigger question is why these verses are in Philippians. First, we must remember that Philippians is a letter written at a specific time and for specific reasons to a specific church. Therefore, what Paul says in 2:5-11 must relate to the purpose of the entire letter.

Purpose of the letter

First, we should remember that when Paul first visited Philippi and started the church there, he was arrested. (Apg. 16,11-40)However, his relationship with the church was very warm from the beginning. Philipper 1,3-5 “I thank my God every time I think of you, 4 by always, in all my prayers for you, I joyfully intercede for you 5 because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”

He is writing this letter from prison in Rome. Philipper 1,7 "It is only right that I think so of you all, because I have you in my heart, all of you who share in grace both in my bonds and in defending and affirming the gospel with me."
 
But he is neither depressed nor disappointed, but rather happy.
Phil. 2,17-18 “Even though I am poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and priestly service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all; 18 in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice with me!”

Even as he wrote this letter, they continued to support him very fervently. Philip 4:15-18 “And you Philippians know that at the beginning of the preaching of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the accounting of income and expenses except you alone. 16 Even after Thessalonica, you sent me once, and even twice, provisions to cover my needs. 17 Not that I desire the gift itself, but I desire that its fruit should be plentiful, according to your account. 18 I have received everything and have plenty; I am fully provided for, ever since I received your gift from Epaphroditus, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”

Thus, the tone of the letter implies close relationships, a strong Christian community of love and a willingness to serve and to suffer for the Gospel. But there are also signs that not everything is as it should be.
Phil. 1,27 "Only lead your lives worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you, standing steadfast in one spirit, striving with one accord for the faith of the gospel."
"Lead your life" - Greek. Politeuesthe means fulfilling one's obligations as a citizen of the community.

Paul is worried, because he sees that in Philippi once so obvious attitudes of community and love have some tensions. Internal disagreement threatens the community's love, unity and community.
Philipper 2,14 "Do everything without grumbling or hesitation."

Philippians 4:2-3 “I urge Euodia and Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord.”
3 And I also ask you, my faithful fellow servant, take care of those who fought with me for this, along with Clemens and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

In short, the community of believers had problems when some became selfish and arrogant.
Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any encouragement of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility value others above yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of the others.”

We see the following problems here:
1. There are collisions.
2. There are power struggles.
3. They are ambitious.
4. They are conceited in that they insist on doing things their own way.
5. This indicates an exaggeratedly high self-esteem.
 
They are primarily concerned with their own interests. It's easy to fall into all these settings. I have seen them in me and others over the years. It is also so easy to blind oneself that these attitudes are wrong for a Christian. The verses 5-11 basically look to the example of Jesus, to let the air out of all arrogance and all selfishness that can so easily attack us.

Paul says: Do you think that you are better than others and deserve respect and honor from the church? Consider how great and powerful Christ really was. Paul says: You do not want to submit to others, you do not want to serve without recognition, you are annoyed because others see you as given? Consider what Christ was willing to do without.

"In William Hendrick's excellent book Exit Interviews [interviews at the exit] he reports
about a study he made about those who left the church. A lot of 'church growth' people stand at the front door of the church and ask people why they came. In this way you wanted to try to meet the 'perceived need' of the people you wanted to achieve. But few, if any, are standing at the back door to ask why they are leaving. That's what Hendricks did, and the results of his study are worth reading.

As I read through the comments from those who had left, I was amazed (along with some somewhat very insightful and painful comments from some thoughtful people who left) what some people expected of the Church. They wanted all sorts of things that are not essential to the church; like being admired, receiving 'cuddles' and expecting others to meet all their needs with no obligation of one's own to meet the needs of others "(The Plain Truth, Jan 2000, 23).

Paul points the Philippians to Christ. He urges them to live their lives within the Christian community as Christ did. If they lived like this, God will glorify them just as they did Christ.

Philippians 2:5-11
“For this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the likeness of God, did not cling to the likeness of God as spoil; 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and being conformed to men, and found in outward appearance like a man, 8 humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also exalted him above all things and gave him a name above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 11 and every tongue, in heaven and on earth and under the earth confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Paul asserts that fulfilling one's personal obligation as a citizen of the heavenly (kingdom) means emptying oneself as Jesus did and taking on the role of a servant. One must not only give oneself up to receive grace, but also to suffer (1:5, 7, 29-30). Philippians 1:29: “For you, concerning Christ, have been given the grace not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake.”

One must be willing to be “poured out” in service to others (2:17) – to have an attitude and a lifestyle that differ from worldly values ​​(3:18-19). Philippians 2:17 “Even if I am poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and priestly service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
Philippians 3:18-19 “For, as I have often told you, and now even weeping tell you, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ; 19 their end is destruction, their god is their stomach, they boast in their shame, and their minds are set on earthly things.”

It takes true humility to understand that being "in Christ" means being a servant, because Christ came into the world not as a Lord but as a servant. Unity comes from serving God through service to one another .

There is a risk of being selfishly concerned about one's own interests at the expense of others, as well as developing an arrogance stemming from pride in one's status, talents or achievements.

The solution to problems in interpersonal relationships lies in an attitude of humble engagement with others. A spirit of self-sacrifice is an expression of the love for other love explained in Christ, which was "obedient to death, yes to death on"!

Real servants abandon themselves. Paul uses Christ to explain this. He had every right not to choose the path of a servant, but could claim his rightful status.

Paul tells us that there is no room for a religion of well-being that does not seriously practice its servant role. There is also no room for piety that does not emanate even completely pouring out for the interests of others.

Conclusion

We live in a society dominated by self-interest, permeated by the “me first” philosophy and shaped by the corporate ideals of efficiency and success. But these are not the values ​​of the church as defined by Christ and Paul. The body of Christ must again aim for Christian humility, unity and communion. We must serve others and make it our primary responsibility to perfect love through deeds. An attitude of Christ, like humility, does not demand rights or protection of one's interests, but is ever ready to serve.

by Joseph Tkach