OUR FATHER WHO IS GLORIFIED BY THE SELF HUMBLING OF CHRIST AND HIS GLORIFICATION BY THE FATHER

In the second chapter of his letter to the Philippians from verses 1 - 11, the Apostle Paul urges them to consider whether they had at all benefitted at all from any consolation, comfort, fellowship, affection and mercy and of so, they should deliberately pursue unity in love, in purpose and in agreement in order to fulfil the Paulˋs joy. 

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Paul tells the Philippians not to have any selfish ambition or conceit driving their actions and attitudes but rather humility and willingness to esteem others above themselves.

To undergird his case, Paul explains that the Lord Jesus, of whom the claim of being equal with God was not fraudulent, nevertheless shed His divine form and rank and took on the form of a bond servant cloaked in the appearance and functionality of a mere man.

Even in that state, He became obedient even unto the ignominious death on a cross.  In response to this monumental act of self-deprecation to fulfill the purposes of heaven, God highly exalted Him giving Him a name that is above every name and thus every knee of those in heaven and on the earth and under the earth shall bow and ev ery tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In all this, both the descending of Jesus and in obedience submitting to death on a cross and the ascending of Jesus and being set far above every name, God the Father is glorified.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

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