and anticipate and preach, I'd
sit there and I wish there were three or more verses to that
song. Thank you for this. Philippians
chapter two. Philippians chapter two. Look with me beginning in verse
four. Look not every man on his own
things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in
the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Look, not every man on his own
things would be concerned with the needs
of others. The needs of our brethren. Wouldn't it be something if we
were taken up with our brethren's comfort as much as we were with
our own? Let's not be taken up with our
own way, but rather seek the glory of Christ. To seek the good and peace of
his church, of his people. That's what Paul's calling for
here in these first few verses. Verse five, let this mind, let
this humility be in you, this attitude be in you that was also
in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's my desire this morning that
we be taught of God, that we be taught from His Word, isn't
that our desire? Shouldn't that be our desire
every time we gather here in this place? What does God's word say? Not my opinion, not my personal
thoughts on an issue, but what does God's word say? Whether
it's our pastor standing here, Brother Jonathan, whoever stands
in this place to preach God's word, what does his word, what
does it say? Let's read on here. Verse six,
it says, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal. equal with God. You know, the Lord Jesus Christ,
He didn't just have a few things in common with God. This is my first point here.
Jesus Christ is God. That's what Scripture declares. You know, if I would have stood
up here this morning and I would have introduced myself and said,
hi, I'm Frank Tate, you would have known immediately that that
was not true. I would have been impersonating
someone. What if Brady or Isaac, what
if they would have stood up here? One of them would have stood
up here and said, hi, I'm Eric Floyd. Now we've got some things
in common, right? We share a lot of characteristics,
good and bad. But you would have known immediately,
that's not Eric, that's Isaac or that's Brady. Even though we have many things
in common, we're different. Listen to the scripture. It declares
this, that Jesus Christ is God. He is God. John 1 says this, In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth. He is eternal. God is eternal. And Jesus Christ
is God. He's one with God. He's one with
the Spirit. There's three that bear witness
in heaven. Three that bear record in heaven.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And what does the
Scripture say? These three are one. They're one. I can't explain
that. I can't explain how three distinct
people can be one. But we can declare it because
that's what God's word says. All things were made by him.
He's the light and life of men. Jesus Christ is God. In John 10, verse 30, our Lord
said this. He said, I and my Father are
one. They're one in the same. They're
one in purpose. They're one in will, one in nature,
one in essence, one in power, one in perfection. One, they're
one. I and my Father are one. What happened when he said that?
How was that received by men? Do you remember that? Turn to
John. Hold your place in Philippians, but turn to John chapter 10. What's your response to that
statement? Jesus Christ is God. John chapter 10, verse 31. Look at verse 30. He said, I
and my father are one. Then the Jews, when they heard
this, they rejoiced greatly. That's not what they did, was
it? No. Then the Jews took up stones
to stone him. Our Lord replied in verse 32.
He said, many good works have I showed you from my father. For which of those do you stone
me? Good works weren't the thing
they were upset about. They loved the loaves and the
fishes. Nobody was troubled by that. And they liked the healing
as well, as long as it wasn't done on the Sabbath day and they
could find fault with it. What was the problem then? Look
at verse 33. They said, for a good work we've
stoned thee not, but for blasphemy. Blasphemy, what? Because thou
being a man, make us thyself to be God. Do you still have
John chapter 10? Look at verse 26. As God, you have that John 10,
verse 26. As God, He's sovereign. Men want a Savior, they can do
what they want to do with. They want a Savior or a God that
they can make to be whatever they want. but as God, he is
absolutely sovereign. And listen, we're in his hands. He can do with us what he will. What'd he say here? He told those
self-righteous Jews, he said, you believe not because you're
not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I give them eternal life. They'll never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave
them to me, he is greater than all. No man, how secure are we
in Christ? No man can pluck them out of
my father's hand. And that's when he said that,
I and my father are one. They accused him of blasphemy.
They said, you're a man, which was true. He was a man, but he's also God. You're a man
that maketh thyself to be God. Back in Philippians 2 verse 6,
it says this. He thought it not robbery to
be equal with God. You know, if I steal something,
I'm taking something that's not mine, and I'm saying it's my
own now. The Lord Jesus Christ thought
it not robbery to be equal with God. Why is that? Because he was. Because he is
God. He is God. He was born of a woman. He was made in the likeness of
sinful flesh, yet very God of very God. Jesus Christ. Let that be settled. Jesus Christ
is God. Let's read on. Back to Philippians
2 verse 7. What did he do? It says, he made
himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men. He made himself of no reputation. He was made in the likeness of
men. How's that possible? How can
God become a man? because he was pleased to do
so. That's what scripture says. He made himself of no reputation,
made in the likeness of man. He was made something that he
wasn't. He was made something that you
would think he could never be. But in return, his people are
made something that they could never be. How can I be made righteous? How can a sinner be made righteousness? John 1.14 says this, The Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us. What a glorious truth. God was
made a man. He never ceased to be God, yet
he was made a man. He became a man. He took upon
himself human nature. He was made a man. How is it that he's able to identify
with his people? He was made a man. He was subject
to our same infirmities. We have troubles and we think,
boy, nobody suffers like me, right? Nobody's troubled like
I am. Consider our Lord Jesus Christ. He knew what it was like
to be hungry. He hungered. He knew what it
was like to thirst. He knew we're in this. He grew
tired. Remember that when he fell asleep
there on that ship? He knew what it was like to be
tired, to be weary. He knew pain. Has anyone suffered? And I don't
make light any of our suffering in any way. God's people suffered. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered
Unto death. He suffered. What suffering it
had to be just to be made a man. For God to be made. But to suffer
sin? To suffer judgment? To suffer
death on the cross? He knew grief. He knew sorrow. How do we know that? That's what
he was called. A man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief. He even suffered unto death.
A death that he did not deserve. A punishment he did not deserve. Scripture says this, he was obedient
unto death. You know, from the cradle to
the grave, he was obedient. I can't remember who it was.
was talking about our Lord and said, can you imagine having
the Lord Jesus Christ as your son? Listen, he was obedient. When his mom told him to clean
his room or straighten up, imagine, he just did that, right? He was
obedient. He was obedient on this earth,
he was obedient to the law, he was obedient unto death from
the cradle in Bethlehem to the cross at Calvary. Obedient to
men, obedient to his parents, obedient to the law, obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross. He was made, hear that? He was made a man. He was made
flesh. What else was he made? Scripture says he was made sin. Made to be sin. Again, he was made to be something
he could not be. He was made sin. Some men, I
don't know how, some men take issue with that. That's what God, how can you
take issue with something that God's word says? He was made
sin. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21. I know probably everybody in
this room can quote it, but turn there with me. 2 Corinthians 5, 21, for he, who
is that? God, hath made him, who? The Lord Jesus Christ, to be
sin for us. Who's that us? That's his people,
that's his elect, that's his sheep. That's who the book of Corinthians
was written to. If you go back there in 2 Corinthians 1-1, who's
it written to? That's a good point to know,
right? Is this written to everybody in the world? What's it say in
2 Corinthians 1-1? Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, unto the churches
of God. At Corinth. Grace be to you and
peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Who's
he talking to? He's talking to his church. He's
talking to his sheep. God hath made him to be sin for
us. Who? His church. Christ, who
knew no sin. He's sinless. He's the spotless
lamb of God. Why? Why did he do it? That we, that we might be made
the very righteousness of God in him, in Christ. He made him to be something he
could never be. That we might be made something
that we could never be. the very righteousness of God,
here's the key to it, in Him. In Him. Again, I can't explain
that. I can't explain how Christ was
made sin. I can't explain how I could be
made righteous. But it's what God's Word says.
We can't explain it, but we declare it. Thus saith the scripture. Thus saith the Lord. Christ had no sin. He knew no
sin. He did no sin. He was perfect
before the law of God. Yet our sins, all our sins were
laid on him. He bore our sins in his body
on the tree. And when that happened, God slew
him. God slew his son. What are the wages of sin? Death. The wages of sin are death. He died as our substitute. Quickly, let's review here. He
was made flesh. He was made a man. He was made
sin. Scripture declares that he was
made to be sin. And listen. He was made a curse. The Lord Jesus Christ was made
a curse. Galatians 3 verse 13, I'll just,
I'll just read it to you. Listen to this passage of scripture.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, hath been
made a curse for us. For it's written, cursed is everyone
that hangeth on the tree. He was made a curse. In our room instead, for our
sins. Why? Why did he do it? Let's
say here, to redeem us, to redeem his bride, to redeem his church. And then listen, he was made
a sacrifice for sin. Turn to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53, verse four. Surely he hath borne our griefs and
carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten
of God, and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgression. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon him and by his stripes we are healed. He was made sin that we might
be made righteous. He was made a curse to redeem
us. He was made a sacrifice. He suffered
and died that we might go free. Aren't we thankful? Aren't we
thankful he was made something that he could never be? And listen, this work. From start to finish, it's all
His. It's all His. Back to our text, Philippians
2. Jesus Christ is God. He was made a man. Third, he was obedient. Obedient unto death. Read along here in verse eight.
Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Scripture says he died for our
sins according to the scriptures. Paul writing to the church at
Corinth, he said this, he said, I delivered unto you, first of
all, that which I received, how? That Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures. How did Christ die? Well, how
did he die? How did he die? Well, he died
according to the determinant counsel, and foreknowledge of
God. Turn to Acts 2. Acts 2, verse
23. Verse 23, Him being delivered
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. You know, on that day, what men
did It's what their wicked hearts
desired to do. It's what they wanted to do.
When that soldier, when he took that spear and he pierced it
in our Lord's side, he did what he wanted to do. He did what
he desired to do. When those folks shouted out
with a loud voice, crucify him. When they said, let his blood
be upon us and our children. It was their wicked hearts that
said those things. It was their wicked desires that
did that, but in doing that, they did what God determined
would be done. He's the lamb slain. That didn't
just crop up on that particular day. He was the lamb slain before
the foundation of the world. How did he die? He died as our
substitute. If I'm going to be saved, if
my sin is going to be put away, I need a substitute. I need one to stand in my place.
We read that earlier in Isaiah 53. It says, he was wounded. Why? For our transgressions. He was bruised. Why? For our
iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon him And oh, what a glorious thought. By his stripes, by his
suffering, by his death, we are healed. Our Lord said this. He said,
I lay down my life. For what purpose? For the sheep. How did he die? He died as a
complete savior. He didn't leave, he didn't leave
one thing. Not one, not one. On the cross, he cried out this. He said, it is finished. You know when something is finished.
I finished a lot of projects only to find out Maybe I forgot
a few things. When our Lord says something's
finished, guess what? It is finished. There is nothing,
not one thing left to do. Hebrews 1 verse 3. Turn there with me. Hebrews 1
verse 3. Here we see once again the Lord
Jesus Christ as God. It says, who being the brightness
of his glory and the express image of his person, upholding
all things by the word of his power, when he, who's it talking
about there? The Lord Jesus Christ, when he
had by himself, who helped him? There was none to help, was it? He tread the winepress of God's
wrath alone, when he had by himself purged our sins. We read that in the old, purge
me with Issa, purge me and I shall be clean. He cleansed us. He purified us. What did he do? He purged us.
That's what we just read there. What did you do? Nothing. Nothing. When he had by himself purged
our sin, he sat down. Sat down at the right hand of
the majesty on high. You know, I was thinking about
this. When we sit down, when we sit down, it's because we're
tired, right? It's not an indication that anything
is finished. We got a bank at home. We start
weed eating and get about halfway up the hill and we sit down.
It's far from being finished. That's how we operate. But when
he sat down, The work was complete. Nothing, not one thing left to
do. And listen, back to our text
on this, how Christ died. He died a successful Savior. Was he successful? Philippians
2 verse 9. Wherefore, God hath highly exalted
him and given him a name which is above every name, that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven,
things in earth, things under the earth, and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father. This world False religion speaks
of a defeated man. Not a defeated man, but a defeated
Savior. That's how the Lord is spoken
of. One who wants to, but can't. One who is poor, he's pitiful. He can do nothing without man's
help. One who is completely dependent
Oh man, is that a Savior? God's Word declares this. He's a sovereign Lord. He's one
whose name is above every name. He's conquered man. He's conquered
sin. He's conquered the wrath of God.
He withstood the wrath of God. He's victorious over death and
the grave. He's a great Savior. A great
sinner, I'm certain that's what I am, a great sinner needs a
great Savior. Should we exalt Him? Should we
praise Him? Certainly. God, Scripture says
that God hath highly exalted him. And that means this, to
raise to the highest, if something's exalted, it's to be raised to
the highest possible position. He's exalted in heaven. The Lord
Jesus Christ is exalted in heaven. Like that, remember that serpent
That serpent that God said, raise it up, put it on a pole, raise
it up. What happened? People looked,
and they lived. What happened at Calvary? What
happened with our Lord? Oh, He was crucified, but He
was raised up, wasn't He? Raised up. And in glory, in glory,
lifted up. Listen, we'll praise Him forever
and ever for what He has done. That name, that name which is
above every, every name. What is His? We've looked at
that this morning. What is His name? Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Prince of Peace,
The Lord Jesus Christ. Call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sin. Pay attention to those words. He shall save his people from
their sin. I don't see anything about Him
trying to save. I don't see anything about, read
anything that says He attempted to save. I don't see anything
that says He helped to save. I don't see anything that says
do what you can and leave the rest up to Him. I hear men say
that all the time. I don't read it anywhere in God's
Word. This is what I read. He shall
save his people from their sin. Well, in closing, let's go back
to verse 1 of our text. Philippians 2, verse 1. If there be therefore any consolation
in Christ, If any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, any sincerity and mercies, fulfill ye my joy that you be
like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of
one mind. Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themself. Look not every man on his own
things, every man on the things of others, and let this mind
be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Let this mind be
in you. Direct your mind to this, what's
written here. Cherish this thought. Be wise
in this. Jesus Christ is God. He became a man. He was obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross before him. God had highly exalted him. Not man. We need to find our
place in the dust, don't we? God had highly exalted him. I ask you, who gets the glory
in that? Man's sinful. God, the Lord Jesus Christ is
to be exalted. But let's go to our Lord in prayer. Our God and Father in heaven,
we thank you once again for this opportunity to gather together
as a people. pray that you would bless us,
that you'd bless us through your word, that you would comfort
us through your word. Lord, cause us not to look to
ourselves, but cause us to look to Christ. Cause us to look to
Christ, our Savior, and rest in him. Knowing, Lord, that thou doest
all things well. Thou art sovereign and thou doest
all things. Calls us to rest in thee. Calls
us to work in the complete finished work of Christ our Savior. It's
in his name we pray and give thee thanks.