Okay, this morning now we're
looking at Philippians chapter 2. Philippians chapter 2. I'm taking the title for the
message from what is said in verse 8. Philippians 2 verse
8. And being found in passion as
a man, he humbled himself. He humbled himself. and became obedient, obedient
unto death, even, even the death of the cross, Christ and him
crucified. Jesus Christ and him crucified
is a very heartbeat of the gospel. Without his sacrifice for our
sin, we have no gospel. We have no good news to declare. Without his sacrifice, putting
away our sin with his own blood, without his sacrifice and death
for us, we would certainly have no salvation. no righteousness,
no redemption to speak of at all without Christ and him crucified. No wonder the Apostle Paul said,
I'm determined not to know anything among you save or except Jesus
Christ and him crucified. He says again in Galatians chapter
six, God forbid that I should glory, save or accept in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. I read to you a moment ago, don't
turn back, let me just remind you what we read in 1 Corinthians
chapter one. Paul said, we preach Christ crucified
unto the Jews, a stumbling block. under the Greeks foolishness
but under them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ that
is Christ crucified the power of God and the wisdom of God
the apostle Paul says again I'm not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believes you or Gentile Therein in that gospel is the
very righteousness of God revealed from faith unto faith. Now in this chapter, when the
Lord would teach us about giving, he points to us the supreme example
of giving. Consider how the Lord Jesus Christ
gave for us. 2nd Corinthians 8 9 he said for
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ when he would be
when Paul would be teaching about giving he uses the Lord Jesus
Christ as the supreme example for you know the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ yet for your sakes he became poor yet to his
poverty you might be made rich though he was rich beyond description
yet he impoverished himself with our humanity and with our sin
and and he says upon that example the way he gave that's the way
we should be motivated to give when the lord would teach us
about loving others he point to the supreme example of the
lord jesus christ hereby we perceive the love of god because he laid
down his life for us we ought to also lay down our lives for
the brethren When the Lord would teach us about forgiving others,
he points out how he forgave us. Remember, he says, to love
one another and to forgive one another, even as God, for Christ's
sake, hath forgiven you. Those who will not forgive others
are strangers to the grace of God. Because God has shown us
mercy, we'd like to show mercy to others. Because God has forgiven
us, we should also forgive those who have maybe said things or
done things to us that weren't very good then here in Philippians
chapter 2 when the Lord would encourage us to humility of mind
to have a willing submission to the Lord again he uses this
example of the Lord Jesus Christ look at verse 5 he said let this
mind be in you also which was in the Lord Jesus Christ the
mind of humility who being in a form of God thought it not
robbery to be equal with God but he made himself of no reputation
and took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in
the likeness of man. Now that's humility. The most
high God was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. That's an amazing,
amazing fact of the gospel. We read in Matthew 28, from Matthew 20 verse 28, even
the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister
and to give his life a ransom for many. let this mind this
attitude this spirit of submission to the lord love and concern
for others be found in you as the lord has forgiven others
and loved others and laid his life down for others we should
be motivated to do the same now these things that if the Lord
would give us this mind and attitude and spirit of submission and
love concern for others, these things are not the ground or
cause of salvation, but rather the fruit of being saved by the
grace of God. when he talks about the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, long-suffering, meekness, temperance, goodness,
faith, these things. These things are the fruit of
salvation, not the ground of salvation. The ground of salvation
is found, and the reason of salvation is found in verse six and following.
Verse six and following. The reason any sinner being saved
or justified is because what the Lord Jesus Christ has done
for us. Who, verse six, who are we talking
about now? Jesus Christ, who? being in the
form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. I don't
know of any verses in the scripture that more plainly declare who
the Lord Jesus Christ is, what he did, why he did those things,
and where he is right now than these verses right here. Who
he is, what he did, why, and where he is now. Amazing. Jesus Christ who? Who is he? Well, he's the Most High God.
He's God, our Savior. The Apostle said, I know whom
I have believed. Salvation is in the Lord Jesus
Christ. He is the Savior of sinners.
That's why he came. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation that the Lord Jesus Christ came to
save sinners just like you, just like me. It is who he is, as
God our Savior, that gives infinite value to what he did. It's just not that some Jewish
man died. That man from Nazareth, Jesus
of Nazareth, is God Almighty, manifest in the flesh. God bought
the church with his own blood. Who you believe determines what
you believe, who you believe. We believe he's God Almighty
who accomplished all things for us. Now, let's look at verse
six and following. We clearly see that the Lord
Jesus Christ is God, our Savior, who being in the form of God,
the same nature, essence as the eternal God, one who was equal
with God must be God. One who is equal with God must
be God, right? Mary, the virgin, when she was
told that she would bear the Savior, the Messiah, she said
this, my soul doth magnify the Lord, my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Savior. God, my savior. If we have no
other scripture than this one to declare his deity, that is
that he is God, this one scripture would be sufficient. He thought
it not robbery to be equal with God. But we have so many others,
don't we? Turn to the book of Hebrews.
Look at the book of Hebrews chapter one. Hebrews chapter one. We have so many other scriptures.
God, Hebrews 1.1, God who in sundry times and divers manners,
vacant time passed unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these
last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who being the
brightness of his glory, the express image of his person. and upholding all things by the
word of his power. When he by himself purged our
sin, he sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high being
made so much better. Who is the Lord Jesus Christ?
In John 13, he declared this, you call me Lord and master and
you say, well, for so I am. He is God. I love the confession
of Thomas. You remember when the Lord appeared
to him And he said, I wouldn't believe, he told those disciples,
I won't believe that he's risen from the dead unless I touch
him and see myself. And when the Lord appeared to
him, the risen glorified Lord Jesus Christ, Thomas said, my
Lord and my God. He received him as such, bowed
him as such, loved him as such. Our Lord said, I and my father
are one. You've seen me, you've seen the
father. I and my father are one. who being in the form of God,
Almighty God, thought it not robbery to be equal or one with
God. That is such a glorious, glorious
truth of the gospel. We have one God manifest in three
persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. These three are one. One God
manifest in three distinct persons, Father, God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all cooperating together, the
Father choosing, the Son redeeming, the Holy Spirit regenerating,
all working together in unison to accomplish our salvation. Look at verse 7. The second thing
is this. but he made himself of no reputation. In the fullness of time, God
sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem
them that were under the law. The word was made flesh and dwelt
among us, but made himself of no reputation,
took upon himself the form of a servant. He was the form of
God, now he's the form of a servant. How can God be a servant? Well,
the God-man mediator was the faithful and righteous servant.
Our God, in order to save us, think about this, our God, in
order to redeem us and save us, became one of us. He came here,
bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. He remained what he
was and became what he was not. In the beginning was the Word,
the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and that Word was
made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth. The apostle put it this way,
without controversy great, without controversy great is a mystery
of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh, real, Jesus Christ
is fully and totally God and fully and totally man in one
blessed person. He's the God-man mediator who
came to redeem his people from their sin. He was the faithful,
obedient, righteous servant to his father, always doing his
will, always working everything exactly according to the father's
purpose. He said, I cannot fail. God said
behold my servant and whom I delight and the answer comes back the
one that cannot fail. The faithful and righteous servant
to his people as a surety and mediator of the everlasting covenant. The Lord Jesus Christ faithful
to the father's will and purpose in accomplishing our salvation
and faithful to his covenant people as the surety as a guarantor
of our salvation. That's what we have in the Lord
Jesus Christ. That faithful servant of God
was made in the likeness of men, in the likeness of sinful flesh. He had no sin, knew no sin, and
did no sin. Look at verse eight. Here's the
third thing we see. and being found in fashion or
habit as the marginal reference has on the word fashion and being
found in fashion as a man. Now remember, this man is no
mere man. This man is God, fully God and
totally man, fully man, fully God in one blessed person. He
humbled himself, became obedient unto death even this horrible,
shameful death of the cross. As a real man, not just in appearance,
but in reality, the Son of God became the son of man in order
that sons of men might be made sons of God. Turn back to the
book of Hebrews again. John said, behold, what manner
of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called
sons of God. In Hebrews chapter two, turn
there. Hebrews chapter two, let's read
a few verses. Verse 14, for as much then as
the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He himself likewise
took part of the saying that through death he might destroy
him that had power of death, that is the devil, and deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behooves him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For
in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to
succor them that are tempted." Turn to Hebrews chapter 4. Verse 14, seeing then that we
have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus,
the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not
a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly
under the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in our time of need. Can we read one more? Let's turn to Hebrews chapter
7. The Lord Jesus, verse 22, was
made the surety of a better covenant, everlasting covenant. Verse 23
in Hebrews 7, 23, and they truly were many priests because they
were not suffered to continue by reason of death, that is under
the Old Testament covenant. They were many priests, priest
after priest after priest. But this man, because he continues
ever, he has an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore he is able
also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them, For Cesar High Priest
became us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
made higher than the heavens. Look back to the text now. And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. They could
not take his life. he laid down his life for us. He took in union to his holy
deity, our flesh, apart from sin. The scripture said he had
no sin, did no sin, and knew no sin, but in order that he
might die for our sins, he was a spotless lamb of God who died
in our room and in our stead. John said, We know he was manifested
to take away our sins and in him is no sin. He's a spotless
lamb of God that was foreordained to put away our sin. God made
him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him. His obedience unto the father
was perfect. in his life and in his death
he willingly lovingly submitted to the father's will he prayed
remember in the garden not my will but thy will be done him
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God you have taken them by wicked hands have crucified and slain
the Lord of glory now look at the last part of verse 8 Philippians
2 verse 8 even even that's just not that he died even the death
of the cross even the death of the cross Why did he die upon
the cross? Could he have died some other
way? Absolutely not. They tried many times to kill
him before, remember? He said, my hour has not yet
come. My hour has not yet come. And then finally, when they arrested
him in the garden, he said, oh, my hour has come. They tried
to stone him, they tried to throw him off a cliff, but they couldn't
touch him until the appointed time. You see, the point is the
Lord Jesus Christ dies for our sins according to the scriptures.
The reason why he died upon the tree, because our sin was laid
upon him and he became guilty for our sin. Here's what the
scripture said. He bear our sins in his own body
upon the tree. The Lord laid on him, the iniquity
of us all were made to meet upon him. In Galatians chapter three,
it says, he redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made
a curse for us. Cursed is everyone that hangeth
on the tree. That's from Deuteronomy 21. Cursed
is everyone who hangeth on a tree. The just for the unjust suffered
once for our sin that he might bring us unto God. The Lord Jesus
Christ redeemed us from the curse of that law being made a curse
for us upon that cursed tree. The Lord laid on him the sin
of God's people and he fully put them away. Once at the end
of the age he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself. for the preaching of the cross
to them that are perishing is foolishness, but unto us which
are saved, what is it? It's the power of God and salvation. All we have before God in the
putting away of our sin, in the pardoning of our sin, in the
justification of our soul is all wrapped up in Jesus Christ
and him crucified. It's who he is as God Almighty,
the God man mediator, and what he did. put away sin. He didn't attempt to, didn't
try to, he actually put away sin. All of the sin of God's
people were laid upon him. Did he put them away? God Almighty
said he did. He said their sin and their iniquities
will I remember no more. They're gone. They don't exist.
Now, here we see the success declared in verse 9. Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name. God hath highly exalted him. That word also reminds me, just
now this came to my mind, who also, who also, Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him. How high did God exalt him? We
read a moment ago when he by himself purged our sin, he sat
down on the right hand of the majesty on high. That's as high
as you can go. Also, listen to this scripture. Let me read it to you. Romans
8, 32. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up
for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather than is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also maketh intercession for us. who shall separate us
from the love of Christ, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine,
nakedness, sword, nothing can separate us from the love of
God, which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. The success is declared,
wherefore God also, verse 9, Philippians 2, hath highly exalted
him and given him a name, which is above every, every name. The success of his atoning sacrificial
death is declared by what? His resurrection glory. His resurrection
glory. If you want to turn with me,
you can find Roman chapter one. Romans chapter 1 verse 1 Paul
Romans 1 1 Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an
apostle Separated unto the gospel of God which he had promised
afore by his prophet in the Holy Scripture Concerning his son
Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of a seed of David according
to the flesh Notice he was made the seed of David but declared
to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness
by the resurrection from the dead. He did not stay dead because
he put away our sin. Turn to Romans 4 verse 25 who
was delivered for our offenses and raised again
because he justified us. We are justified freely by his
grace through our Lord Jesus Christ, right? If there be no
resurrection, we are yet in our sins. The Lord Jesus Christ is
seated in glory. He came forth from a tomb the
third day according as it is written. He lived among men in
the resurrected glorified body 40 days. Then one day he ascended
to the father bodily and he seated on the throne of God right now. Literally actually really there's
a man in glory. with nail prints in his hand.
Who is he? He's God our Savior. He's the
mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. That gives this sinner hope that
salvation is for sinners. The Lord Jesus Christ died for
the ungodly. All through the book of Acts,
when we studied through the book of Acts for two years, one of
the repeated themes all through the book of Acts is you killed
him, you crucified him, God raised him from the dead. God raised
him from the dead. And that's the gospel blessed
truth. Not only was he raised from the
dead, but he's highly exalted. He has a glorious name above
every name, the Lord Jesus Christ. seated on the throne. What's
he doing there. We read it a moment ago. He ever
lived to intercede for us right now praying for us right now
as a forerunner. He entered in for us and we are
seated in the heavenlies right now in the Lord Jesus Christ. It says, for Christ is not entered
into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us. He appears in the presence of
God for us right now. And you know what? The Lord Jesus
Christ is a representative man. He came and lived as a representative
man for his covenant people. He died as a representative substitute
for his people. And when he ascended to glory
and sat down, he sat down as a representative man and we sat
down in him. Listen to this scripture if I
can find it. Ephesians chapter 2. But God, who is rich in mercy
for his great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace
are you saved. Ephesians two, verse six. And has raised us up together,
and made us sit together in the heavenlies in the Lord Jesus
Christ, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches
of his grace, and his kindness poured out through the Lord Jesus
Christ. God has given him a name which is above every name. God
has highly exalted the Lord Jesus Christ. Lastly, look at verse
10 and verse 11. That, he did all that to this
reason, that at the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every knee
should bow, of notice the word things has been supplied of things
in heaven in other words we can say everyone will bow and submit
to the lordship of christ in heaven earth and under the earth
everyone will acknowledge he is lord to the glory of god the
father The Lord Jesus Christ, being highly exalted and enthroned
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, he demands, rightfully
so, total surrender and complete submission of every creature
to his sovereign Lordship. If he's not your Lord, he's not
your Savior. You see, he's God, our Savior. In heaven, glorified saints and
angels worship him as God worthy is the lamb that was slain to
receive all honor glory both now and forever in heaven and
in earth now sinner or saint they worship God as they worship
God in the Lord Jesus Christ as our only savior in heaven
in earth or in under the earth and I take that to mean men who
are buried in the earth will be raised there'll be a resurrection
of the just and the unjust and all will own his lordship and
acknowledge that he is lord to the glory of god the father every
knee will bow not in a physical sense of bowing
the knee but you can bow the knee and still the heart's not
bowed but every heart will be bowed freely or forcibly by his
sovereign dominion over all. You remember Psalm 110 said,
the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand till I make
thine enemies to bow at your footstool. And not only that, Verse 11, every tongue should
confess and will now or then, but you will bow now or then. May God give us grace to bow
right now. Faith to bow right now, submission
in our heart to own him as everything in salvation. Every tongue will
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He's Lord to the glory
of God our Father. This same Jesus, you remember
Peter said at Pentecost, this same Jesus whom you crucified
is both Lord and Christ. Romans 14 said, to this end,
or to this purpose, Christ both died and rose and revived that
he might be Lord of the dead and of the living. In the final
day of eternal judgment, every sinner, every creature will bow
and own him as Lord and God. They'll be made to bow down and
own him as the Lord. notice it says here they'll confess
he's lord if you don't confess he is lord your god and savior
now you will not own him as savior then you'll own him as lord but
not your savior May God give us grace in our heart right now
to bow in submission to his lordship and own him as our savior. No other name under heaven, remember
we studied from the book of Acts, no other name under heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved. In Christ. No other savior but the Lord
Jesus Christ. No other mediator but the Lord
Jesus Christ. No other righteousness but the
Lord Jesus Christ. No other great high priest to
intercede for us but the Lord Jesus Christ. No other atonement
for sin. Is there another atonement for
sin? Is there another righteousness? Is there another Redeemer? Is
there another Savior? No, my friend. He's the only
one that God has provided. He's the only Redeemer. to love
Him in our heart and to worship Him. May God give us grace to
look unto Him and be saved, to love Him in our heart, to worship
Him as God our Savior, and to rest in Him as all of our salvation. That's the grace of God, and
that's what the grace of God does in our heart. Is the Lord Jesus Christ enough?
Is He enough? If he's all you've got, you've
got everything that God's provided for us. Nothing more, nothing
less, and certainly nothing else but the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't that good? Verse six down
to verse 11, you take that home with you and look at it again.
May God give us all grace in our heart to love him above all. Christ is all and in all to those
who believe.