REJOICING IN CHRIST--Philippians 2:5-18

     Before one studies this portion, a person must reverently approach this part, taking one's shoes off, so to speak, for in a sense one is walking on holy ground. Consider then:

I. THE PERSON OF  CHRIST--vv. 5-11
     A. His Humiliation--vv. 5-8
          1. His mind--v. 5
               a. Humility is in view.
                    (I) Paul was just talking about humility in verses 1-4.
                    (II) Now he gives an exhortation.
                    (III) The meaning--literally, Let this be thought in you
               b. Example of  Christ in view
                    (I) "He now recommends, from the example of  Christ, the exercise of  humility, to which he had exhorted
                         them in words.  There are, however, two departments, in the first of  which he invites us to imitate Christ
                         [as to humility, for believers can't imitate Him otherwise], because this is the rule of  life [in Christ]:  in the
                         second, he allures us to it, because this is the road by which we attain true glory.  Hence he exhorts
                         everyone to have the same disposition that was in Christ." (Calvin, 54; italics are his.)
                    (II) "Christians must be of  Christ's mind.  We must bear a resemblance to his life, if  we would have the
                         benefit of  his death.  If  we have not the Spirit of  Christ, we are none of  his, Rom. viii. 9.  Now what
                         was the mind of  Christ?  He was eminently humble and this is what we are peculiarly to learn of  him.  If
                         we were lowly-minded, we should be like-minded; and, if  we were like Christ, we should be
                         lowly-minded." (Henry, VI:732; italics are his.)
          2. His equality--v. 6
               a. Has the form of  God
                    (I) "The form of  God means here his majesty.  For as a man is known by the appearance of  his form, so
                         the majesty, which shines forth in God, is his figure." (Calvin, 55; italics are his.)
                    (II) Not just the shape--"The word is used in its philosophic sense [although the Apostle Paul was
                         knowledgeable of  philosophy, he wrote by inspiration, not philosophical thinking.], to denote that
                         expression of  being which carries in itself the distinctive nature and character of  the being to whom it
                         pertains, and is thus permanently identified with the nature and character." (Vincent, III:430)
                    (III) Form "means the essential attributes as shown in form.  In his preincarnate state Christ possessed the
                         attributes of  God and so appeared to those in heaven who saw him.  Here is a clear statement by Paul of
                         the deity of  Christ." (Robertson, IV:444)
                    (IV) Everything that God is, Jesus Christ is.
                         (A) John 1:1
                         (B) John 14:9
               b. Considered not robbery to be equal with God
                    (I) The idea is a prize, that is, a thing to be grasped at.
                    (II) "He thought it no robbery to be equal with God, did not think himself guilty of  any invasion of  what
                         did not belong to him, or assuming another's right.  He said, I and my Father are one, John x. 30.  It is
                         the highest degree of  robbery for any mere man or mere creature to, pretend to be equal with God or
                         profess one with the Father.  This is for a man to rob God, not in tithes and offerings, but of  the rights of
                         his Godhead." (Henry, VI:732; italics are his.)
                    (III) Interestingly, the Pharisees knew what Jesus was claiming when He said, "I and my Father are one."
                         (John 10:30), for they took up stones to stone Him.  When Jesus questioned them as to why they were
                         trying to stone Him, they replied, "The Jews answered Him saying, 'For a good work we stone Thee not;
                         but for blasphemy; and because that Thou being a man, makest Thyself God.'" (John 10:33). Thus,
                         modernists and liberals are mistaken when they state that Jesus never claimed to be God.                   
                    (IV) Though the primary reference here is to Christ's pre-existence before His birth, it applies to His
                         humiliation, i. e., becoming a man.
          3. His humiliation--v. 7
               a. Made Himself of  no reputation
                    (I) Means emptied Himself
                    (II) What this does not mean
                         (A) He divested Himself of  His divine nature.
                         (B) He continued to be the Son of  God.
                    (III) What it does mean
                         (A) "Undoubtedly Christ gave up his environment of  glory [although it shone forth briefly at the
                              transfiguration].  He took upon himself limitations of  place (space) and of  knowledge and of  power,
                              though still on earth retaining more of  these than any mere man.  It is here that men should show
                              restraint and modesty, though it is hard to believe that Jesus limited himself by error of  knowledge and
                              certainly not by error of  conduct.  He was without sin though tempted as we are. 'He stripped himself
                              of  the insignia of  majesty.'" (Robertson, IV:444)
                         (B) "He kept it concealed for a time, that it might not be seen, under the weakness of  the flesh.  Hence he
                              laid aside his glory in the view of  men, not by lessening it, but by concealing it." (Calvin, 57)
                         (C) It would be somewhat somewhat like the son of  a king dressing as a beggar and roaming the streets.
                         (D) Compare
                              (1) 1 Timothy 3:16
                              (2) John 1:14
               b. Took the form of  a servant
                    (I) "He took the characteristic attributes (. . .) of  a slave.  His humanity was as real as his deity." (Robertson,
                         IV:444-5)
                    (II) Thus, He is truly the God-man.
                    (III) "It is that Christ assumed the mode of  being which answered to, and was the complete and characteristic
                         expression of  the slave's being.  The mode itself in not defined.  This is appropriately inserted here as,
                         bringing out the contrast with counted not equality with God, etc.  What Christ grasped at in His
                         incarnation was not divine sovereignty, but service." (Vincent, III:433; italics are his.)
                    (IV) "He was brought up meanly, probably working with his supposed father at his trade.  His whole life was
                         a life of  humiliation, meanness, poverty, and disgrace; he had nowhere to lay his head, lived upon alms
                         [that is, gifts given to Him; He did not get alms by begging], was a man of  sorrows and acquainted with
                         grief, did not appear with external pomp, or any marks of, distinction from other men.  This was the
                         humiliation of  his life." (Henry, VI:733; italics are his.)
               c. Made in the likeness of  man
                    (I) "His human nature:  He was made in the likeness of  men and found in the fashion of  a man.  He was
                         really and truly man, took part of  our flesh and blood, appeared in the nature and habit of  man.  And
                         he voluntarily assumed human nature; it was his own act, and by his own consent.  We cannot say that our
                         participation of  the human nature is so." (op. cit., 732; italics are his.)
                    (II) Hebrews 2:17a
                    (III) Likeness is not just appearance--"Likeness of  men expresses the fact that His mode of  manifestation
                         resembled what men are.  This leaves room for the assumption of  another side of  His nature--the
                         divine--in the likeness of  which He did not appear.  As He appealed to men, He was like themselves,
                         with a real likeness; but this likeness to men did not express His whole self.  The totality of  His being
                         could not appear to men, for that involved the form of  God.  Hence the apostle views Him solely as He
                         could appear to men.  All that was possible was a real and complete likeness to humanity." (Vincent,
                         III:433-4; italics are his.)
                    (IV) How Vincent and others must strain at language to described the God-man, Jesus Christ.  No language
                         is adequate to describe Him.  The most that can be really said is that Jesus Christ is truly God and also                                truly man.  Thus, He is the perfect Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
          4. His death--v. 8
               a. Found in the fashion as a man
                    (I) Being found--"After He assumed the conditions of  humanity, and men's attention was drawn to Him, they
                         found Him like man." (op, cit., 434; italics are his.)
                    (II) In the fashion as a man
                         (A) "In being found in the fashion as a man the thought is confined to the outward guise as appealed to
                              the sense of  Mankind." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                         (B) "The contrast 'is between what He is in Himself, and what He appeared in the eyes of  men.'"
                              (Lightfoot cited by Robertson, IV:445; italics are probably Robertson's.)
               b. Humbled Himself
                    (I) "Not the same as emptied Himself, ver. 7.  It defines that word, showing how the self-emptying manifests
                         itself." (Vincent, III:435; italics are his.)
                    (II) "It is a voluntary humiliation on the part of  Christ and for this reason Paul is pressing the example of
                         Christ upon the Philippians, this supreme example of  renunciation." (Robertson, IV:445)
               c. Became obedient unto death
                    (I) Was obedient unto the point of  death
                         (A) "Even this was great humility--that from being Lord he became a servant; but he says that he went
                              farther than this, because, while he was not only immortal, but the Lord of  life and death, he
                              nevertheless became obedient to his Father, even so far as to endure death." (Calvin, 58)
                         (B) "Christ's obedience to God was rendered to the extent of  laying down His life." (Vincent, III:435;
                              italics are his.)
                    (II) The death of  the cross
                         (A) "Forming a climax of  humiliation.  He submitted not only to death, but to the death of  a malefactor.
                              The Mosaic law had uttered a curse against it, Deut. xxi. 23, and the Gentiles reserved it for
                              malefactors and slaves." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                         (B) "But the lowest steps of  his humiliation was his dying the death of  the cross.  He became obedient to
                              death, even the death of  the cross.  He not only suffered, but actually and voluntarily obedient; he
                              obeyed the law which he brought himself under as Mediator, and by which he was obliged to die."
                              (Henry, VI:733; italics are his.)
                    (III) Galatians 3:10, 13
     B. His Exaltation--vv. 9-11
          1. God has exalted Him--v. 9
               a. Wherefore
                    (I) As with the word therefore, when you see the word wherefore, stop and consider what it is there for.
                    (II) In the light of  His humiliation.
               b. God exalted Him highly.
                    (I) "Because of  Christ's voluntary humiliation God lifted him above or beyond (. . .) the state of  glory which
                         he enjoyed before the Incarnation.  What glory did Christ have after the Ascension that he did not have
                         before in heaven?  Clearly his humanity.  He returned to heaven the Son of  Man as well as the Son of
                         God." (Robertson, IV:445)
                    (II) As to the divine nature--cf. John 17:5
                    (III) "But the proper exaltation was of  his human nature, which alone seems to be capable of  it , though in
                         conjunction with the divine." (Henry, VI:733)
               c. God has given Him the name.
                    (I) He gave it freely.
                    (II) Name means dignity and honor
                    (III) Refers also to an actual title.
                         (A) What title or name?
                         (B) Most natural is the name Jesus as in v. 10.
                         (C) "The sense of  the personal name Jesus seems to meet all the conditions, and the personal sense is the
                              simpler, since Jesus occurs immediately after with the word name, and again Jesus Christ in ver. 11.
                              The name Jesus was bestowed on Christ at the beginning of  His humiliation, but prophetically as the
                              One who should save His people from their sins, Matt. i. 21." (Vincent, III:436; italics are his.)
          2. Men shall acknowledge Him-- v. 10
               a. At the name of  Jesus
                    (I) "Not at the sound of  the word, but the authority of  Jesus; all should pay a solemn homage." (Henry,
                         VI:733)
                    (II) Some relate this to prayer saying it is in the name.
                    (III) However, the exaltation is in view.
               b. Every knee shall bow.
                    (I) Prayer can be offered standing up, kneeling, lying down, or sitting.
                    (II) This goes beyond prayer to the point where all men will acknowledge Jesus for who He is--something
                         they do not do today.
               c. Of  those in Heaven, etc.
                    (I) This section confirms what is being said.
                    (II) Includes everyone whether living or dead--"All creatures of  the universe are divided into three categories:
                         those in heaven, those in earth, and those under the earth.  No creature is left out in this threefold division.
                         All people--believers and unbelievers and all angels --holy and fallen, will have to acknowledge submission
                         at the name of  Jesus.'" (Good News, 5/76, 28)
                    (III) Willingly or unwillingly--the current world leaders and everyone else.
                    (IV) "The whole creation must be in subjection to him." (Henry, VI:733)
          3. Men shall confess Him--v. 11
               a. Who shall confess
                    (I) Every tongue shall confess, that is, every tribe, nation, and language.
                    (II) Confess means open, often joyful acknowledgment that is frank.
                    (III) Everyone will have to state verbally that, Jesus Christ is the Lord of  lords--"The word 'confess' literally
                         means 'to speak the same thing.'  Thus, it has the meaning of  'agree,' or 'admit.'  All must some day agree,
                         or admit, that Jesus Christ is God, even though they have not trusted Him as Saviour." (Good News, 5/76,
                         28)
                    (IV) You may so confess Him now, or you will be forced to do so at the judgment.
                    (V) This writer believe that even the devil will be forced to say it.
               b. What shall be confessed
                    (I) Jesus is Lord.
                    (II) His deity will be universally stated.
                    (III) His Lordship will be declared.
                    (IV) "Kennedy [not identified by Robertson, and is unknown to this writer] laments that the term Lord has
                         become one of   the most lifeless in the Christian vocabulary, whereas it really declares the true character
                         and dignity of  Jesus Christ and 'is the basis and the object of  worship."' (Robertson, IV:446)
              c. Why it shall be confessed
                   (I) "It is to the glory of  God the Father to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will that all men
                         should honour the Son as they honour the Father, John v. 23.  Whatever respect is paid to Christ
                         redounds to the honour of  the Father." (Henry, VI:733; italics are his.)
                   (II) Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

II. THE PRESENTATION OF  CHRIST--vv. 12 -18
     A. Working Out Our Salvation--v:v. 12, 13
          1. The outward work--v. 12
               a. Obedience is not to be dependent on presence of  your pastor and/or elders (or anyone else).
                    (1) "Do not work out your salvation as though impelled to action by my presence merely." (Vincent, III:437)
                    (II) "Much more. Than if  I were present; for in my absence even greater zeal and care are necessary." (Ibid.;
                         italics are his.)
               b. Work out the salvation that was worked in.
                    (I) "There is a saving work which God only can do for you; but there is also a work which you must do for
                         yourselves.  The work of  your salvation is not completed in God's work in you.  God's work must be
                         carried out by yourselves [Note, however, the next verse.]." (Ibid.)
                    (II) Salvation "is begun with justification by faith, but must be carried out, brought to an issue, by
                         sanctification of  the Spirit--a life of  holy obedience and advance to Christian perfection." (Alford, III:170;
                         italics are his.)
                    (III) Cf. James 2:14-20
                    (IV) Abraham was justified by faith and faith alone; but, he proved his faith by works.
               c. Work out in fear and trembling.
                    (I) "Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution.  'This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of 
                         conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes to high-mindedness in
                         the admonition "be not high-minded but fear."  It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of
                         the deceitfulness of  the heart, and of  the insidiousness and power of  inward corruption.  It is the
                         caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the
                         Saviour.'" (Vincent, III:437)
                    (II) "A nervous and trembling anxiety to do right' (. . .).  Paul has no sympathy with a cold and dead
                         orthodoxy or formalism that knows nothing of  struggle and growth." (Robertson, IV:446)
                    (III) Believers today need this exhortation in the light of  easy believism.
          2. The inward work--v. 13
               a. God works in you.
                    (I) All our working depends on God; He is the key.
                    (II) "This is the true engine for bringing down all haughtiness--this the sword for putting an end to all pride,
                         when we are taught that we are utterly nothing, and can do nothing, except through the grace of  God
                         alone.  I mean supernatural grace, which comes forth from the spirit of  regeneration.  For considered as
                         men, we already are, and live and move in God. (Acts xvii.28.)  But Paul reasons here as to a kind of
                         movement different from that universal one.  Let us now observe how much he ascribes to God, and how
                         much he leaves to us." (Calvin, 65; italics are his.)
               b. To will and to do
                    (I) "Lit., the willing and the doing.  Both are from God, and are of  one piece, so that he who wills inevitably
                         does.  The willing which is wrought by God, by its own nature and pressure, works out into action.  'We
                         will, but God works the will in us.  We work, therefore, but God works the working in us.'" (Vincent,
                         III:438; italics are his.)
                    (II) Both the inclination and the power to carry it out are wholly of  God.
                    (III) "God does it all, then.  Yes, but he puts us to work also, and our part is essential, as he has shown in
                         verse 12, though secondary to that of  God." (Robertson, IV:447)
                    (IV) It can not be emphasized enough that salvation is solely by God’s grace apart from any work on
                         the part of  the believer; nevertheless, the believer is exhorted to work out his salvation, but in the
                         working out of  it, God works through the believer to perform it.
               c. His good pleasure
                    (I) Even nature is subject to God's will.
                    (II) So is the working out of  salvation--"As there is no strength in us, so there is no merit in us.  As we cannot
                         act without God's grace, so we cannot claim it, nor pretend to deserve it.  God's good will to us is the
                         cause of  his good work in us, and he is under no engagements to his creatures, but those of  his gracious
                         promise." (Henry, VI:734)
                    (III) "Accordingly, not satisfied with having assigned to God the production both of  willing and of  doing
                         aright, he ascribes both to his unmerited mercy.  By this means he shuts out the contrivance of  the sophists
                         as to subsequent grace [known today as a second work of  grace], which they imagine to be the reward
                         of  merit.  Hence he teaches, that the whole course of  our life, if  we live aright, is regulated by God, and
                         that, too, from his unmerited goodness." (Calvin, 67; italics are his.)
     B. Holding Forth the Word--vv. 14-16
          1. Shining for Christ--vv. 14, 15
               a. The negative--v. 1
                    (I) No murmuring
                         (A) Means to mutter or grumbling
                         (B) "'Do all things, do your duty in every branch of  it without murmurings.  Do it, and do not find fault
                              with it.  Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it.'  God's commands were given to be obeyed, not
                              to be disputed.  This greatly adorns our profession, and shows we serve a good Master, whose service
                              is freedom and whose work is its own reward." (Henry, VI:734; italics are his.)
                         (C) A moral rebellion against God
                    (II) Without disputes
                         (A) The intellectual rebellion against God
                         (B) Grumbling, or griping, leads to disputes.
                         (C) "'Do all things without disputing, wrangling, and debating one with another; because the light of  truth
                              and the life of  religion are often lost in the heats and mists of  disputation.'" (Ibid.; italics are his.)
               b. The Positive--v. 15
                    (I) blameless and harmless
                         (A) "May be is rather may prove or show yourselves to be." (Vincent, IV:439; italics are his.)  This
                              writer see this not as a criticism of  the KJV, but merely an attempt to bring out the meaning.
                         (B) blameless
                              (1) Means free from censure
                              (2) "Blameless in the sight of  others." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                         (C) Harmless
                              (1) Literally, unmixed or guileless
                              (2) "Guileless in your own hearts." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                         (D) "We should endeavor not only to be harmless, but to be blameless; not only not to do hurt, but not to
                              come under the just suspicion of  it." (Henry, VI:734)
                    (II) Sons of  God, without rebuke, in the midst of  a crooked and perverse nation.
                         (A) Word sons
                              (1) Means children
                              (2) NOTE:  Believers are not children because they are blameless and harmless.
                              (3) Believers are to be blameless am harmless because they are the children of  God.
                         (B) Without fault--"Without blemish (. . .).  Without spot, 'unblemished in reputation and in reality' (. . .)."
                              (Robertson, IV:447; italics are his.)
                         (C) In a crooked and perverse nation
                              (1) Crooked--old word for curved as opposed to straight.
                              (2) Perverse to distort, to twist, to turn to one side
                              (3) "Where there is no true religion, little is to be expected but crookedness and perverseness:  and the
                                   more crooked and perverse others are among whom we live, and the more apt to cavil, the more
                                   careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless." (Henry, VI:734-5)
                    (III) Among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
                         (A) Like the moon, believers are reflectors of  the Light.
                         (B) Matthew 5:14
                         (C) "Christ is the light or the world, and good Christians are lights in the world.  When God raises up a
                              good man in any place, he sets up a light in that place." (op. cit., 735)
          2. Setting forth Christ--v. 16
               a. Holding forth the Word of  life
                    (I) Holding forth
                         (A) means present
                         (B) Can mean hold upon, or hold fast
                    (II) The Word of  life
                         (A) Certainly refers to the Gospel or to the Bible
                         (B) Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10
                    (III) "It is our duty not only to hold fast, but to hold forth the word of  life; not only to hold it (fast for our own
                         benefit, but to hold it forth for the benefit of  others, to hold it forth as the candlestick holds forth the
                         candle, which makes it appear to advantage all around, or as the luminaries of  the heavens, which shed
                         their influence far, and wide." (Ibid.)
               b. I may rejoice in the day of  Christ.
                    (I) "Lit., for a cause of  glorying unto me." (Vincent, III:440; italics are his.)
                    (II) The day of  Christ
                         (A) not the same as the day of  the Lord
                         (B) Refers to the rapture
                    (III) Cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:19, .20
               c. I have not run or labored in vain.
                    (I) "The work of  the ministry requires the putting forth of  the whole man:  all that is within us is little enough to
                         be employed in it; as in running and labouring.  Running denotes vehemence and vigour, and continual
                         pressing forward; labour denotes constancy and close application." (Henry, VI:735)
                    (II) "It is a great joy to ministers when they perceive that they have not run in vain, nor labour in vain; and
                         it will be their rejoicing in the day of  Christ, when their converts will be their crown." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
     C. Pouring Out One's Life--vv. 17,18
          1. Paul's example--v. 17a
               a. The basis
                    (I) offered--"Lit., I am poured out as a libation, The figure is that of  a sacrifice, in which the Philippians are
                         the priests, offering their faith to God, and Paul's life is the libation poured out at this offering." (Vincent,
                         III:440; italics are his.)
                    (II) "The apostle not only ran and laboured for them with satisfaction, but shows that he was ready to suffer
                         for their good." (Henry, VI:735)
               b. The Purpose
                    (I) The sacrifice and service of  their faith
                         (A) Sacrifice
                              (1) Refers to the thing sacrificed
                              (2) Romans 12:1
                         (B) Service
                              (1) Refers to the act or administration of  the offering
                              (2) "The 'service' of  the Philippians was considered an act of  worship of  God." (Good News, 9/76,
                                   27)
                         (C) Of  your faith
                              (1) This shows that the sacrifice and service were that of  the Philippians.
                              (2) "As the Philippians expressed their faith, they produced what amounted to a sacrifice and service to
                                   God." (Ibid.)
          2. Paul's rejoicing--vv. 17b, 18
               a. He could rejoice with them.
                    (I) "What a tremendous example Paul is of  one who had victory over circumstances!  He had every reason to
                         feel sorry for himself, but he refused to do so.  Instead of  despairing and complaining, he was rejoicing."
                         (Ibid.)
                    (II) "He could reckon himself happy if  he could promote the honour of  Christ, the edification of  the church,
                         and the welfare of  the souls or men; though it were not only by hazarding, but by laying down, his life:  he
                         could willingly be a sacrifice at their altars, to serve the faith of  God's elect." (Henry, VI:735)
               b. They could also joy and rejoice with him.
                    (I) Notice the mutualness of  this joy.--"Joy is mutual when the service is mutual.  Young missionaries offer
                         their lives as a challenge to other Christians to match their money with their blood." (Robertson, IV:448)
                    (II) "It is the will of  God that good Christians should be much in rejoicing; and those who are happy in good
                         ministers have a great deal of  reason to joy and rejoice with them.  If  the minister loves the people, and is
                         willing to spend and be spent for their welfare, the people have reason to love the minister and to joy and
                         rejoice with him." (Henry, VI:735; italics are his.)

     What a privilege believers have to be rejoicing in Christ as has been seen here in Philippians 2:5-18.  In "The Person of  Christ," verses 5-11, was seen His humiliation--leaving heaven's glory to come and die on the cross for everyone's sins; His exaltation--receiving heaven's glory when all creatures will acknowledge Him.
     In "The Presentation of  Christ," verses 12-18, was observed the need of  working out salvation--living the Christ life; holding forth the Word of  life--witnessing the Christian life; pouring out one's life--Serving the Lord as Christians as He wants each believer to do.
     Are you Rejoicing in Christ?  If you are a believer you should be.  Examine your heart; then proceed to work out the salvation that God has worked in you.  Present the gospel to your friends, and give your life to the Lord for His service.

     If  you are not a believer, none of  this is for you.  You need to trust the Lord as Savior.  See How to be saved.  Why not do it now?