The Mind of Christ: Self-Emptying and Unity in Philippians

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2. Welcome to the Kensington Woods Church of Christ

3. What was the “mind” of Christ? • Phil. 2:1-11 is perhaps the most com-prehensive description of the Incarna-tion in Scripture! • But, pay very close attention to vs. 5: “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

4. And do I have it? Do you?? ?

5. I. The Mind of Christ was “Self-Emptying.” who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Phil. 2:6-7 What, exactly, does it mean to “empty Himself?”

6. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3, 14 e

7. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3, 14 e

8. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3, 14 e

9. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-3, 14 e

10. The Philippians were having a great deal of difficulty achieving unity in Christ (see Phil. 1:27; 2:2-3; 4:2-3). • There are at least two things that will interfere with, or destroy, unity. Paul discusses both of them—one in vs. 3 and the other in vs. 4. e

11. The Attitude of Self-Importance Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Phil. 2:3 (ESV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Phil. 2:3 (NIV) let each esteem others better than himself. Phil. 2:3 (NKJV)

12. The Attitude of Self-Absorption do not merely look out for your own per-sonal interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil. 2:4 (NASB77) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil. 2:4 (NKJV)

13. David Myer’s Research, in The Inflated Self • The “Pervasiveness of Pride.” • Myers concludes that human problems are not rooted in a poor view of self, but in an inflated self-concept. • We are naturally egotistical and un- realistically so. • He gives “six streams of data” which “merge to form a powerful river of evidence,” demonstrating this!

14. David Myer’s Research, in The Inflated Self • Stream One--weare more likely to accept credit than to admit failure. • Credit is often attributed to ability and effort. • Failure is explained as resulting from factors beyond our control. (Scrabble, Pool games, Cards; it’s bad breaks, NOT bad playing)

15. David Myer’s Research, in The Inflated Self • Stream two—reveals our predilection to overestimate ourselves. • Most people see themselves as “better than average” (more ethical than most, less prejudiced than most, better than average driver, etc.) • 829,000 students were asked to rate themselves in their “ability to get along with others.”

16. David Myer’s Research, in The Inflated Self • Zero (0) % thought of themselves as below average. • 60% saw themselves in the top 10%. • 25% rated themselves in the top 1%. Even if you are not good in Math, you can see that these numbers just don’t add up.

17. David Myer’s Research, in The Inflated Self • Stream Six—we have a tendency to overestimate how we would act in certain situations. • Several residents of Bloomington, IN were called, requesting that they volunteer 3 hours to an American Cancer Drive. 4% agreed. • A comporable group were called and asked what they would do if asked, and 50% said that they would help.

18. Jesus completely side-stepped the destructive evils of self-importance and self-absorption. If He had looked only “to his own interests,” He would never have left heaven, He could not have unified the apostles, and He would have had little influence on the world. e

19. II. The Mind of Christ was “Serving.” • (He took upon Himself) the form of a bond-servant Phil. 2:7 (NASB77) • “Service” is a common concept and word in our experience. • Jesus never said, “I want you to render service.” Instead, He said Whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt. 20:27). • All can render “service,” but few are really “servants.”

20. Make Me A Servant Make me a servant, Lord; Make me like you, For you are a servant. Make me one, too. Make me a servant; Do what you must do To make me a servant. Make me like you.

21. Make Me A Servant Open my hands, Lord, And teach me to share. Open my heart, Lord; Teach me to care. Service to others Is service to you. Make me a servant; Make me like you.

22. III. The Mind of Christ was “Sympathizing.” • 7(He was) made in the likeness of men. Phil. 2:7 (NASB77) • We think of sympathy as a “feeling for.” • It is really a “feeling with.” • Compare Jesus with the Priest and the Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. • They certainly had a “feeling for.”

23. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propit-iation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Heb. 2:16-18 e

24. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 e

25. IV. The Mind of Christ was “Submitting.” • 7And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil. 2:8 • Jesus was a man “sold out” to the Father. I don’t know any other way to describe Him. • In fact, His baptism can only be explained in this way (passages).

26. Jesus * said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. John 4:34 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Matt. 26:39 e

27. V. The Mind of Christ was “Sacrificing.” • 7And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil. 2:8 • Christ was obedient, NOT unto death, BUT unto the Father! • So complete was His sacrifice that NOTHING was too much!

28. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26 "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 e

29. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26 "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 e

30. Are You Christ Minded? Self-Emptying Serving Sympathizing Submitting Sacrificing

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