Taking a Nearer Take a look at Philippians 2:1–11

An Encouragement and a Problem

Let’s have a look at Philippians 2. Once I first began in pulpit ministry as a twenty-five 12 months previous within the west of Scotland, I made a decision I’d strive Philippians for various causes. One, I assumed I knew what it was about, and two, it was comparatively brief. And so if it didn’t go very properly, I may at all times bail. And right here I’m, in any case these years, rejoicing in the truth that Philippians 2 continues to each problem and encourage me in my very own private Christian life, as a result of to begin with, I’m a Christian, after which I’m a pastor.

In Philippians 2, Paul writes, “If there’s any encouragement in Christ and luxury . . . ” What he means by that’s since there’s all of this, it’s crucial that you simply don’t succumb to the temptation to push your self to the entrance.

One of many privileges of pastoral ministry is that you’ve a place earlier than folks. One of many challenges is the very same factor. And so Paul says, “I don’t need you to be doing stuff out of egocentric ambition, however as a substitute of that, in a posture of humility, you need to depend others as extra important than your self.” That, in fact, is a big problem.

It’s a problem even inside a household with our siblings, and in a church, definitely. Paul then masterfully says the instance that’s set for you is none apart from the Lord Jesus himself. And he truly says to “have this thoughts amongst you.” The truth that the way in which we expect controls our attitudes and our actions is apparent all through the Scriptures, and never least of all right here: “Have this thoughts amongst you, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

After which he goes on to offer us this wonderful tune, maybe a poem, maybe penned by Paul, maybe it was in circulation. We don’t know. It offers us this excellent image of the truth that Christ, who’s the everlasting Son, steps down into time. He does so not in royal robes, not carrying a crown, not using in a chariot.

Though he was God, and together with the Spirit and with God the Father, rejoicing within the actuality of that in eternity, his half in that nice salvation covenant was to step down. He was born within the likeness of males. He was an actual individual. He got here down a delivery canal simply the identical as anyone else does. And he was there thought to be completely human and understood as somebody who had one thing to say. And naturally he was shifting inexorably in direction of the rationale that he’d come within the first place. The rationale for his arrival was truly his departure.

You wouldn’t say that about anyone else, that the rationale that he was born is in order that he may die. And naturally that’s the purpose that he makes. He turned obedient even to the purpose of loss of life, bearing sin in himself. And because of that, God has extremely exalted him and has truly given him a reputation that’s above each identify.

The identify of Jesus rings on the planet immediately. It’s in each continent of the world, and it’s on the lips of virtually each language we’d ever hear. And sooner or later it will likely be in each tribe, nation, folks, and tongue, declaring the glory of Christ himself. And sooner or later, Paul says, on the identify of Jesus, each knee will bow and each tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, he’s Yahweh, he’s God. That’s not an expression of devotion. It might be an expression of devotion, however past that’s an expression of theology. In the future each knee will bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So I encourage you to learn Philippians 2, ponder it, and even perhaps memorize it. I discover it an exquisite encouragement and a fairly deep-seated problem too.

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Alistair Begg is coauthor with Sinclair Ferguson of Identify above All Names.

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