Philippians 2 | Joy in Christlikeness

This portion has strong indications of poetic structure, and some believe it possibly existed prior to Paul’s letter and that he adapted it for use in this prison epistle to the Philippian believers.

Before we get into the joy of Christlikeness, let’s look at this powerful “hymn” and see Christ’s example—our pattern for Christlikeness.

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 525: Living with Decadence

Former Hollywood bad boy Martin Sheen says watching his son, Charlie Sheen, lead a similarly decadent life fills him with remorse. He worries that he learned to be a father too late. He particularly regrets his failure to share his faith. “I never lost my faith,” Sheen says. “But I felt for a time that I had outgrown the church. Now it is a bone of contention in my soul that I did not share my faith with my kids, as my parents did with me. It was a source of grace when I needed it. I have been greatly nurtured and inspired by my faith.”

Paul wanted the Philippian believers to be found faithful to Christ and His example.

May we not fail to follow and be a Christlike example.

Let’s look here at the example of Christ described.

Christ's Example, vs. 5-11

“Hymn of Jesus”

The Humility of Christ, vs. 5-8

Christ’s Attitude

vs. 5a Let this mind be in you

vs. 5b Which was also in Christ Jesus (which you have in)

Christ’s Pre-existent Divinity

vs. 6a Who, being in the form of God,

vs. 6b Thought it not robbery to be equal with God

A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament μορφή

μορφή, form, implying essential character as well as outline line. It suggests unchangeableness, as contrasted with σχῆμα (= figure, fashion). In Phil. 2:6 the reference is to the pre-incarnate Christ with divine attributes.

Christ’s Humility

vs. 7a Made Himself of no reputation (emptying humiliation)

Made Himself of no reputation

vs. 7b Took on the form of a servant

Christ’s Humanity

vs. 7c Made in the likeness of men

Christ’s Hum

vs. 8a Being found in fashion as a man

σχῆμαti schemati (= figure, fashion)

Christ’s Obedience

vs. 8b He humbled Himself

vs. 8c And became obedient to death and the cross

A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament μορφή

The Humility of Christ

The Exaltation of Christ, vs. 9-11

vs.9a Highly exalted

vs. 9b Given a name which is above every name

vs. 10 At His name every knee will bow—in heaven, in earth, under the earth

vs. 11a Every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Lord

Every knee should bow

Every tongue will confess Him

vs. 11b To the glory of God the Father

Christ’s return may not be long!

ILL:

China quarantined 25 million due to spreading, mutating virus.

6.7 Earthquake in Turkey, Syria, Georgia, and Armenia

Since September, at least 27 million acres of Australia have burned in one of the country’s worst fire seasons on record. That’s an area larger than Portugal, and more than 14 times the area that burned in California in 2018, the state’s most destructive year for wildfires. The fires have now killed at least 29 people and destroyed some 2,500 homes.

The fires have now killed at least 29 people and destroyed some 2,500 homes.

While we log for Christ’s return, the main point here was His humility.

Christ’s humility was descirbed as an example for the Philippian believers and us to follow.

Christ's Example, vs. 5-11

Christlike Humility, vs. 1-4

Paraphrase: If we have a shared love in Christ, complete my joy by being in humble, selfless unity with one another, following Christ’s example.

1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking: Fresh, Timely, and Compelling Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Speakers 450 TOPIC: Humility Moms and Toilets

If you get an attack of importance, call your mother or scrub a toilet. Either one will put your talents in perspective.

Consider the instruction toward Christlike humility given in these verses:

Be unified in Christ’s love.

vs. 2a Be likeminded

likeminded

vs. 2b Have the same love

vs. 2c Being of one accord

vs. 2d And of one mind

Think less of yourself and more of others.

vs. 3a Do nothing with strife or vainglory

vs. 3b In lowliness of mind

in lowliness of mind

vs. 3c Esteem others better then yourselves

When we get too caught up in ourselves, we look right past the people God has placed in our lives to love.

Replace self-interest with love.

vs. 4a Look not on your own interests

vs. 4b Look on the needs and interests of others

1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking: Fresh, Timely, and Compelling Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Speakers 449 TOPIC: Humility As Long As We Are Nothing

God created the world out of nothing,

and as long as we are nothing,

God can make something out of us.

Ask:

Am I willing to humble myself as did Christ?

Will I live and serve Christ in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

Will I place the true needs of others above my own ambitions?

Christ's Example, vs. 5-11

Made Himself of no reputation

Christlike Humility, vs. 1-4

Took on the form of a servant

Humbled Himself

Became obedient to death and the cross

Christ is exalted

At His name

Every knee should bow

Every tongue will confess Him

To the glory of God the Father

Christlike Obedience, vs. 12-18

1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking: Fresh, Timely, and Compelling Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Speakers 637 TOPIC: Obedience Lack of Obedience

A husband and wife were discussing the possibility of taking a trip to the Holy Land. “Wouldn’t it be fantastic to go to the Holy Land and stand and shout the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai?” the husband asked his wife.

“It would be better if you stayed home and kept them,” the wife replied.

Paraphrase: As your obedience in my presence, now much more in my absence, let God do His work in and through you, making you a light within a world of perversions.

Work out what is inside.

in my absence, let God do His work in and through you, making you a light within a world of perversions.

vs. 12a As you have always obeyed

vs. 12b Now much more in my absence

vs. 12c Work out your salvation with fear and trembling

Depend on God’s work in you.

vs. 13a For it is God which worketh in you

vs. 13b Both to will and to do His good pleasure

Work without grumbling and arguing.

vs. 14a Do all things without murmurings (grumbling)

vs. 14b Or disputings

ILL—Children of Israel described as “crooked and twisted generation” and limited by their “grumbling and disputing” in the wilderness wanderings.

Be blameless lights in a perverse, dark world.

vs. 15a That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent)

vs. 15b The sons of God, without rebuke (blemish)

vs. 15c In the midst of acrooked and perverse nation

vs. 15d Among whom ye shine as lights in the world

Ask:

Will I continue faithfully obedient to Christ, depending on His work in me?

Will I refrain from grumbling and arguing to promote unity in the church?

Will I refrain from grumbling and arguing?

Will I commit to living uprightly, as a light in a dark world?

Christ's Example, vs. 5-11

Christlike Humility, vs. 1-4

Christlike Obedience, vs. 12-18

Christlike Interests, vs. 19-30

Paraphrase: I hope to send you a proven, selfless servant whose interests are those of Christ.

Proven, Selfless Timothy, vs. 19-24

vs. 19a Trusting in the Lord to send him

vs. 19a Trusting in the Lord

vs. 19b That I may be of good comfort

vs. 20 Others sought their own good

Fellow soldier and Your Messenger, Epaphroditus, vs. 25-30

vs. 19b That I may be of good comfort

vs. 28 That ye may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful

vs. 29 Receive and honor such men

Paul recommended Timothy and Epaphroditus to the church as examples to follow with Christlike interests—proven, selfless, faithful.

Ask:

Could I be recommended as an example of one with Christlike interests?

Am I one whose interests are in what Christ wants and others need?

CONCLUSION

We saw today:

Christ's Example, vs. 5-11

Christlike Humility, vs. 1-4

Christlike Obedience, vs. 12-18

Christlike Interests, vs. 19-30

God is the One in Whom we depend for the ability to be humble, obedient, and to have interest in pleasing Christ.

He gives us the desire and ability.

Don’t try to live the Christian life like it all depends on your ability.

Remember Christ’s example.

Not only was it an example for us, but it was a provision for us . . .

. . . the provision of salvation, forgiveness, redemption, life.

There is joy in following Christ's example.

Christ will enable you to follow His example if you will repent of your own ways and trust in Him.

There is joy in following Christ's example.

Trust God to enable you to have Christlike humility, obedience, and interests as you follow Him.