Sermon-Two

Topic: What is it to be like Christ? How do we grow in the Likeness of Christ?

Text. Phil. 2:1-11

We will learn this entire chapter, but let us see first the essence of this passage.
Because that will help us to know what is it to be like Christ?

Let us see the background of this book briefly

As we see in Acts 16 the apostle Paul in his second missionary journey went to this
city of Philippi, and preached the Gospel, a woman named Lydia along with her
household got saved, and the jailer got saved along with his household and that is how
the church established.

Paul wrote this letter to this church while he was in Roman imprisonment (1:12.13).

This church was a model church, a thriving church for the gospel ministry.

They participated in the gospel ministry along with Paul (1:5, 7). Paul wrote this letter
to commed the church for their care and concern for Paul in the ministry (4:10-15).

Paul also wrote to inform them how the Gospel work was progressing inspite of his
imprisonment for Christ (1:12-15)

He also wrote this letter to warn the believers about the false teachers (3:1-8)

In the midst of commending this Church for their participation in the Gospel work,
Paul addresses an issue in this church, that there was disunity in the church (4:2).
Therefore, Paul draws their attention to Christ and His attitide in the centre of this
letter and urges the believers to have the attitude of Christ in order to maintain the
unity of the church.

Let us see

Q. What is it to be like Christ? How can we be like Christ?

Answer. In order to be like Christ we must have the attitude of Christ as we see in
2:5. Have the attitute in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Have the attitude
of Christ.

Q. What is the attitude or mind of Christ? Answer. See Verses 6-8

1. Though Christ is God by His nature, He did not regard equality with God a
thing to be hold tightly (2:6)

Christ is God, the Second Person of the Trinity

See. John 1:1-3- Christ is eternal

Col-1:15-17- Christ is Creator

Johm 10:30 - He in in the same essence with the Father

Heb 1:8- Father addresses Christ as God

Yet Christ did not regard His position to hold tightly He did not think I am God why
shall I become a man.

What else is the attitude of Christ?

2. Christ made Hismself Nothing, by taking the form of a bond-servant (2:7)

What does it mean? How did Christ empty Himself? The answer is found in
this verse itself. It does not mean that Christ emptied Himself means He removed or
subtracted any of His divine attributes from Himself but He emptied Himself by
taking / adding the form of a servant on Himself. He emptied Himself by taking on
Himself an additional nature humanity.

For example: Having Seen a snake he ran away

He took the nature of humaity which is limited to weakness, shame, death that being
God He had never experienced. But for the sake of redeeming us Christ took this
additiona nature humanity.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for
your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Though Christ was rich, being the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Creator of
the entire universe, yet He was willing to take an additional nature humanity that is
limited to weaknesss, pain, suffering, agony, and death.
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This is what the mind or attitude of Christ we see in this text.

Let us see what else the attitude of Christ?

3. Christ humbled Himself by becoming obedient until He accomplished the

mission (2:8)
Christ made Himself low. He took the estate of humility. Humility is not a
weakness. But it is a voluntary action of Christ. Christ was not under obligation to
take the lowly position of humanity, but He willfully took this lowly position. In that
He willfully and voluntarily submitted to God the Father for the mission for which He
was sent for. He did not exercice independent exercise of His divine authority, but
submitted to God the Father by being obedient in every point till the point of death,
even to the death of the cross.

When we see the earthly life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ it is very obvious
that He was so humble in obeying God the Father in every point of His life
Matthew 12:50-For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My
brother, and sister, and mother.”

John 4:34- Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and
to accomplish His work.

John 5:30-I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment

is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 17:4-I glorified You on the earth [a]by accomplishing the work which You have
given Me to do.

Matthew 26:39-44- 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 You will.” 40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping,
and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one
hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the
spirit is [a]willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if
this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He
came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again,
and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

John 19:30-Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is
finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

As we learnt in order to be like Christ, we must have the attitude of Christ,

First, Though Christ is God by His nature, He did not regard equality with God
a thing to be hold tightly (2:6)

Second, Christ made Hismself Nothing, by taking the form of a bond-servant

(2:7)

Third, Christ humbled Himself by becoming obedient until He accomplished the

mission (2:8)