"THE MIND OF CHRIST"
"Can We Imitate the Mind of Christ?"
Philippians 2:5 - 11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In relating a father to his son, we have heard statements like these: "Like father like son". Or, "he's a chip off the old block".
The son is a copy, a reproduction, or a replica of the father. Thus, they like the same things, they have the same values, and may have the same appearance.
1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1. Here we see the need to imitate Christ. We need to be a replica of Jesus.
2. Why? Jesus is our perfect example.
1st Peter 2:21-22
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 WHO DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Paul tells us here that we are to have the mind of Christ. Then, he tells us what it takes to have the mind of Christ.
TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST IS TO HAVE A MIND OF HUMILITY
1. Philippians 2:8
Jesus being God took on the form of man. In comparison, this would be like a man taking on the form of a worm.
Notice the word "humbled". It means to make low, to bring to the ground. Humiliation would be our closest English word.
Jesus was humiliated, dishonored and disgraced in taking on the form of a man.
TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST IS TO HAVE THE MIND OF OBEDIENCE
Philippians 2:8 Jesus had a mind of obedience.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. -Obedience is what He hungered and thirsted for...his very reason for being.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. -Jesus was always concerned about doing the Father's will. Jesus was not concerned about what he wanted, but what the Father wanted.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. -Jesus glorified the Father through His obedience...Jesus did not leave his Father's work undone.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. -Jesus would not let even death keep him from obeying his Father...What hinders us from being obedient?
CONCLUSION
Notice what the end result was of Jesus having a mind of humility and a mind of obedience:
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -The Father exalted Jesus. If we will have the mind of Christ, we will be exalted!
1st Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Assistant Pastor: Dale Brewer
From the Wednesday Evening Bible Study Handout.
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