Christ: Humbled and Exalted (Philippians 1-2)
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Chapter 1
In the first chapter Paul expresses his thankfulness for the uninterrupted fellowship of the saints in the gospel and his confidence that God is completing and will complete His good work in them. His imprisonment has furthered the gospel by stimulating others to preach Christ and he rejoices in the fact that Christ is being preached, even though some were doing so out of wrong motives. His future is uncertain at this point, and he feels torn between dying and being with Christ and living due to the need of the Philippians. Paul knows that there is more work to be done with these Christians, and his exhortation to them is that they live in a way that is worthy of the gospel, not only believing it but suffering for it as well.
Chapter 2:1-4
When Paul uses “if” in this first verse, he is doing so with the force of an affirmative statement. He is saying that “since” or “because” there is encouragement, consolation, fellowship, affection and compassion in Christ and in the Holy Spirit, they should further pursue the other directives he gives. First, he says that they should pursue harmony, or oneness (verse 2). He is not talking about outward uniformity, but true spiritual unity that flows out of a common mind regarding Christ and out of common heart of love for Him. Second, he says that they should pursue humility. By this he means not just the negation of self, but the absence of self altogether. Humility is unselfishness and self-oblivion that comes from regarding others as more important than ourselves. Third, Paul urges the Christians to pursue helpfulness. Christianity is not about doing our own thing and pursuing our own progress without consideration of others. Instead of trying to outpace others in our religious attainment or sanctification, we would seek to bring them along with us as we seek a higher degree of Christlikeness and communion with God and with each other.
Chapter 2:5-11
Paul says that this attitude that we are to have was first in Christ Jesus. The epitome of harmony, humility, and helpfulness is Christ. The humiliation that Christ underwent is only adequately understood when the height at which Christ initially stood is realized. From all eternity, Christ was with God and was God Himself. In becoming man, Christ was not cast down against his desires, but willingly came all the way down the steep stairway of condescending love. For Christ to empty Himself does not mean that He surrendered His deity or changed his personality, but that He veiled His glory by becoming a man, while retaining the form of God. The eternal God was born in time and the Creator Himself willingly lowered Himself to creature level. Having stooped from the realms of glory to the low level of humanity, He humbled Himself yet another degree— through obedience to the point of death. As Jesus died in obedience to the Father on the cross, He was rejected by men and He was despised by God. “For this reason also,” God highly exalted Him, raising Him up from the dead, and seating Him at His right hand where all His enemies are placed at His feet.
“If He had not stooped so low, our joy and comfort could not be exalted so high. The depth of the foundation is the strength of the superstructure.” John Flavel
– What more could you ask of Christ to do to rescue you? How is Christ’s coming in the form of a man not only an issue of doctrine, but an issue of example?