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A Savior is born

December 20, 2015 Speaker: Gary Series: Born to Save

Topic: Christmas Scripture: Philippians 2:5–11

A Savior is born
Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus Christ was born as a man so he could die to save us

Philippians 2:5–11 (ESV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 2:5-6.
Paul is saying, “Have the same humble attitude that Jesus had.” What was Jesus’ humble attitude? To be in the form of God means that Jesus existed in the very essence of God.

2) But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, 2:7.
This verse explains further what Paul means when he says Jesus didn’t count equality with God a thing to be grasped, to hold onto. For Jesus to empty himself means that he laid aside his glorious privileges and the exercise of his rights. What are the two ways Paul says Christ emptied himself?

3) And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, 2:8.
Not only did Christ add humanity to his nature as God, he further humbled himself. How? In what ways was death on a cross more humbling than other forms of being put to death? How did Christ’s death on the cross express his role as a servant (Mark 10:45)?

4) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 2:9.
How did God highly exalt Jesus?

5) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, 2:10-11.

What is the result of God’s highly exalting Jesus? What is the name God bestowed on Jesus? What is the significance of Paul’s applying Isaiah 45:22-23 to Jesus? What does it mean to glorify God? How does the fact that every being will confess Jesus is Lord glorify God? From the whole passage, what did it take to save us?

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A Savior is promised