doc Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application Orcutt Christian Church

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1 doc Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application Orcutt Christian Church A Grace Driven Church for Grace Needing People! Rambling Round Revelation #4 The Dazzling Christ Rev. 1:1-20 January 27, 2019 Communion: Archie Miller Care Calling: Randall Rich Host: Mike Rylant Saturday 1/26: Clean Up: The Felix's BOARD INSTALLATION 1 We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise Joyful Joyful we adore thee [ALL] 90 3 Dios Está Aquá (Handout) 4 Doxology 5 We are God s People [ALL] How firm a foundation [ALL] Find Us Faithful [Once] 456 Revelation 1:1-20 (NASB) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and

2 the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." 9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands:

3 the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. As you study Revelation, keep constantly in mind that many things cannot be settled either about the message, or, often the imagery, of the Book of Revelation. We must have humility regarding our lack of knowledge about many of the secrets of the book which have not yet been yielded up. The Basic Message of the Book is clear, so I will strive not to become lost in minute details, and hope you don't either. Have you ever wondered how you would emotionally handle being in exile? Exile means to be away from one's home, whether identified as one's city, state or country, while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return. It is a form of punishment with forced solitude. Can anything good come from being exiled? In exile Jacob saw God at Bethel. In exile Moses saw God at the burning bush. In exile Elijah saw the manifestations of God at Mount Horeb. In exile Ezekiel saw visions of God by the River Kebar. In exile Daniel saw the Ancient of Day. And, in exile, John saw the exalted, dazzling, Christ. The main purpose of exile was to keep the individual from his field of influence, and from those who he was leading. The person in exile lived in the most frugal conditions of food and shelter.

4 It was a prison without bars, and the person was kept under surveillance. The records however suggest that visits from friends were possible, and they probably kept John supplied with food. So, have you ever considered what God would do through if you were in exile? How would He encourage you? How would He support you? How would He comfort you? Revelation answers those questions for you, as we begin studying the First Cycle, which is recorded in Chapters 1, 2, and 3. And, if you want to know the key to understanding Revelation, you need look no further than Revelation 1:17-18 (NASB) He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. If you will meditate on what Jesus has to say there, You will feel that He encouraged you? You will feel that He supported you? You will feel that He comforted you? Let's summarize what John has written for our encouragement in chapter one. I. Overview of Chapter One A. The Letter Begins v. 4-8

5 Revelation 1:4-8 (NASB) John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." 1. Greetings - v. 4, 5 Revelation 1:4-5 (NASB) 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood Revelation is a very unique document. It is a letter. It is prophecy. And it is apocalyptic. And as a letter it is like the letter's of Paul. The human author gives his name, and a standard greeting. If you look at Paul's letters you will see that is the customary form of beginning a letter.

6 And, we know there were lots more churches in Asia Minor than the seven that Jesus mentions. So, why just seven. Well, as we have seen, there are 7 cycles that repeat the apocalyptic message of Revelation. Well, we have to constantly keep in mind that Jesus Himself tells us He is using figurative language. John uses the Greek ἑπτά hepta, which is the numeral 7, 57 times in Revelation. And seven is the number that is associated with fullness, with completion. There are seven beatitudes in Revelation: 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7,14. And, I find it interesting that Paul himself wrote to seven churches: Romans, Corinthians (twice),galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians (twice). So, we can conclude that the churches listed represent every church between the time John wrote and up to the return of our Lord. And we have to keep in mind that some 60 plus years have elapsed since Jesus ascended into heaven, to take His place on the throne. 2. Doxology - v. 5-8 Revelation 1:5-8 (NASB) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it

7 is to be. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." John ends his greeting with a doxology. And, I know you remember a doxology is an ascription of glory to God. We sing "Praise God" when we sing the doxology. (Ancient Greek: δοξολογία doxologia, from δόξα, doxa, "glory" and -λογία, -logia, "saying") You will also remember how Paul summarized the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, Well, when you look at John's doxology, you can see that he is summarizing what Jesus has done for us. John's summary is that Jesus... loves us and released us from our sins by His blood 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father That makes us want to burst out and sing with Phillip Bliss: Man of Sorrows! what a name For the Son of God, who came Ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior! And, then John makes a startling statement: 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all

8 the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. And this statement is the underlying theme of the book of Revelation. Jesus is coming again a second time. B. The Setting - v Revelation 1:9-11 (NASB) I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." Why was John on Patmos? The island (now called Patino) was west of Ephesus some twenty-five miles off the west coast of Asia Minor. It was about ten miles long and six miles wide. Victorinus, writing about 300 A.D., says John, although very elderly, was forced to labor in the mines on Patmos. But, that is doubtful, because archaeologists have found no evidence of mining on Patmos. No evidence of mining on Patmos, has been found. Some penile islands had quarries, but apparently not on Patmos. Patmos was a small, rocky, barren island. Eusebius says he was in exile for eighteen months.

9 Sources agree that after the death of Domitian in AD 96, John was permitted to return to Ephesus. Although John was on Patmos when he received the visions he may not have written the book in its present form until after his return to Ephesus. John was experiencing banishment. John was not evangelizing the island as some have proposed. Pliny, the Roman writer, mentions Patmos as a place to which undesirable people were banished. Emperors used banishment as a means to rid themselves of influential troublemakers without having to make martyrs of them. Picture a lonely, elderly man, standing on a deserted shore, gazing longly towards the east. Revelation 13:1 (NKJV) Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw... What do you see from the shore of your isolation? You see here that we all need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. Jesus can use your depression... He can used your isolation... He can use your infirmaries... He can use your youth... He can use your senior status... If we will just stand on the sea shore and look to Him. Perhaps, that is why John then gives us... C. The Vision of Christ - v Revelation 1:12-20 (NASB) Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.

10 And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Remember what we just said about being in exile? Can anything good come from being exiled? In exile, John saw the exalted, dazzling, Christ. Now keep in mind that this section is a major clue to the rest of the book. Do you wonder why? Well, let's take a look at what takes place. Notice His Appearance - v

11 Behold The Dazzling Christ Revelation 1:12-16 (NASB) Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. John heard a voice and turned towards the speaker. Can you imagine his surprise? John hasn't seen Jesus since His ascending through the clouds. But here is his beloved Master. But changed. And we aren't talking about the kind of change you and I have undergone over the years. Jesus is the same savior, yet very different than when he walked beside john down Galilee's dusty roads. And when you read John's description, remember it all has been pictured in the OT. And, John will repeat the symbolisms in the next two chapters in the letters to the seven churches. So, avoid being too subjective and trying to over press what you read. Remember John is not creating this in his head.

12 He is faithfully trying to describe what he saw in his vision. So, look at the big picture. Take time to reflect on John's seeing his Lord after these many years. Think about how you would respond. 2. John's Reaction - v. 17, 18 Revelation 1:17-18 (NASB) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. I know I have mentioned my conversation with my sister Marie before she died. I asked her: "Marie what will be the first thing you will say to Jesus?" And Marie said: "A.L., I'm not interested in what I shall say to Jesus. I'm concerned about what He is going to say to me!" Well, John sees the Majestic, dazzling, Jesus in all His heavenly splendor. John's immediate response is to hit the deck! But notice how Jesus responds. Revelation 1:17 (NASB) And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; Doesn't this remind you of the Mount of Transfiguration?

13 Matthew 17:5-8 (NASB) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. Jesus gives John three words of encouragement. Those same three words should sustain you and I. A. Christ asserts His Eternal existence Do not be afraid; I am B. Christ asserts His victorious resurrection the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, C. Christ asserts His ultimate authority I have the keys of death and of Hades Because Jesus has ultimate authority, He has a message for His church in every clime and place, and for all time, that is, until He returns again. 3. Jesus' Instructions and Explanation - v. 19, 20 Revelation 1:19-20 (NASB) Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands:

14 the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. II. The Mystery of The Seven Images Explained Revelation 1:20 (NASB) As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. The idea mystery fits right in with Jesus' use of figures, riddles and symbols. This tells us immediately that the items have meaning beyond what is apparent. The seven stars represent things to which they have no physical resemblance. So we have to remember that in the NT a mystery has to be explained by God. And so Jesus explains the stars represent the churches. And, once again Jesus gives us a clue on how to read Revelation. The entire series of visions will consist of symbolical mysteries, and are not to be taken literally or physically. III. The Lord's Day Controversy Revelation 1:10 (NASB) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, What is the Lord's Day?

15 Is there a difference between the Lord's Day and the Sabbath? Is the Lord's Day the same as the Day of the Lord? The view that the Lord s Day is equivalent to the day of the Lord has no support in the text. Day of the Lord has a different construction in the Greek. John was observing the Lord s Day. On the first day of the week, John was focusing on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This day belonged to Jesus because it was the day of his resurrection. The Lord s Supper was observed on the Lord s Day, the first day of the week Acts 20:7 (NKJV) Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, It is known from early Christian writings that the first day of the week received the designation the Lord's Day. The first gospel sermon was preached on the 1st Day of the Week. Jesus established His church on the 1st Day of the Week. There may be a deliberate contrast to the Emperor s Day, which was the first day of each month. The seventh day, the Sabbath, had been kept by the Israelites in commemoration of God's creative work. However. the first day, the Lord's Day, was set aside to keep forever fresh in people's minds the story of the most momentous day of all history, the one event that gives meaning to human life: Jesus' resurrection from the dead. I'd like to suggest you download and read

16 D.R. Dungan, The Sabbath or the The Sabbath or the Lord s Day, Which? (originally released in 1885.) The 2012 edition may be downloaded from Prayer and Invitation

17 January 27 IMITATE CHRIST DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 119:65 72 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:1 11 PHILIPPIANS 2:1 11 Lesson 9 (NIV) 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and 2 compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same 3 love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or 4 vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your 5 own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships 6 with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;, he made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled 9 himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. KEY VERSE In humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3 Introduction A. Which Way Is Up? Experts offer a surprising conclusion about victims of drowning: they often die not because they cannot swim but because they do not know where to swim. Suddenly submerged deep underwater, victims often swim toward where they believe the surface to be, but in fact they are swimming deeper into the water. We can compare that situation to a vital biblical idea communicated in today s text. Sinful human beings are swimming for their lives, trying to find the surface. But as they swim toward what they think is up toward power, prestige, wealth, comfort they are swimming deeper into what will ultimately ruin their lives. The gospel teaches us that the true way up is the way we usually think of as down.

18 B. Lesson Context Under his own humble circumstances of Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians. This situation was addressed in the Lesson Context of last week s lesson and need not be repeated here. Paul wrote, in part, to address the church s problems with interpersonal conflict (Philippians 4:2, 3). But the core of Paul s teaching is found in today s text. Philippians 2:6 11 of our text is poetic in form in that the lines have parallel structure and build to a climax. Many scholars suggest that this is an early Christian hymn. It is easy to imagine the first generation of Jesus followers singing or chanting these verses together as an expression of their new, revolutionary faith. In addition to the poetic rhythm of the original text, the content of this passage closely resembles other texts that also seem to cite ancient hymns. Some possibilities in that regard are John 1:1 14; Colossians 1:15 20; and 1 Peter 3: These focus on the nature and work of Christ by highlighting his divinity and preexistence, role in creation, incarnation, painful death, resurrection, and exaltation (although not all these passages contain all these elements). The hymn in Philippians 2 includes most of these elements. I. Exhortation to Selflessness (PHILIPPIANS 2:1 4) A. Christ s Selfless Gifts (v. 1) 1a. Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, Paul begins his exhortation by reminding his readers of what they have received as a result of Christ s selflessness. The first if does not cast doubt on whether the Philippians have received these gifts. Rather, this is a common way of speaking to draw attention to what speaker and listener both agree to be true. Implied at the end of each if clause is and you do. The resulting list is a broad catalog of the ways that God s grace is experienced by Christ s followers. The list begins with encouragement, translating a common term in the New Testament. It is also translated comfort (example: 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4), exhortation (example: Hebrews 13:22), etc. The idea is being encouraged to do what is right. 1b. if any comfort from his love, The second expression, comfort, has a broadly similar meaning. This comfort is particularly associated with love, God s expression of his commitment to bless his people despite their rebellion and unworthiness. 1c. if any common sharing in the Spirit, Common sharing signifies both a sense of connection between people and an openness to share their resources (see Acts 2:42 47). The fellowship is in the Spirit, as the Holy Spirit given by Christ to his people binds them together in a way that transcends differences that exist among them (compare 2 Corinthians 13:14). What Do You Think? What techniques can we use to discipline ourselves in being mindful of the benefits of being connected with Christ in fellowship? Digging Deeper What techniques have you seen or experienced that don t work in that regard? 1d. if any tenderness and compassion,

19 The Greek word translated tenderness is also translated pity in 1 John 3:17. Paired here with compassion, it refers to attitudes and actions that refrain from exacting vengeance or punishment on others, giving generous blessing in place of the negative response that is deserved. Christ gives his followers a transformed perspective and experience. They receive abundantly these gifts of God that they do not deserve. And receiving them together, they are drawn into a relationship with each other in which their common gifts are more important than their individual differences. B. Our Selfless Imitation (vv. 2 4) 2a. then make my joy complete by being like-minded, Paul now describes the right response for having received Christ s gracious gifts. If we have been drawn together as one by our humble Lord, then living as one must be our aim. Again Paul piles up terms for emphasis. This unity can be described as being likeminded, or thinking the same thing (also Romans 15:5; Philippians 4:2). Christian unity is expressed not as people deny their individuality but as they unite their individualities in pursuing thinking that is like Christ s focused on humble service. 2b. having the same love, This is the action part of being like-minded. The love that the readers have received from Christ, the love that comforts and encourages them continually, must dictate their actions toward one another. As Christ has loved them, they give as they have received. 2c. being one in spirit This is a sharing in common of attitudes and perspectives. As the readers become more Christlike, this will come naturally. 2d. and of one mind. It is notable that Paul begins and ends this description with expressions concerning thought. Our understanding of Christ must transform every aspect of our lives, inside and out, but it starts with thought. Paul s aim in sharing the gospel is not just to bring people to initial faith but also to see them grow to reveal God s intention for their lives together. Paul s joy is seeing that connection fully realized. What Do You Think? What guardrails can you put in place to ensure that your personal progress toward unity does not drift into expectations of uniformity? Digging Deeper What Scripture passages inform your response? What passages have you seen misused? 3a. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Paul draws a contrast with his previous description. Selfish ambition is the playing out of hostile division among people, the opposite of the Christlike, humble life. It is paired with vain conceit that is, the selfish pursuit of empty praise for oneself at the expense of others. What Do You Think? How would circumstances have to change for you to leave a church that is beset with strife rather than staying to help end that strife? Digging Deeper Secular principles of conflict resolution aside, which Scripture passages inform your

20 conclusion? 3b. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, In contrast, the positive is described again, this time in terms of humility. We commonly use the word humble to describe a person who is soft-spoken and modest about accomplishments. A humble person is not a braggart. Biblical humility goes beyond this characteristic to genuine lowliness. The biblically humble person does more than avoid the spotlight. Biblical humility takes the position of servant to others. To do so is to value others above oneself. But our natural instinct is to take care of our own interests first. Survival dictates that we do! But the gospel turns that order of life upside down. Having received God s promise that he will always supply what we need, and receiving the fullness of his grace through Jesus self-giving death, we are freed from the need to protect our own interests and empowered to pursue the good of others. This indeed is the very thing that Jesus did, and now we do it in imitation of him and in response to his lowly service for us. 4. not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. This verse restates the second half of the previous verse, but uses more challenging terms. Paul urges readers to no longer do what seems natural: pursuing and protecting their own interests. They are to abandon that in favor of pursuing the interests of the others. Prioritizing others must mean abandoning self-interest, or others are not our true priority. What Do You Think? In what ways can you better use your God-given privileges and blessings to serve others? Digging Deeper What might using your assets in this way cost you and your family? How would you justify this cost? LOOK NOT EVERY GOOSE? It is a common sight in an autumn sky. Geese, flying south to escape the cold Canadian winter, travel in a familiar V-formation. While we are likely well acquainted with this phenomenon, perhaps we should take a closer look. When we do, we can see an illustration of selflessness. Bigger birds, like geese and pelicans, create a significant updraft by flapping their wings. Therefore, a bird flying behind and slightly below another receives some additional lift from the bird in front. Birds in a V-formation literally lift one another up as they fly, bearing one another s burdens on their long trip. Another benefit of this flight pattern is increased visibility. Members of the flock can see one another, making sure that all are present. This keeps lines of communication open and ensures that all remain heading in the right direction. Finally, birds flying in this pattern share the work and the benefits of traveling together. The bird in front is meeting the most wind resistance, while the birds farthest from the front have the easiest flight. If you watch the flock for any length of time, you will witness a graceful acrobatic maneuver. After a while the leader will drop back from the most stressful position and retire to the end of the line, while another takes the lead.

21 As Paul instructed the church to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, the geese provide a clear illustration of just that. [Each goose] not looking to its own interests, but each [goose] to the interests of the others! J. E. II. Revelation of Selflessness (PHILIPPIANS 2:5 11) A. The Divine Christ (vv. 5, 6) 5. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Now Paul makes explicit the basis for this radically humble life to which Christians are called. Again he stresses mindset, for the humble life is first a way of thinking about ourselves and others. Then he states directly that our mind must be like Christ s mind. This mind must govern our lives together, just as it did the life of Jesus, our king. The mindset of Christ must be adopted consciously and pursued vigorously. 6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; This verse begins one of the most profound and memorable biblical descriptions of Christ s actions. It needs careful attention for accurate understanding. John 1:1 helps us understand what it means for Christ to exist in very nature God. The nature of an individual is the real status by which the being relates to other beings. To be in the very nature of God is to exist as God and be rightly regarded as God by other beings. From eternity, the preexistent Christ was fully divine, the one true Creator God. The word being translated is also rendered form in Mark 16:12. Interestingly, if we take the Greek letters of this word and flip them to their soundalike English equivalents, the result is our word morph, which we use as a verb. As God, Christ possessed equality with God. That is, sharing the divine nature with God the Father, Christ experienced the fullness of divine existence. In that status he was not subject to the difficulties of a temporal creature s life. Existing eternally, Christ possessed all power. Thus he did not consider that equality something to be used to his own advantage. B. The Lowly Christ (vv. 7, 8) 7. rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Never using his divine prerogatives for his own advantage, Christ made himself nothing, or more literally translated, emptied himself. The gospel story shows us that this self-emptying was not the loss of his divine nature or power. During his ministry, Jesus consistently said and did things that only God could truly say and do (Matthew 7:24 29; 9:1 8; 12:1 8). Rather it was the prerogatives immunity from death, his glorious status, etc. that he willingly surrendered. As a result, his very nature, the status by which he related to other beings, became that of a servant. Paul s word literally means a bondslave, someone who serves by compulsion. Though Christ took this role willingly, Paul uses the term to express his utter lowliness focused on serving others. Paul s words echo the terms that the prophet Isaiah used to describe the coming servant of the Lord who would willingly give his life for others (Isaiah 53:3, 11).

22 The servant Christ was a fully human Christ. His humanity was that of all other humans. He experienced everything, including temptation and suffering, that humans experience. But unlike other humans who seek their own interests, he led a life completely characterized by humble service for others. 8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross! Christ s first self-lowering was in becoming human, what Christians call his incarnation. But the climax of his humbling was in accepting death on a cross for the sake of others. Certainly all humans experience dread as they contemplate death, fearing both the pain that accompanies it and the terrible thought of leaving behind a familiar life. But Paul emphasizes that Christ s death was death by crucifixion. This act of extreme torture was especially painful and shameful. But we should also remember that it was a demonstration of power used for one s own advantage by the Roman Empire. Having all power but refusing to use it for his advantage, Christ agreed to suffer this torturous death at the hands of an evil empire that used such atrocities to express its own power for its own advantage. The first humans, Adam and Eve, owed God their submission but rebelliously sought equality with God for their own advantage, receiving a sentence of death as the consequence (Genesis 3:2 5). Christ was equal with God the Father but willingly humbled himself and submitted to death, never using his equality with God for his own advantage. As Paul describes Christ, we see that in Christ God has brought human existence to something it had never before attained. QUITE A DIFFERENCE! The Greco-Roman world within which Paul ministered was familiar with Zeus, also known as Jupiter, as chief of the gods (compare Acts 14:12). All other deities served Zeus, who assigned the roles they played in his service. Myths tell us that Zeus would leave his throne on occasion for a visit to earth. But the purpose of his trips was often to take from rather than give to humankind. Zeus would find attractive mortal women and then take a variety of forms to seduce and impregnate them. The beautiful Helen of Troy, it is told, was born of Leda after Zeus seduced her by taking the form of a beautiful swan. The stories go on and on. The Bible records the reactions of those who believed in such deities when Paul spoke of Jesus (example: Acts 17:16 34). Unlike the fictitious Zeus, Jesus did not flaunt his authority. He came to earth not to take but to give a giving that included his own life. Which model will we emulate, the one that uses power to take or the one that surrenders power to give? J. E. What Do You Think? As a Christian matures in selfless humility, what will distinguish his or her ministry service from the selfless service of those who serve in secular settings? Why? Digging Deeper Which Scripture passages support your conclusions? Why? C. The Exalted Christ (vv. 9 11)

23 9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, In response to Christ s self-emptying and selfless death, God raised him from the dead not just alive but victoriously alive. God then seated Christ at his own right hand, the position of supreme power (Ephesians 1:20 23). Thus does the story of Christ demonstrate the real path of human life that bears the image of God. Exaltation comes not by pursuing one s own interests but by lowering oneself to serve others, surrendering one s own interests in submission to God. This is not just Christ s restoration to his exalted position. It is the elevation of the humble, incarnate, human Christ to share in God s rule. 10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Again, Paul s words echo those of the prophet Isaiah, this time in a description of God s exaltation (Isaiah 45:23). Christ s glory is the glory that belongs to God alone, the glory of the universe s supreme king. As Paul refers to heaven earth under the earth, he names every place imaginable and so every being imaginable (compare Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:18 20). Notably, it is here in the hymn-poem, which extends from Philippians 2:6 to verse 11 (see the Lesson Context), that Paul first refers to the name of Jesus. That human name suggests the entire story of authoritative deeds and words, humble service, willing selfsacrifice, and resurrection from the dead. The Jesus with that history is the Jesus to whom every creature should one day bow (compare Psalm 95:6; Romans 14:11). He is the true king, the one who used his authority not for his own advantage but for others. 11. and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Again Paul refers to Jesus as the one to be confessed by all creatures (again, see Romans 14:11). But Paul elaborates on the content of the confession: this crucified and risen Jesus is Christ that is, God s anointed one, God s true king. He is Lord, the one who rules over all. In Paul s time Roman subjects and citizens, including the Roman citizens of Philippi, identify themselves as loyal subjects of the empire by saying Caesar is Lord. But Jesus Christ is Lord is the greater and truer confession. Real lordship belongs not to the emperor who asserts power for his own advantage, but to the incarnate Son of God who gives himself for the unworthy. Soldiers of the Roman Empire die in battle on behalf of the emperor; by contrast, the Lord Jesus, king of the universe, died on behalf of humanity. He is recognized as such by some now; he will be recognized as such by all eventually. By this the glory of God the Father is realized. God achieves his purpose and expresses his true nature not by destroying rebellious humanity but by sending his beloved, divine Son to become a human, experience the pangs of death for others sake, and receive his life again by God s gift. In that story, we find the real meaning and truest direction for our lives. Conclusion A. The Christian Mind-set Think of events in Jesus life. He was tempted to turn stones to bread to satisfy his own hunger (Matthew 4:3). He refused. On other occasions, Jesus faced the opportunity to alleviate the hunger of others. He did so (Matthew 14:13 21; 15:32 38). He refused to

24 use his divine authority for himself. He did not consider equality with God something to use for his own advantage. That mind of Christ has been present from all eternity. Visual for Lesson 9. Start a discussion by pointing to this visual as you ask, What are the most common ways that Christians fail to imitate Christ? Why? How would you describe the direction of your life so far? In your career, family interactions, friendships is your life about your own advantage or is it about others needs? Do you follow the common path of modest selfishness that seems so culturally right, or the Christlike way of lowly, self-giving pursuit of others advantage? We are not the first or the worst to think that serving ourselves seems the right way to live. We can point in any direction and see lives governed by that common mind-set. But every part of the gospel story tells us the opposite. To experience life as God designed it, we need to put into action the mind of Christ. B. Prayer Heavenly Father, the scope of your Son s self-sacrificial gift to us is beyond our comprehension! It challenges every part of our minds and hearts. May we offer ourselves daily to be used in the service of your Son. As we do, may we serve one another in love, even at the cost of our very lives. We pray in the name of the Son, who did just that. Amen. C. Thought to Remember The way up is down. 1 1 Weatherly, J., Eichenberger, J., Shallenberger, L., & Schmidt, D. C. (2018). Imitate Christ. In R. L. Nickelson (Ed.), The NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, (Vol. 25, pp ). Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing.