WHAT THE CROSS MEANS TO LORDSHIP: CORONATION ---

Philippians 2:5-11

An American Indian from the Lakota-Sioux tribe, Russell Means, said his distinct Indian culture will be exterminated in 10 to 15 years. He said his tribe’s language is known to those whose average age is 65. “Language is a connection to everything,” he said. (Source: Television special, Stephen Fry in America, Dec. 25, 2009)

His comment has an application to the Christian culture. Theology is about language – words, meaning, truth. When Christians become only an “experience-centered” people at the expense of theology, in time we, too, will lose our identity.

Philippians 2 constitutes the greatest theological passage in Philippians, and is among the greatest found anywhere in all of the New Testament. Charles Ryrie says while the rest of Philippians is “informal” and “conversational” verses 5-11 is “highly polished.”

These seven verses, totally 131 words, take us where no other passage does. These verses open to us the thoughts and motives of Jesus Christ as the cross was set before Him. We see the cross as He saw it. We are called to enter into “the mind of Christ.”

Let’s make sure we understand that this privilege is not to satisfy our curiosity, but to motivate us to change. The real need in all our lives is be like Christ, to have His mind, to share His sacrifice, to follow His will.

1. Christ’s Example, v. 5.

While these verses are deeply theological, they actually begin with Jesus being held before believers as a practical example. “Let this mind be in you while was also in Christ Jesus.”

The point was simple: the disposition of churches, in general, and of Christians, in particular, are to replicate our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the church at Philippi there were two specific ladies, Euodias and Syntyche, who were admonished to “be of the same mind in the Lord,” 4:2. It seems they were having problems getting along and it was effecting the testimony of the church. The solution was not to send them to a judge or to counseling, rather they were sent to Christ.

Jesus Christ is our example in all things honorable and honest.

· He is our example in prayer.

· He is our example in preaching.

· He is our example in humility.

· He is our example in service.

While we are to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the very next verses puts Christ all by Himself in so many ways.

2. Christ’s Eternality, v. 6.

“Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” If we discuss who Christ is we do not begin at Bethlehem; we must go back into eternity.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men,” John 1:1-4.

“Before Abraham was, I am…” John 8:58.

“I and my Father are one,” John 10:30.

3. Christ’s Emptying, v. 7.

A claim He refused.

“But made himself of no reputation,” the Greek word “kenosis,” meaning “He emptied himself.”

Christ did not empty Himself of His deity. He did not cease to be God. God cannot cease to be God.

· While He was on the earth He still knew people’s thoughts.

· He exercised supernatural power in waling on water, calming storms, healing the sick, even raising the dead.

This means Christ took on the limitation of humanity. He waved the right to certain divine prerogatives while He was on the earth. When Christ came and was born Jesus in this world He willingly committed Himself to a different mode of being.

· He who was eternal become a creature of time.

· He who created all things “hungered,” Matthew 4:2.

· He who had all power became “weary,” John 4:6.

The glory of the eternal God was veiled in a human body.

The eternal Christ “took (not forced) upon Him the form of a servant (doulos),” a slave. Think about it. The One who was “in the form of God...took upon Him the form of a servant.” John 17:4 informs us that for Jesus to come to this earth He had to leave behind “the glory” which He had shared with His Father before the world was.

“And was made in the likeness of men…” John says in his gospel, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among…” John 1:14. Galatians 4:4 declares, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”

No wonder Jesus is our example. “He turned His back, voluntarily, deliberately, and decisively, upon all that belonged to personal glory, and all that conducted to personal gain. He recognized no limit to the extend to which His obedience to God in self-humbling must go. Whatever He found in Himself to be expendable, He spent. While anything was left which could be poured forth, He poured it forth. Nothing was too small to give or too great. This is the mind and life which is commended to us by the example of Christ,” J. A. Motyer, The Richness of Christ, Inver-Varsity Fellowship, London, 1966, p. 85.

And where did this lead Christ?

4. Christ’s Execution,, v. 8.

A shame He ...

“And being found in fashion as a man…” No one in Jesus day ever doubted He was a real human being. He looked like one, and, most of the time, acted like one. Some even said, “Is not this the carpenter?” Mark 6:3. He seemed the same as other men, but was He ever different.

Submitted…. “Humbled Himself.”

Surrendered… “Obedient unto death…” Obedient to whom? The heavenly Father. Remember, in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done,” Matthew 26:42.

Sentenced… “Even the death of the cross…”

Jesus took upon Himself the one thing that had no power against Him—death.

· “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father,” John 10:17-18.

· “Who only hath immortality,” 1 Timothy 6:16

This is what makes God God...distinct and superior over all others. He alone has life. “Where the first Adam reached out after life but actually laid hold on death, the second Adam turned His back on life and voluntarily laid hold on death,” J. A. Motyer, p.77.

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Bought with a price…”

1 Peter 1: “Redeemed by the blood.”

He bore Shame above all shame

5. Christ’s Exaltation, v. 9-11.

“Wherefore” This is a word of connection.

· The Action...Jesus dying on the cross.

· The Reaction...God the Father responded.

Because of Christ willingness to come and to be crucified, God the Father has…

He has a Name above all names

We know the second person of the Godhead by many different names or titles.

· Jesus of Nazareth

· He is called the Christ

· Son of God

· Son of Man

· Savior

· Messiah.

He has also been called "Lord." Unlike many of the other terms given to Jesus, the term Lord is relatively common and as such its meaning is often taken for granted. But what does the Lordship of Christ actually mean?

Jesus has earned the title of “Lord” through His death on the cross.

“Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they,” Hebrews 1:4.

He will forever have a Fame above all fame.

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ," Acts 2:36.

Has anyone every asked you, “What is the world coming to?’ Here is the answer: The world is coming to a day when it will humbly recognize and reverence Jesus is the Lord of all!

Jesus Christ as Lord will be the object of universal worship.

Think of all the religions of all of the world. Jesus will be confessed by all.

“Every knee…”

“Every tongue…”

The One who was once hanging, bleeding and dying on a cross and now on the Throne, the Throne of heaven.

“Lord of lords,” Revelation 19:16.

The crowning of our Lord as King will happen at His return.

This does not teach that all men will be saved, but that all will bow before Jesus and confess Him as the Lord of all. All of this is “to the glory of God the Father.” All of the glory of the Father is centered in the Son, so that in Him and by Him alone is the Father glorified. This is what God the Father thinks of His Son.

What does the lordship of Jesus Christ mean? It means that we recognize Him for who He is and give Him the honor that He is due. He has earned it; He is worthy of it.

The Father bestowed the office of Lord to Jesus Christ His Son because Jesus had surrendered Himself in full obedience to God and had accomplished the work of salvation through crucifixion and taken victory over all enemies through His resurrection.

Ultimately, this is how our walk with Christ should begin, by recognizing and confessing that He is Lord. This is how salvation is obtained, by this very recognition. "…” Romans 10:9-10.

Stressing that Jesus is not only Savior, but Lord too, Evangelist Tony Nolan said, "'Lord' is key, here, people. He's not the religious icon Jesus. He's not the denominational Jesus. He's not the T-shirt Jesus, or the jewelry Jesus, or the homeboy Jesus. He's the Lord Jesus. You must be willing to surrender your life to Him as the boss or the leader or the ruler of your life."