Jesus Christ Our Great Example: Part 1

Pride, Humility, and the Need to Copy Our Savior

By a quote from Bishop J .C. Rowe, no doubt one of my favorite ministers in the past, he said this, speaking of humility, let us watch against pride in every shape. Pride of intellect, pride of wealth, pride of our own goodness.

Nothing is so likely to keep a person out of heaven and prevent them from seeing Christ as pride. So long as we think we're something, we shall never be saved. Brother Keith mentioned that this morning, how somebody could be a know-it-all.

J .C. Rowe continues, let us pray for and cultivate humility. Let us seek to know ourselves correctly and to find out our place in the sight of a holy God. Let us daily strive to copy our Savior's humility.

Pride is the oldest and most common of sins. Humility is the rarest and most beautiful of graces. Humility, like this, is one of the strongest evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. We know nothing of humility by nature, for we are all born proud to convince us of sin, to show us our own vileness and corruption, to put us in our right place, to make us lowly and self-abased.

These are among the principal works which the Holy Spirit works in the soul of man. Few of our Lord's sayings are so often repeated as the one which closes the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

And he quotes the word of Jesus, and you can see this for yourself. Throughout the gospel, Jesus repeated this probably more than anything else outside of, about repentance in the kingdom of God. But he says this, Everyone that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18, 14. J .C. Rowe continues, To have great gifts and do great works for God is not given to all believers, but all believers ought to strive to be clothed with humility. End quote. How true that is, beloved.

That strikes right at my heart, to examine myself and to search, and ask God to search my own heart, where I'm blind to areas in my life, pride in my life, that God would deal with me. So we need to look at the humble living, and how we can live humble in the light of the greatest example of all, the life of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2 and the Great Example of Christ’s Humility

The humility of our Lord Jesus Christ. So in this regard, to our study of the word of God of humility, I cannot think of a greater chapter to look at, and to study within this month, of the example of our Lord's humility, is to set before us in beauty.

Because it is a beauty. It's a beauty that we should desire. And it's found in the epistle of joy. The epistle of joy, and the apostle Paul writes this in the dungeon. A prison cell. And it became one of his greatest short epistles.

The epistle of Philippians. So if you don't mind, please turn with me to chapter 2. Chapter 2. And we're going to look at verse 1 -11. We're not going to get through all this, but I'm going to read verse 1 -11 each and every week.

So as you are turning there, and once you get there, please stand in honor of God's word as you're turning to this great chapter of Philippians 2. And as you're turning there, let me say that this letter to the Philippian believers is one of the greatest passages in all of the writings of the apostle Paul.

And may I add, it's one of the greatest passages of Holy Writ. This is a great chapter, beloved. And it serves us well to look and dig into this wonderful chapter. It has great depth of the riches and both of the wisdom of knowledge of God.

So we say with the apostle Paul as we study this, how unsearchable are your judgments and His ways past finding out. We should do it with a heart of worship, just not with the mind. Yes, with the mind we do love the Lord and we want to know more of Him.

But we must have a heart of worship to love what is in the hearing of our ears so it goes into our hearts. So hear the word of the living God, Philippians 2 beginning with verse 1 -11. Verse 1 -11.

God's word.

Therefore,.

If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy and be like-minded. Having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. But in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look not out not only for his own interest but also for the interest of others.

Let this mind.

Be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God did not consider robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation taking the form of a bond servant and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man.

He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death.

Of the cross. Therefore,.

God has also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Let us bow our hearts and pray and ask our Lord to help us within this hour of worship.

Our Father O our Father and our God.

This is.

Your holy word it is eternal it's inerrant but it's all sufficient.

And it's profitable.

It's profitable.

For us, eternally profitable to correct us to instruct us to rebuke us to teach us in all righteousness.

It's all powerful.

Lord may we tremble.

Before it.

May we humble ourselves before your word Lord we would ask that you would come and sanctify.

Us O God by this truth.

For thy word is.

Truth and it.

Changes us and it transforms us. And Lord we would pray within this hour and every hour of our life especially Lord when we open up thy holy word O God may our eyes be open to behold the Lamb of God your Lamb the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord that's our prayer, change us transform us and we ask this in the name of Jesus the name that is above all names. Amen and amen, thank you you can be seated. There are four important.

Points.

That I would like to set before you in this study of Philippians chapter 2 this morning, we're not going to get through all these points all today, but we're going to look at these within the next four, Lord's day, three after this one let me give credits to Pastor John McArthur, this outline is not original with me, I thought it was so good, I said I cannot improve on this so when I find really a gem of an outline, I give it to you I just pass it on, and most of the time none of us is original so I'm sure he probably got it somewhere from a Puritan of somebody, but I give credits to John McArthur on this outline because I could not find a better one.

Today like I said, we'll briefly look at these first two we might be able to get to three but I believe it's two of them we're going to look at and then the we're going to revisit these again the next Lord's day and the last we'll be looking at we'll cover the major part of the chapter on our study of the humility of Jesus Christ in the incarnation himself, how Christ humbled himself and how God the Father exalted him through verse 5 through 11 we're going to try to cover verse 1 to 4 this morning but here's the outline and here's the four points I'd like to give to you and I think they're very good here he deals with unity through humility.

That's what.

The apostle Paul is aiming at here he's driving at, unity through humility. And the points are as follows. The first point is this and these are m's so to help you remember the motives for spiritual unity found in verse 1 and 2.

The motives for spiritual unity verse 1 and 2. Our second point is the marks of spiritual unity, verse 2. The third point will be the means of spiritual unity verse 3 and 4. And fourth and final is the model of spiritual unity the model of spiritual unity which is found in verse 5 through 11.

So first of all we have the motives of unity that answers the question. Why. Then you have the marks of spiritual unity that answers the question. What. Then you have the means of spiritual unity that answers the question.

How.

And last we have the model of Christian spiritual unity and it answers the question who I thought. That's really good for a format to preach on so I'm going to preach it to you and encourage you and comfort your soul and encourage your soul by the word of God.

The why should.

Seek.

We seek unity. What is unity. And how do we experience unity. And very simple very direct it's very practical. That's what I love about the apostle Paul in his writings because he brings to us a very practical down to earth Christianity I believe is absolutely vital for the church for the invisible church anywhere.

For the church of Jesus Christ in particular our church as well. These are practical truths. This is basic Christian living. Folks this is what I'd like to call practical Christianity 101. It meets us right down to earth.

It's heaven coming to us to touch earth to touch this feet of clay. So let us begin and look at the truth that is set in the text. We begin with the motives of spiritual unity the motives of spiritual unity.

And it's given to us in verse 1 and 2. Let me read it again. Therefore if there's any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy.

And be.

I'm sorry by being like minded having the same love being of one accord and one mind. Now beloved. The very heart of this passage is in the phrase is right there found.

By being.

Like minded.

That's.

The heart.

Of what Paul is saying within that text there that's the emphasis that's the main thrust of the text. Paul is saying basically I desire you to be like minded. It's the same thing he says in chapter 1 verse 27.

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you or I'm absent that I may hear.

Of your affairs.

And that you stand fast in one.

Spirit.

There it is. And then he says what with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. That's the thrust. And he tells them why he wants them to be of one.

Mind.

And what he means by one mind and how they can be of one mind is important. And again this is very very practical. He begins with the motives. Now I think that's not by accident. It's the spirit of the living God because it's our motives that really matters.

Motives tells us why we do this. Why is it important for us to maintain the unity of the faith within the church. Why is it important for us to have one spirit. Why is it important for us to be of one mind and one accord.

Why is it important to be like minded. Why is it important to be striving together for the faith of the gospel. Why why.

Why why.

To eliminate any conflict.

Here.

And that's what he's talking about. Could it be discord. Could it be possible that this church was having some discord among the brethren. There was times.

He wrote to the.

Church at Galatia that they were biting into iron one another. The church of Carth was very carnal and Paul at times had to come with a rod and he had to correct them. And he always did it out of love and out of deep tender affection.

The one that loves you the most warns you. That's why it's so important extremely important here. And the four motives that are given in verse one in addition in verse two. Notice with me. If therefore there is any consolation that means encouragement depends on your translation.

Consolation encouragement is the same thing.

Encouragement.

In Christ that's important. And notice what he says if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any affection and mercy. Now stop for a minute and think. The Philippian believers biggest battle I believe was not with their external circumstances necessarily.

Amen. Brother Keith it was within. And isn't that the biggest battle. It is internally. And what he's dealing with is the internal attitudes that literally divide the unity and tear a church apart that causes divisions.

Paul had demonstrated to the church of his own refusal.

To let.

External circumstances to control his attitude. Right. How do we know this. Well if you look in chapter one look it with me in verse. Verse 12 through 18 notice what he says. He's talking about preaching Christ he said but I want you to know brethren that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

Now Paul had had some conflict folks but he said this so that it had become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ. He had chains.

And he knew that.

Everything was by the providence and sovereignty of God for the good in verse 14. And most of the brethren in the Lord notice he speaks of the church. Most of the brethren in the Lord having become confident by my chains they knew that God was in control and much more bold to speak the word without fear.

This man was bold in God even though he came with fear and trembling at times and weakness. But he came bold in God. He was not ashamed of the gospel. And then he says this in verse 15. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife some also from good will.

And the former preached Christ from selfish ambition not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my chains. It's amazing how this man suffered for Christ and gladly accepted him. But the latter out of love knowing that I'm appointed for the defense of the gospel.

Paul was all about the gospel. And then he says verse 18. What then. Only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes I will rejoice. And actually that's what he speaks of throughout this epistle is about joy and rejoicing in the Lord even in the worst of circumstances.

Folks this is not a nice jail. He's in this is not a nice dungeon. He's in it's dark, it's cold. He's got chains on him.

This man.

Probably hardly never gets fed. He's thrown there chains is on him. It would make most men.

Cry.

But this man gladly accepted that for the gospel's sake gladly rejoicing.

So.

External circumstances did not control Paul and his attitudes. Back to chapter 2. Notice the therefore now. That's an important word and you've had I've mentioned this several times and you hear me say it again and again anytime you have a therefore in scripture it's therefore a reason it's therefore because always the therefore ties together his conflict and their conflict.

And that's.

Basically what he's talking about if you notice in verse. Let me pick up verse 28. And not in any way terrified by your adversaries which is to them a proof of perdition but to you of salvation and that from God.

And in verse 29. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him notice what he says but also to suffer for his sake having the same conflict. Notice that the same conflict which you saw in me and now here is in me.

So.

That verse verse 29 and you know this as well as I do back in that time period they didn't. I'm all about chapter and verses and rightly so but back in that time period when they wrote the word of God it was one flow it was not broken up in chapters and verses.

And that verse 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now here is in me. And then he says therefore therefore if there's any consolation in Christ. Now he's just talked about suffering.

And now.

He's saying if there's any consolation.

In Christ.

That therefore draws back to what Paul has built on in the previous chapter telling the Philippian believers how to stand strong in the Lord against those external conflicts. Yes. But now he tells them how to act against internal conflicts within the body of Christ.

So you know that there was internal conflicts going on. So that little word therefore is important. But notice another little word that's very important. Notice the two words if if these are conditional clauses that come if if if if these clauses these clauses indicate.

They indicate certainties not maybes but certainties each if here expresses the idea of.

Sense.

And each.

Following clause may be considered.

To be true.

Now what is he saying if there's any consolation in Christ. He is not speaking of doctrinal abstractions. He is speaking of the present practical spiritual experiences. It comes right down to how we live.

We could read the verse then this way. Sense. Or because there is consolation in Christ encouragement in Christ. Because there is consolation in Christ. Because there is fellowship of the spirit. Because there is affection and compassion.

And then he says make my joy complete by being of the same mind. Because because that's what that if means it's because very important word of all these things these are the driving motives that the apostle Paul is speaking of in truth.

That should be. That should compel us. That should compel us. Now this is what should motivate us compel. Paul said that in other places he says it's the love of Christ that compels me. Now what is it that motivates me.

It's found right there the consolation in Christ. Because consolation in Christ there is comfort in Christ. There is encouragement in Christ. You take away Christ. You've taken away every bit of my hope.

You've taken away every bit of my heaven. You've taken away every bit of my joy. You have taken away every bit of everything that we are to live for. That's why he says, it's all in Christ. All the consolations in Christ.

Now how do we know this by the Word of God? Turn with me to Luke chapter 2. I'm going to show you where this, I believe, started. This term, this word. It's not original with Paul, by the way. Paul's commenting on it.

The Gospel.

There's your bedrock. Notice chapter 2, Luke. The Gospel of Luke. This is the story of Simeon. The elderly man, he sees the God's salvation before he dies. Oh beloved, this is a wonderful text. Notice in verse 25 what he says.

What the Word of God, what Luke is saying. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was just and devout. What is he waiting for? Oh, he was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

The consolation of Israel?

Okay.

And the Holy Spirit was upon him. There's a reason the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit always magnifies and glorifies Jesus Christ. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed it to him.

Listen, that's what the text says. It has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God.

Beloved, this is a worship scene. And he said, Lord, now you're letting your servant depart in peace according to your.

Word.

Beloved, you're not ready to die until you see Jesus. This man saw Jesus. He saw him with his eyes. And for my eyes have seen your salvation. See, salvation's in Christ, in which you have prepared before the face of all peoples.

How did this man know this? It's the Spirit of God. Listen to what he says in verse 32. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. Hallelujah. What a wonderful text that speaks of the consolation of Israel.

The consolation of Israel, the anointed one, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our consolation, who is Paul's consolation, our encouragement, and Israel's consolation.

As well.

Apostle Paul also can say, according to 2 Corinthians 1 .5, for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Think of that. No matter what this man went through.

And I'm telling you, this man went through some sufferings. He was stoned three times, he was shipwrecked, cold, beaten, rejected, off scourings of the earth, fools for Christ, as the apostles are here for, what they were called to, but yet they suffered for Christ, and he said, that is our consolation that abounds through Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2 .16, Paul says that God has loved us and given us an everlasting consolation. An everlasting consolation, it just doesn't end here.

It's forever.

And he says it's a good hope by grace. You know, that's our consolation, is in Jesus Christ. Now I had this written down earlier in the week, and when Brother Keith texted me what C .H. Spurgeon said about how the Holy Spirit consoles, C .H. Spurgeon said that I read that earlier this week, Brother Keith, and it's amazing how the Spirit of God, and he texted me that, I wanted to shout.

He even said this, he said, this will make you shout, amen, it made me shout. As Spurgeon said this, the Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation. Spurgeon goes on to say, if I may use the figure of the Holy Spirit by the physician, but Christ is the medicine.

Amen.

Well, you got that same quote twice. Praise God. I believe the Lord wants us to know that. If there's any comfort of love. That's his next statement. This is the second question in which basically in the passage affirming the great comfort.

Of love.

There's comfort in love. Now what kind of love is he talking about? He's talking about agape. He's talking about the love of God. Every child of the living God should know what it is to have Jesus that will give him the comfort of love.

The love of God is strong, rich, and pure. There's nothing that is greater than the love of God. How do we know this? Well, if you go to Romans chapter 8, the Apostle Paul gives us a little commentary on that.

Romans chapter 8, the word of the living God says this in the latter part. It's just a glorious way of worship. Look at verse 31. It speaks of God's everlasting love. What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died. Furthermore, is also risen who is even at the right hand of God who makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for your sake we are killed all the day long. We're accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Yet in all these things we're more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded, Paul said, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. If you read that and study that, beloved, in your devotional time, I promise you, you will soar to the third heavens. Praise God.

That's the comfort of love. It's an everlasting love.

It's a love.

God said this through the prophet Jeremiah, I've loved you with an everlasting love. That's the second question, the comfort of love. Every child of God should know what it is to have in Jesus the comfort of love.

But scripture also speaks in 2 Corinthians 1 .3, it says that God is the God of all comfort. There's no way, there's no way that he cannot comfort us in no circumstance beyond his comfort. But this is just more than just comfort, beloved.

I want to tell you what it is. This is the comfort of love. That's the difference. You know the word comfort, let's look at this word for a second. The Holy Spirit is our comforter. God comforts us through the Holy Spirit, through the comforter.

But the actually Greek passage here in the ancient Greek word is perikletos. Brother Keith mentioned this this morning. Perikletos is comfort. The idea is behind this word for comfort and the New Testament is always more than soothing.

Sympathy.

It's more than that. It goes deeper than just soothing someone sympathetically. It was the idea, and this is the meaning of it, don't forget this. It is the idea of strengthening. There's a strength behind it.

God wants to strengthen you in your walk with him. He wants to help you. He wants to make us strong in him, to give us the faith. See the idea behind this word is communicated by the Latin word for comfort, fortitus, fortis.

I believe it means fortify, to strengthen, to fortify. That's the original language. Which also means, also it can mean brave. To make you brave. To make you bold in God. To give you courage in God. See the love of God is our life, beloved.

Everything goes back to God's love. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we would be called the children of God. Isn't that wonderful? The love of God, how rich, how strong, how pure.

How measureless, how strong. And that's what he's talking about. It makes you brave. It's the comfort of agape. Agape love. Well, I could preach till the next day right there, beloved. But we got to go on.

Paul's third question is, if. If there's any fellowship of the Spirit. That's his next. If the fellowship of the Spirit. Paul knew the great value of fellowship of the Spirit, beloved. This is important.

To the early church it was. Commentator Trapp says this. And I love what he says. As I was studying this. The Lord doeth usually and graciously water the holy fellowship of his people. With the dues of many sweet and glorious refreshments.

So that they have a very heaven upon earth.

End quote.

You know, as we go through this old world of woe. And we battle up against the world, the flesh and the devil. And the enemies of God. And we have conflict on the left and conflict on the right. And we have internal conflict.

The Lord God Almighty is with us through the Holy Spirit. To give us comfort of love. But he's also to give us the value and the fellowship of the Spirit, beloved. And this is important. We are to have that fellowship.

With the Lord Jesus Christ. As brother Keith mentioned to us. About Jesus. I can't help but think about the church of Laodicea.

That Jesus is.

A lot of people use this as evangelistic. Evangelistic scripture. Behold I stand at the door and knock. And it doesn't speak there anywhere about the hearts door. But it could speak of that. He does want to come in and have fellowship at the hearts door.

But if you notice in the church of Laodicea. That was indifferent and lukewarm. Christ is outside of the church. Wanting in to sup with them. And to have fellowship with them. You know, stay. Be careful of indifference and lukewarmness.

Why?

Because lukewarmness will cause you to drift further away. Further away from God. And his fellowship. And the warmth of love that he wants to have with us. Jesus desires to have fellowship with us. And communion with us.

And sup with us. The best part. Well there is also another. That the third and final. He speaks of is. An affection. And mercy. Affection and mercy. This is warm. Isn't it? This question assumes. That every believer in Jesus Christ.

Knows something of the affection of God. And the mercy of God. I can't believe that people debated about this. The impassibility of God. That God doesn't have affections. Passions. Well my bible says he does.

The affection of God. And the mercy of God. That God has compassion. So Paul mentioned these things. In a manner that suggests to us. That should be obvious. Parts of the believers.

With our walk with God.

These are gifts of God.

Right?

Consolation in Christ. Comfort of love. Fellowship of the spirit. Affection and mercy. These gifts are all communicated to us. Both in a direct. And spiritual way. From Jesus Christ. And Jesus through his people.

In his people. And through his people. That's why it says to love the Lord thy God. With all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And second to that is to love thy neighbor as thyself. And on this great command.

This first and great command. Jesus said. You can hang the law and the prophets. Because everything is summed up in that. And how often do we do that? Only Jesus did that perfectly. Every time I read that verse.

I get convicted. Now that's the basic exhortation. That the apostle Paul gives to the Christians at Philippi. Now we read from verse 2 and 4. 2 through 4. I'm sorry. Paul gives specifics. In this exhortation.

Regarding love and humility among believers. Notice verse 2. Let me turn back to my page here. Philippians. Notice the text. Fulfill my joy. Fulfill my joy by being like-minded. Having the same love.

Being of one accord. Of one mind. There's unity. One. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. But in lowliness of mind. Let each esteem others better than himself. And let each of you look not only for his own interest.

But also for the interest of others. Being a bond slave. A servant of Jesus Christ. This leads to the second mark. The marks of spiritual unity. First we looked at the motives. Now we go to the marks.

What are the marks? Well notice again. Fulfill my joy by being like-minded. Having the same love. Being of one accord. One mind. Beloved in the book of Acts. Chapter 4. Please turn with me to chapter 4.

I want you to see this. In verse 32. I know you're familiar with this. But here are the marks. This great mark of spiritual unity. By the way is never ever compromised for the sake of truth. Truth is always first and foremost.

Because it's unity and truth. You think, well what kind of unity is he speaking of? He's speaking about unity and truth. And it's with humility. But notice in verse 32. Notice what it says. Now the multitude of those who believe were of.

Notice the words one. Of one heart and one soul. One heart and one soul. One not two. Neither did anyone say that any of these things he possessed was his own. But they had all things in common. And notice what the text says.

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace. Notice great power and great grace was upon them all. And nor was there anyone among them who lacked.

For all who were possessors of the lands or houses sold them. And brought the proceeds of the things which were sold. And laid them at the apostles feet. And they distributed to each one as anyone had need.

And you know what happens in the next chapter. That someone by the name of Ananias and Sapphira lied. About their possession. They lied to God the Holy Spirit. God struck them down dead. That's when great fear hit.