The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-02-11
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY |;
HUMBLED AND EXALTED.

";EXT-For We know the
though he was rich. Yet yesuf for e yoH1 sa axes
erty might become rieh.-Ii Cor. SIS.
The key word of the first chapter Of
Philippians is confidence" (see Wv.
6, IA. 25). Paul has confidence in tho
church at Philippi on accoun of their
spiritual condition wv. /, p, which re-
suited in fellowship (vv. 3-S) and fruit
fulness wv. 9-13). This confidence In
spires holiness and is q source Of Joy
and blessing. Paul's creed is also set
forth in chapter 1:5-11. This con-
ddence is in the face Of the conflict
and suffering which was before them
(see 1:27-s0).
I. Be Of the Same Mind, w. "a. Tbs
key word of this chapter is the word
comfort" wv. I. 49,. The first Sec
ton might be entitled 'The Comfort of
Love" wv. 1-1S) and the second Sec
ton THE Comfort OF Knowledge" wv.
1S-3O). II there was to be opposition
from without certainly the Christians
ought to stand together. Paul is urg-
Ing them to unity in order that It
might comfort and console him. He
had always rejoiced in this church
Q:4), but he desires them to I'LL full
his Joy by being Of the same mind,
having the same love, being of one &C
cord, of one mind" Paul's comfort OF
love in the disciples he anticipated
would be due to their state of mind.
which depended upon (a) unity wv.
1,2); (b) humility ". 81; (c) that
they might mind the things OF 9TH
ers" ". ~. Nothing would SO comfort
and console, or SO gladden. the heart
of Paul as such unity. 1t was even
80 with the heart Of our Lord (see
John 17:21). The words "be of the
same mind" do not refer merely to
unity OF opinion. but rather to a unity
OF purpose and affection. literally be-
ing souled together" The word Tow
ing" in the first clause ". 81, is q
strong one. Paul does not want any
thing to be done through faction. Or
party spirit, or vainglory. Each one
should put the rights of others before
o OF his Own Furthermore each
one should look with interest and fa-
vor, not on his own things. but each
also to the things Of Others" have an
equal regard for the interests Of 9th.
ers as he would have for his own.
II. Let This Mind . Which
Was Also In Christ Jesus, W.. SO. The
second comfort of owe was due, not to
a unity Of mind, but to the standing
which Paul and this church had in
Christ, due to his (Christ's) standing
in God. The words of this passage
are among the most wonderful to be
found anywhere in the Bible. They
contain a statement of the most pro-
found truth and mystery that we have
regarding the person of our Lord Jesus
Christ. No plummet has sounded their
depth, nor rod scaled their height.
nor tape measured their breadth. His
eternal deity-and on the other hand
his amazing eelf-humiliation-yet
these facts and truths are brought be-
fore us to enforce the homeliest duties
Of every day life. Equal TO God (John
10:30) yet he gave up his divine glory
and incarnated himself in the his
torical Jesus, was anointed of God.
died on a Roman cross, buried in Jo-
seph's tomb, yet rose again and is
alive today as much as when he walked
DER Galilee's hills. The mind that
was in Jesus was a purpose to choose
the lowest depth of humiliation rather
than a full equality with God, either
choice of which he might have made;
but he chose the former-creation's
most sublime illustration of self-sacri-
fce-and this Is the mind we should
have. The word robbery" implies a
thing to be seized hold of. Instead OF
selling hold of equality with God,
Jesus let go and seized hold Of the
death on the cross. and thus made
himself Of no reputation, literally emp
tied himself. The context shows Of
what he empt!ed himself: (a) his
divine form; CO. his divine glory. This
latter is shown by his birth in a stable
and his death upon a cross, thereby
being under the curse of God (GaL
3:13). But this was an act Of obedi-
ence to God ". 81. The father babe
him to do it. The sacrifice of Christ
had it's original source in the will Of
God-his love towards US John 3:16.
Rom. 5:8). There are three thoughts
in this passage: (a) the incarnation:
90 he passion; (c) he e~xaltation.
Keep this in mind and remember
Paul's circumstances in prison when
he wrote this letter. Remember also
how this Philippian church was
formed as a result of a prison expert
ence (Acts 49,.
~. God Also Hath Exalted Him, w.
eli. The result of this comfort Of
love, due to a state OF mind on the
part Of the disciples and their having
the mind of Christ. was first the ex-
altation OF Christ ". 81, and the giving
mi him Of the" name, not "a" name.
that is above all other names: and
secondly, worship on the part of all Of
Gods creation, every knee bowed in
submission; and third. confession (v.
III. Jesus, who humbled himself to
the lowest place. God has exalted to
the highest place. humiliation OF self
is the path to exaltation by God.
The name Jesus" is above every
name. because Jesus has been exalted
above every man.
The worship mentioned here is not
merely that we worship through him.
though that Ia true John 14:6), but
that worship shall be paid to Jesus
himself (see Pisa. 45:9. Heb. 1863.
The Dhraae ssevorv knee shall h0v"