The Spectator., 1916-02-11
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 13
HuMBLED AND EXALTED.
LESSON TEXT-Phil. 2:1-11.


 GOLDEN TEXT-For ye know the grace, of our Lord Jesus Christ. that though he was rich. yet for your sakes he became poor. that ye through his pow erty might become rich.-II Cor. S:9
 The key word of the first chapter of Philippians is confidence" (see w. 6. IA, 25). Paul has confidence in the church at Philippi on account of their spiritual condition (vv. l. 9, which re- suited in fellowship (vv. 3-S) and fruit fitness (vv. 9-13). This confidence in- spires boldness and is source of joy and blessing. Paul's creed is also set forth in chapter 1:5-11. This con- fidence IS in the face of the conflict and suffering which was before them (see 1:27-30).
 ]. Be of the Same Mind, w. IA. The key word of this chapter is the word comfort" (vv. l, 1s). The first sec tion might be entitled "The Comfort of Love" (vv. 1-1S) and the second sec tion The Comfort of Knowledge" (vv. 19-30). If 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 u:4), but he desires them to fill full his joy by being ot the same mind, having the same love, being of one ac- cord, of one mind." Paul's comfort of love III the disciples he anticipated would be due to their state of mind, uhiph nonnnda6 nnifu (uv 1,2); (b) humility (v. 8; Co that they might mind the things of oth- CTS" (v. 4). Nothing would so comfort and console, or so gladden. the heart of Paul as such unity. It was even so with the heart of our Lord (see John HEED. The words be of the same mind" do not refer merely to a of purpose and affection, literally be. ing souled together
 II. Let This Mind Which Was Also in Christ Jesus, w. 5-8. The second comfort of love was due, not to unity of mind, but to the standing which Paul and this church had in Christ, due to his (Christ's) standing 1 III oOo. lhc WOluS ol tilo pdoSdSS 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 1 ata Ia;f ha nfh his amazing self-humiliation-yet | these facts and truths are brought be- 1 fore us to enforce the homeliest duties | of every day life. Equal to God John l 10:30) yet he gave up his divine glory and incarnated himself in the his 1 torical Jesus, was anointed of God, 1 died on Roman cross, buried in Jo- seph's tomb, yet rose again and is alive today as much as when he walked OCT Galilee's hills. The mind that was in Jesus was purpose to choose 1 the lowest depth of humiliation rather than full equality with God, either | choice of which he might have made; but he chose the characterization most sublime illustration of selfsacri-
 
 have. The word robbery implies thing to be seized hold Of. Instead of seizing 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 emptied himself: (a) his ,yfn hfc HiuiOn eylNrv This latter is shown by his birth in a stable and his death upon cross. thereby being under the curse of God Gal. 3:13). But this was an act of obedi- ence to God tv. 8. The father bade him to do 1t. The sacrifice of Christ had it's original source in the will of God-his love towards us John 3:16, in this passage: (a) the incarnation; (b) tho passion; (c) the exaltation. Keep this in mind and remember Paul's circumstances in prison when be wrote this letter.
 iII. God Also Hath Exalted Him, w. 9-11. The result of this comfort of love, due to a state of mind on the part Ol tuc uiotlpiCS anu tnSh haNihb the mind of Christ. was first the ex- altation of Christ (v. 9. and the giving unto 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 tv. | ID. Jesus, who humbled himself to the lowest place, God has exalted to 1 the highest place. Humiliation of seli is the path to exaltation by God. The name Jesus" Is above every name. because Jesus has been exalted l above every man.
 The worship mentioned here is not merely that we worship through him, though that is true (John 14:6).
 The phrase every knee shall bow is clear expression of the oneness of Jehovah and Jesus.
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