The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-02-10
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY la
HUMBLED AND EXALTED.
,sSON TFXT-phIl. 2.i-il


., IA, 25). Paul has confidence in the
church at Philippi on account OF their
spiritual condition (vv. /, p. which re-
suited in fellowship wv. 3-S) and fruit.
fulness (vv. 9-13). This confidence in.
spires boldness and is q source OF Joy
and blessing Pauls creed rs also set
forth in chapter 1:5-11. This con-
fidence 10 IN the face OF the conflict
ana suffering which was before them
tsee l:2l-30).
!. Be OF the Same Mind, w. "a. The
key word OF this chapter is the word
comfort" (vv. |, 19). The first sec
ton might be entitled "The Comfort of
Love" tvv. 1.1S) and the second sec
ton The Comfort OF knowledge" (vv.
l9-30). 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 1t
might comfort and console him. He
had always rejoiced in this church
u:D. but he desires them to "fll full
his Joy by being OF the same mind,
having the same love, being of one ac-
cord, OF one mind" Pauls comfort of
love IN the disciples ne anticipated
would be due to their state of mind.
which depended upon (a) unity (vv.
1,2); tp) humility w. 81; (c) that
they might mind the things Of 9th.
ers" w. A.. Nothing would so comfort
and console, or so gladden. the heart
OF Paul as such unity. 1t was even
30 with the heart of our Lord tsee
John 17:2D. The words be of the
same mind" do not refer merely to a
unity OF opinion, but rather to a unity
OF purpose and affection, literally be
ing souled together"
H. Let This Mind Which
Was Also In Christ Jesus, w. So. 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 tChrist'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 self-humiliation-y
these facts and truths are brought be.
tore 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 q Roman cross, buried in 10
seph's tomb, yet rose again and is
alive today as much as when he walked
DER GaliIees hills. The mind that
was IN Jesus was purpose to choose
the lowest depth of humiliation rather
tnan a full equality with God, either
choice of which he might have made;
but he chose the former-creation's
most sublime illustration OF seli-sacri
flce-and this is the mind we should
have. The word robbery" implies o
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) MS
divine form; (b) 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 tGaI
3:13). But this was an act Of obedi
ence to God ". 81. The father bade
him to do 1t. The sacrifice of Christ
had its original source in the will OF
God-his love towards US John 3:l6,
Rom. 5:S). There are three thoughts
in this passage; (a) the incarnation;
tb) the passion; (c) the exaltation.
Keep this in mind and remember
Pauls circumstances in prison when
he wrote this letter.
III. God Also Hath Exalted Him, w.
gil. 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 ChrisN. was first the ex.
altation of Christ ". 81. and the giving
unto him of tine" 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 " |
IL. Jesus, who humbled himself to
the lowest place, God has exalted to
the highest place Humiliation OF sci, |
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
that we worship tnrougn him
though that is true John 14:6).
The phrase every knee shall bow
is clear expression of the oneness ol
Jehovah and Jesus.
Notice that those that bow are in
\ Javen, in earth snd in Hades (Rev
5:3).
Even lost men and angels who will
not bow now wili have to do so some
lay though 1t win then have no saving
power in It for them.