The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 10
HuMBLED AND EXALTED.

grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
he became poor. that We through his pow
erty might become ich.-II Cor. SO.
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, %, which re-
suited in fellowship wv. 3-S) and fruit
fulness wv. 9-13). This confidence in.
spires holiness and is a source of Joy
and blessing. Paul's creed is also SET
forth in chapter 1:5-11. This con-
tidence is in the face of the conflict
and suffering which was before them
(see 1:27-30).
I. Be of the Same Mind, w. IA. The
key word of this chapter is the word
comfort (vv. l, 1917. The first Sec
ton might be entitled THE Comfort of
Love" (vv. 1-1S) and the second sec
ton The Comfort of Knowledge" tvv.
1890. If there vas 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
G:4), but he desires them to ELL full
his JOY by being of the same mind,
having the same love, being of N ac-
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" ". A.. Nothing would so comfort
and console, or so gladden. the heart
of Paul as such unity. 1t was ven
so with the heart of our Lord (see
John 17:21). 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" The word 'lov-
ing" in the first clause ". 81, is a
strong one. Paul does not want any
thing to be done through faction, or
party spirit, or ~vainglory. Each n
should put the rights Of others before
those of his own. Furthermore each
one should look with interest and IA
vor, not on his own things, but each
also to the things of others" have IN
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.. SD. The
second comfort of love was due, not to
a unity of mind, but to the standing
which Paul and this church had in
.Clr;,+ duo 90 k;1 lCkr{,fI,A 1To-l;n-
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-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,
ulGu On a IlOD1du ClOobs bullEu II ~
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 a 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
s,,,4 1,hI;r,, 3n,,1+rotfnr 80 role ,ar;
fice-and this is the mind we should
have. The word robbery implies
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 o.
what he emptied himself: (a) his
divine form; (b) his divine glory. This
latter is shown by his birth in a stable
and his death upon a cross, thereb!
being under the curse of God (Gal
3:13). But this was an act of obedi
ence to God ". 81. The father bad,
him to do it. The sacrifice of Chris
had its original source in the will o
NOu-ulo lONO LOMoluS 10 NJOlh O'IO
Rom. $50. There are three thought.
in this passage: (a) the incarnation
l(b) the passion; (c) the exaltation
Keep this in mind and remembe
Paul's circumstances in prison whel
he wrote this letter. Remember ais
how this Philippian church wa
formed as a result of a prison expert
ence (Acts 16).
III. God Also Hath Exalted Him, w
eli. The result of this comfort o
love, due to a state of mind on tn
part of the disciples and their havin
the mind of Christ, was first the e1
laltation of Christ ". 81, and the giyln
unto him OF the" name. not "a" name
that is above all other names; an
secondly, worship OIL the part Of all G
Gods creation, every knee bowed 4
submission; and third. confession Y
III. Jesus, who humbled himself I
the lowest place, God has exalted I
the highest place. Humiliation of SCI
is the path to exaltation by God.
The name jesus Is above ever
name. because Jesus has been exalte
above every man.
The worship mentioned here is NJ
merely that we worship through hin
though that is true John 1850, bl
that worship shall be paid to Jesu