Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-02-11
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 1
HUMBLED AND EXALTED.
EssoN TEXT-Phil.- 2:1-11.

LESSON TEXT-Phil:~21-
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 We through his pow
erty might become rich.-II Cor. S:S.
The key word of the first chapter of
Philippians is confidence" (see w.
S, IA. 25). Paul has confidence in the
church at Philippi on account of their
spiritual condition tvv. l, p, which re-
suited in fellowship (vv. 3-S) and fruit
fulness (vv 9-13). This confidence in
spires boldness and is, a source of Joy
and blessing PauPs creed is also set
forth in chapter 1:5-11. This con-
fdence is in the face of the conflict
and suffering which was before them
(see 1:27-30).
!. Be of the Same Mind, wv. IA. The
key word of this chapter is the word |
comfort" (vv. 1, 19). The first sec
ton might be entitled THE Comfort of |
Love" wv. 1-1S) and the second sec
ton THE Comfort of knowledge" wv.
1880. 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
Q:4), but he desires them to fill full
his joy by being of the same mind.
having the same love, being of one 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" ". ~. 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 17:21). The words "be of the
same mind" do not refer merely to a
unity of opinion, but rather to unity
| of purpose and affection, literally "be-
! ing souled together" The word "lov-
! ing" in the first clause (v. 81, is a
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
those of his own. Furthermore each
1
4 vor, not on his own things, but leach
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, Wv. 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
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 rcd 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,
died on Roman cross, buried in Jo-
seph's tomb, yet rose again and is
alive today as much as when he walked
1 DER Galilee's hills. The mind that
1 was in. Jesus was purpose to choose
the lowest depth of humiliation rather
: than a full equality with God, either
1 choice of which he might have made;
8 but he chose the former-creation' s
4 most sublime illustration of self-sacri-
i fice-and this is the mind we should
s have. The word robbery" implies a
4 thing to be seized hold of. Instead of
Il seizing hold of equality with God,
G 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
q what he emptied himself: (a) his
c divine form; (b) his divine glory. This
e latter is shown by his birth in a stable
e and his death upon cross, thereby
d being under the curse of God (Gal.
II 3:l3). But this was an act of obedi-
ence to God ". 81. The father bade
him to do it. The sacrifice of Christ
e had its original source in the will OF
dO0-iAl6 lOfO IOW a. I'D u6 tJOllA .. v,
u Rom. 5oii. There are three thoughts
Q in this passage: (a) the incarnation;
II (b) the passion; (c) the exaltation
o Keep this in mind and remember
PauPs circumstances in prison when
Is he wrote this letter. Remember also
. how this Philippian church was
' formed as result of a prison expert
- ence (Acts 16).
Ill. God Also Hath Exalted Him, Wv
eli. The result of this comfort Of
- love, due to a state of mind on the
.e part of the disciples and their having
\. the mind of Christ, was first the ex
,e altation of Christ ". 81, and the giving
h unto him Of "the" name, not "a" name
r that is above all other names; an(
h secondly, worship on the part of all O.
III Gods creation, every knee bowed il
le submission; and third, confession "
r. ID Jesus, who humbled himself tt
he the lowest place, God has exalted tt
le the highest place. Humiliation of sci
n. is the path to eXaltation by God.
le The name Jesus" is above ever.
OF name, because Jesus has been exalted
1e above every man.
ell The worship mentioned here is no
c. merely that we worship through him
though that is true John 14:6), bu
that worship shall be paid to jesus
himself (see Psa. 45:9, Heb. 1850.
" The phrase every knee shall bow
is a clear expression of the oneness O
n. Jehovah and Jesus.
Notice that those that bow are il
heaven, in earth and in Hades (Rev
5:3).
,s Even lost men and angels who will
not bow now will have to dc so som,
O day though it will then have no savin.
power in it for them.
And every tongue confess tha