Course:  Jesus the Son of God

Section One:  The Son of God became the Son of Man.

Lesson One

Lesson Title: The Son of God became Man.

 

Text: Philippians 2:1-11

 

Introduction: The humiliation of Christ, Philippians 2:5-11.

Equal with God but made Himself of no reputation.

The eternal Son of God left His glory in heaven and became man.

 

Quote: 'The Son of God became the Son of Man so that sons of men can become the sons of God'  (John Calvin)

 

The greatest example of humility.

Paul writes this great theological passage in the context of humility.

Those who are like Christ will be characterised by humility.

(Philippians 2:3-5) Lowliness of mind

Do nothing out of vain conceit.

Be interested in the concerns of others.

Have the same mind as the Lord who humbled Himself.

 

Example of humility:  Having a willingness to serve by seeking to lift others without self interest.

 

Introductory illustration:  Christian ministry. 

True ministry will always seek to lift others.

There are those who would use the gospel to lift themselves to positions of prominence.

Pride is the greatest enemy of missions; humility is the greatest friend as it will always seek to lift others even at the expense of self interest.

 

 

Main Points:

1.    Jesus Christ is truly God.

 

a)    Emptied Himself .

Philippians 2:7  'Made Himself of no reputation' (Greek 'kenosis').

Literally means 'emptied Himself'.

 

Question:  What did the Son of God empty Himself of when He became man?

He could not empty Himself of the attributes of deity.

He is the eternal Son of God.  He cannot change.

He came in humility to earth and was born of Mary.

He emptied Himself of the glory that was His and subjected Himself in all things to God the Father

He was truly God, truly man. Equal with God.

 

b)    The eternal attributes of God.

We cannot understand the attributes of God because they are beyond our experience.

God is eternal - we can only know eternity when we know it by experience

God is omnipresent - we cannot understand this because we live in a finite world.

God is One God revealed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - we cannot fully understand the nature of God. 

 

Question:  Is it strange that we cannot understand the eternal nature of God?

We seek to understand as much as we can but there is a limit to our understanding.

We cannot even fully understand the world in which we live so how can we understand God? 

 

For instance: The contradiction of time and space. 

Time travels from the beginning to the end.  So when did time begin?

Space goes from one point to another but where is the beginning of space?

There is no beginning or end of space or time so they are contradictions.  The only reasonable explanation is that both time and space are created, and point to eternity which is an attribute of God.

 

 

2.    The Lord left heaven where the angels worshipped Him.

 

a)    He was worshipped in heaven (Isaiah 6).

Isaiah saw Him seated upon a throne in heaven, Isaiah 6:1.

The Seraphim hid themselves from His presence and worshipped Him, Isaiah 6:2.

They cried 'Holy Holy Holy' - The three times holy God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Isaiah 6:3.

 

b)    He was conceived as a babe. Luke 1:35

He left it all and was conceived as a babe in Mary's womb.

When he was born the angels who worshipped Him in heaven - worship Him on earth in the shepherds field.

The shepherds who checked the lambs for sacrifice at the temple were the first to see 'the lamb of God'.

He was sinless in His nature and character.

 

c)    He took upon Himself the nature of man

Born in human flesh with the nature of man.

His name is Emmanuel 'God with us', Matthew 1:23: Isaiah 7:14.

Always been God: He became man

Isaiah 9:6 'Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.'

A child is born - He became man

A Son is given - always been the Son of God.

Galatians 4:4 '…God sent forth His Son'.

 

 

3.    He is the mediator between God and man.

'For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;'  (1 Timothy 2:5)

 

a)    He is Jacob's ladder (Genesis 28:12).

The ladder that reaches from God to man.

Nathaniel -  ‘angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man’ (John 1:51).  

Jesus was saying I am Jacob's ladder.

 

b)    A mediator between God and man must be both God and man.

If an angel could have saved mankind then God would have sent an angel.

Only God could redeem mankind

If He wasn't God then He couldn't bring us to God

If He wasn't man He couldn't reach down to us.

 

 

Summary:

1)    He emptied Himself of the glory that He had in heaven

2)    He became a man to be a servant

3)    He is the ladder that reaches from God to man.