Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:1-11
From last lesson: In His incarnation He was fully God and fully man at the same time. He was God manifest in human flesh (see again John 1:14).
Some have wrongly taught that the phrase, “being found in appearance as a man,” means that He only looked human. But this contradicts verse 7. “Appearance” in the original Greek has the meaning of an outer appearance which may be temporary. This contrasts with “form” (the very nature, and/or attitude) in verses 6 and 7, which speaks of an outer appearance that reveals permanent inner quality.
The condescension of Christ included not only His birth, the Incarnation in which He continued to be all God, but also became all Man, God-Man, but also His “death.” It was the most cruel and despicable form of death, “even the death of the cross.” This form of capital punishment was limited to non-Romans and the worst criminals.
No better example of humiliation and a selfless attitude for believers to follow could possibly be given than that of Christ. With this example before them, the saints at Philippi should be eager to become “like-minded” and live humbly before Almighty God and each other.
In verses 9-11, God the Father is the subject in, whereas in verses 6-8 God the Son was the subject. Christ’s obedience was followed by the Father’s exaltation of Him to the place of highest honor. God exalted and honored the One men despised and rejected.
Christ’s exaltation and His receiving a “name that is above every name” was the answer to His high-priestly prayer (John 17:5). The exaltation refers to His resurrection, ascension, and glorification at the Father’s right hand (Acts 2:33; Hebrews 1:3). His “name” is not merely a title; it refers to His person and to His position of dignity and honor.
In keeping with Christ’s exaltation and high “name” . . . “every knee” will one day “bow” and acknowledge Him for who He really is. Paul stressed the same truth in his letter to the Romans (Romans 14:11). Both instances reflect Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 45:23) of the singular greatness of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The extent of Christ’s sovereign authority is delineated in the threefold phrase, “of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” No intelligent being, whether angels and saints in heaven; people living on the earth; or Satan, demons, and the unsaved in hell, nothing and no one in all of God’s universe will escape. All will bow either willingly or they will be made to do so.
What all will “confess [is] that Jesus Christ is Lord.” This, the earliest Christian creed, meant that Jesus Christ is Yahweh-God. One day all will be made to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is all He claimed to be, very God of very God. Unfortunately, for many it will be too late for the salvation of their souls. The exalted place the Savior now occupies and the universal bowing in the future in acknowledgement of His lordship is and will be all “to the glory of God the Father.”
What a glorious assurance and promise to all believers and those who follow whole-heartedly after the Lord!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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