This God Is Our God, Forever and Ever

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Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, June 5, 2011

Psalm 48:1-14, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God,in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. For behold, the kings assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there, and pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, as when You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah. We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgments. Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.”

There's nothing quite like a funeral to get you to thinking about the things that really matter in life. You know how it is, don't you? We plod along in life, living it day-by-day, sometimes even minute-by-minute, and often, we get caught up in the necessities of life, maybe even the urgencies of life. But until something like a funeral comes along, we don't stop, perhaps won't stop, to consider, to wrestle with, to face the things that really matter in life.

You know our tendency, don't you? We awaken in the morning, and almost before both feet hit the floor, we're thinking about what we've got to do today! The list is long with the necessities of life, fix a meal, fold the laundry, pay the bills, punch the time clock, fight the traffic, purchase the groceries, cut the grass. Makes you tired just thinking about it, doesn't it? But, then along comes the flat tire, the trip to the emergency room with the sprained ankle, the burst water pipe, the hail damage to our roof or our car, and suddenly, we're faced with a list of urgencies also, to go along with all those necessities.

Then comes the call, or perhaps the notification by way of an obituary in the paper or a message that comes to your email inbox, that so-and-so has died, and all of the sudden, as if someone is jamming on the brakes of your run away train life, you're forced to stop and think. Forced to consider what really matters in this world, not things that moth and rust can destroy or objects that thieves can break through and steal, but what has more lasting value. Forced even to ask, “where is God in all of this?” Or, even, “have I even stopped to ASK HIM to be at work in all of my necessities, urgencies and crises?”

I was thumbing through a little devotional book my brother bought for me in Germany over 25 years ago, and again came across these verses that, along with the funerals, pulled me up short. Listen to them with me, would you please? Psalm 48:14, the last verse of the passage I read at the outset, declares it this way: “For this God is our God, forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death.” And, then, along with that verse from Psalms, was set this verse from 2 Corinthians 12 (verse 9): “And He said to me...” Here's the Lord Jesus giving His gracious counsel to the apostle Paul in a time of great 'thorn-in-the-flesh' testing Paul was struggling to endure, to this discouraged, yes, even distressed, servant of God, the Lord Jesus speaks these words of counsel and comfort, “My grace is sufficient for you; for power [Christ's power] is made perfect in weakness [in our weakness].”

There's a lot to chew on in just those two short and simple verses, isn't there? And, I encourage you to spend sometime chewing on them. But, while you're doing that, allow me to remind you, maybe even to confront you, with a thought or two that we'd probably rather not have to deal with.

Here goes: As I said, there's nothing quite like a funeral to bring issues back on to the 'radar screen' of our lives, is there? And, so, here are the reminders, the 'blips' on our lives' radar screen that we would much rather ignore.

Mom and Dad are gone, I mean they are laying in that cemetery across town or across the country from where you are, your spouse is gone also, even though the two of you enjoyed life together for 40, 50, maybe even 60 years, your siblings, the freckled-faced, curly-headed, mischievous youngsters you grew up with, their hair turned gray, then silver, then white and the freckles gave way to wrinkles and guess what? Now they're gone too! And, yes, for some, in God's mysterious plan, even the children, your own flesh and blood offspring, are gone, too. And you find yourself all alone. One day, something like that, a situation similar to all of that, will be your situation - what then? To whom will you go, then? On whom will you lean, then?

Psalm 48:14 – Look at that verse a little more closely with me now, will you, please?

The verse simply says: “This God...” the psalmist is talking there about the God of Israel, the One, True Living God of the Bible, not one of those 'gods' that we often make up or pursue, when we're zeroing in on the necessities of life, and the urgencies of life, and certainly not one of the 'gods', made up by the minds of sinful man, made in his own image, in man's image, in order to fashion out of it a 'religion', a false religion meant to suit his tastes and desires.

No, the psalmist, or perhaps I should say, the psalmists, the Son of Korah, when they pen the words, “This God...” they are talking about the God who had repeatedly secured and kept and blessed a nation, a people, and, in particular, a city, to the extent that they could say of that city, and of the Lord and God of that city: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God,in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.”

When your parents are gone, for some of us, long gone, when our spouse is gone, our siblings are gone, perhaps even our children are gone, what then? Who will be there for you, then?

Psalm 48:14 - Are you beginning to get the picture as to why I love this verse? Read it with me, please. “This God is our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death...”

Recently, at our home, we have been reading through the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, during our family devotional time at the breakfast table. And, reading through it, I have been reminded of dramatic, gripping accounts of Bible heroes I have looked up to since I was 4, 5, 6 years old. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Adednego. And folks like Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus and Darius, whose lives and authority over their lives, serve as the backdrop for an amazing series of accounts that illustrate this verse from the psalms. You think about those four Hebrew young men, those four young Israelites, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Dust off your Bible memory, and think again with me, will you?

Those 4 young Jewish men, when King Nebuchadnezzar and his army took those fellows away from their homes and families, as his captives and transported them to his country, hundreds of miles away from their homeland, they were just teenagers, 15, 16, 17 years of age. Imagine that happening to your son or daughter or grandchildren...

There they are, young teenagers, torn away from everything they knew, uprooted, replanted and, it was every bit Nebuchadnezzar's intention to reprogram them through a 3-year long period of educational indoctrination so as to re-make them into good pagans, good Babylonians - and what happens?

Do you remember the accounts of these 4 young Hebrews recorded there in Daniel, from all those years ago in Sunday School or VBS? Torn away from all you know and love and are acquainted with, force-fed with a new language, culture, customs, and even a new religion, as captives, in a foreign land, and in training to serve, and even worship the king of that foreign land – what would you do? Most 15, 16, 17 year-olds I know would melt, they would just fall in line, and become good Babylonians. Incidentally, so would a lot of 50, 60 and 70 year-olds I know, too! But not Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And not Daniel!

Why no? I mean, it's a choice between bowing to the king's 90 foot tall golden image, or burning in his fiery furnace? Which would you choose? I mean, it's a choice between hiding your prayer life, so that no one knows that you worship and serve the God of heaven, avoiding a den of hungry lions, or throwing back the curtains and shades and letting the whole world know Whose child you are – hungry lions or not. Which would you choose? I mean, it's a choice between pacifying an angry, capricious ruler with a phony interpretation of the handwriting on the wall, and perhaps keeping your job - or your head - or telling him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and letting the chips fall where they may. Which would you choose?

I mean, it's even a choice, for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, it was a choice, some might say a simply, easy, 'no-brainer' kind of choice, I mean, just blend in, eat the king's food, drink his wine, never mind the spiritual implications of the fact that those things have been dedicated to the king's 'god', eat them anyway, conform, blend in, when in Babylon, do as the Babylonians do, and you'll make it alright. 'No brainer' - right? Not for those 4 young Hebrews! No, that was a choice with very deep and very, very serious spiritual implications; what did they do? What would you do, if you had to face any or all of these difficult choices and dilemmas?

“This God is our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even until death!”

When you're lacking wisdom, needing direction in life, at one of those 'crossroads' we all come to along life's road, when you're even having to venture into uncharted waters, like Joshua leading his people into the Promised Land, like Peter stepping out of the boat – what do you need to know? “This God is our God – my God – forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death...” When you're alone, so very, very alone, like young Joseph was in Pharaoh's dungeon, falsely accused, turned against by those whom you have loved and served, what keeps you going? This God is our God forever and ever, He will guide us even unto death...”

When you're devastated, I mean your life is in shambles, like Job's was, like the people of Joplin - who can put it all together, who can help you deal with the loss? “This God is our God forever and ever, He will guide us even unto death...”

When you're tempted, like Adam and Eve were, to eat of the forbidden fruit, like Jacob and his mother were, to deceive and get your way, like Peter was, to deny your Savior and King - is there a way of escape? Any help available to overcome? “This God is our God forever and ever, He will guide us even unto death...”

When you're sick, as Epaphroditus was – sick – nigh unto death, and Paul's hands can't effect a healing, there's a Great Physician! Oh, do you know Him, my Friends? “He is God, our God forever and ever! He will guide us even unto death...”

Yes, when you're facing death, as Mary and Martha did at that little cemetery outside of Bethany, as Eileen Spearman's family is, as the Apostle Paul did, when he struggled with a terrible thorn in the flesh, and later, when he received word from the Emperor that he had been found guilty, and was going to be executed – how are you going to do? Who will be there to help you?

“This God is our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death...”

Then one more, and most important of them all; when you're lost, I mean, like the Ethiopians Eunach was, like the Philippians jailer was, like the people on the Day of Pentecost were, when you're powerless, ungodly, sinful, even God's enemy, with out hope, without God in the world, an object of God's righteous wrath – what then?

This God, the God we read and learn about in this Book (the Bible), this God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has made a way for Him to become your God, your Guide even unto death, and a way – Hallelujah! - an everlasting, path of righteousness for His names sake, the Way, the Truth and the Life, that you might be His child forever and ever!

Jesus' Example of Unselfish Servanthood

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, May 29, 2011

Philippians 2:1-11, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus' example of unselfish servant-hood. What a powerful example, what a meaningful example. What a timely, yes, very, very timely example, His example of unselfish servant-hood was, to the Christians at Philippi in the days of the apostle Paul, and, to us who live in the days of i-pads, cell phones, Facebook and Twitter.

I want to wrap up our study of this superb passage from the pen of the apostle Paul, this message from the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, TO the Church, to this church, this morning, if we can. But, before we do, I want to remind you of where we've been, and what we have seen.

In a most amazing way, a way that I believe, strongly argues for this text being Holy Spirit-inspired Scripture, this passage combines and communicates not only practical truth to God's people - an exhortation to love, unity and humility, in verses one through four – but also, deep and profound doctrine, instruction to Christians, to folks like us about core teachings of the Christian faith pertains to Jesus' humiliation. Verses 6 & 7, though Jesus was in the very form of God, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, He emptied Himself and took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in human likeness. In this text we learn of the staggering, almost astonishing doctrine of the Incarnation of God the Son.

Then, in verse 8, we read of yet a second core truth of our faith. We read of the humiliating, excruciating, death of Jesus, of how God the Son “humbled Himself and became obedient [to God the Father], yes obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”, set in the context of this penetrating and practical exhortation to “let this mind be in you...”, to pursue the humble mindset of Christ, to emulate the example of unselfish servant-hood seen in Christ, that Christian love and unity might result. Set within this context of practical instruction and serving as the basis for this instruction, as these core doctrines, 1) the Incarnation of Christ, 2) the Humiliation of Christ – His suffering and death on Calvary's cross, and, then, 3) the Doctrine I want us to examine today, the Crowning, the Coronation, the Exaltation of Christ.

Jesus' example of unselfish servant-hood, there's the side of this equation that points toward the practical application, as seen in His Incarnation, core doctrine number one; as seen in His Humiliation, His crucifixion, core doctrine number two, and as seen, core doctrine number three, in His Exaltation, His coronation.

As Christians, it's pretty much standard fare for us to believe and teach and talk about and sing about the Exaltation of Christ. For instance we refer to Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, don't we? (Revelation 19:16) And we sing joyous anthems like “Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne...” (Revelation 4-5) And “Majesty, worship His majesty, unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise...”

But listen, have you ever wondered how Christ was exalted and WHY? Take a look with me here, in this passage, and in a few others, and we will discover the answers to those questions.

How was Christ exalted? Before we examine this passage for answers to this question, allow me to remind you of something. Another question, and hopefully, a very clear answer. WHEN was Christ exalted? The simple answer to that would take us back to Acts chapter one, where we read of the Ascension of Jesus, and how He was taken up before the very eyes of His apostle, into heaven. In simple terms, we would say that Jesus was exalted beginning from the day He ascended into heaven to be seated at His Father's right hand. But listen, don't forget, let us never lose sight of the fact that His ascension, His coronation, His exaltation, took place AFTER His crucifixion. As someone once stated, “In God's plan, in His chronology for Christ AND for Christians, it is always the Cross first, then the Crown!”

When was Christ exalted? He was exalted, coronated, crowned, AFTER His death, burial and resurrection!

But, let's come back to the question of HOW was He exalted? Two main ideas to take note of here, in this part of our study. Number one, He was HIGHLY exalted! In the original language the words mean 'Super exalted!' One translation I like puts it this way, “He was exalted to the highest place...” Hold your place in Philippians 2, and find with me, Hebrews 1. How was Jesus exalted? He was highly exalted. But, just HOW high are we talking about?

Hebrews 1:2 – What does the text tell us about how high Jesus has been exalted? It tells us that God the Father has appointed God the Son to be “heir of all things...”. Verse 3 It tells us that God has provided His Son a seat “at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Verses 4-9 tells us that Jesus, God the Son, has received a more excellent name than the angels, that all the angels of God must worship Him, and that He - unlike they, the angels – He is not merely a ministering spirit, a servant of God, that's what the angels are. Rather, Jesus – how highly has He been exalted? Verses 8 & 9, He has been so highly exalted that He has received all the perks and privileges of being God's only begotten Son: the throne, the scepter, the anointing and the praise and worship!

How has Jesus been exalted? He has been “highly exalted and given a name that is above every name...” That's how highly He has been exalted!

But, before we move on to question number two, the WHY? question about Jesus' coronation, allow me to direct you to the second word of Philippians 2:9... How is it that Jesus has been exalted, crowned, coronated? This is not man's doing! This is not something that that fickle crowd on Paul Sunday accomplished! No! This is God's doing! His work! And, ultimately, all a part of His plan! “Wherefore God also has highly exalted His Son Jesus Christ...”

Before we move on to asking and answering the 'why' question, would you pause with me for just a moment and consider the message and meaning of this essential doctrine for our lives? Going all all the way back to our earliest ancestors – Adam and Eve – man has been seeking to exalt himself, to make a name, above all other names, for HIMSELF, to build monuments, erect statues and establish empires to and for HIMSELF! But Jesus, the One who was and is, and forever will be SUPER-exalted, was, well, He was exalted by God! Who can do any better than that? Who can out do that?

Why was Jesus exalted? One of the most stunning and striking aspects of this study is this aspect of it. Why did God exalt Jesus to the highest place? Why did God the Father give God the Son a name that is above every name?

Look again at our text here in Philippians chapter two. We're going to look at verses 6 – 11 in just a moment, but before we do, allow me to quickly point out one other passage for you to know and remember regarding this subject. Romans 8, the portion of that marvelous chapter that begins with the words, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, for the good of those who are called according to His purpose...”

Listen to what the apostle Paul says about the meaning, the 'why' behind Jesus' exaltation in this text. Beginning in verse 31, he exclaims, “what shall we say then to all these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Why is Jesus exalted to the right hand of God? I praise God for it, don't you? That He might make continual intercession, for you and me! Hallelujah! Praise God for our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16, 2:14-17).

Philippians 2:6-11 – Why was Jesus super exalted by God? Number one, “because” - that's really the meaning of the word “wherefore” or “therefore” in verse 9 – because He emptied Himself, verse 7. People at places like Philippi and McKinney, our tendency is to fill ourselves with ourselves, but not Jesus! Not the One who was in the very nature God! No! He emptied Himself! And, so, for that reason God exalted Him! Secondly, verse 8. God exalted Jesus, why? What was the reason for this coronation above all coronations? Verse 8 – God super exalted Jesus because He humbled Himself and became obedient. He submitted Himself to His Father's will, all the way to the death of the Cross!

More than anything else, Hebrews 1 tells us God the Son loved righteousness - He loved to conform Himself to His Father's will - and hated wickedness; therefore God anointed Him – Jesus – with the oil of gladness above His companions! (Hebrews 1:9)

Beloved, remember what we stated at the outset this morning? This study combines profound doctrine and theology, with probing and penetrating application for our lives! “Let this mind – the mind and mindset of Jesus Christ – be in you and in me!”

Do I want God to exalt me? Yes! We're all in agreement with that, aren't we? Then are we willing to empty ourselves and humbly obey our Heavenly Father as He did?! Then, are we eager, like Jesus was eager, to love and pursue righteousness and to turn from - to hate – wickedness as He did? That's when the oil of gladness anointing comes! That's when the coronation in our lives comes!

Then, look what happens. Philippians 2:10-11, the end results of Jesus' Incarnation and Humiliation: “that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every knee in heaven, on earth and even under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”, the Servant, God the Son, who chose to let go of His equality with His Father, that He might take up a basin, a towel and a cross, the Servant, He is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, and in that, through that, guess what? God, His Father, is glorified! God is glorified!

Let's pray.

“Father, these words, “let this mind be in you,” they are so simply and understandable. And, yet, for all of us, so prone as we are to pursue strife and vain glory, those words are so difficult to do, to carry out day-by-day. Father, as Your frail children, would You help us to pursue Your righteousness, to eagerly seek to conform ourselves to Your plan to die to self, that You and You alone may be glorified. And that we – yes, we – by Your grace might share in Jesus' rule and reign for eternity. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, May 15, 2011

Philippians 2:1-11, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

What do you see when you look at the cross of Jesus? For centuries the cross has been the symbol of the Christian faith, displayed in many different ways, some ornate, some ordinary, the world over. Yet, this representation of what really is at the heart of Christianity, though millions, maybe billions have seen it, I dare say that nearly that many have misunderstood it and not grasped what it means.

What do you see when you look at the cross of Christ? An ornate piece of church furniture? An odd arrangement of ordinary wood, upright and crossbeam? A good-luck charm to be carried in one’s pocket? A piece of jewelry to be hung around one’s neck? A crucifix, with Jesus still hanging there, perhaps indicating that somehow His work is not yet finished there? The cross of Jesus, what do you see?

The song writer, Isaac Watts, penned these immortal words, as his answer to that question, you remember them, I’m sure:

“When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

“See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?”

What do you see when you survey the cross of Jesus?

For the Christian – I’m not talking about the ‘bench warmer’, the ‘pew filler’, the ‘religious’ man or woman or young person, no – but for the Christian, born of God, born again, New Creation in Christ person, there is insight into what that piece of church furniture stands for. In this powerful passage of Scripture, God’s Holy Spirit not only directed the apostle Paul to describe in very moving terms the INCARNATION of Jesus, how God the Son, Who was in the very form and essence of God the Father, made Himself of no reputation, took upon the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.

In Philippians 2:5ff, Paul not only graphically describes the INCARNATION of God the Son, and points forward to the other side of the cross, the EXALTATION of God the Son to the right hand of God the Father as He, Jesus Christ, received from His Father the name that is above every name… Notice what he does, what God’s Spirit directed Paul to insert and include right there in the middle. Philippians 2:8 – The incarnated Son of God, the soon-to-be-exalted Son of God, Paul says that in between those two monumental events stands one event that makes the other two what they are: “[Jesus Christ, God the Son] humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…”

What do you see when you look at the cross of Christ? What insight into that unusual configuration of wood do you gain from what Paul says here?

Let me suggest two things for you to consider: first of all, for the Christian, for all who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, and who bow to Him as Lord, there is atoning significance to the cross of Christ…

I trust that for all who are within the sound of my voice right now, there is a recognition of, an acknowledgment of sin in their lives. An admission something along these lines: “I am a great sinner…” But, this is where most people’s biggest problem lies. They recognize that something’s not quite right with them, maybe even use the labels “sin” and “sinner” to describe that problem. But what to do about it? That’s where the trouble is. What to do about my sin?

My friends, do you know what to do about your sin? I have a friend who thinks that if she pray and practice the rosary often enough – somehow, some way – that will take care of her sin. What to do about your sin? Is that the thing to do about it? I have another friend, struggling with some deep-rooted sin-issues in her life, seeking to find a way to deal with those issues, she told me, “I’m trying to figure out who or what my ‘Higher Power’ is so that I can overcome these things…”

What to do about our sin? Is that the thing to do about it?

I know people, and likely you do, too, who think that what they must do about their sin, what they have done about their sin, is pray a prayer, say a few special words, get dunked in a baptistery, give a big check to the church, serve as an Elder or Deacon or Sunday School Teacher, perhaps even go into the ministry or head to the mission field, and that somehow, some way, those things will compensate for their sin and make things right for them with God.

But listen, what does the Word of God say? In this one simple verse, Philippians 2:8 - this verse that summarizes all of what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John describes for us in greater detail about the suffering, the agony, the death of Christ – what do we read? Well, for starters, let me remind you of what we don’t read here. You and I DON’T read anywhere in that verse, our names, so as to inform us that, when it comes to ATONING for our sins, paying the penalty for them so that we could be right with God, we had nothing to do with it! WE had nothing to do with the atoning of our sins before our Maker and Judge. So, who did? Has our penalty been paid? Have our sins been atoned for?

My Loved Ones, do you realize how precious the four simple words “I am IN CHRIST” really are? My prayers, my good works, my participation in religious ceremonies, my… my… my… had nothing to do with it! What He did, what Jesus Christ did – “It is finished! Paid in full!” - at Calvary had everything to do with paying the price for my sins! “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” is how it is put here in Philippians 2.

Peter describes it like this, what marvelous words, 1 Peter 2:24-25, “Jesus Christ Himself bore our sins [not His own sins, He was the sinless One, the Spotless Lamb who came into this world to take away our sins] in His own body on the cross…” We didn’t do it! NO! We were like sheep, going astray, everyone of us going our own way rather than the way our Creator meant for us to go - in essence that’s what sin is! We were like straying sheep, blind to our eternally, dreadful destination. But listen, the Lord of the universe, laid on His own Beloved Son the iniquities of us all, so that by His stripes, by and because of what He endured on that cross, we might be healed! Isn’t that the best news you’ve ever heard?

Beloved, there is ATONING significance to the cross of Christ! Two thousand years ago, on a configuration of wood very similar to that one there, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us!” But listen, that’s not all God wants us to see and understand when we look at the cross. The Scripture text from Philippians two – did you make note of how it begins?

In this grand exposition of the Incarnation, Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul begins the passage with these poignant words: “Let this mind(set) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” In powerful and penetrating terms, the Holy Spirit uses the pen of the apostle Paul to say: “Jesus Christ, God the Son, He was in the very nature God, shared the same essence and nature as His Father, yet, instead of clinging to that and the perogatives of that status and position, what did He do? Jesus made Himself of no reputation, set aside His status as the Son, He took upon the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men…” Wonderful! He did all of that at the bidding of His Father! Wonderful! But, look, that’s not all He did at His Father’s command!

We just read about it, we just studied it a moment ago. God the Son, not only laid aside the privilege of Son-ship to become a servant! Listen, He also became obedient unto DEATH, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, if there’s any other way, for sin to be atoned for – please – let it be. Nevertheless! Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done!” Jesus Christ, God the Son, not only laid aside the privilege of Son-ship to be a servant, He also became obedient all the way to death, the excruciating death of the cross, to be our sacrifice – why? To set an example, to be a model, to point the way our heavenly Father expects US to walk! “Let this mind be in you...”

I mentioned earlier that verse 8, as it describes the atoning significance of the cross for us, has everything to do with Jesus and with what He did for us at Calvary! And nothing to do with us! So as to teach us that we CAN'T atone for our sins! And all of that is true...

But listen, it is every bit as true to say that the cross of Christ, in “Let-this-mind-be-in-you” fashion has everything to do with us! It does! Verse 8, what does it say again? It says that Jesus Christ, God the Son, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Now look at the very next verse following the end of our Scripture text, Philippians 2:12.

Through Christ, through the obedient, atoning death of Christ, are you God's son or daughter? Then what? “Let this mind(set) be in you...” “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

There is – God intended for there to be EXEMPLARY significance to what Jesus did on Calvary!

1 Peter 2:24-25, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

This obedience, as God's children following the example of God the Son, Paul prayed for it in Philippians 1:9-11; he promoted it, through letters like this one, and most of all, by his own life of obedience, he preached it! He said, “Follow me, as I follow Christ...”

And he did so, because of what he saw when he looked at the cross:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most-

I sacrifice them to His blood.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small:

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

What do you see, what do I see, when we look at the cross?

The Incarnation of God the Son: Crucial Doctrine, Practical Application

Image credit: Phoebe Kautt

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, May 1, 2011

Philippians 2:1-16, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

This message is really mean to be a continuation of our study during the Bible School hour a few moments ago, and what you might call an ‘overflow’ of the messages regarding the April Fool which were our study focus last month. The questions before us, when reading and studying a passage like this are numerous – complex – and I think quite riveting. I’d like to invite you to walk through the passage with me and consider with me the deep truths of the gospel and how those truths, that Biblical doctrine are meant to transform you and me.

Going back to the records, the accounts of Jesus’ birth found in Matthew chapters one and two, and Luke chapters one and two, the first truth of the gospel, the first core doctrine with which the apostle Paul instructs his friends at Philippi and his friends at McKinney is the doctrine of the Incarnation. In startling, almost mind-boggling contrast, the apostle Paul, like apostle John and the apostle Matthew, and like the inspired writer Luke sets forth this truth: Jesus Christ was in the very form of God. He was in every way of the same nature and of the same essence, and possessed the same eternal and infinite attributes as God the Father. He was, is and always will be the Second member of the Triune Godhead, the One Scripture describes as God the Son.

The apostle John, opening up his gospel in much the same way as the Book of Genesis opens up the Bible, the apostle John speaks of Jesus’ eternal nature and of His oneness with the Father from eternity past like this: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…” Don’t miss that last phrase either. That’s the phrase the Jehovah’s Witnesses have reworked in their theology and re-translated in their ‘Bible’ so as to claim that Jesus Christ is somehow, some way a lesser, an inferior ‘god’ with a small ‘g’. Just like the apostle John, whose bold, emphatic and exceedingly clear declaration was: Jesus, the Eternal Word of God, was, is and always will be God, what God was, fully and eternally divine… so, the apostle Paul reminds us in this first statement of gospel doctrine that Jesus Christ was equal with God.

By the way, did you remember that that unique relationship, that unparalleled status and position of equality with God was what Satan urged Adam and Eve to pursue in the garden? Genesis 4:3 – “Go ahead. You won’t die! Go ahead, eat the forbidden fruit, because if you do you will be like God, knowing good and evil…”

Listen, my Loved Ones, I know this is deep, deep stuff, and difficult for us to totally comprehend. But listen, the doctrine of the Incarnation, that core gospel doctrine is ravaged of its stumbling block ability – you know, “it if foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18) – and also it is robbed of its life-altering, eternal destiny changing power in our lives, if we don’t grasp, or if we, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many other false groups, remove from it the fact that Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, was first of all the Eternal Word of God, God the Son, fully, infinitely, eternally EQUAL WITH GOD!

Yes, go ahead, take a minute and let what I’ve just explained to you sort of sink in. It’s difficulty stuff, isn’t it? We look at pictures, artists’ rendering of what Jesus may have looked like, maybe have even in our own minds a mental image of our Savior’s face, so tender, so warm, so human! But listen, as nice as those things might be, listen, that’s not who Jesus was before Bethlehem! No! He was, as Luke records in his genealogy of Jesus found in Luke chapter three, the Son of God, last line, startling, mind-boggling last line of the genealogy, Jesus was not, as most everyone supposed, the son of Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth! No! He was – is – always will be, the Son of God! (Luke 3:38) The Eternal Word of God – with God – in the beginning.

Now, why do I press this point so intensely? Two reasons; number one, because of how it helps us see the depths of what Christ did for us! And, what an awesome things all of that is! But secondly, I press this point about the full deity of Christ, about His being in ‘very nature’ God (that’s what the simply word ‘form’ means, there in verse 6); Jesus’ Christ essential being and nature is God – the same - not less than, not different from God the Father, but the same. I press this point about Jesus Christ’s full deity because of how it serves to instruct us, and yes, I would say, even confront us and rebuke us, right where we NEED rebuke, confrontation and instruction. Let’s open each of these up for just a moment, shall we?

Do you and I really grasp, in all its depth, in all its meaning, in all of its infinite beauty, what Jesus Christ has done for us? I’d like to suggest to you that we don’t! We should make it our aim to grasp these things. In fact, the apostle Paul prayed that the Christians at Ephesus WOULD grasp the depths of all of this in Ephesians chapters one and three. Take a look.

Ephesians 1:15-23, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 3:14-21, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Do you and I really comprehend the depths of what Jesus Christ has done for us? I don’t think we do!

But listen, don’t lose heart. Don’t give up or give in. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote Philippians chapter two, to help us, to enable us to more fully understand the awesome nature of what Jesus has done for us, when He became flesh and dwelt among us. That’s why God’s Spirit directed Paul to write Philippians chapter two.

And, what has Jesus Christ done for us in this thing we Christian’s call the Incarnation? It’s deep. I know it is. But listen, in light of what we’ve already learned about the infinite and eternal DEITY of Christ, it is also downright startling! Shocking! And undoubtedly, a stumbling block of FOOLISHNESS to many across the centuries. What am I talking about? Four times, in slightly different ways with slightly different aspects of meaning, but all four, bundled up to penetrate our hearts; here’s what I’m talking about.

Philippians 2:5 and following: “Christ Jesus, who was in the form of God… [and] equal with God… what did He do for us?

In 2 Corinthians 8:9 the apostle Paul puts it this way. Don’t you love this verse? A verse, by the way, that is situated right, smack-dab, in the middle of a section in 2 Corinthians about paying your tithes. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, the apostle Paul describes this startling, almost shocking nature of the doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ like this: “for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich – Donald Trump eat your heart out! Though Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word of God, Second member of the Godhead, though He was rich – with a capital ‘R’ – in His grace, what did He do? “He became poor, born in a stable, placed in a manger, nowhere to lay His head on this earth, no place really to call ‘home’.

The eternally RICH God, the Son, became poor – POOR – that you through His poverty might become rich!” Do you comprehend the DEPTHS of what Jesus Christ did for you? Paul’s hoping, praying, writing so that we will…

And so he says, in Philippians 2:5-8,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

What did Jesus Christ do for you? He did not grasp for, cling to, that pre-incarnate glory and majesty, but made Himself of no reputation, literally, “He emptied Himself,” took on the form of a slave, a bondservant, and came in the likeness of men; that we, that WE, through His poverty, might become rich!

Now listen, in as simple of terms as I can come up with, that’s the Doctrine of the Incarnation. The Word, the Eternal Word of God, Who was with God in the beginning, God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Infinitely Rich One, the Equal with God One; He became flesh, He became poor. That’s the startling, shocking, stumbling block of the Incarnation. And, that doctrine is at the heart of all that Jesus Christ has done for us. But listen, here’s where the message moves from staggering depths of doctrine, to stunning words of instruction and rebuke. So, get ready, get ready.

Verse 5 – The pivot point for the whole passage, notice what it says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” Another translation puts it like this: “your attitude, your mindset should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…”

Okay, Paul. Okay. What are you trying to tell us? Drop down to verses 14 through 16 with me, will you? The God and Father who desires to have blameless and un-blemished children in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation – are you a child of God? Blameless and without blemish, is that what you are? The Savior who longs for the ones He came to save to shine like lights in the world. And, ye, even the apostle who prayed, I mean begged God that people at Philippi and people at McKinney would hold fast the Word of life so that he could rejoice in the day of Christ that he had not run or labored in vain.

God – our Father – Jesus Christ, our Savior; Paul, inspired apostle, all three of them exhort us with the words… “let this mind, this mindset, this attitude that prompted Jesus Christ to do what He did, let it be in you!” Why? You know why, don’t you? I know, it hurts, it embarrasses us, it really ought to SHAME us, that we NEED that exhortation; but, we need that Christ-like mindset, because instead of enjoying the consolation Christ provides, instead of being comforted by His love, instead of relishing a fellowship, a Holy Spirit-fellowship, richer and deeper than any other on earth; instead of being marked as our Savior is marked, by affection, tender affection and mercy, you know what we are! We are pursuing self! We are watching out only for our own interests! We are esteeming ourselves better than anyone else! We are on the hunt for an empty glory – “I will be like God!” - that is really no glory at all! Let this mind, this Christ-like mindset, be in you! In you! Can you hear the still small voice, the quiet whisper of the Spirit of Jesus, and of the Word of Jesus to the effect that this is the way God intended for you and me to think and behave all along? Can you hear them say, “in Christ, in God, who is at work in His children, both to will and to do for His good pleasure, to please Him! In Him this is the way it CAN be, it WILL BE in you and me? Or, or – Is the only voice we hear the screaming, blaring voice of our Enemy, “you can be as God – go ahead – eat the fruit!”?

The Doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ, and really, also that of the humiliation of Christ, stretched out as He was, on Calvary’s cross, and that of the Exaltation of Christ, here’s what they teach us, what they say to us:

Jesus Christ emptied Himself and thus, was highly exalted…

But we, too often we, exalt ourselves, and thus, God – what does He do? He has to humble us! He has to confront us with the words, “Let this mind, THIS mind be in you…”