Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Christ existed from eternity as divine, equal with the Father and one with God, sharing the divine nature, glory, majesty and power in the heavenly courts as the only-begotten Son and Creator. His equality with God was rightfully His own by right, not seized or grasped for selfish advantage, and He did not cling to it while humanity was lost but voluntarily laid its honors aside. He did not surrender His divinity but clothed it with humanity, veiling the brightness and outward display of Deity so sinners could stand before Him and be drawn by His character and works. In direct contrast, Lucifer as covering cherub coveted Christ's place and sought to seize equality by rebellion, while Christ humbled Himself step by step from throne to cross to bear the world's sin as the only sinless Substitute who could satisfy the law. Because He obeyed even to the death of the cross, God highly exalted Him so every knee will bow, and the same lowly mind is to be in believers in unity, humility and self-denying service.
Preexistent Divine Equality
Being in the form of God means Christ pre-existed as truly divine, equal with God and with the Father, one with God, sharing the divine nature, glory, majesty, power and royal standing in the heavenly courts from eternity as the only-begotten Son and Creator. His original position was in the bosom of the Father as the Majesty of heaven, and that exalted heavenly place is the starting point from which His wonderful condescension for sinners is to be measured. He possessed divinity and equality before taking humanity, innocent and obedient without any taint of corruption, which alone qualified Him to be the propitiation for sin. He did not surrender His divinity in becoming man but veiled it in human form, remaining God while living on earth as man, because sinful people could not bear the sight of His heavenly glory. His willing descent from visible glory and the form of God into human poverty and humiliation displays the humility by which He undertook to save the fallen race and raise them to become partakers of the divine nature.
He is God's beloved Son, the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person, possessing divine majesty, perfection and excellence, with all fullness and the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodily. As Majesty, King of glory, Prince, Commander of the heavenly host, and heir and Owner of all things, He was exalted above the angels and rightly worshiped by them, free from the law's claims under which angels stood. From that high position He gave the law at Sinai and led Israel veiled in the cloud and fire. His giving of Himself from such glory for the fallen race manifests the infinite love of God the Father in the plan of salvation, amazing the holy angels and revealing what salvation cost so its value can be fully realized.
The verse opens hidden treasures concerning God's character, wisdom, love, justice, mercy and obedience, belonging to the central theme of Christ's identity and saving work to be held before people for contemplation and adoration. Its mystery is beyond finite reason, and the whole second and third chapters of Philippians need to be read and studied with earnest prayer, without disregarding their lessons, as the best instruction for the present time, especially for leading workers, students in schools, and all who would travel heavenward. The mind that was in Him is to be in believers, producing likeminded love, unity, lowliness esteeming others better than self, care for the things of others, nothing done through strife or vainglory, continual obedience, and working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works to will and to do. Those with this mind live blameless and harmless as sons of God without rebuke amid a crooked and perverse nation, shining as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, doing all things without murmurings and disputings, and working as Christ worked by going into new places where the gospel has not yet been proclaimed. The Father publicly confirmed the Son when He called on the Father to glorify His name.
Meaning of Not Robbery
To count equality with God not robbery means that equality was truly and rightfully His own by right, as one existing in the form of God and one with God before coming to earth. It was not something seized as a prize, usurped, grasped, or clung to and held for Himself, nor exploited for selfish advantage, honor, power, or compulsion while humanity was lost. He did not use His divine status to seek the highest place for Himself, but willingly chose humility and service instead of self-exaltation. He voluntarily emptied Himself and laid that rightful glory aside, making Himself of no reputation and taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men and found in human form.
His taking humanity did not lessen His standing, for in that human form He humbled Himself further in obedience even unto death on the cross. This self-emptying is the center of the revelation of God's love to man and the science of salvation to be learned and taught. It presents true godliness and the self-giving mind believers are to have in themselves, to be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. That mind is lowliness esteeming others better than self, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, looking not only to one's own things but also to the things of others, in humility, self-denial, and concern for others.
Veiling Divinity in Humanity
He did not surrender His divinity or leave it behind when He came, but clothed it with humanity and joined the divine and human natures in Himself as a divine-human Saviour. Though equal with God and in the form of God, He laid aside the visible glory and form of God and veiled His divine majesty and the visible manifestations of Deity by taking the form of a human being and a servant. He remained God while living on earth as a man, and did not give up His spiritual riches or the gifts of the Spirit, choosing poverty and a poor, humble life though He had right to heavenly honor and riches. His divine nature remained present in His teaching and ministry to give wisdom, grace and strength, and He shared human experience from childhood to manhood and stood at the head of the fallen race so that people might be raised and become partakers of the divine nature. His becoming human did not lessen His standing, for taking humanity and becoming obedient even to death on the cross begins the account of His humility that ends with God exalting Him.
He veiled the brightness, glory, power and manifestations of Deity and restrained the full display of divine attributes, laying aside royal honors and coming without outward pomp, visible retinue of angels or legions of angels. He clothed His divinity with humanity and lived among people as a man, with His divine nature still connected to the throne of the Infinite while He faced human afflictions and temptation as people do. If He had appeared in the full glory of His divinity, sinful people could not have borne its sight nor stood before Him without being destroyed. He came without outward display so that people could recognize Him by His heavenly character shown in His words and works, and be drawn by character, truth and works rather than compelled by glory. His coming among humanity in its sinful condition to oppose Satan's claims and reveal Satan's misrepresentation of God's character revealed divine love toward erring people, presenting the law as a reflection of God's character so that beholding Him they might be changed into the divine image.
His earthly appearance was not the majestic, heavenly form He had before, for He had been majestic and lovely and taller than the angels. At the beginning of His ministry He was little taller than ordinary men, with only a little greater stature than the people around Him, so people would not be drawn to Him by appearance or receive Him without faith. He took the ordinary features of the human family and the Jewish race rather than a striking appearance that would set Him apart, and lived unrecognized and unhonored in the world He had made. He stooped low to take humanity, veiling divine glory and majesty in outward frailty as a helpless infant resembling other infants, born in a stable and cradled in a manger, a humiliation so great that even angels who had witnessed His exaltation were unprepared to find their divine Commander in such low condition. Though His perfect form, dignity, benevolence and holiness surpassed all, He outwardly came as a descendant of David with divinity veiled beneath humanity, setting aside open display of divine power and experiencing the discipline and conditions humanity must pass through, yet at times His divine character shone out so powerfully that spiritually discerning people recognized Him as the Son of God.
Lowly Earthly Life
He left His home in glory, majesty, honor, riches, splendor, high command and divine position as Son of God, loved Commander in the heavenly courts, Majesty of Heaven and King of glory, giving up the Father's presence and the companionship of angels in self-exile. He left the sinless worlds on high that loved Him to come to this earth, a dark, fallen, helpless world ruined by sin, though but an atom in the vast dominions over which God presides yet more precious than the ninety and nine that went not astray, to touch humanity, save lost humanity, win it back and lift the perishing. His coming was a great sacrifice motivated by love and pity, accepting poverty, insult, indignity, suffering, humility, poverty and shame in self-denial, and it threatened Satan's power over the world. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh to benefit those who met Him with insult, hatred and abuse, meekly enduring even death on the cross so that people could be saved from death and live with Him.
He laid aside royal glory, honor, robe, crown, position, outward display and heavenly riches, made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant and stepped down step by step from throne to cross. He could have arrived with a retinue of angels, but He came without outward pomp, and with robes He could not show how to live and overcome. Though sinless and one with God, He took humanity upon Himself and united human nature with His own sinless nature so He could shed His blood for the fallen race and bear every transgression, being treated as a sinner so that sinners might be treated as innocent. In this condescension He came as humanity's head to testify that people can live without sin contrary to Satan's claim, so fallen humanity could touch His humanity and receive power to be partakers of the divine nature and overcome corruption through lust. As pattern He overcame for them so they may claim His merits and plead His power and virtue, and as they cooperate with Him and live in harmony with His law He cleanses their natures from sin and imparts His righteousness.
He came to this sinful world as a helpless babe, born at Bethlehem in a manger and stable of poor parentage on one side while God, Owner of the world, was His Father, brought up in obscurity in Nazareth and educated under supervision of heavenly angels. Though He could have taken any condition He chose, greatness and rank were nothing to Him and He selected the lowest and most humble walk of life, choosing poverty, lowly circumstances and lowly parentage and sharing the work and burden of caring for and supporting His family. His life brought no trace of luxury, ease, selfish gratification, indulgence, outward grandeur or rank, but was a continual round of self-denial and self-sacrifice with apparently no greatness or riches, working at the carpenter's trade for nearly thirty years, though He was Prince of life and Saviour. He shared weariness, hunger, poverty, hardship, temptations and trials, including the stress of pinching poverty, so as to be accessible to all, reveal God, know people's needs, help those who are tempted and rise from degradation, make poverty sacred, and ensure the humblest believer need not say He never knew such stress nor the poorest shun His society. Thus the truth of heavenly origin, His theme, alone might make an impression upon human hearts.
He entered humanity after four thousand years of sin, taking ordinary features of the human family and Jewish race rather than striking appearance, keeping to the level of humanity, which for One familiar with absolute power was as difficult as it is for men to rise above depraved nature to partake of divine nature. He was Prince of Life who had received honor in the heavenly courts, equal with God and with the Father, honored and adored by angels, yet clothed His divinity with humanity and lived in lowliness and poverty, His humanity bearing the stamp of divinity. He shared its sorrows and temptations without taint of sin, bearing all trials, battles and conflicts of every human soul as its head, with temptations proportioned to His glorious character far beyond human understanding. He refused to use divine power to rescue Himself, endured the wilderness fast and Satan's test and bore God's test in perfect obedience as representative, substitute, surety and commandment-keeping head, passing over where Adam fell and redeeming Adam's fall to carry humanity through. The world's sins were laid on Him, He was counted among the unholy and bore the curse due to sin, living a human life to show God could take people out of Satan's hands, that Satan's charge was false, that men can obey God's law through His power, and that He knows how to help those severely tempted.
God sent angels to protect Him in His lowly earthly life until His saving mission was complete and He died at human hands.
Conflict With Satanic Ambition
The verse sets the self-emptying of Christ in direct contrast to the grasping ambition of Lucifer, who as covering cherub stood next to Christ in power and glory yet coveted the honor belonging to the Son and sought to seize equality with God by exalting his throne to be like the Most High through deception and rebellion. While Lucifer sought equality as something to seize for his own advantage, Christ, though in the form of God and equal with God, did not count that equality as a thing to be grasped and held for Himself but made a voluntary sacrifice. He might have remained at the Father's side retaining the glory of heaven and the homage of angels, but He chose to give back the scepter into the Father's hands and step down from the throne of the universe. His humility rebukes all grasping for high places, showing that true likeness to God is revealed in unselfish service and not in seeking power or the highest place. His coming to meet the powers of darkness, restrain Satan's forces, fight for fallen humanity, and enter temptation threatened and broke the enemy's power and plans over people.
He looked with infinite pity, love and benevolence upon Adam and Eve and the wretched, helpless fallen race in their fallen condition under the power and control of the prince of darkness through transgression of God's law. Moved by that pity He proposed the only means God could accept to give them another trial and place them again on probation, to bridge the gulf of sin and regain lost Eden. He consented to leave His honor, kingly authority, glory, majesty, riches and exalted place as the beloved Son honored by angels, to humble Himself to humanity and engage in contest with the mighty prince of darkness in order to redeem man. Through humiliation and poverty He would identify Himself with the weaknesses of the fallen race and by firm, humble obedience undo Adam's disgraceful failure. He came to seek the lost and bring light to the benighted, comfort and life to the perishing, a sacrifice so self-giving that Satan could not understand such love, while absorption in worldly concerns blinded many to His worth and led them to reject and deny His preexistence, divinity and gift of everlasting life.
Being in the form of God and equal with God, one with God in life and divine glory, He was innocent and obedient without any taint of corruption, uncreated and not a created probationary being under obligation like angels and men. His divine perfection of character through equality with God and union with the Father in creating man, His sinless life, His infinite value, and His power to lay down His life and take it again alone qualified Him to be the propitiation for sin and of sufficient value to satisfy the claims of God's perfect law and rescue and elevate fallen man back to his first estate. He became humanity's substitute, surety and Mediator, standing between the Father's wrath and guilty humanity to bear sin, guilt, curse and penalty and endure the wrath of God against sin with all the accumulated sin of the world laid upon Him as Sin-bearer on the cross, a ransom no angel's life could pay. By this He vindicated the law against Satan's claim, opened access to God, and revealed the terrible cost of sin.
By not surrendering but veiling His divinity in human form He became a divine-human Saviour, uniting the human and divine to reconcile God and humanity and unite the finite with the Infinite. He stood at the head of the fallen race sharing human experience from childhood to manhood, stepping down from His throne, leaving crown and royal scepter, laying aside heavenly honor and glory and becoming poor, because sinful people could not bear the sight of His heavenly glory. He encircles humanity with His human arm while grasping the Infinite with His divine arm, so that fallen people through the merits of His blood and through His complete offering, infinite sacrifice and mighty saving power may touch His humanity and lay hold of His divinity. Through Him they may be raised from their fallen state, become new creatures renewed after the image of Him who created them, partake of the divine nature and escape corruption through lust, overcome appetite and temptation, receive righteousness, healing and eternal riches in heavenly treasure, be exalted to sit with Him on His throne, and stand on vantage ground with God.
Though equal with God and possessing the form of God and an original position in heaven in the bosom of the Father as Majesty of heaven, He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, remained God while living as man, and humbled Himself in obedience even to the most ignominious, revolting and agonizing death of the cross, foreseeing the whole path from manger to Calvary. This amazing sacrifice and manifestation of the love of God, considered point by point from exalted heavenly place through voluntary laying aside of visible glory and subjection to humbling conditions of human life and servant responsibilities unto death, is given to be seen and realized as the center of the revelation of God's love and the science of salvation to banish selfishness, beget the same mind of regarding the things of others, and awaken gratitude and love with the sense that believers are not their own. Because of that obedience God highly exalted Him, He burst death's fetters, gained heaven and earth as heir, and every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him Lord, with the redeemed made like Him and seated with Him.
Costly Sacrifice and Mediation
Philippians 2:6 directs the mind first to Christ's original exalted position in heaven in the bosom of the Father as the Majesty of heaven, sharing God's own standing and equality, possessing divine majesty, perfection and excellence with all fullness dwelling in Him as the brightness of the Father's glory and express image of His person. From that high position His descent was wholly voluntary, giving Himself, His riches, glory and life for the fallen race, laying aside glory, making Himself of no reputation, taking the form and condition of a servant and being made in human likeness. His atonement was the whole series of sorrows and condescension from heaven to Calvary, through subjection to humbling human conditions and assumption of a servant's responsibilities unto obedience even to the most ignominious and revolting and agonizing death of the cross. That amazing sacrifice and manifestation of the love of God, bearing the full cost to purchase humanity with His blood, is given to be seen point by point and realized so its value can be fully understood, amazing even the holy angels and revealing the infinite love of God the Father in the glorious plan of salvation. This self-emptying unto death, with resurrection and exaltation, is the center of the revelation of God's love and the science of salvation to be learned and taught, constraining self-denying service for others.
The mind that was in Christ and is to be in believers is likemindedness in the same love and unity, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, esteeming others better than self and looking on the things of others and not only their own. Though equal with God and in the form of God, He did not seize equality as a prize nor cling to exalted position for Himself, but humbled Himself by taking the servant's form, becoming human and obedient even to death on the cross, and this is true godliness and the self-giving pattern for His people in every church. That pattern is lowliness, patience, meekness, self-control and calm endurance without retaliation or passion, bringing the believer into conformity to Christ rather than striving to become first and foremost. Contemplating His humiliation and love for sinners awakens gratitude and love, banishes selfishness from the heart, and leads followers to serve without grudging or selfish motives, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. Wherefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, that every knee should bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father, calling the church to thorough change, repentance and order.
Pattern for Believers Living
Being in the form of God and equal with God, He humbled Himself, took the form of a servant and became human to reveal God's character. Though divine and rightfully entitled to heavenly honor and riches, He did not cling to equality while humanity was lost but clothed His divinity with humanity and accepted a poor, humble, obedient life even to death on the cross. Though He could have chosen any condition, greatness and rank were nothing to Him, and He deliberately selected the lowest walk of life, born at Bethlehem of poor parentage while God as owner of the world was His Father, living without luxury, ease, selfish gratification or indulgence in continual self-denial and self-sacrifice. He chose poverty, toil and having nowhere to lay His head for humanity's sake so that men might become rich in heavenly treasure, mercy, salvation and eternal riches, coming in a way accessible to all so that truth of heavenly origin alone might impress hearts and the humblest believer need never say He did not know pinching poverty. His coming without outward display, recognized by heavenly character in words and works, opposed Satan's claims, exposed misrepresentation of God, and presented the law as a reflection of God's character by which beholders are changed into the divine image.
Laying aside glory, high position, honor and riches to meet human need, He left the Father's throne and clothed divinity with humanity to rescue man from Satan's power, a bright assurance of love to be grouped with His other saving acts and continually contemplated with thanksgiving and joy. Out of pity He left heaven's royalty and robes to humble Himself to humanity, become acquainted with man's needs, help him rise above the degradation of the fall, and give unquestionable evidence of love and tenderest sympathy. He used divine power and authority not for ease or personal advantage but to bless and strengthen humanity and reveal God in word and deed, denying Himself, accepting toil, privation and suffering to complete His given work. He came to those who needed Him and to stand at the head of the race as child and servant, bearing human weakness, insult, rejection and cruel death while traveling and laboring for souls. His unselfish service is the pattern Christian workers must copy in self-denial, perseverance, willingness to endure hardship rather than seek an easier lot, and going where people most need truth even when inconvenient, though they cannot equal it.
As Commander and Prince of heaven in the form of God and equal with God, He gave Himself to humiliation and poverty to stand beside the fallen race, restore God's moral image in man, and pay the ransom by obedience unto death, His atonement being not betrayal or agony alone but the whole series of sorrows compassing humanity borne on His divine soul in making Himself of no reputation. This mind is to be in believers: the love of God fully expressed in His self-emptying unto the cross, followed by God's highly exalting Him with a name above every name to which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, with holiness and partaking of His nature promised through His sacrifice to those who wholly yield to learn God's will. His example rebukes self-love, self-indulgence, strife for supremacy and self-exaltation, calling rich and poor to realize His sacrifice and show faith by tangible liberality and self-denying benevolence with every God-given power to help souls for whom He died and advance the kingdom. Though Prince of life He did not seize power or compel obedience to God's law but waited patiently until the gospel reaches the world and all have opportunity to decide, teaching His people not to assume power or force conscience but to serve in lowliness, esteeming others better than themselves, looking to others' interests, doing nothing through strife or vainglory in one accord and one mind. While on earth still God, He walked as mortal man, unrecognized and poor, voluntarily laying down a life He could have retained to bear the world's sins and bring life and immortality to light, and those transformed by Him must live His self-denial and self-sacrifice, work out salvation with fear and trembling as lights in the world, give means liberally, dress modestly and carry the gospel economically to new places.
The divine Lord, Majesty of heaven and King of glory possessing riches, splendor, honor and glory, left all to save sinful man and condescended to humility, poverty, shame, self-denial and sacrifice. His example rebukes sensitivity to trial, reproach, shame and suffering. No servant should refuse the humility, shame and reproach the Master bore or wish to enter the Lord's joy without partaking of His sufferings, and willing acceptance of humility and sacrifice for eternal happiness leads to exceedingly great eternal reward and sharing His glory.
Christ existed from eternity as divine, equal with the Father and one with God, sharing the divine nature, glory, majesty and power in the heavenly courts as the only-begotten Son and Creator. His equality with God was rightfully His own by right, not seized or grasped for selfish advantage, and He did not cling to it while humanity was lost but voluntarily laid its honors aside. He did not surrender His divinity but clothed it with humanity, veiling the brightness and outward display of Deity so sinners could stand before Him and be drawn by His character and works. In direct contrast, Lucifer as covering cherub coveted Christ's place and sought to seize equality by rebellion, while Christ humbled Himself step by step from throne to cross to bear the world's sin as the only sinless Substitute who could satisfy the law. Because He obeyed even to the death of the cross, God highly exalted Him so every knee will bow, and the same lowly mind is to be in believers in unity, humility and self-denying service.
Preexistent Divine Equality
Being in the form of God means Christ pre-existed as truly divine, equal with God and with the Father, one with God, sharing the divine nature, glory, majesty, power and royal standing in the heavenly courts from eternity as the only-begotten Son and Creator. His original position was in the bosom of the Father as the Majesty of heaven, and that exalted heavenly place is the starting point from which His wonderful condescension for sinners is to be measured. He possessed divinity and equality before taking humanity, innocent and obedient without any taint of corruption, which alone qualified Him to be the propitiation for sin. He did not surrender His divinity in becoming man but veiled it in human form, remaining God while living on earth as man, because sinful people could not bear the sight of His heavenly glory. His willing descent from visible glory and the form of God into human poverty and humiliation displays the humility by which He undertook to save the fallen race and raise them to become partakers of the divine nature.
He is God's beloved Son, the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person, possessing divine majesty, perfection and excellence, with all fullness and the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodily. As Majesty, King of glory, Prince, Commander of the heavenly host, and heir and Owner of all things, He was exalted above the angels and rightly worshiped by them, free from the law's claims under which angels stood. From that high position He gave the law at Sinai and led Israel veiled in the cloud and fire. His giving of Himself from such glory for the fallen race manifests the infinite love of God the Father in the plan of salvation, amazing the holy angels and revealing what salvation cost so its value can be fully realized.
The verse opens hidden treasures concerning God's character, wisdom, love, justice, mercy and obedience, belonging to the central theme of Christ's identity and saving work to be held before people for contemplation and adoration. Its mystery is beyond finite reason, and the whole second and third chapters of Philippians need to be read and studied with earnest prayer, without disregarding their lessons, as the best instruction for the present time, especially for leading workers, students in schools, and all who would travel heavenward. The mind that was in Him is to be in believers, producing likeminded love, unity, lowliness esteeming others better than self, care for the things of others, nothing done through strife or vainglory, continual obedience, and working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works to will and to do. Those with this mind live blameless and harmless as sons of God without rebuke amid a crooked and perverse nation, shining as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, doing all things without murmurings and disputings, and working as Christ worked by going into new places where the gospel has not yet been proclaimed. The Father publicly confirmed the Son when He called on the Father to glorify His name.
Meaning of Not Robbery
To count equality with God not robbery means that equality was truly and rightfully His own by right, as one existing in the form of God and one with God before coming to earth. It was not something seized as a prize, usurped, grasped, or clung to and held for Himself, nor exploited for selfish advantage, honor, power, or compulsion while humanity was lost. He did not use His divine status to seek the highest place for Himself, but willingly chose humility and service instead of self-exaltation. He voluntarily emptied Himself and laid that rightful glory aside, making Himself of no reputation and taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men and found in human form.
His taking humanity did not lessen His standing, for in that human form He humbled Himself further in obedience even unto death on the cross. This self-emptying is the center of the revelation of God's love to man and the science of salvation to be learned and taught. It presents true godliness and the self-giving mind believers are to have in themselves, to be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. That mind is lowliness esteeming others better than self, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, looking not only to one's own things but also to the things of others, in humility, self-denial, and concern for others.
Veiling Divinity in Humanity
He did not surrender His divinity or leave it behind when He came, but clothed it with humanity and joined the divine and human natures in Himself as a divine-human Saviour. Though equal with God and in the form of God, He laid aside the visible glory and form of God and veiled His divine majesty and the visible manifestations of Deity by taking the form of a human being and a servant. He remained God while living on earth as a man, and did not give up His spiritual riches or the gifts of the Spirit, choosing poverty and a poor, humble life though He had right to heavenly honor and riches. His divine nature remained present in His teaching and ministry to give wisdom, grace and strength, and He shared human experience from childhood to manhood and stood at the head of the fallen race so that people might be raised and become partakers of the divine nature. His becoming human did not lessen His standing, for taking humanity and becoming obedient even to death on the cross begins the account of His humility that ends with God exalting Him.
He veiled the brightness, glory, power and manifestations of Deity and restrained the full display of divine attributes, laying aside royal honors and coming without outward pomp, visible retinue of angels or legions of angels. He clothed His divinity with humanity and lived among people as a man, with His divine nature still connected to the throne of the Infinite while He faced human afflictions and temptation as people do. If He had appeared in the full glory of His divinity, sinful people could not have borne its sight nor stood before Him without being destroyed. He came without outward display so that people could recognize Him by His heavenly character shown in His words and works, and be drawn by character, truth and works rather than compelled by glory. His coming among humanity in its sinful condition to oppose Satan's claims and reveal Satan's misrepresentation of God's character revealed divine love toward erring people, presenting the law as a reflection of God's character so that beholding Him they might be changed into the divine image.
His earthly appearance was not the majestic, heavenly form He had before, for He had been majestic and lovely and taller than the angels. At the beginning of His ministry He was little taller than ordinary men, with only a little greater stature than the people around Him, so people would not be drawn to Him by appearance or receive Him without faith. He took the ordinary features of the human family and the Jewish race rather than a striking appearance that would set Him apart, and lived unrecognized and unhonored in the world He had made. He stooped low to take humanity, veiling divine glory and majesty in outward frailty as a helpless infant resembling other infants, born in a stable and cradled in a manger, a humiliation so great that even angels who had witnessed His exaltation were unprepared to find their divine Commander in such low condition. Though His perfect form, dignity, benevolence and holiness surpassed all, He outwardly came as a descendant of David with divinity veiled beneath humanity, setting aside open display of divine power and experiencing the discipline and conditions humanity must pass through, yet at times His divine character shone out so powerfully that spiritually discerning people recognized Him as the Son of God.
Lowly Earthly Life
He left His home in glory, majesty, honor, riches, splendor, high command and divine position as Son of God, loved Commander in the heavenly courts, Majesty of Heaven and King of glory, giving up the Father's presence and the companionship of angels in self-exile. He left the sinless worlds on high that loved Him to come to this earth, a dark, fallen, helpless world ruined by sin, though but an atom in the vast dominions over which God presides yet more precious than the ninety and nine that went not astray, to touch humanity, save lost humanity, win it back and lift the perishing. His coming was a great sacrifice motivated by love and pity, accepting poverty, insult, indignity, suffering, humility, poverty and shame in self-denial, and it threatened Satan's power over the world. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh to benefit those who met Him with insult, hatred and abuse, meekly enduring even death on the cross so that people could be saved from death and live with Him.
He laid aside royal glory, honor, robe, crown, position, outward display and heavenly riches, made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant and stepped down step by step from throne to cross. He could have arrived with a retinue of angels, but He came without outward pomp, and with robes He could not show how to live and overcome. Though sinless and one with God, He took humanity upon Himself and united human nature with His own sinless nature so He could shed His blood for the fallen race and bear every transgression, being treated as a sinner so that sinners might be treated as innocent. In this condescension He came as humanity's head to testify that people can live without sin contrary to Satan's claim, so fallen humanity could touch His humanity and receive power to be partakers of the divine nature and overcome corruption through lust. As pattern He overcame for them so they may claim His merits and plead His power and virtue, and as they cooperate with Him and live in harmony with His law He cleanses their natures from sin and imparts His righteousness.
He came to this sinful world as a helpless babe, born at Bethlehem in a manger and stable of poor parentage on one side while God, Owner of the world, was His Father, brought up in obscurity in Nazareth and educated under supervision of heavenly angels. Though He could have taken any condition He chose, greatness and rank were nothing to Him and He selected the lowest and most humble walk of life, choosing poverty, lowly circumstances and lowly parentage and sharing the work and burden of caring for and supporting His family. His life brought no trace of luxury, ease, selfish gratification, indulgence, outward grandeur or rank, but was a continual round of self-denial and self-sacrifice with apparently no greatness or riches, working at the carpenter's trade for nearly thirty years, though He was Prince of life and Saviour. He shared weariness, hunger, poverty, hardship, temptations and trials, including the stress of pinching poverty, so as to be accessible to all, reveal God, know people's needs, help those who are tempted and rise from degradation, make poverty sacred, and ensure the humblest believer need not say He never knew such stress nor the poorest shun His society. Thus the truth of heavenly origin, His theme, alone might make an impression upon human hearts.
He entered humanity after four thousand years of sin, taking ordinary features of the human family and Jewish race rather than striking appearance, keeping to the level of humanity, which for One familiar with absolute power was as difficult as it is for men to rise above depraved nature to partake of divine nature. He was Prince of Life who had received honor in the heavenly courts, equal with God and with the Father, honored and adored by angels, yet clothed His divinity with humanity and lived in lowliness and poverty, His humanity bearing the stamp of divinity. He shared its sorrows and temptations without taint of sin, bearing all trials, battles and conflicts of every human soul as its head, with temptations proportioned to His glorious character far beyond human understanding. He refused to use divine power to rescue Himself, endured the wilderness fast and Satan's test and bore God's test in perfect obedience as representative, substitute, surety and commandment-keeping head, passing over where Adam fell and redeeming Adam's fall to carry humanity through. The world's sins were laid on Him, He was counted among the unholy and bore the curse due to sin, living a human life to show God could take people out of Satan's hands, that Satan's charge was false, that men can obey God's law through His power, and that He knows how to help those severely tempted.
God sent angels to protect Him in His lowly earthly life until His saving mission was complete and He died at human hands.
Conflict With Satanic Ambition
The verse sets the self-emptying of Christ in direct contrast to the grasping ambition of Lucifer, who as covering cherub stood next to Christ in power and glory yet coveted the honor belonging to the Son and sought to seize equality with God by exalting his throne to be like the Most High through deception and rebellion. While Lucifer sought equality as something to seize for his own advantage, Christ, though in the form of God and equal with God, did not count that equality as a thing to be grasped and held for Himself but made a voluntary sacrifice. He might have remained at the Father's side retaining the glory of heaven and the homage of angels, but He chose to give back the scepter into the Father's hands and step down from the throne of the universe. His humility rebukes all grasping for high places, showing that true likeness to God is revealed in unselfish service and not in seeking power or the highest place. His coming to meet the powers of darkness, restrain Satan's forces, fight for fallen humanity, and enter temptation threatened and broke the enemy's power and plans over people.
He looked with infinite pity, love and benevolence upon Adam and Eve and the wretched, helpless fallen race in their fallen condition under the power and control of the prince of darkness through transgression of God's law. Moved by that pity He proposed the only means God could accept to give them another trial and place them again on probation, to bridge the gulf of sin and regain lost Eden. He consented to leave His honor, kingly authority, glory, majesty, riches and exalted place as the beloved Son honored by angels, to humble Himself to humanity and engage in contest with the mighty prince of darkness in order to redeem man. Through humiliation and poverty He would identify Himself with the weaknesses of the fallen race and by firm, humble obedience undo Adam's disgraceful failure. He came to seek the lost and bring light to the benighted, comfort and life to the perishing, a sacrifice so self-giving that Satan could not understand such love, while absorption in worldly concerns blinded many to His worth and led them to reject and deny His preexistence, divinity and gift of everlasting life.
Being in the form of God and equal with God, one with God in life and divine glory, He was innocent and obedient without any taint of corruption, uncreated and not a created probationary being under obligation like angels and men. His divine perfection of character through equality with God and union with the Father in creating man, His sinless life, His infinite value, and His power to lay down His life and take it again alone qualified Him to be the propitiation for sin and of sufficient value to satisfy the claims of God's perfect law and rescue and elevate fallen man back to his first estate. He became humanity's substitute, surety and Mediator, standing between the Father's wrath and guilty humanity to bear sin, guilt, curse and penalty and endure the wrath of God against sin with all the accumulated sin of the world laid upon Him as Sin-bearer on the cross, a ransom no angel's life could pay. By this He vindicated the law against Satan's claim, opened access to God, and revealed the terrible cost of sin.
By not surrendering but veiling His divinity in human form He became a divine-human Saviour, uniting the human and divine to reconcile God and humanity and unite the finite with the Infinite. He stood at the head of the fallen race sharing human experience from childhood to manhood, stepping down from His throne, leaving crown and royal scepter, laying aside heavenly honor and glory and becoming poor, because sinful people could not bear the sight of His heavenly glory. He encircles humanity with His human arm while grasping the Infinite with His divine arm, so that fallen people through the merits of His blood and through His complete offering, infinite sacrifice and mighty saving power may touch His humanity and lay hold of His divinity. Through Him they may be raised from their fallen state, become new creatures renewed after the image of Him who created them, partake of the divine nature and escape corruption through lust, overcome appetite and temptation, receive righteousness, healing and eternal riches in heavenly treasure, be exalted to sit with Him on His throne, and stand on vantage ground with God.
Though equal with God and possessing the form of God and an original position in heaven in the bosom of the Father as Majesty of heaven, He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, remained God while living as man, and humbled Himself in obedience even to the most ignominious, revolting and agonizing death of the cross, foreseeing the whole path from manger to Calvary. This amazing sacrifice and manifestation of the love of God, considered point by point from exalted heavenly place through voluntary laying aside of visible glory and subjection to humbling conditions of human life and servant responsibilities unto death, is given to be seen and realized as the center of the revelation of God's love and the science of salvation to banish selfishness, beget the same mind of regarding the things of others, and awaken gratitude and love with the sense that believers are not their own. Because of that obedience God highly exalted Him, He burst death's fetters, gained heaven and earth as heir, and every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him Lord, with the redeemed made like Him and seated with Him.
Costly Sacrifice and Mediation
Philippians 2:6 directs the mind first to Christ's original exalted position in heaven in the bosom of the Father as the Majesty of heaven, sharing God's own standing and equality, possessing divine majesty, perfection and excellence with all fullness dwelling in Him as the brightness of the Father's glory and express image of His person. From that high position His descent was wholly voluntary, giving Himself, His riches, glory and life for the fallen race, laying aside glory, making Himself of no reputation, taking the form and condition of a servant and being made in human likeness. His atonement was the whole series of sorrows and condescension from heaven to Calvary, through subjection to humbling human conditions and assumption of a servant's responsibilities unto obedience even to the most ignominious and revolting and agonizing death of the cross. That amazing sacrifice and manifestation of the love of God, bearing the full cost to purchase humanity with His blood, is given to be seen point by point and realized so its value can be fully understood, amazing even the holy angels and revealing the infinite love of God the Father in the glorious plan of salvation. This self-emptying unto death, with resurrection and exaltation, is the center of the revelation of God's love and the science of salvation to be learned and taught, constraining self-denying service for others.
The mind that was in Christ and is to be in believers is likemindedness in the same love and unity, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, esteeming others better than self and looking on the things of others and not only their own. Though equal with God and in the form of God, He did not seize equality as a prize nor cling to exalted position for Himself, but humbled Himself by taking the servant's form, becoming human and obedient even to death on the cross, and this is true godliness and the self-giving pattern for His people in every church. That pattern is lowliness, patience, meekness, self-control and calm endurance without retaliation or passion, bringing the believer into conformity to Christ rather than striving to become first and foremost. Contemplating His humiliation and love for sinners awakens gratitude and love, banishes selfishness from the heart, and leads followers to serve without grudging or selfish motives, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. Wherefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, that every knee should bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father, calling the church to thorough change, repentance and order.
Pattern for Believers Living
Being in the form of God and equal with God, He humbled Himself, took the form of a servant and became human to reveal God's character. Though divine and rightfully entitled to heavenly honor and riches, He did not cling to equality while humanity was lost but clothed His divinity with humanity and accepted a poor, humble, obedient life even to death on the cross. Though He could have chosen any condition, greatness and rank were nothing to Him, and He deliberately selected the lowest walk of life, born at Bethlehem of poor parentage while God as owner of the world was His Father, living without luxury, ease, selfish gratification or indulgence in continual self-denial and self-sacrifice. He chose poverty, toil and having nowhere to lay His head for humanity's sake so that men might become rich in heavenly treasure, mercy, salvation and eternal riches, coming in a way accessible to all so that truth of heavenly origin alone might impress hearts and the humblest believer need never say He did not know pinching poverty. His coming without outward display, recognized by heavenly character in words and works, opposed Satan's claims, exposed misrepresentation of God, and presented the law as a reflection of God's character by which beholders are changed into the divine image.
Laying aside glory, high position, honor and riches to meet human need, He left the Father's throne and clothed divinity with humanity to rescue man from Satan's power, a bright assurance of love to be grouped with His other saving acts and continually contemplated with thanksgiving and joy. Out of pity He left heaven's royalty and robes to humble Himself to humanity, become acquainted with man's needs, help him rise above the degradation of the fall, and give unquestionable evidence of love and tenderest sympathy. He used divine power and authority not for ease or personal advantage but to bless and strengthen humanity and reveal God in word and deed, denying Himself, accepting toil, privation and suffering to complete His given work. He came to those who needed Him and to stand at the head of the race as child and servant, bearing human weakness, insult, rejection and cruel death while traveling and laboring for souls. His unselfish service is the pattern Christian workers must copy in self-denial, perseverance, willingness to endure hardship rather than seek an easier lot, and going where people most need truth even when inconvenient, though they cannot equal it.
As Commander and Prince of heaven in the form of God and equal with God, He gave Himself to humiliation and poverty to stand beside the fallen race, restore God's moral image in man, and pay the ransom by obedience unto death, His atonement being not betrayal or agony alone but the whole series of sorrows compassing humanity borne on His divine soul in making Himself of no reputation. This mind is to be in believers: the love of God fully expressed in His self-emptying unto the cross, followed by God's highly exalting Him with a name above every name to which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, with holiness and partaking of His nature promised through His sacrifice to those who wholly yield to learn God's will. His example rebukes self-love, self-indulgence, strife for supremacy and self-exaltation, calling rich and poor to realize His sacrifice and show faith by tangible liberality and self-denying benevolence with every God-given power to help souls for whom He died and advance the kingdom. Though Prince of life He did not seize power or compel obedience to God's law but waited patiently until the gospel reaches the world and all have opportunity to decide, teaching His people not to assume power or force conscience but to serve in lowliness, esteeming others better than themselves, looking to others' interests, doing nothing through strife or vainglory in one accord and one mind. While on earth still God, He walked as mortal man, unrecognized and poor, voluntarily laying down a life He could have retained to bear the world's sins and bring life and immortality to light, and those transformed by Him must live His self-denial and self-sacrifice, work out salvation with fear and trembling as lights in the world, give means liberally, dress modestly and carry the gospel economically to new places.
The divine Lord, Majesty of heaven and King of glory possessing riches, splendor, honor and glory, left all to save sinful man and condescended to humility, poverty, shame, self-denial and sacrifice. His example rebukes sensitivity to trial, reproach, shame and suffering. No servant should refuse the humility, shame and reproach the Master bore or wish to enter the Lord's joy without partaking of His sufferings, and willing acceptance of humility and sacrifice for eternal happiness leads to exceedingly great eternal reward and sharing His glory.