Jesus in Glory Among Worshipping AngelsBible World
2:9Philippians 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Because Christ voluntarily humbled himself in obedience even to death on the cross, God in response highly exalted him. That humiliation meant that though in the form of God and equal with God by right, he made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness of men, and humbled himself in obedience. His exaltation lifted him to the highest honor with supreme authority and a name above every name that is named. At that name every knee in heaven and in earth and under the earth will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. All true exaltation grows out of such humiliation, so believers are to have that same lowly mind in themselves, esteeming others better than themselves and looking to the interests of others, knowing that whoever humbles himself to the depths as Christ did will be exalted by God to share his glory.
Humiliation Prompting Exaltation
The exaltation is God's wherefore in answer to Christ's voluntary humbling and obedience even to death on the cross. After that willing humiliation and sacrifice God highly exalted Him and gave Him the highest name above every name. That exaltation leads to every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That humiliation meant that though in the form of God and equal with God by right, He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness and fashion of men, was found as a man, and humbled Himself in obedience unto death, even the death of the cross. He emptied Himself and became obedient in complete self-humbling, and the exaltation is God's response to that lowliness. It is the divine answer setting the mind believers are to have as they obey and work out their own salvation.
Though all things were His by right He claimed none of them for Himself. He refused to exalt Himself, and lived in the world He had made unrecognized and unhonored. His laying aside royal robe and kingly crown to clothe divinity with humanity was meekness and lowliness opposite man's natural unwillingness to act so. He volunteered to pass over the ground where Adam fell by a life of perfect obedience to redeem mankind and place the race on vantage-ground. So He stands at the head of the human race with power vested in Him for the redemption of mankind, and only through faith in that exalted name can the sinner be saved as head of the new creation.
The exaltation therefore followed His completed work of redemption and His righteous life as humanity's example. After His sacrifice was complete and His humiliation ended, God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. At His triumphant ascension He was highly exalted and glorified before the Father, welcomed with great joy and worship by the angelic host. His offering had been accepted and the redemption price for the lost human race fully paid, securing the redemption of believers who are the fruit of that work and His glory through eternity.
Nature of Divine Exaltation
God highly exalted Him to the highest honor and gave Him a name and supreme authority above every name that is named. That honor belongs to the One who was equal with the Father yet came as a servant, and His exaltation makes service in His name an honor and not a humiliation. His name is powerful and essential, and it is to be on every tongue as the theme of contemplation, adoration and praise. The God of all grace has magnified the name of His Son Jesus as the Sun of Righteousness and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, to be beheld in praise as He saves precious souls.
Exalted to God's throne as heaven's sovereign, He has authority and rule equal to God's. The Father has given all things into His hands and caused all fullness to dwell in Him, with the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodily. He is before all things, Creator of all things visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, by whom all things consist, and Lord of both the dead and the living by His death and resurrection. In that exaltation He raises those who believe in Him to sit with Him upon His throne, bringing honor and healing to His believing people.
At His ascension the angelic host welcomed Him with great joy and worship, and He was glorified before the Father. His offering had been accepted and the redemption price for the lost human race fully paid. The Father's command that all the angels worship Him affirmed Christ's honor and vindicated Him after Satan's attack, following His completed sacrifice and sinless life.
The exalted Jesus carries on in heaven the work of intercession and atonement begun on earth, pleading for men as advocate. His obedience even to death on the cross gives Him all power in heaven and earth and displays His supremacy over Satan, and on that basis He advocates for the guilty and claims mercy and reconciliation for them. As the great Medical Missionary He took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, and He ascended to plead for men that they might be raised to sit with Him in heavenly places far above all principality and power. His exaltation grants Him authority over all flesh for the work of giving eternal life to those who receive Him and believe in His name, as Redeemer and Restorer of man in contrast to Satan the destroyer.
Universal Worship to Glory
Because he humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross, God highly exalted him and gave him the highest name above every name. That exaltation means that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and in earth and under the earth will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Though he was in the form of God and equal with God by right, he claimed none of that for himself but made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness and fashion of men, was found as a man, and humbled himself in obedience, and the exaltation is God's wherefore upon that humiliation and obedience. That universal bowing and confessing is to the glory of God the Father.
His exaltation follows his completed saving work and secures the redemption of those who believe in him. The church and the ransomed people are the fruit of that work and his glory through eternity. His supreme name is therefore a call for angels and people of every kindred and tribe to honor Jesus as Lord.
Contrast With Self Exaltation
The exaltation stands directly opposite the temptation that men shall be as gods, and opposite the natural unwillingness of men to act in meekness and lowliness like the great Exemplar. It was given because Christ did not exalt Himself but humbled Himself in obedience even to death on the cross, laying aside royal robe and kingly crown to clothe divinity with humanity. He volunteered to pass over the ground where Adam fell and by a life of perfect obedience to redeem mankind, place the race on vantage ground, and stand at the head of the human race with power vested in Him for redemption.
His exaltation answers the pride and self-sufficiency associated with Satan and proves that humility, not striving for supremacy, has heaven's favor. His self-denial, condescension, and infinite compassion expose human pride, self-importance, self-esteem, and social rank as worthless and put them to shame before Him. The honor belongs to One who was equal with the Father yet came as a servant, so service in His name is an honor and not a humiliation. His followers are therefore not to exalt themselves or resent work that goes unappreciated.
Because people of every class were purchased by His sacrifice and are alike objects of God's love, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, learned and ignorant, meet without caste or worldly distinction at Jesus' feet. Those sanctified through the truth are united as a blood-bought people, all dependent on their Redeemer.
Pattern for Believers Lives
The exaltation is the pattern for the mind believers are to have in themselves, likeminded in love, of one accord and one mind, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness esteeming others better than themselves and looking to the interests and things of others and not only their own. That same mind is courtesy, pity, self-denial and self-sacrifice, learned from One who though in the form of God and equal with God by right claimed none of it for Himself but made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness and fashion of men, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The highly exalted name above every name is God's Wherefore upon that humiliation and obedience, to be confessed as Lord by every knee in heaven and earth and under the earth to the glory of God the Father.
With that mind believers are to obey and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling while God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. They are to live blameless without murmurings among a crooked nation and shine as lights by holding forth the word of life in sanctified words, universal humility and benevolence, self-denial and self-sacrifice in good works.
All true exaltation grows out of such humiliation, for whoever is exalted by God must first humble himself to the very depths of human woe as Christ did to save perishing souls. Acceptance with God depends not on outward show but on faithful discharge of duty in that same path of meekness and gentleness and truth and righteousness in which He wove Himself into the sympathies of the race. Those who are partakers with Christ in His sufferings, who follow cheerfully in His footsteps, will be partakers with Him in His glory, and the more humble in self-estimation and unselfish in effort the more Christlike the influence and the more exalted in the estimation of the heavenly universe.
Christ trod the path of self-denial and cross-bearing to the lowest depths, giving Himself as an entire holy sacrifice and descending to humiliation so that men obeying God's commands may realize the path has been trodden before them. He took the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life and worked out a perfect character by unselfish ministry drawing men and women to God, so that men need have no fear that weakness of human nature makes overcoming impossible. Accepting Him as personal Saviour and following His example of self-denial is the secret of holiness and the pattern for all His service, that they might be raised to sit together with Him in heavenly places far above all principality and power and accomplish wider influence for good.
His humiliation and shame make possible every mercy, joy, assurance, success and grace for every soul. He who had filled heaven with splendor and was worshiped by the heavenly host humbled Himself to come as man after enduring the cross, and God highly exalted Him to His throne with glory. That exaltation lifts believers to purity, holiness, completeness, peace, rest and joy, raises them to share His glory and sit with Him upon His throne, and brings honor and healing as the gift of the Father's love.
That marvelous work done for humanity is cause for confidence rather than depression or complaint. Having the mind that dwelt in Jesus requires a thorough change of character before God can acknowledge people as His children, producing order in the church and right conduct toward brethren and sisters, including correct observing of the Sabbath, with hearty repentance, confession of wrong, and shame and confusion of face before God for the unrighteous course pursued. It is God's inspired provision to show how to obtain the crown of life and enter into the joy of the Lord, urging hearing of mercy's pleading voice and repentance.
Contemplating His humiliation in coming to this world, His mysterious conflict defeating the powers of darkness, and His exaltation purifies, elevates and ennobles the student of Scripture. It opens truth to the mind and applies it to the heart by the Spirit, giving clearer and broader views, more penetrating discernment, better balanced and far-seeing judgment, expanded understanding, a better sense of personal weakness, and growth in faith and humility. Philippians 2:1-16 is given as a lesson for all to study to learn the way of the Lord as no human voice or counsel can teach, belonging with seeing how transgression required the blood of the Son of the infinite God to redeem man and with viewing Jesus with contrite heart as compassionate tender High Priest.
Declaring His righteousness and love in this humiliation and exaltation revives and quickens people into new life, while leaving it out leaves preaching dry and Christless. His triumphant ascension belongs among central gospel themes to be presented to awaken love and faith. His exalted name above every other name, with the cross of Calvary, must be uplifted where it has not been made known, and every soul is to turn toward lands where Christ has not been lifted up to exalt that name there and go into new places where the gospel has not yet been proclaimed.
Those who honor Him in this way keep His name on their lips, reveal His character in their lives, and represent Him as the Saviour who pardons sin. When they do, the church exerts a powerful influence, its members bearing the fruit of good works and shining as lights in the world with lives plainly distinct from worldlings. Christian life is to reflect His pure self-sacrifice for others to elevate fallen humanity, through working as He worked, loving service, practical care for those in need, and cheerful giving.
Because Christ voluntarily humbled himself in obedience even to death on the cross, God in response highly exalted him. That humiliation meant that though in the form of God and equal with God by right, he made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness of men, and humbled himself in obedience. His exaltation lifted him to the highest honor with supreme authority and a name above every name that is named. At that name every knee in heaven and in earth and under the earth will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. All true exaltation grows out of such humiliation, so believers are to have that same lowly mind in themselves, esteeming others better than themselves and looking to the interests of others, knowing that whoever humbles himself to the depths as Christ did will be exalted by God to share his glory.
Humiliation Prompting Exaltation
The exaltation is God's wherefore in answer to Christ's voluntary humbling and obedience even to death on the cross. After that willing humiliation and sacrifice God highly exalted Him and gave Him the highest name above every name. That exaltation leads to every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That humiliation meant that though in the form of God and equal with God by right, He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness and fashion of men, was found as a man, and humbled Himself in obedience unto death, even the death of the cross. He emptied Himself and became obedient in complete self-humbling, and the exaltation is God's response to that lowliness. It is the divine answer setting the mind believers are to have as they obey and work out their own salvation.
Though all things were His by right He claimed none of them for Himself. He refused to exalt Himself, and lived in the world He had made unrecognized and unhonored. His laying aside royal robe and kingly crown to clothe divinity with humanity was meekness and lowliness opposite man's natural unwillingness to act so. He volunteered to pass over the ground where Adam fell by a life of perfect obedience to redeem mankind and place the race on vantage-ground. So He stands at the head of the human race with power vested in Him for the redemption of mankind, and only through faith in that exalted name can the sinner be saved as head of the new creation.
The exaltation therefore followed His completed work of redemption and His righteous life as humanity's example. After His sacrifice was complete and His humiliation ended, God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. At His triumphant ascension He was highly exalted and glorified before the Father, welcomed with great joy and worship by the angelic host. His offering had been accepted and the redemption price for the lost human race fully paid, securing the redemption of believers who are the fruit of that work and His glory through eternity.
Nature of Divine Exaltation
God highly exalted Him to the highest honor and gave Him a name and supreme authority above every name that is named. That honor belongs to the One who was equal with the Father yet came as a servant, and His exaltation makes service in His name an honor and not a humiliation. His name is powerful and essential, and it is to be on every tongue as the theme of contemplation, adoration and praise. The God of all grace has magnified the name of His Son Jesus as the Sun of Righteousness and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, to be beheld in praise as He saves precious souls.
Exalted to God's throne as heaven's sovereign, He has authority and rule equal to God's. The Father has given all things into His hands and caused all fullness to dwell in Him, with the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodily. He is before all things, Creator of all things visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, by whom all things consist, and Lord of both the dead and the living by His death and resurrection. In that exaltation He raises those who believe in Him to sit with Him upon His throne, bringing honor and healing to His believing people.
At His ascension the angelic host welcomed Him with great joy and worship, and He was glorified before the Father. His offering had been accepted and the redemption price for the lost human race fully paid. The Father's command that all the angels worship Him affirmed Christ's honor and vindicated Him after Satan's attack, following His completed sacrifice and sinless life.
The exalted Jesus carries on in heaven the work of intercession and atonement begun on earth, pleading for men as advocate. His obedience even to death on the cross gives Him all power in heaven and earth and displays His supremacy over Satan, and on that basis He advocates for the guilty and claims mercy and reconciliation for them. As the great Medical Missionary He took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, and He ascended to plead for men that they might be raised to sit with Him in heavenly places far above all principality and power. His exaltation grants Him authority over all flesh for the work of giving eternal life to those who receive Him and believe in His name, as Redeemer and Restorer of man in contrast to Satan the destroyer.
Universal Worship to Glory
Because he humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross, God highly exalted him and gave him the highest name above every name. That exaltation means that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and in earth and under the earth will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Though he was in the form of God and equal with God by right, he claimed none of that for himself but made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness and fashion of men, was found as a man, and humbled himself in obedience, and the exaltation is God's wherefore upon that humiliation and obedience. That universal bowing and confessing is to the glory of God the Father.
His exaltation follows his completed saving work and secures the redemption of those who believe in him. The church and the ransomed people are the fruit of that work and his glory through eternity. His supreme name is therefore a call for angels and people of every kindred and tribe to honor Jesus as Lord.
Contrast With Self Exaltation
The exaltation stands directly opposite the temptation that men shall be as gods, and opposite the natural unwillingness of men to act in meekness and lowliness like the great Exemplar. It was given because Christ did not exalt Himself but humbled Himself in obedience even to death on the cross, laying aside royal robe and kingly crown to clothe divinity with humanity. He volunteered to pass over the ground where Adam fell and by a life of perfect obedience to redeem mankind, place the race on vantage ground, and stand at the head of the human race with power vested in Him for redemption.
His exaltation answers the pride and self-sufficiency associated with Satan and proves that humility, not striving for supremacy, has heaven's favor. His self-denial, condescension, and infinite compassion expose human pride, self-importance, self-esteem, and social rank as worthless and put them to shame before Him. The honor belongs to One who was equal with the Father yet came as a servant, so service in His name is an honor and not a humiliation. His followers are therefore not to exalt themselves or resent work that goes unappreciated.
Because people of every class were purchased by His sacrifice and are alike objects of God's love, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, learned and ignorant, meet without caste or worldly distinction at Jesus' feet. Those sanctified through the truth are united as a blood-bought people, all dependent on their Redeemer.
Pattern for Believers Lives
The exaltation is the pattern for the mind believers are to have in themselves, likeminded in love, of one accord and one mind, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness esteeming others better than themselves and looking to the interests and things of others and not only their own. That same mind is courtesy, pity, self-denial and self-sacrifice, learned from One who though in the form of God and equal with God by right claimed none of it for Himself but made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in the likeness and fashion of men, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The highly exalted name above every name is God's Wherefore upon that humiliation and obedience, to be confessed as Lord by every knee in heaven and earth and under the earth to the glory of God the Father.
With that mind believers are to obey and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling while God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. They are to live blameless without murmurings among a crooked nation and shine as lights by holding forth the word of life in sanctified words, universal humility and benevolence, self-denial and self-sacrifice in good works.
All true exaltation grows out of such humiliation, for whoever is exalted by God must first humble himself to the very depths of human woe as Christ did to save perishing souls. Acceptance with God depends not on outward show but on faithful discharge of duty in that same path of meekness and gentleness and truth and righteousness in which He wove Himself into the sympathies of the race. Those who are partakers with Christ in His sufferings, who follow cheerfully in His footsteps, will be partakers with Him in His glory, and the more humble in self-estimation and unselfish in effort the more Christlike the influence and the more exalted in the estimation of the heavenly universe.
Christ trod the path of self-denial and cross-bearing to the lowest depths, giving Himself as an entire holy sacrifice and descending to humiliation so that men obeying God's commands may realize the path has been trodden before them. He took the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life and worked out a perfect character by unselfish ministry drawing men and women to God, so that men need have no fear that weakness of human nature makes overcoming impossible. Accepting Him as personal Saviour and following His example of self-denial is the secret of holiness and the pattern for all His service, that they might be raised to sit together with Him in heavenly places far above all principality and power and accomplish wider influence for good.
His humiliation and shame make possible every mercy, joy, assurance, success and grace for every soul. He who had filled heaven with splendor and was worshiped by the heavenly host humbled Himself to come as man after enduring the cross, and God highly exalted Him to His throne with glory. That exaltation lifts believers to purity, holiness, completeness, peace, rest and joy, raises them to share His glory and sit with Him upon His throne, and brings honor and healing as the gift of the Father's love.
That marvelous work done for humanity is cause for confidence rather than depression or complaint. Having the mind that dwelt in Jesus requires a thorough change of character before God can acknowledge people as His children, producing order in the church and right conduct toward brethren and sisters, including correct observing of the Sabbath, with hearty repentance, confession of wrong, and shame and confusion of face before God for the unrighteous course pursued. It is God's inspired provision to show how to obtain the crown of life and enter into the joy of the Lord, urging hearing of mercy's pleading voice and repentance.
Contemplating His humiliation in coming to this world, His mysterious conflict defeating the powers of darkness, and His exaltation purifies, elevates and ennobles the student of Scripture. It opens truth to the mind and applies it to the heart by the Spirit, giving clearer and broader views, more penetrating discernment, better balanced and far-seeing judgment, expanded understanding, a better sense of personal weakness, and growth in faith and humility. Philippians 2:1-16 is given as a lesson for all to study to learn the way of the Lord as no human voice or counsel can teach, belonging with seeing how transgression required the blood of the Son of the infinite God to redeem man and with viewing Jesus with contrite heart as compassionate tender High Priest.
Declaring His righteousness and love in this humiliation and exaltation revives and quickens people into new life, while leaving it out leaves preaching dry and Christless. His triumphant ascension belongs among central gospel themes to be presented to awaken love and faith. His exalted name above every other name, with the cross of Calvary, must be uplifted where it has not been made known, and every soul is to turn toward lands where Christ has not been lifted up to exalt that name there and go into new places where the gospel has not yet been proclaimed.
Those who honor Him in this way keep His name on their lips, reveal His character in their lives, and represent Him as the Saviour who pardons sin. When they do, the church exerts a powerful influence, its members bearing the fruit of good works and shining as lights in the world with lives plainly distinct from worldlings. Christian life is to reflect His pure self-sacrifice for others to elevate fallen humanity, through working as He worked, loving service, practical care for those in need, and cheerful giving.