Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 18

Paul Declares the Humble and the Exalted Christ Jesus Part 2

Philippians 2:8-9 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: KJV

Our Lord Jesus Christ not only (being God) humbled Himself to the low point of becoming a Man, that is, a human being that He created, but the Apostle Paul now details for these Philippian believers and we believers today how He even humbled Himself lower as a Man, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). It is incomprehensible that the very God that spoke man into existence, would love man so much that in order to restore man to the honor and worth that man held in God the Father’s heart before the first man Adam sinned and disobeyed God the Father, Moses documents for us with these words, “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:15-17), would now die (taking man’s sin and rebellion upon Himself) to bring man back to the heart of God the Father. As the second person of the God-Head, our Lord Jesus Christ could never die in that capacity, therefore, His humble and loving sacrifice of putting Himself in a weak human body shows us what real humility looks like. Who among us would sacrifice their life for those who hate you, despise you, mock you, profane you, blaspheme you, etc.?

The answer is none of us would, but the Man Christ Jesus did, therefore, when we lose sight of what it means to be truly humble in this life, let us always look back again and again to the Cross at Calvary to remind ourselves of what humility it took to keep us out of hell and eternal torment and then look at each one of our spiritual brothers and sisters “in Christ” with the love, care, honor, and humility the Apostle Paul has been exhorting these Philippian believers to see in one another as he just said earlier, “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.” (Philippians 2:3-4). It is through suffering for Christ sake that we should learn obedience just as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:8). Paul now shifts his focus to the place our Lord Jesus Christ holds now because of His humble obedience to God the Father by declaring, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:9). The English phrase “hath highly exalted” is translated by one Greek word huperupsoo (this is the only time this word is used in the Bible) which means to elevate above others, that is, raise to the highest position: - highly exalt.

In other words, for His self-humiliation and obedience to dying on the Cross for the worlds sin, our Lord Jesus Christ the God-Man has been given by God the Father the highest place in heaven above all the angels (1 Peter 3:22), therefore, if these Philippian believers and we believers today want to be exalted in the sight of God we too must humble ourselves as it is written, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:5-7). God the Father exalted Jesus Christ as Man to equality with God, therefore, the Man Christ Jesus as it is written is far above all, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’? And again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son’? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’ (Hebrews 1:1-6).

“Laid Himself as low as possible: In emptying Himself - laying aside the effulgence of His glory. In being incarnate - taking upon Him the human form. In becoming a servant - assuming the lowest innocent character, that of being the servant of all. In condescending to die, to which He was not naturally liable, as having never sinned, and therefore had a right in His human nature to immortality, without passing under the empire of death. In condescending, not only to death, but to the lowest and most ignominious kind of death, the death of the cross; the punishment of the meanest of slaves and worst of felons. What must sin have been in the sight of God, when it required such abasement in Jesus Christ to make an atonement for it, and undo its influence and malignity!” Adam Clarke

“From which it appears that no creature of God is so far exalted and so glorious as the man Christ Jesus, human nature being in Him dignified infinitely beyond the angelic nature; and that this nature has an authority and pre-eminence which no being, either in heaven or earth, enjoys. In a word, as man was in the beginning at the head of all the creatures of God, Jesus Christ, by assuming human nature, suffering and dying in it, has raised it to its pristine state. And this is probably what is here meant by this high exaltation of Christ, and giving Him a name which is above every name. But if we refer to any particular epithet, then the name Jesus or Savior must be that which is intended; as no being either in heaven or earth can possess this name as He who is the Redeemer of the world does, for He is the only Savior; none has or could redeem us to God but He; and throughout eternity He will ever appear as the sole Savior of the human race. Hence, before His birth, Gabriel stated that His name should be called Jesus; giving for reason, He shall Save His people from their sins. The qualifications of the Savior of the world were so extraordinary, the redeeming acts so stupendous, and the result of all so glorious both to God and man, that it is impossible to conceive a higher name or title than that of Jesus, or Savior of the world.” Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…