Jesus Emptied Philippians2:7, Matthew20:18-19
We begin a three week series on the important empty things we celebrate as followers of Lord Jesus Christ. We will consider: Jesus Emptied; the Empty Cross; and the Empty Tomb.
Jesus is our Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Lord, and example. He is eternal God, the Only Begotten Son, and the Lamb that was slain before the world was made. He has always been. He has always been God Even when He was on earth bodily among men, He was “God with us.”...fully God while fully man.
We call Him – Lord Jesus Christ. We will talk about what those names mean and what/who Jesus was and what He emptied Himself of as referred to in Philippians2:7.
THEOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY – Did Jesus give up some of His divine attributes while on earth?
Late 19th - early 20th century Germany and England
View not advocated up to that point in history of the the Christian church...based on one word in one verse. Philippians2:7 kenosis (kenotic theology=Jesus, God, for a time gave up some of his Godlike qualities, those that were most difficult for people to accept in the modern world.)
Source of new interpretation – NOT a better understanding of original language or culture of Philippians2:7... RATHER discomfort with reconciling modern (then) rational and “scientific” thinking with a Jesus who was fully human and fully, absolutely God at the same time.
QUICK COURSE IN MODERNISM & POST-MODERNISM
Modernism = Rational thinking replaces acceptance of tradition, religion, faith. Truth must be demonstrable / scientific
Post-Modernism = There is not rational reasoning. There is no absolute truth. All truth is relative. Something can be true and untrue at the same time.
OF WHAT DID JESUS EMPTY HIMSELF?
NOT His Omnipotence – Matthew8:26-27; 14:19; John2:1-11; Colossians1:17
NOT His Omniscience – Mark2:8; John6:64; 2:25
NOT His Omnipresence – Matthew18:20
NOT His Sovereignty – Mark2:5-7; Matthew5:22, 28,32,34,39,44; 11:26-27
NOT His Immortality – John2:19 (Jesus really died. i.e. he was raised from the dead – Jesus said He would have an active role in his own resurrection); John10:17-18; 18:37
NOT His Worthiness of Worship – Matthew2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; John9:35-39
JESUS GAVE UP HIS RIGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS KING OF ALL
And took on the form of a servant.
To show us the attitude we should have Phil.2:5
To show us the way we should live Phil.2:12-17
JESUS WAS FULLY MAN
With a Will to bring into subjection – tempted Matthew4; John5:30; 6:38; Mark14:36
With Physical and Emotional limitations – wept, tired, hungered, thirsted, struggled against death and shame, bled and died
THE NECESSITY
To represent obedience Romans5:18-19
To be substitute sacrifice
To be the one mediator between God and man
To fulfill God's original purpose for man to rule over creation (by obeying God, He has the right to rule over creation as man.)
To be our example and pattern of life
JESUS WAS FULLY GOD – THE NECESSITY
Only God could bear the full penalty for all sin
Salvation is from the Lord-only He can save Jonah2:9 ;Psalm3:8; Jeremiah3:23; Acts2:21; 4:12
Mediator between God and man need be fully God
Jesus (man) Lord (God) Christ (substitute and mediator)
Paradoxes 1) Jesus fully God and fully man
2) God calls and chooses those who will be saved and Each person is responsible for his/her decision to trust or reject Jesus as Lord and Savior. Ephesians1:4; 1Peter1;20; Revelation22:17; John3:15-18; Romans10:11,13
