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JESUS' HUMANITY (2 OF 4)
by Marion Clark
Scripture: Philippians 2:6-11
This content is part of a series.
Jesus' Humanity (2 of 4)
Series: The Incarnation
Marion Clark
Philippians 2:6-11
Introduction
Last Sunday we began a four-part series on the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We looked at it in light of Jesus' divinity. Here is what we concluded. When Jesus became incarnated - i.e. when he became man - he continued to be God. That's it. That's the whole lesson of last week. Jesus did not quit being God for a while, nor did he dilute his divinity by mixing in some humanity. He remained fully divine in all of his attributes and powers. This morning, we are going to consider the second aspect of the incarnation - that Jesus became fully human.
The Text
Let's look at our text: 6 Who, being in very nature God. The King James Version says the form of God. That term was a fine translation in its day, but the implications of ''form'' today makes it inadequate. With ''form'' you get the idea that Christ was God only in appearance, like an outer mold. He has the shape, but not the essence of God. But it is the essence of what it means to be God that Christ possessed, and that Paul is trying to convey. That is why he uses the term ''morphe'' which the New International Version translates as ''very nature.''
Why doesn't Paul just say, ''being God''? Remember, God is three-persons-in-one. Paul is expressing the concept that Christ is God in essence, yet he is God the Son distinct from the Father. Not all three persons of the Godhead become man. It is only God the Son. We have to accept the fact that the Trinity makes God, and understanding God, complicated. But then, how else can it be? God is God; we are but human creatures.
The second part of verse 6 leads us towards the incarnation: did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. To understand this comment we need to consider the context in which it has been placed. Paul had just written these verses: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better ...
Series: The Incarnation
Marion Clark
Philippians 2:6-11
Introduction
Last Sunday we began a four-part series on the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We looked at it in light of Jesus' divinity. Here is what we concluded. When Jesus became incarnated - i.e. when he became man - he continued to be God. That's it. That's the whole lesson of last week. Jesus did not quit being God for a while, nor did he dilute his divinity by mixing in some humanity. He remained fully divine in all of his attributes and powers. This morning, we are going to consider the second aspect of the incarnation - that Jesus became fully human.
The Text
Let's look at our text: 6 Who, being in very nature God. The King James Version says the form of God. That term was a fine translation in its day, but the implications of ''form'' today makes it inadequate. With ''form'' you get the idea that Christ was God only in appearance, like an outer mold. He has the shape, but not the essence of God. But it is the essence of what it means to be God that Christ possessed, and that Paul is trying to convey. That is why he uses the term ''morphe'' which the New International Version translates as ''very nature.''
Why doesn't Paul just say, ''being God''? Remember, God is three-persons-in-one. Paul is expressing the concept that Christ is God in essence, yet he is God the Son distinct from the Father. Not all three persons of the Godhead become man. It is only God the Son. We have to accept the fact that the Trinity makes God, and understanding God, complicated. But then, how else can it be? God is God; we are but human creatures.
The second part of verse 6 leads us towards the incarnation: did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. To understand this comment we need to consider the context in which it has been placed. Paul had just written these verses: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better ...
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