The Mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5–11 In Philippians 2:3–4, Paul admonished Christians to live in spiritual unity with one another. Nothing was to be done within the church through selfish ambition or arrogant pride. Christians in Philippi were not to be self-centered, focused only on their own interests and plans, but genuinely concerned about others. They were to love and care for others as they would for theGet More Articles—Subscribe Today!
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David Levy points out a lot, but just in addressing Phil 2:7, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men,” which speaks of Jesus emptying Himself of what He possessed, preexistent with God the Father.
But as I then read the various positions of confused Christians that Levy points out, I wondered had they not read “the when” Jesus began to heal the sick, walk on water, work miracles, and knew what people were thinking?
Clearly Jesus was God, and He could not “unbecome” God, but He could take on humanity at the same time. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” – Col 2:9
Just looking at the first chapter in the Gospel of John, Jhn 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And again in Jhn 1:14 , “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
When some ask if Jesus stopped being God, meaning that He set aside His Godly powers, how then do you explain Him healing the sick, the lame, and the blind? And how do you explain Him walking on water, raising the dead, and forgiving sins?
In each of the four Gospels, citing here John 1:32, it says, And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.” And then in Luke 4:1 we’re told, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” So then it “was after” the Holy Spirt came upon Jesus that He said in Matthew 12:28, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
In Acts 10:38 the Holy Spirit had Luke write, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” So it was that after The Holy Spirit had come upon Him that Jesus began to perform miracles.
Now one would ask why was God’s plan to do it this way, for Jesus to wait to do His work after the Holy Spirt, the Third Person of the Trinity, came upon Him? Might that answer be the reason when Jesus said in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
Had Jesus not have done the works after the Holy Spirit came upon Him, could we not have replied to that statement of Jesus with the excuse, “The same works as you? Yeah but Jesus, you’re God, we’re not?” Well, should we try to use that excuse for doing no works, we will be convicted by the Holy Spirt, dwelling within us, that the same Spirit of power that Jesus had, God has given to us.
RJ Steckler