Christian Life Church
December 17, 2023 at 8:30am & 10:00am
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-7, ESV
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 17, 2023
WHEN JESUS STEPPED DOWN
SCRIPTURE
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-7, ESV
Incarnation: The act of the eternal Son of God becoming a human being.
At the incarnation, God writes Himself into our story.
“The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.” J.I. Packer
JESUS IS EQUAL
In every way, Jesus is equal with God the Father.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God… Colossians 1:15
Christ Himself was an Israelite as far as His human nature is concerned. And He is God, the One who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Romans 9:5
[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. Hebrews 1:3
In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
JESUS IS EMPTIED
Kenosis: The self-emptying of God.
For Christ to become human, He had to lay down some things and pick up other things, but He never laid down His divinity.
Credit to John MacArthur for the concept and part of the outline.
1/ Jesus stepped down from certain divine rights and privileges.
Jesus gave up the right to call on heavenly assistance.
Jesus gave up the right to be glorified, worshiped and honored.
Jesus gave up the privilege of continued omniscience (all knowing).
Jesus used the omni-attributes at times but did not at other times.
Jesus gave up the privilege of continued omnipotence (all powerful).
Jesus gave up the privilege of continued omnipresence (all places).
2/ Jesus stepped down into humanity.
Jesus took on the frailty of a human.
“Man’s Maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain (would) thirst, the Light (would) sleep, the Way (would) be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.” St. Augustine
Jesus took on the warfare of a human.
He understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. Hebrews 4:15
Jesus took on the natural limitations of a human.
Jesus took on the appearance of a human.
He had to be made like us, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
Jesus took on the emotions of a human.
3/ Jesus stepped down into servanthood.
Jesus served people on an eternal level.
Jesus served people on an earthly level.
4/ Jesus stepped down into humility.
Jesus was born in a humble time.
Jesus was born into a humble family.
Jesus was born into a humble town.
Jesus was born in a humble place.
Jesus lived in a humble manner.
Jesus died a humble death.
5/ Jesus stepped down into death.
He went to the place of the dead, but death could not hold Him!
JESUS IS EXALTED
He left the high heavens to the depths of death only to rise to the highest heavens!
BUT WHY?!
“The Son of God became a Son of Man in order that sons of man could become sons of God.” C.S. Lewis
WHEN JESUS STEPPED DOWN
SCRIPTURE
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-7, ESV
Incarnation: The act of the eternal Son of God becoming a human being.
At the incarnation, God writes Himself into our story.
“The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.” J.I. Packer
JESUS IS EQUAL
In every way, Jesus is equal with God the Father.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God… Colossians 1:15
Christ Himself was an Israelite as far as His human nature is concerned. And He is God, the One who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Romans 9:5
[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. Hebrews 1:3
In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
JESUS IS EMPTIED
Kenosis: The self-emptying of God.
For Christ to become human, He had to lay down some things and pick up other things, but He never laid down His divinity.
Credit to John MacArthur for the concept and part of the outline.
1/ Jesus stepped down from certain divine rights and privileges.
Jesus gave up the right to call on heavenly assistance.
Jesus gave up the right to be glorified, worshiped and honored.
Jesus gave up the privilege of continued omniscience (all knowing).
Jesus used the omni-attributes at times but did not at other times.
Jesus gave up the privilege of continued omnipotence (all powerful).
Jesus gave up the privilege of continued omnipresence (all places).
2/ Jesus stepped down into humanity.
Jesus took on the frailty of a human.
“Man’s Maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain (would) thirst, the Light (would) sleep, the Way (would) be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.” St. Augustine
Jesus took on the warfare of a human.
He understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. Hebrews 4:15
Jesus took on the natural limitations of a human.
Jesus took on the appearance of a human.
He had to be made like us, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
Jesus took on the emotions of a human.
3/ Jesus stepped down into servanthood.
Jesus served people on an eternal level.
Jesus served people on an earthly level.
4/ Jesus stepped down into humility.
Jesus was born in a humble time.
Jesus was born into a humble family.
Jesus was born into a humble town.
Jesus was born in a humble place.
Jesus lived in a humble manner.
Jesus died a humble death.
5/ Jesus stepped down into death.
He went to the place of the dead, but death could not hold Him!
JESUS IS EXALTED
He left the high heavens to the depths of death only to rise to the highest heavens!
BUT WHY?!
“The Son of God became a Son of Man in order that sons of man could become sons of God.” C.S. Lewis