Steps Down Jesus Took
(selflessness; servanthood, sacrifice, submission)
An ATTITUDE of the SAVIOR (v5-11)
The PURPOSE of the passage (v5)
The EXHORTATION involved
The DIRECTIVE (have this mind in you)
Present tense = continual action
Imperative mood = command
The DEFINITION (mind)
This not simply speaking of a casual thought
This is an identical attitude; a constant reflection
The EXAMPLE involved = Christ
The PORTRAIT of the passage (v6-8)
His SELFLESSNESS
The ACCOUNT of Christ
His DURATION
He existed
Christ is eternal (no beginning no end)
Christ pre-existed before Bethlehem
Christ claimed His pre-existence (John 8:58)
Before Abraham was = Abraham lived 2,000 years prior to the birth of Christ
I am = Claiming eternal existence taking on the very name of god (Exodus 3:14)
Jews accuse Him of blasphemy (Jn 8:59)
His DEITY
In the form of God
Form = exact nature (Greek morphe)
More than an external appearance
Speaks of an inner essential abiding nature
Strongest words used to describe deity
Christ’s deity is proven by His claims, works, attributes and that He was worshipped as God