The Only Begotten
Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
This famous passage is not often emphasized during Christmas since the season’s focus is on the social and circumstantial events surrounding the birth of our Lord Jesus. However, the Holy Spirit gave the apostle Paul a majestic record of what transpired in the courts of heaven to bring about the incarnation of the Messiah. These succinct statements provide a unique picture of who the Lord Jesus is, how the great eternal Creator became man, and what He accomplished on our behalf on the cross.
Jesus Christ Is the Creator
Whenever we pose the gospel, it is incumbent on us to make sure that we introduce Christ as the Creator—setting the stage with who Jesus is before we tell what He did. The Scriptures are abundantly clear:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made....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. (John 1:1-3, 14)
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
God…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
In the Philippians passage, Paul covers this major issue with the powerful statement that Jesus Christ did not have to “consider it robbery to be equal with God” but possessed the very “form” of God. The word choices reflect the careful connection and unity of the triune nature of God. The “form” of God that Jesus possesses is defined by the Greek word µορφη′ (morphe), which emphasizes the “external appearance.” Paul also told the Colossian church that the Lord Jesus was the “fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
Jesus Christ Is Equal with the Father
When the Lord told His apostles, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30), He was most certainly speaking of the equality that Paul cites in Philippians. It says that Christ “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” The unusual choice of words analyzes the reality of the “equality.”
The word translated “consider” is η′γε′&omic
ron;µαι (hegeomai), which designates a leader who has determined the best solution to a dilemma. The word is used to identify leaders (e.g., chief, governor, judge) as well as the attributes of those who lead well (with the ability to give an account, show esteem, have the rule over, think wisely).
Jesus Christ, during the eternity prior to His incarnation, did not come to the conclusion (using all knowledge) that He was in any way inferior to God the Father. Jesus Christ was “equal to God.” Once again the word choice is absolute. Jesus the Creator is ἰ′σος (isos), the primary word for total equality both in the sense of quantity and quality—with no “robbery” of either amount or value. Whoever and whatever the Second Person of the Godhead may be, there is absolutely no necessity to “grasp” or “steal” or “overcome” any attribute that God possesses.
Jesus Christ Emptied Himself
It is with the word κενο′&ome
ga; (keno) that the transition from the Second Person of the Godhead to the Son of Man begins. Keno is translated in most Bible versions by the phrase “made Himself of no reputation.” Keno is only used five times in the New Testament and is translated with phrases like “make of none effect,” “make of no reputation,” “make void,” and “be in vain,” always in the context of emphasizing a self-induced reduction or emptying of power or assets. That is, the person involved consciously “gives up” or “discards” or “nullifies” a condition or set of attributes that they owned or controlled, and they became “lessened” because of that conscious action.
That one key word verifies that Jesus the Creator consciously and with His own volition divested Himself of His “omni” attributes so that He could become fully the “bondservant” and inhabit the “likeness of men.”
The succinct passage in Philippians 2 also gives us the additional clarity that this divestiture of attributes accomplished the unique transition from full glorious deity, shared by the Trinity from all eternity past (John 17:5, 24), to the “appearance” and “humility” of humanity. The Creator emptied Himself under His own power and will, “taking” the “form” (morphe, the same word used to describe His equality with God the Father) but “found” Himself as a “bondservant.”
At this point the voice of the verb changes. Previously, all the verbs describing what the Lord Jesus was doing were in the active voice. That is, the Creator is doing the action (the emptying and the taking) to Himself. Suddenly, active voice changes to passive and the Lord Jesus is acted upon. He “found” Himself in the “appearance as a man.” The book of Hebrews tells us that the Lord Jesus understood that “a body” had been “prepared for Me” by His Father (Hebrews 10:5).
All of this was done that He might “likewise [share] in the same” (Hebrews 2:14) because “He had to be made like His brethren” (Hebrews 2:17) so that He could be “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The great eternal Creator was willing to become man that He might fulfill all the aspects of the salvation that the triune Godhead had ordained before “the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8).
Jesus Christ Was Both Fully God and Fully Man
But it is also absolutely clear that the Son of Man retained His status as fully God (John 5:43; 6:35-51; 7:28-36; 8:23-58; 9:5-39; 10:7-34; 11:25-26; etc.). The Son of Man demonstrated His power and authority through the seven great miracles of creation recorded in the gospel of John. The simplest display of the Creator’s power was in turning water into wine in John 2:1-11. The Scriptures abound with this teaching.
Jesus Christ Became the Unique God-Man to Provide Salvation
No celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16), would be complete or satisfactory if we did not celebrate the reason for His incarnation. That reason is summarized in this verse:
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
When you gather with your families or with your church friends—or even as you unwind with your Bible in your private devotions—please give your mind and heart to meditate on these precious words:
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. (1 Peter 1:18-20)
May your Christmas season be filled with the “praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6).
Joseph, the Unsung Hero - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min. *
Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
This famous passage is not often emphasized during Christmas since the season’s focus is on the social and circumstantial events surrounding the birth of our Lord Jesus. However, the Holy Spirit gave the apostle Paul a majestic record of what transpired in the courts of heaven to bring about the incarnation of the Messiah. These succinct statements provide a unique picture of who the Lord Jesus is, how the great eternal Creator became man, and what He accomplished on our behalf on the cross.
Jesus Christ Is the Creator
Whenever we pose the gospel, it is incumbent on us to make sure that we introduce Christ as the Creator—setting the stage with who Jesus is before we tell what He did. The Scriptures are abundantly clear:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made....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. (John 1:1-3, 14)
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
God…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
In the Philippians passage, Paul covers this major issue with the powerful statement that Jesus Christ did not have to “consider it robbery to be equal with God” but possessed the very “form” of God. The word choices reflect the careful connection and unity of the triune nature of God. The “form” of God that Jesus possesses is defined by the Greek word µορφη′ (morphe), which emphasizes the “external appearance.” Paul also told the Colossian church that the Lord Jesus was the “fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
Jesus Christ Is Equal with the Father
When the Lord told His apostles, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30), He was most certainly speaking of the equality that Paul cites in Philippians. It says that Christ “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” The unusual choice of words analyzes the reality of the “equality.”
The word translated “consider” is η′γε′&omic
ron;µαι (hegeomai), which designates a leader who has determined the best solution to a dilemma. The word is used to identify leaders (e.g., chief, governor, judge) as well as the attributes of those who lead well (with the ability to give an account, show esteem, have the rule over, think wisely).
Jesus Christ, during the eternity prior to His incarnation, did not come to the conclusion (using all knowledge) that He was in any way inferior to God the Father. Jesus Christ was “equal to God.” Once again the word choice is absolute. Jesus the Creator is ἰ′σος (isos), the primary word for total equality both in the sense of quantity and quality—with no “robbery” of either amount or value. Whoever and whatever the Second Person of the Godhead may be, there is absolutely no necessity to “grasp” or “steal” or “overcome” any attribute that God possesses.
Jesus Christ Emptied Himself
It is with the word κενο′&ome
ga; (keno) that the transition from the Second Person of the Godhead to the Son of Man begins. Keno is translated in most Bible versions by the phrase “made Himself of no reputation.” Keno is only used five times in the New Testament and is translated with phrases like “make of none effect,” “make of no reputation,” “make void,” and “be in vain,” always in the context of emphasizing a self-induced reduction or emptying of power or assets. That is, the person involved consciously “gives up” or “discards” or “nullifies” a condition or set of attributes that they owned or controlled, and they became “lessened” because of that conscious action.
That one key word verifies that Jesus the Creator consciously and with His own volition divested Himself of His “omni” attributes so that He could become fully the “bondservant” and inhabit the “likeness of men.”
The succinct passage in Philippians 2 also gives us the additional clarity that this divestiture of attributes accomplished the unique transition from full glorious deity, shared by the Trinity from all eternity past (John 17:5, 24), to the “appearance” and “humility” of humanity. The Creator emptied Himself under His own power and will, “taking” the “form” (morphe, the same word used to describe His equality with God the Father) but “found” Himself as a “bondservant.”
At this point the voice of the verb changes. Previously, all the verbs describing what the Lord Jesus was doing were in the active voice. That is, the Creator is doing the action (the emptying and the taking) to Himself. Suddenly, active voice changes to passive and the Lord Jesus is acted upon. He “found” Himself in the “appearance as a man.” The book of Hebrews tells us that the Lord Jesus understood that “a body” had been “prepared for Me” by His Father (Hebrews 10:5).
All of this was done that He might “likewise [share] in the same” (Hebrews 2:14) because “He had to be made like His brethren” (Hebrews 2:17) so that He could be “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The great eternal Creator was willing to become man that He might fulfill all the aspects of the salvation that the triune Godhead had ordained before “the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8).
Jesus Christ Was Both Fully God and Fully Man
But it is also absolutely clear that the Son of Man retained His status as fully God (John 5:43; 6:35-51; 7:28-36; 8:23-58; 9:5-39; 10:7-34; 11:25-26; etc.). The Son of Man demonstrated His power and authority through the seven great miracles of creation recorded in the gospel of John. The simplest display of the Creator’s power was in turning water into wine in John 2:1-11. The Scriptures abound with this teaching.
Jesus Christ Became the Unique God-Man to Provide Salvation
No celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16), would be complete or satisfactory if we did not celebrate the reason for His incarnation. That reason is summarized in this verse:
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
When you gather with your families or with your church friends—or even as you unwind with your Bible in your private devotions—please give your mind and heart to meditate on these precious words:
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. (1 Peter 1:18-20)
May your Christmas season be filled with the “praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6).
Joseph, the Unsung Hero - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Joseph, her fianc�, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. -Matthew 1:19
Joseph is the unsung hero of the Christmas story. For the most part, there are no Christmas songs about Joseph. Yet he really is a hero. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a "good man" (Matthew 1:19). Deeply in love with Mary, he was no doubt jolted by the news that she was pregnant.
Joseph and Mary were engaged, which, in their culture, was like being married. Once a couple entered into this engagement, or espousal, period, it was like being married, although they lived in separate houses. It was during this time that Mary became pregnant.
Yet Joseph loved Mary, and the Bible tells us that he "did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly" (Matthew 1:19). In other words, Joseph was thinking, I'm going to say that I can't marry her now, but I'm certainly not going to publicly shame Mary, either.
While he was pondering this, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him, "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (verses 20-21).
That was all Joseph needed to hear. He could have walked away, even after he knew the truth. But he stood by Mary. And just as surely as God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah, he chose Joseph to be a father figure on earth for Jesus.
When God uses a person, there is a sacrifice to make. It won't be an easy path, but it will be a fruitful one-and you will look back later in life and be glad that you took it.
Opening the Tomb of Jesus - By Eric Metaxas - http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/30123
The Historical Reality of Our Faith
For a sixty-hour period beginning on October 26th, researchers had unprecedented access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site long-venerated as the place where Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus' body on Good Friday.
Then on October 28th, the tomb was resealed and may not be re-opened until, as the Nicene Creed says, He comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
As National Geographic told readers, "While it is archaeologically impossible to say that the tomb recently uncovered in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the burial site of . . . . Jesus of Nazareth, there is indirect evidence to suggest that the identification of the site by representatives of the Roman emperor Constantine some 300 years later may be a reasonable one."
First some history: According to the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, the Roman emperor Hadrian, about 100 years after Jesus' death and resurrection, had a temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite built over the site of Jesus' tomb. This was not by accident.
Two centuries later, the emperor Constantine had the pagan temple demolished and in the process, discovered what was believed to be the tomb of Jesus. Constantine ordered a church to be built around the tomb.
The church we see at the site today is not the original. That one was damaged by earthquakes and fires. It was repaired but later demolished by a Fatimid caliph in the early eleventh century and then rebuilt again and damaged again, so forth and so on.
Yet the pilgrims kept coming, so much so that in the 16th century the burial bed in the tomb was covered in marble to keep people from taking home souvenirs.
This is a great story, but is there reason to believe that it's the site of God's mightiest work, the raising of Jesus from the dead?
What researchers found was "perfectly consistent with what we know about how wealthy Jews disposed of their dead in the time of Jesus."
Wealthy Jews like Joseph of Arimathea.
The presence of other tombs nearby shows that "this area was a Jewish cemetery outside the walls of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus," which is consistent with the Gospels' account of Jesus' burial as well as with Hebrews 13:12, "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate."
Dan Bahat, the former city archaeologist of Jerusalem, put it this way: ""We may not be absolutely certain that the site of the Holy Sepulcher Church is the site of Jesus' burial, but we certainly have no other site that can lay a claim nearly as weighty, and we really have no reason to reject the authenticity of the site."
Like I said, it's a great story. But it's also a reminder that Christianity is a faith rooted in real time. The events that began on Good Friday and culminated on Easter Sunday took place, not in some mythological time, but in human history.
Think of Luke's gospel and its companion volume, the Book of Acts. Luke names specific Roman emperors and governors, not Zeus and Hermes. As I recently related on BreakPoint, his description of the riot at Ephesus in Acts 19 included details that only someone intimately acquainted with the city could have known.
It could hardly be otherwise. We are saved by a historical act: the Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.
And one day, that history will culminate in his return in glory. We know this because the tomb that was opened last month was empty.
Surprised to Be Chosen - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. -Luke 1:29
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of the Messiah, she was honestly surprised that God would select someone like her.
Though Mary was a virtuous woman, she was not a sinless woman. Mary was a sinner just like us. Privileged? Yes. Called by God? Yes. Sinful? Again, yes. Later, in what has been called the Magnificat, or Mary's Song, she said, "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:47). Even Mary needed a Savior.
When people are truly godly, they never boast of their devotion. They will not speak of what they have done for God. Rather, they will always speak of what God has done for them. That is why John described himself in his Gospel as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John boasted of God's love for him rather than his love for God.
Had Mary been like many other young women of her time, she would have married a poor man, given birth to numerous children, and wouldn't have traveled more than a few miles from her home. Then she would have died like thousands of others before her, another person who entered and left the human stage. But God chose her, despite the fact that Mary was a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere.
Mary was handpicked to fulfill prophecy: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). I seriously doubt that Mary, in her wildest dreams, ever read that verse and thought, That is me. I'm going to be the virgin Isaiah spoke of. I'm going to be the mother of the Messiah.
God can use you where you are.
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