The Exaltation of Christ and His Lordship (Philippians 2:9-11)
This sermon delves into Philippians 2:9-11, examining God's powerful response to Christ's humility and His subsequent exaltation. It invites listeners to grasp the profound implications of Jesus' Lordship and its practical application to their own lives.
This sermon explores Christ's exaltation by God in response to His humility, culminating in Him receiving the supreme name of 'Lord.' This serves as a divine principle for believers: those who humble themselves will be exalted by God.
Overview
This sermon centers on Philippians 2:9-11, presenting it as God's magnificent response to Christ's prior humiliation, detailed in Philippians 2:5-8. The passage is likely an early church hymn, encapsulating the Christian faith's core themes of Christ's suffering and subsequent glory.
Beyond mere theological detail, the sermon emphasizes the passage's practical application, highlighted by Philippians 2:5: "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." This attitude involves humbling oneself so that God may exalt them, a principle reinforced by Jesus' own teachings and other New Testament writers.
The first key aspect of Christ's exaltation discussed is its divine source: God. God "highly exalted Him" through a four-fold process of resurrection, ascension, coronation, and intercession. As the God-Man, Christ gained new rights and privileges through His incarnation, such as the ability to intercede as High Priest, making His exaltation a new experience of glory.
The second major point is the title of Christ's exaltation: "Lord." This is identified as "the name which is above every name," signifying His supreme sovereignty and rulership, rooted in the Old Testament concept of Yahweh. The sermon stresses that the confession "Jesus Christ is Lord" is the fundamental Christian creed, a truth bestowed by God, not a status believers "make" Him attain.
Key points
- Philippians 2:9-11 details God's exaltation of Jesus Christ as a direct response to His profound humiliation (Philippians 2:5-8).
- The sermon highlights a core divine principle: those who humble themselves will be exalted, exemplified by Christ and affirmed by Jesus, James, and Peter.
- The source of Christ's "super exaltation" is God, who initiated His resurrection, ascension, coronation, and intercession.
- As the God-Man, Christ received unique privileges, like serving as the interceding High Priest, which were a new experience beyond His pre-incarnate deity.
- The "name which is above every name" bestowed upon Christ is "Lord," signifying His ultimate authority and sovereign rulership.
- The confession "Jesus Christ is Lord" is presented as the essential Christian creed, a truth established by God rather than something believers decide.
- The term "Lord" (kurios) inherently means master and owner, underscoring that Christ's role as Savior is inseparable from His authority as ruler.
In John MacArthur's words
“If you desire to be lifted up by God, you will humble yourself.”
“The one who humbles himself is the one whom God exalts. The one who lifts himself up is the one whom God will humiliate.”
“No one can receive half a Christ or a third of Christ or a quarter of the person of Christ.”
Outline
- I. The Practical Principle for Believers
- A. Humiliation and Exaltation as an Illustration
- B. The Attitude of Christ
- C. God's Promise of Exaltation for the Humble
- II. God's Marvelous Exaltation of Jesus Christ
- A. The Source of His Exaltation: God
- 1. Connected to His Humiliation
- 2. Elements of His Exaltation: Resurrection, Ascension, Coronation, Intercession
- 3. New Privileges as the God/Man
- B. The Title of His Exaltation: Lord
- 1. The Name Above Every Name
- 2. "Lord" as the New Testament Equivalent of Yahweh
- 3. The Centrality of Lordship in Christian Confession
- 4. The Inseparability of Savior and Lord
Scripture references
- Philippians 2:9-11
- Philippians 2:5-8
- 1 Peter 1:11
- Hebrews 12:2
- Matthew 23:12
- Luke 14:11
- Luke 18:14
- James 4:10
- 1 Peter 5:6
- Acts 2:32
- Acts 2:33
- Acts 5:30
- Acts 5:31
- Hebrews 4:14
- Hebrews 7:26
- Hebrews 7:25
- Romans 14:9
- 1 Corinthians 15:24
- Isaiah 45:21
- Isaiah 45:22
- Isaiah 45:23
- Revelation 2:17
- Revelation 3:12
- Luke 2:11
- John 13:13
- Acts 2:36
- Acts 10:36
- Romans 10:9
- Romans 10:10
- Romans 10:11
- Romans 14:11
- Romans 14:9-11
- 1 Corinthians 8:6
- 1 Corinthians 12:3
- 1 Corinthians 15:57
- 2 Corinthians 4:5
- Revelation 17:14
- Revelation 19:16
- Acts 2:21
- Acts 16:31
- Hebrews 1:4
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Insights
Humility often precedes a new experience of God's lifting.
God's economy rewards self-sacrifice with true life and exaltation.
Christ's suffering paved the way for an unparalleled glory.
Questions & answers
What is the main argument of this sermon?
The sermon argues that Christ's exaltation by God is a direct result of His profound humiliation, demonstrating a divine principle for believers: those who humble themselves will be exalted. It emphasizes that Christ's supreme title is "Lord."
What is the "attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) as explained in this sermon?
This attitude is one of willingly humbling oneself, considering others superior, and looking out for their interests. The sermon teaches that God will lift up those who humble themselves in this way.
What is the "name which is above every name" that God bestowed upon Jesus?
The sermon argues this name is "Lord," not "Jesus." It signifies His supreme sovereignty and rulership, distinct from His name given at birth, and implies His deity and authority.
What does the sermon say about "making Jesus Lord"?
The sermon strongly refutes the idea that believers "make" Jesus Lord. God Himself made Him Lord, and it is a confession of an existing truth, not a decision to grant Him authority. To be saved, one must confess Jesus as Lord.
What are the four elements of Christ's exaltation mentioned in the sermon?
The four-fold exaltation of Christ includes His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to heaven, His coronation on God's throne, and His intercession as the High Priest for His people.
How did Christ receive more in His exaltation, if He was already God?
While Jesus as God could not be elevated further in His divine nature, as the God-Man, He received new privileges and rights after His incarnation. These include the unique role of being the interceding High Priest, having experienced human infirmities.
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