“HE THAT HUMBLETH HIMSELF SHALL BE EXALTED.”
-DEC. 5.-PHIL.
2:1-11.-
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”-Phil. 2:5.
THE exhortations of
this lesson are taken from the Apostle’s letter to the Church at Philippi. It
will be remembered that this Church was the first one founded in Europe: the
particulars connected with its small beginning were noted in our lessons for
July 4th and 11th. Referring to the smallness of its beginning Dr. McLaren,
commenting upon the account of how the Apostle and his companions found outside
the city by the river bank a place of resort for prayer and “spake unto the
women which resorted thither,” says:-
“Not blowing of trumpets, not beating of drums of any sort. A few women
and some worn out travelers talking together by the banks of the rushing river.
How scornfully the great folk of Philippi would have smiled, if they had been
told that the chief title of their city to be remembered at all would be the
presence in it of that one insignificant Jew, and his letter to the Church
founded on that morning!”
The Apostle indirectly reveals something respecting the general character
of the Philippian Church in the Epistle written to it: we find in it nothing
like reproof or correction, as we find in most of the epistles written to other
Churches by the same Apostle. It is a particularly beautiful and loving letter
and indicates a very close sympathetic bond between the Apostle and this Church
in particular. Moreover, this Church on four different occasions that we know
of rendered the Apostle practical sympathy by financial assistance, as well as
by words of comfort and cheer. While at Thessalonica he twice received their
gifts in his support; again while he was at Corinth they ministered to him, and
again when he was a prisoner in Rome they did not forget him. It was their
messenger, Epaphroditus, who brought this last memorial of their love, who was
“sick unto death”-probably prostrated by the malarial fever. On his recovery,
the Apostle Paul sent back with him this beautiful letter known to us as The
Epistle to the Philippians. (Phil. 2:25-28; 4:14-19; 2 Cor. 11:9.) The other
Churches may possibly have ministered to the Apostle also, but if so the fact
is not recorded; apparently they missed a great opportunity, and we may be sure
that while the Apostle did urge them to contribute to the relief of the
brethren at Jerusalem, during a period of famine, he would not make a request
for personal assistance, however much he may have been in need, or however much
he might have appreciated even small manifestations of their love for him and
the cause he served.
* * *
The lesson before us respecting Christian humility does not intimate that
this grace was lacking among the Philippians, but that the Apostle recognized
it as being one of the most important of all the graces, and one which required
continual cultivation, in order to a continual growth in the likeness of
Christ. The opening words of this lesson are an exhortation to brotherly-love
and affection amongst themselves. He says, If there be any consolation in
Christ, if there be any comfort of love to those who are in him, if they have
any heart, if they have any mercies,-as though he would put them to the test
whether or not any would deny that these graces appertain to all who have come
into Christ as new creatures. Then, as though they had assented to his
proposition, conceding that there is comfort, love, fellowship, sympathy and
consolation in Christ for one another, he adds: You can fill my joy full by
being thus minded toward each other-having love for each other, being in
sympathy and accord with each other, and having one mind or purpose or will as
a Church, the Lord’s will. How grand an expression this is, his joy would be
filled merely by knowing of their sympathy and love for him, not by knowing of
their professions of love for the Lord, but by knowing that they loved,
sympathized with and consoled one another, in the proper
fellowship of the members of the body of Christ! This would fill his joy more
full than anything else that he could know respecting them. Likewise, we may be
sure the same conditions would be most pleasing and most acceptable in the
sight of our Lord and Savior. The Apostle John had the same thought respecting
brotherly-love in the Church as an indication of its godliness, when he says:
“He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he
hath not seen?”-1 John 4:20.
To this end-that such a spirit of perfect unity and fellowship might
obtain amongst the believers at Philippi, Paul exhorts
that all shall cultivate the grace of humility, and that in every affair each
shall take heed that “nothing be done through strife or vain glory,” that self-laudation
and strivings for preeminence be thoroughly put away as the greatest enemies to
the spirit of the Lord and the blessing of the Church. On the contrary, each
should have that lowliness of mind which can see the good qualities of
fellow-members and appreciate some of these qualities at least as superior to
his own. Lowliness of mind does not necessarily signify an ignorance of
any talents or graces which we ourselves may possess; but so long as the Church
is in the present imperfect or tabernacle condition, the perfection of all the
graces, and all the talents, and all the abilities,
need never be expected in any one person in any congregation. So, then, each
one may, if he be of lowly mind, see in others certain good qualities or graces
superior to his own and should delight to recognize these and to esteem their
possessor accordingly.
For each one to look merely upon his own things, interests, welfare
or talents and to ignore these in others would manifest a general selfishness,
and consequently a dearth of the spirit of Christ, which is a spirit of love
and generosity. In proportion as we are filled more and more with the holy
spirit, love, we will find ourselves interested in the welfare of others. This
was the mind, disposition or spirit which was in our dear Redeemer,-which he so
wonderfully manifested, which we must copy and develop in our characters if we
would ultimately be of the “little flock” who shall be joint-heirs with Christ
in his glory: concerning whom God has predestinated that to be accepted with
him to this position they must be “copies of his Son.”-Rom. 8:29.
That we may partially discern how our Lord Jesus exemplified this spirit
of humility, the Apostle briefly sums up in few words the story of his
humiliation and how it led to his present exaltation. He points out to us that
when our Lord Jesus was a spirit being, before he stooped to take our nature
and to bear the penalty of our sin, he was in “a form of God”-a spirit form, a
high and glorious condition. But instead of being moved selfishly to
ambitiously grasp for higher things than those which God had conferred upon
him-instead of seeking to set up a rival empire as did Satan-he did not
meditate a robbery of God to make himself his equal (Satan’s course), saying, “I
will ascend above the stars [the bright ones, the angelic hosts], I will be as
the Most High [his peer, his equal].” Quite to the contrary of this, our Lord
Jesus, “the beginning of the creation of God,” was willing in harmony with the
Father’s plan to humble himself, to take a lower nature and to do a work
which would imply not only a great deal of humiliation but also a great deal of
pain and suffering. The Apostle points out how the “Only Begotten” proved his
willingness and humility by complying with this arrangement; and that after he
became a man he continued of the same humble spirit, willing to carry out the
Divine plan to the very letter, by dying as man’s ransom-price; and not only
so, when it pleased the Father to require that the death should be a most
ignominious one in every respect, perhaps beyond the requirements of the ransom
merely, he did not draw back, but said, “Thy will not mine be done,” and
stooped even to the ignominious “death of the cross.”
Here, as the Apostle points out, we have the most wonderful demonstration
of humility, meekness and obedience to God that ever was manifested or that
could be conceived of. And this is the pattern the Apostle points out that we
should seek to copy. “Let this same [humble] mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus.”
It was on account of this humility, which enabled him to render perfect
obedience, that the Heavenly Father has so highly honored our dear Redeemer as
to raise him from the dead to the Divine nature, to a station far above angels,
principalities and powers, and every name that is named. That this is his
argument is shown (verse 9) by the word “wherefore;” i.e., on this
account, on account of this humility just described, God hath highly exalted
him.
Not only did our Lord’s beautiful and perfect humility and obedience
demonstrate that he was loyal to the core to the Heavenly Father, but it also
demonstrated that in him the Father’s spirit, Love, dwelt richly, for he shared
the Father’s love for the race he redeemed. On this account also he is found
worthy to be the divine agent in the blessing of all the families of the earth,
as per the terms of the divine covenant made with father Abraham. Thus he has
become the head of the “Seed of Abraham” which is to bless the race redeemed;
and hence it will be to him that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess,
when Jehovah’s “due time” shall come for the pouring out of divine blessings
upon the redeemed world-that all may come to a knowledge of the truth and, if
they will, into full harmony with God, and to eternal life.
The Apostle not only holds up the Lord Jesus as the great example of a
proper humility, self-abnegation and obedience to God in the interest of
others, but he would also hold up before us the reward, the high exaltation of
our Lord by the Father, the result or reward of his obedience, that we also
might be encouraged, and realize that, if faithful in following the footsteps
of our Redeemer and sacrificing the advantages of the present to serve the Lord
and his cause, then, in due time, we also may expect to be glorified with him
and to share his name and throne and work, as members of his anointed body, his
Church, his joint-heir.
In the succeeding verses (12-16) the Apostle gives a most beautiful
tribute to the Church at Philippi, while urging them to continue on and to make
more and more progress in the race-course in which they had already started,
working out in themselves through humility and obedience the character, the
disposition of Christ, with fear and trembling, and thus working out each his
own share in the great salvation to glory, honor and immortality which God hath
promised.
We cannot work out our own justification; but being justified by the blood
of Christ, and being called with the heavenly calling, we can make our calling
and election sure, we can work out our own share in the great salvation to
which we have been called in Christ, by giving heed to the instructions of the
Lord; by following the pattern which he has set for us. Not that we will
attain perfection in the flesh, but merely perfection of will, of intention, of
heart; and keeping the body under to the extent of our ability, its weaknesses
and imperfections will be reckoned as covered by the merit of our Lord, the
Holy One.
It is encouraging also for us to know that this warfare is not merely one
of our own, against weakness and sin; but that God is for us, has called us,
and is helping us. He already works in us, by his Word of promise, and has led
us thus far in the willing and the doing of his will, his good
pleasure: and he will continue thus to lead and to help us and to work in us by
his Word of truth, if we will continue to give heed to his counsel. “Sanctify
them through thy truth-thy Word is truth.” The gospel is “the power of God
unto salvation” to every one that so accepts it; and no greater stimulus to
true godliness can be found than the “exceeding great and precious promises
given unto us; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature.”-2 Pet. 1:4.
Moreover, in following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus, running the
race for the great prize set before us in the Gospel, we are not to murmur
by the way, finding fault with its difficulties and narrowness; nor are we to dispute
respecting it, nor to seek to have any other way than that which divine
providence marks out before us, realizing that the Lord knows exactly what
experiences are necessary to our development in the school of Christ, and
realizing also that, if obedience were possible while our mouths are full of
complaints and dissatisfaction with the Lord and our lot which he has
permitted, it would indicate that we were at least out of sympathy with the
spirit of his arrangement; and such an obedience, if it were possible (but it
would not be possible), would not meet the divine approval, nor gain us the
prize. Hence, as the Apostle exhorts, we should “Do all things without
murmurings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of
God without rebuke,...holding forth the Word of life in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the World.”