Last night, we had our fourth study in Philippians (well, third in Philippians, plus one in Acts 16). We reached the key-note passage, Paul's description of Jesus' humiliation and exaltation. Dick Lucas says he thinks 1:29 is one of the key verses in the whole book.
I think the whole passage (1:27-2:11) drops down out of Paul's instruction in 1:27 - 'so live in a manner worth...' (ESV). In fact, it seems to be that the Greek word used is 'be a citizen of the gospel,' more literally. I guess this was particularly poignant for the church in Philippi, people proud no doubt of their Roman citizenship. Paul seems to want to subvert the loaded idea of being a citizen. Christians are citizens not of Rome, the US or the UK, but of the gospel. He's leading on from discussing the priority of gospel work for every Christian in 1:12-26. And here, he's realistic that that will be opposed.
So what is a gospel citizen? Well, they're a wrestler (1:27) with other gospel citizens, against gospel opponents and for the goal of the gospel; a signpost (1:28) to gospel opponents that everyone gets something eternal from God (salvation or destruction) on the last day (I wonder whether in the same sense as John 3 and John 16 - producing conviction that, God willing leads to repentance - but I'm not sure), in the way we wrestle together for the gospel; and a mimic of Jesus - our pattern of life maps onto Jesus'. Suffering first, glory later. And suffering is paired with belief as a grace-gift from God - the same word-root is used as God's merciful allowance that we might
The side-along support of Jesus, the strength-infusing love he shows, the partnership with the spirit all produces a gut-wrenching reaction in the believer that leads to having the very mindset of Christ. So Christians are not proud-minded, but humble minded. But what makes Christians different from any other group, who happen to look out for one-another? Isn't it all just 'in group mentality,' as Richard Dawkins would have it?
Well, in 2:6-11, we see a stunning description of Christ Jesus, the hero, the theme of the book of Philippians. Not a sappy, wussy, girly Christ. But the Christ who flung stars into orbit, who waterproofed the ocean basin, who carved the teeth of the crocodile and the muscles of the boa constrictor. This Christ was voluntarily humilitiated to become 'wrapped in our clay' as Wesley put it. More, to be obedient to death. More, to allow his own creatures to drive nails in his hands, push thorns in his scalp, forcibly draw the last rasping breath from his mouth. And because of this voluntary humiliation, he was exalted by God the father. He is reigning now as master of the universe, and one day, that reality will be clearly seen by all, and acknowledged on every lip and through every knee. The gospel is about Jesus being Lord, and in his humiliation and exaltation, bringing glory to God. The wonder of the gospel is that his voluntary humiliation gives us time now to bow voluntarily, rather than being forced to bow later.
But all this is not merely for theological reflection, for PhD writing and the like. It's written to encourage Christians to live Christianly. Paul brings out this theological heavy artillery in order to attack the seeds of pride, latent in Philippi. Pride and independence are seeds that can ruin a church. They are the root of sin, and as such, must be shot in flames. Christ, the model gospel citizen, became humble. That humility enabled us to be rescued, and to suffer like him. If even he didn't demand his positional rights, and that humility won so precious a prize for us, would we so quickly destroy his church with our pride and independence? No. Have the mind of Christ.
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