Your New Identity (Victory Series Book #2): A Transforming Union with God (7 page)

Philippians 2:1–11

Key Point

Jesus voluntarily surrendered use of His divine attributes to become like us.

Key Verse

He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:7

J
esus’ claim that He was the promised Messiah and the eternal Son of God infuriated the Jewish leaders (see John 5:18) and caused them to accuse Jesus of blasphemy (see John 10:33). Paul was part of that crowd, but he would later write that Jesus was “in very nature [
morphe
] God” (Philippians 2:6), and in His Incarnation, He embraced perfect humanity.

The key word is
morphe
, which is translated as “nature” or “form.” The word stresses the inner essence or reality of that with which it is associated. Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be
grasped” (verse 6). In other words, Jesus did not have to strive to be God or even be like Him, because He was and is God. He voluntarily surrendered independent use of His own divine attributes. When the devil tempted Jesus to turn the rocks into bread, He simply responded, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The devil wanted Jesus to use His own divine attributes independently of the Father to save Himself. He could have called on 10,000 angels to save Him from death on the cross.

Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature [
morphe
] of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). “Made himself nothing” literally means “He emptied Himself.” He divested Himself of His self-interest, but not of His deity. Jesus humbled Himself and took on the very nature of man. He was truly God and also truly man. “Likeness” means similar but different. He differed from the rest of humanity in that He was sinless. His self-renunciation was necessary if He was to have an authentic human experience that included geographical limitations, human development in mind and body, and the need for food and sleep. He had to totally depend on the heavenly Father.

The phrase “being found in appearance as a man” (verse 8) refers to a temporary and outer appearance in contrast to
morphe
, which signifies a permanent inner quality. The condescension of Jesus included not only His birth but also His death, which was the worst possible “death—even death on a cross!” (verse 8). Martin Luther said, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that he sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.” Jesus left His exalted position to be like us in order to die for us. To a similar but far lesser degree, we are called to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand so that He might lift us up in due time (see 1 Peter 5:6).

For us to become a worm to save a worm doesn’t remotely compare to Almighty God becoming a man to save humanity. Jesus’ life was the epitome of humble submission leading to an excruciating physical death. On the cross, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46). His physical life ended, because His body was no longer in union with His Spirit, but He will forever remain our life, which is safely in the hands of God.

How do you explain the complete reversal of Paul from being a persecutor of the Church to its ardent defender? Was it a philosophical shift or a change of life?

What is significant about the word
morphe
as it relates to Christ?

Why did Jesus refuse to use His divine attributes to save Himself when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness?

How does the Incarnation speak directly to our pride?

How does the example of Jesus emptying Himself speak directly to our need to submit to God and serve others?

If we take Him simply and solely to be a man made from a woman, how could He be said to be in the form equal to the Father? If only a man, how could He have the fullness that would make sense of His being emptied? What height could He have occupied before that He might be said to have “humbled Himself”? How did He “come to be in the likeness of men” if He was already so by nature?

Cyril of Alexandria (AD 376–444)

Acts 1:2–11

Key Point

The Holy Spirit communicates God’s presence to us and enables us to live a righteous life.

Key Verse

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 8:14

J
ohn baptized believers with water, but he said that one greater than he would baptize with the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 3:11). The coming of the Holy Spirit, which was prophesied by Joel, happened at Pentecost (see Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:17–21). “Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:39). The promised coming of the Holy Spirit happened when Jesus was exalted at the right hand of the Father (see Acts 2:33).

The resurrected Jesus appeared to many of His followers during the course of 40 days and instructed them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised. . . . You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4, 8). The Church Age began the moment believers received the Holy Spirit. Even though they had seen the resurrected Christ, they could not be witnesses until the resurrected life of Christ came to dwell within them through the power of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, they were filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not a cosmic force—He is the third person of the Trinity. God’s Holy Spirit had inspired the Old Testament prophets, moved among His people, and been present with them in the person of Christ, but now He would dwell within us as the Spirit of Christ. The Church, or the Body of Christ, is comprised of those believers who are born again spiritually by the action of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears witness with their spirit that they are children of God (see Romans 8:16). Every believer, upon the simple condition of faith in Christ, is reborn (or regenerated, see Titus 3:5); baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:13); indwelt perpetually (see Romans 8:38–39); sealed (see Ephesians 1:13–14); and given the privilege of being filled by the Holy Spirit continuously (see Ephesians 5:18).

Jesus promised, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17). The Holy Spirit is first and foremost the Spirit of truth, and “he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13), and that truth will set you free (see John 8:32). Jesus said, “He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you” (John 16:14). The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to communicate God’s presence to us, and because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have the power to live a righteous life. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14).

The Early Church was persecuted for their belief in God and discovered their need to maintain an intimate relationship with Him. They had been baptized into Christ, and now they needed to be continuously filled
with the Spirit. “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31).

What did the coming of the Holy Spirit enable the early followers of Christ to do?

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and moved among God’s people. What role would He now play after the Day of Pentecost?

What evidence in Scripture reveals that the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity?

How does the Holy Spirit enable you to be all that God created you to be?

Why is it necessary for you to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit?

For with Him were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit, by whom and in whom, freely and spontaneously, He made all things. This is to whom also He speaks, saying, “Let us make man after our image and likeness.” . . . I have also largely demonstrated that the Word, namely the Son, was always with the Father. And that Wisdom also, who is the Spirit, was present with Him before all creation. He declares this by Solomon: “By Wisdom, God founded the earth, and understanding He has established the heavens.” . . . There is therefore one God, who by the Word and Wisdom created and arranged all things.

Irenaeus (AD 130–202)

Praying by the Spirit

Jude, after warning about false teachers and the ungodliness of the last days, wrote, “But you, dear friends, [build] yourselves up in your most holy faith and [pray] in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20). Paul also exhorts us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18).

We can only pray effectively as the Holy Spirit enables us, and we can only pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That does not mean we simply end a prayer by saying, “In Jesus’ name, I pray”; it means
we pray in a way that is consistent with the nature and purpose of Jesus. “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12).

If we are going to pray in the Spirit, we first need to be filled with the Spirit (see Ephesians 5:19–20). Then the Holy Spirit will enable us to pray, as Paul explains in Romans 8:26: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

The word “helps” in the Greek is
sunantilambano
. It consists of two prepositions (
sun
and
anti
) before the verb
lambano
, which means “to take.” Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit comes alongside us, bears us up, and takes us across to the other side (to God). The fact that we really don’t know how or what to pray for demonstrates our weakness. The prayer that the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray is the prayer that God the Father will always answer. He leads us to pray as He guides our thoughts. His guidance may be so deep that words cannot express what we sense in our hearts. The Holy Spirit knows our hearts and knows the will of God.

The Holy Spirit not only helps us to pray, but also actually intercedes on our behalf. In fact, two members of the Trinity are continuously praying on our behalf. John says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). According to Paul, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). We have more help than we could ever comprehend.

As we walk with God, the Holy Spirit enables us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17
NASB
). Start by asking God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and thank Him for all that He is and for all that He has done for you. Then let the Holy Spirit disclose to your mind the will of your heavenly Father. He knows what to pray for, and He will continue to lead you throughout your day as you practice the presence of God.

A
newly adopted child found himself in a big mansion. His new Father said, “This is your home, and you have a right to be here. I have made you a joint heir with my only begotten Son. He paid the price that set you free from your old taskmaster, who was cruel and condemning. I purchased it for you, because I love you.”

The young boy couldn’t help but question this incredible gift. This seems too good to be true, he thought. What did I do to deserve this? I have been a slave all my life, and I have done nothing to earn such a privilege!

He was deeply grateful, however, and soon began to explore all the rooms in the mansion. He formed new relationships with his adopted brothers and sisters and especially enjoyed the buffet table from which he freely ate. Then it happened! As he was turning away from the buffet table, he knocked over a valuable pitcher, which crashed to the floor and broke.

You clumsy
, stupid kid!
he thought.
You will never get away with
this. What right do you have to be here? You
better hide before someone finds out, because they will surely
throw you out.
He was filled with guilt and shame.
Who do you think you are? Some kind of privileged
person? The old taskmaster was right about me. I don
’t belong here. I belong in the basement!
So he descended into the cellar.

The basement was dreary, dark, and despairing. The only light came from the open door at the top of the long stairs from which he came. He heard his Father calling for him, but he was too ashamed to answer. He was surprised to find others there as well. Upstairs everybody talked to each other and joined in with daily projects that were fun and meaningful, but nobody talked to each other in the basement. They were too ashamed, and most felt that the cellar was where they really belonged anyway.

Old friends would occasionally come to the door and encourage them to come back upstairs. Not everybody stayed in the basement for the same reason. Some thought,
I deserve to be here
.
I was
given a chance
,
but I blew it
. Others always had a reason why they couldn’t return to their Father upstairs. Some were afraid they wouldn’t be accepted.

The boy stayed in the basement, and the memory of what it was like to live upstairs begin to fade. So did his hope of ever returning. He questioned the love of this new Father and began to question whether he had ever been adopted in the first place. The noise of people having fun upstairs irritated him. The light upstairs had been warm and inviting, but now it was penetrating and revealing.

Then one day, a shaft of light penetrated his mind and reason returned. He began to think,
Why not throw myself on the mercy of this person
who calls Himself my Father? What do I have to
lose? Even if He makes me eat the crumbs that
fall from the table, it would be better than this.
So the boy took the risk of climbing those stairs and facing his Father with the truth of what he had done.

“Lord,” he said, “I knocked over some glasses and broke a pitcher.” Without saying a word, his Father took him by the hand and led him into the dining room. To his utter amazement, his Father had prepared a banquet for him. “Welcome home, son,” his Father said. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

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