Mission Venture Ministries

Paul describes the exaltation of Jesus Christ in Philippians 2:5-11.

Let this mind be in you which was also in 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. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

The ever existing, infinite and eternal nature of God was fully integrated with the finite, created nature of man. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17). 

This is such an amazing testimony of God’s profound wisdom in redeeming mankind. In all ways He became like us with two exceptions – He had no human father and He never sinned. Man’s faultless God became God’s perfect man to die as an immaculate sacrifice which was the only way divine justice could be satisfied for His people. 

In the descent from His majestic position in eternity past, Jesus was “made in the likeness of men” through a miraculous conception and a virgin birth that united His divine nature with a human nature. His eternal glory was concealed by the perishable flesh of man. Jesus humbled Himself to take on all the frailties, limitations, suffering, hunger and thirst of Adam’s fallen race. He was tempted like us in every respect. He even “emptied Himself” by refusing to cling to His privileges, advantages, and prerogatives as God. By becoming fully human, His divine nature took on certain limitations, including time and space, knowledge and power, and physical mortality. Jesus merged deity and humanity in perfect unity. 

In God’s profound wisdom, He conceived the only way mankind could be redeemed without violating any of His attributes. He demonstrated His attributes of holiness, righteousness and justice in punishing man for his sin while His attributes of grace, mercy and love in forgiving man for his sin remained in perfect harmony. The Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfect life to die as the perfect substitute for sinners who would repent and believe His Gospel (Mark 1:15). He was born a Man so man could be born of God since whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1). 

As we reflect on the birth of Christ, let us proclaim His excellence to those who are still in darkness (1 Peter 2:9). He was born to die so that the spiritually dead could be born again to eternal life and be raised up and seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). 

What a glorious Savior we have to love, worship, honor and obey! 

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