The Sacrifice of Christ

Philippians 2:5-11

  1. Where Christ was: in heaven, above all, perfectly content and happy.

    1. Jesus is equal to God.

      1. John 10:30 – I and my Father are one.

      2. God is one with the Father, and he desires we also be one with the father.

        1. John 17:11 – And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

        2. John 17:21 – That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

    2. Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

      1. Jesus Christ was equal to God in eternity past, and lacked nothing.

        1. Freshman year in college some dorm mates asked “Why did God create us.”

        2. Our dorm dad, who was a preacher, told us God was lonely, therefore created us.

        3. That is false; there was never any loneliness in God, because that would be a fault in God, and there was never any fault in God.

      2. Genesis 1 – Co-creator with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.

      3. All things are done by mutual cooperation between all parts of the trinity.

  1. What Christ became.

    1. A human without sin.

    2. A God-human sacrifice for sins. Isaiah 53:4-9 - The extent of the sufferings Christ went through.

      1. Verse 4 - He carried these sorrows and grieves for us, they belonged to us.

      2. Verse 4 - Smitten of God, and afflicted.

        1. Compare the physical sufferings with the spiritual sufferings.

        2. Cruel mocking in the four gospels, the purple robe.

        3. Beating Him with the "cat of nine tails." (The sharp pieces in the end of the leather that tore out pieces of flesh with each lick.)

        4. Placing a crown of thorns on His head.

        5. Nailing Him to the cross.

        6. These were terrible things to go through, but Christ didn't cry out through any of them.

        7. The most terrible time was when god turned His back on His only begotten Son during the three hours of darkness. This was the only time Christ cried out. "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?"

      3. Verse 5 - He was wounded, bruised and chastised for us. Our peace was upon Him.

      4. Verse 6 - But we have not sought Him, but gone away from Him.

      5. Verse 9 - He was buried with the rich and wicked. But He arose.

    3. The depths of God (Christ) lowering Himself for humans. (Verse 8)

      1. Found in fashion as a man.

      2. Humbled Himself even farther.

      3. Became obedient unto death.

      4. Even the death of the cross.

  1. What he received.

    1. The redeemed of the world, who have believed and trusted in him for eternal salvation.

      1. John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

        1. Some have been given to Christ, whom he has kept while he was on the earth.

        2. When Christ dies, he prays to his father to keep those who are given to him.

        3. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

      2. Ephesians 2:1-3 – All were completely totally guilty before God and could not do anything but sin and face the eternal consequences of their continued and willful sins.

      3. Romans 3:10-18 – All were equally guilty before God.

      4. I Corinthians 6:9-11 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

    2. Exultation and praise from his heavenly Father, and all creatures.

      1. I Corinthians 15:28 – Christ shall return to his former position, but with all the glory earned because of his sacrifice for us.

      2. Philippians 2:11 declares every creature will bow before Christ, recognizing and praising him.

      3. Romans 14:9 - For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead (lost) and living (believers).