Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

PART III--The Way Of Serving God In Christ Jesus

F. Lesson 18--We Serve By Serving Others

7. READ: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8

c. What attitude should we have, like Jesus?

Answer: Our attitude should be like Jesus' attitude: we should make ourselves as nothing, and take the very nature of a servant, (verse 7).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• Since Christ left us an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21), this is the attitude--total frame of mind, or "mindset"--that is to be followed, or copied.

The Greek verb here for "made (Himself) nothing" is ekenosen, which is from kenosis. It literally means "he emptied." It describes the self-emptying of the Son of God. Of what did He empty Himself? He did NOT empty Himself of His divine nature. Rather, He emptied Himself of His heavenly glory--"The glory which I had with Thee before the world was," (John 17:5).

One commentator (Oepke) writes: "What is meant is that the heavenly Christ did not selfishly exploit His divine form and mode of being, but by His Own decision emptied Himself of it (or laid it by), taking the form of a servant by becoming man. The essence remains, and the mode of being changes."

• In a similar way, we do not exploit the life, love, holiness, status as sons of God, etc., as if we were something special, above all others. Instead, BECAUSE we are what we are--sinners covered by the blood of the One Who emptied Himself of His glory for us--we, too, empty ourselves to become servants of the Most High God. And that means we have the attitude of a servant of God at all times to and for all others.
• We empty ourselves to become servants of God for the pleasure of our God:

Galatians 1:10: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

• Emptying ourselves to serve God and others at all times is how we become to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing; it is the only attitude that will put us in God's triumphal procession:

2 Corinthians 2:14-16: "But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"

• Being a servant to all, brethren and those still lost, is our purpose. We are appointed to the position:

Titus 1:12: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service."

• We are to use whatever gifts God has given us to faithfully serve others:

1 Peter 4:10: "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

• We are not greater than our Master, Who set us the perfect example that the greatest among us is the servant, and the one who wants to be first must be a slave:

Matthew 20:25-28 (also Mark 10:42-45): "Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.'"

Mark 9:35: "Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.'"

John 15:20a: [Jesus said,] "Remember the Words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.'"

• Our service is a test of our love:

2 Corinthians 8:8-9: "I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."