in fashion as a man | Philippians ii.5

in fashion as a man | Philippians ii.5

I couldn’t pass this title up, even though it may play out in an unexpected way. It’s right there in Scripture.

We are exploring Philippians 2.5-11: CLICK

recap: this is a song or hymn of the Early Church

It’s probably the oldest such hymn, pre-dating Paul’s letters. It’s music.

This is a creed, a confession, a doctrine of the Early Church – a way of doing Theology.

This hymn is important historically, as a Theological passage commented on by many great Church leaders.

It’s also important as a classic Scriptural Text about the Deity and Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at it again, keeping in mind the 3 Theological truths: 1) Jesus is God before He comes to Earth, 2) Jesus is incarnated or takes on an earthly existence, and 3) Jesus returns to a glorified state.

we’re exploring the Incarnation

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2.5-7, KJV)

Adam and Eve fall and the image of God in man becomes marred. Man can no longer become all he is made to be, the complete image of God (imago Dei).

So Christ takes on man’s form, his image and likeness (verse 7). Man cannot get to God, so God comes to man.

The Incarnation is about God taking on the image and likeness of fallen man. Because God takes on the image and likeness of man, Jesus Christ is able to restore the imago Dei in man.

Because God became man, we can once again choose to take on the image of God, imago Dei.

Paul is applying a truth

The overarching point Paul is making is not just a great Theology lesson, but an applied truth.

He starts by saying Let this mind be in you (verse 5). Paul is intentional about applying this truth.

So with the Incarnation, we ask ourselves 2 questions:

1. Am I truly allowing God to change my nature and transform me into His image?
2. Greater Question: Do others around me see the image of God in me or in my congregation?

Now, let’s continue to apply this great hymn to our lives. What does Christ model for us in the crucifixion? How does the Cross intersect with our daily lives?

And being found in fashion as a man (Phil 2.8)

We’ve explored how Paul uses the term form, and a similar usage today.

Kirk Gibson goes to college in Michigan to play football. He is such a great athlete, he is a “walk-on” in baseball. He eventually goes pro in baseball and is known for some legendary home runs.

However, he is inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In form he is a baseball player or a football player, but he is in essence an unbelievable athlete.[1]

To oversimplify, the term form is the outward expression of the inner essence.

Our Lord has an inner essence that never changes, the nature of God. In some mysterious way, he adds human nature to His inner essence as Jesus the Nazarene.

Based on John 1, Our Lord’s pre-incarnate form is Creator God, but He takes on the form of a servant, a man.

fashion is a transliteration of the Greek word schema (verse 8)

The term schema is another word similar to form.

Fashion (schema) refers to everything outward, everything observed by the senses. It goes deeper than appearances. The word schema is not only the outward appearance, but the conversation, the whole way of life, etc.

“The word ‘fashion’ therefore referred to that which is purely outward, and appeals to the senses. Our Lord’s humanity was real . . . His deity did not make Him more nor less than a man, and His humanity did not make Him less than absolute Deity.”[2]

Jesus is not only fully God, but in every way He also becomes fully man.

And being found in fashion as a man . . . (verse 8)

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notes:

For similar writings see the Word Study category in Archives CLICK

[1] “being in the form of God | Philippians ii.2” CLICK
[2] Kenneth S. Wuest, “Philippians,” in Philippians – Hebrews – The Pastoral Epistles – First Peter in these Last Days, vol. 2 of Wuest’s Word Studies From The Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1973), 69.