The Deity of Jesus and The Gospel
Philippians 2:3-11
Chris D. Neynaber
July 1, 2007
“They [the Christians] affirmed, however, that the whole of their guilt, or their
error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it
was light, when they sang in alternate verse a hymn to Christ as to a god, and
bound themselves to a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit
any fraud, theft, adultery, never to falsify their word, not to deny a trust when they
should be called upon to deliver it up.”
— Pliny the Younger, Epistles X.96 (AD 112)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard
one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your
own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of
God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being
found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the
point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of
Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.”
— Philippians 2:3-11
I. The Deity of Jesus Preface
“…Christ Jesus…existed in the form of God…” (v. 6a)
“Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to
them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me,
“What is His name?” What shall I say to them?’
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons
of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.’
“God, furthermore, said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “The
LORD [Heb. YHWH], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is My name forever, and this is My
memorial-name to all generations.’”
— Exodus 3:13-15
II. The Deity of Jesus Proclaimed
“…Christ Jesus…existed in the form of God…” (v. 6a)
“The Jews said to Him…‘Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who
died? The prophets died too; whom do You make yourself out to be?’
“Jesus answered…‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and
was glad.’
Chris D. Neynaber
The Deity of Jesus and The Gospel: Philippians 2:3-11
“So the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen
Abraham?’
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I A M.’
“Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him...”
— John 8:52a, 53-54a, 56-59a
III. The Deity of Jesus Predicted
“…Christ Jesus…existed in the form of God…” (v. 6a)
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
“Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
“From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
“His goings forth are from long ago,
“From the days of eternity.”
— Micah 5:2
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
“And the government will rest on His shoulders;
“And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…”
— Isaiah 9:6a
IV. The Deity of Jesus Proven
A. Jesus as Creator
“…Christ Jesus…existed in the form of God…” (v. 6a)
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things
have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him
all things hold together.”
— Colossians 1:16-17
“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the
womb,
“I, the LORD, am the maker of all things,
“Stretching out the heavens by Myself
“And spreading out the earth all alone…”
— Isaiah 44:24
“…Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form
of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (vv. 5b-7)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through
Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into
being…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…”
— John 1:1-3, 14a
“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form…”
— Colossians 2:9
July 1, 2007
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Chris D. Neynaber
The Deity of Jesus and The Gospel: Philippians 2:3-11
Jesus performed miracles of creation, including:
• turning water into wine (John 2:1-11); and
• multiplying the fish and loaves (Matt. 14:13-21; 15:29-38; Mark 6:3044; 8:1-9; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14).
B. Jesus as Savior
“…Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form
of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (vv. 5b-7)
Jesus forgave sin on His own authority (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48;
John 8:11).
“Against You, You only, I have sinned,
“And done what is evil in Your sight,
“So that You are justified when you speak,
“And blameless when You judge.”
— Psalm 51:4
“I, even I, am the LORD,
“And there is no savior besides Me.”
— Isaiah 43:11 (cf. 45:21)
“She [Mary] will bear a Son; and you [Joseph] shall call His name Jesus [lit.
YHWH Is Salvation], for He will save His people from their sins.”
— Matthew 1:21 (cf. Titus 2:13)
“Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (v. 8)
“Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of
the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him… ‘I will pour out on the house
of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of
supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they
will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly
over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.’”
— Zechariah 12:1b, 10
“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for
doing these things?’
“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’
“The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You
raise it up in three days?’
“But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”
— John 2:18-21
“The LORD kills and makes alive;
“He brings down to Sheol and raises up.”
— I Samuel 2:6
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Chris D. Neynaber
The Deity of Jesus and The Gospel: Philippians 2:3-11
“See now that I, I am He,
“And there is no god besides Me;
“It is I who put to death and give life…”
— Deuteronomy 32:39a
V. The Deity of Jesus Praised
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name
which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of
those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue
will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(vv. 9-11)
“You shall have no other gods before Me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above
or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship
them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…”
— Exodus 20:3-5a
“I am the LORD, that is My name;
“I will not give My glory to another,
“Nor My praise to graven images.”
— Isaiah 42:8
Jesus received and accepted worship (Matt. 2:1-2, 10-11; 14:33; 28:9, 17; Mark
5:6-7; Luke 5:8; John 9:35-38).
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You
before the world was.”
— John 17:5
VI. The Deity of Jesus and The Gospel
A. Significance in Salvation
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe
that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
— John 8:24
“No man can by any means redeem his brother
“Or give to God a ransom for him—
“For the redemption of his soul is costly,
“And he should cease trying forever—
“That he should live on eternally,
“That he should not undergo decay.”
— Psalm 49:7-9
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood.”
— Acts 20:28
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Chris D. Neynaber
The Deity of Jesus and The Gospel: Philippians 2:3-11
B. Significance in Sanctification
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard
one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for
your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this
attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…” (vv. 3-5)
“…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.”
— Matthew 20:28
VII. Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
The Maker of the universe,
As Man, for man, was made a curse.
The claims of Law which He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough,
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow;
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.
He made the forest whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung;
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.
The sky that darkened o’er His head
By Him above the earth was spread.
The sun that hid from Him its face
By His decree was poised in space.
The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.
The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years;
But a new glory crowns His brow,
And every knee to Him shall bow:
The Maker of the universe.
— F.W. Pitt, “Maker of the Universe”
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