I would ask you to turn in your Bibles this morning to Philippians chapter 2. In God's providence, we are at the point in the Westminster Shorter Catechism which deals with the birth of Jesus Christ. And that question is printed in your bulletin, just in case you don't have your little catechism with you. wherein did Christ's humiliation consist. And as I mentioned to you previously, this is what consists in our Advent messages for this Advent season. So today we will continue that by looking at this particular question and this particular portion of God's Word. So I read for you that catechism question, again it's in the bulletin should you need it, wherein did Christ's humiliation consist Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time. And this is a faithful reflection of what we find in the Word of God in many places, but most particularly in Philippians chapter 2. And we'll read the first 11 verses there. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Well, here in verses 6 to 11 we see the great sweep of Christ's life from eternity past to eternity future. And here also we are admitted not only to a breathtaking panorama of Christ's life, but the breathtaking purposes of God in salvation. For here we have a divine perspective on the cross. a perspective through the eyes of the Savior himself. Here we have revealed to us, if you will, the mind of Christ. You see that in verse 5. Have this mind which is first in Christ Jesus. We have the privilege today of celebrating the Lord's Supper as well. You can see the elements of bread and wine on the table here. And that is to focus your faith on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation. So this morning I would encourage you to come and gain insight, to listen and gain understanding, to come and to increase worship as we come to this particular portion of God's Word. Because it tells us about Christ. One, that he was selfless. Secondly, that he was a servant. Thirdly, that he was a sacrifice. And fourthly, that he is the standard for all who follow him in repentance and faith. First of all, Paul tells us that Christ was selfless. We're initially told here of Christ's pre-incarnate state. He was in the form of God, all right? That is, before he took on human flesh, or if you will, eternity past, or his heavenly condition. Much talk is used about the word for his form or nature here. In Greek it is morphe. It's very important theologically, as it is for the rest of this particular passage, and much ink is spilt by commentators about the particular meaning of that particular word. But the point that Paul is conveying is that Jesus Christ is and always was God. that he is and always was God with all the rights, privileges, prerogatives, and riches fitting for God dwelling in heaven. He had everything if you think about it. He was the possessor of heaven and earth. He needed nothing. He was perfectly self-sufficient, existing in perfect blissful harmony with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. And yet, as Paul conveys and communicates that to you, he also at the very same time provides a profound insight into the mind of Christ here. Look at verse 6. Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Paul says Jesus was not concerned with himself, but with others. He was selfless. He, who is the only one who has the right to claim his rights, voluntarily surrendered them and surrendered himself. Paul goes on in verse 7, he made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, echoing, or if you will, echoed in the words of the catechism lesson for today. Or in the words of the famous hymn which we often sing, he left his father's throne above so free, so infinite his grace. Emptied himself of all but love and bled for Adam's helpless race. Tis mercy all, immense and free, amazing love. How can it be? The love of God in Jesus Christ is selfless, giving, forsaking love for undeserving, rebellious sinners. What a marvel of grace. What majestic love. What condescension is communicated to us here. We'll have occasion next Sunday, God willing, to look at Paul's words concerning Jesus in Corinthians, which consists of the Christmas message, if you will, that it's more blessed to give than to receive. And it was personified in Jesus Christ and his selfless, not selfish, incarnation. But we move on in the text because it is the incarnation which is spoken of next. Paul tells us that Christ was selfless and that in his incarnation he was a servant. Look at verse 7. He made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant. It's why these particular acts of Christ's coming into the world are referred to as the humiliation of Jesus Christ. It was an act of humiliation for the Lord of Glory, who was and is always God eternal, to come and take the form of a servant. His selflessness is manifested in human flesh in his life. It was Jesus himself who said he did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Scholars often make a connection between what Paul writes here in theological language in Philippians chapter 2, connecting it to what John records of Jesus in John's gospel, chapter 13. Look there with me if you would, John chapter 13. Verse 3, Jesus, knowing the Father had given all things into his hand, that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. You can just imagine Paul reflecting on this action of the Lord Jesus Christ, referring to it theologically as his incarnation. not considering equality with God something to be grasped onto, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, wrapping, divesting himself of all but love, as the hymn writer says, and taking on the form of a servant, taking a towel and tying it around his waist and then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him and impetuous Peter also always objects to what Jesus is doing. Peter corrects him. And in verse 12, continuing, when he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, do you understand what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. The Lord of glory didn't lord it over others, but served them. did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." And in verse 8, Paul goes on to tell us that Christ was not only selfless, not only a servant, But the very point of his selfless servitude was to give himself as a sacrifice. Look at verse 8. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Jesus was obedient in life, perfectly obedient, born under the law, obedient to every jot and tittle of the law, even to the point of death, death on a cross. And his obedience in life and his obedience in death are both critically important for you and for me. Because there are two things that God requires and always has since the Garden of Eden. He said to Adam, and he required perfect obedience of him and Eve and punishment for disobedience. And those two requirements continued to be God's requirements down to the present day for you and for me. God requires that one be perfectly obedient in order to be satisfactory to him. God doesn't grade on a curve. God doesn't say if you try your best. God doesn't say if you try harder. It's not a matter of your performance. Because no one can be perfectly obedient, and even if you were, as Jesus says elsewhere, even if you were perfectly obedient, you're only doing what you're supposed to do. You don't earn anything from God. And then the penalty for disobedience, the wages of sin, is death. The day that you eat of the fruit thereof, you shall surely die. And here Paul tells us, the glorious heart of the gospel. The good news is that what God requires, God provided in the person of his son, in his son's perfect obedience, and in his son's sacrificial death. His righteousness and his sacrifice both satisfy God's requirements. What you and I could never do, what the law could never do, what all the good deeds of all men in all countries in all of human history could not do, God did in sending his son to be a sacrifice and a substitute for sinners. And please, as we approach Christmas Eve week Note that according to the Bible, the true focus of Christmas is not the cradle, but the cross. And as we wonder and as we ponder the birth of Jesus in that cradle of Bethlehem, let us never lose sight of that cradle being in the shadow of the cross, which was always the purpose of his birth and always the destiny of his life. He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. I find it somewhat ironic that in Christian bookstores and Christianity in general, we have made the cross to be a charm worn on a bracelet or around one's neck. When the cross in all its Horrific beauty is something that is ugly, ignominious, terrible, horrible. It was the most horrific form of death imaginable at the time. It wasn't something pretty at all. And that tells us something about what kind of servant Jesus was. He wasn't just a good man. He didn't just put forth a good example. He wasn't just a kind religious teacher. He wasn't a humble humanitarian. He was the suffering servant that Isaiah spoke about in chapter 53 of his prophecy. the servant who came to suffer and to die as a substitute in the place of sinners, so that all those who look to him in faith might find forgiveness and might find eternal life. If I might return to Christmas for a point of application. This is why to celebrate Christmas without Jesus Christ is nothing but an exercise in futility. And then lastly, Paul tells us not only was Christ selfless, not only was he a servant, not only was he a sacrifice and that substitutionary as well, but that he is the standard for all those who follow him in repentance and faith. Look at the text. Verse 5, have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus. The spirit of Christmas, as Jethro Tull once said, is not what you drink. The spirit of Christmas is right here. To have the mind of Christ selfless, servant, sacrificial. Paul says, have that mind in you as you recall who he was, what he did, and why he came. The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men might become sons of God. He became like us in order to make us like Him. This isn't some theological truth to be bantered around in debate. This isn't some theological nicety, exegetical Nugget to have ink spilled on and written about. This is a truth about a person who lived and died. The Son of God who became the Son of Man. Jesus who always was and always will be God. Come to purchase a people for Himself. If I could put this with a little bit of a point on it, this is something which is meant to reform and transform your lives. So come to Him this morning, if you haven't come to Him already. Come to Him in order to truly celebrate the mystery, the wonder, the glory of Christmas. And if you have already come to Him, then come to Him this morning as we celebrate the meal later on. Come to receive grace. Come to receive strength. Come to receive nourishment. And come to receive a living Savior who died and rose again so that you might have His mind in you. Let's pray.