Posted on 03/21/2017 9:16:13 AM PDT by metmom
“But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).
As part of His humble descent from Heaven to earth, Jesus set aside the exercise of His divine privileges.
The next step in Jesus’ pattern of humility as He came to earth and lived among mankind was His emptying of Himself. But Scripture is clear that while on earth our Lord claimed to be God: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). At no time did He stop being God.
The Greek word for “emptied” gives us the theological term kenosis, the doctrine of Christ’s self-emptying. The kenosis basically reminds us of what we saw in yesterday’s lesson: Jesus’ humble refusal to cling to His advantages and privileges in Heaven. The Son of God, who has a right to everything and is fully satisfied within Himself, voluntarily emptied Himself.
We have already noted that Jesus did not empty Himself of His deity, but He did lay aside certain prerogatives. For one thing, He gave up His heavenly glory. That’s why, in anticipation of His return to the Father, Christ prayed, “Glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I ever had with Thee before the world was” (John 17:5).
Jesus also relinquished His independent authority and completely submitted Himself to the Father’s will: “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39).
During His time on earth, Christ also voluntarily limited the use and display of His divine attributes. One good illustration of this concerned His omniscience, His knowledge of all things. In teaching about the end-times and His second coming, Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matt. 24:36).
Jesus’ self-emptying demonstrates a wonderful aspect of the gospel. Unlike man-centered, works-oriented religions, the biblical gospel has God’s Son willingly yielding His privileges to sacrifice Himself for sinners like us.
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray that you would become more appreciative of the sacrificial humility Jesus Christ exercised on your behalf.
For Further Study
Scripture does not record a lot about Jesus’ boyhood. But the account we do have verifies His emptying. Read Luke 2:39-52. What does verse 47 imply about Jesus’ nature? How do verses 51-52 exemplify His emptying?
“It would appear there are those among us, who are looking for anything but the truth.”
We are commanded to “love God with all our mind.”
They’ve outsourced their minds!
GASP!!!
You mean God actually wants us to ENJOY pleasure?!?!?!
You heathen you.....
sputter..... spit.....
As you know, I am an ex Catholic. I think they were not stupid enough to run down marriage. I think many of us, would have told them to take a hike. What they did, was to say that being a priest or nun, was better. Very subtle.
My dad asked me once, if I ever wanted to be a priest. I said no, I liked females too much, and wanted to be married. I guess, in the eyes of some, who will remain unnamed, I must not be virtuous. Oh well, such is life. Do I look like I care a hill of beans, what some dude thinks about it? 😆
You are correct sir, but it is a willing and deliberate shutting off of the mind. Maybe judicial hardening is taking place. Shake the dust from your feet, with some of them?
Well, maybe not if you adhere to certain man made, works based, false religions. 😀😆
That’s weird.
I was raised being taught that God wants us to suffer and deny ourselves what He created for us to enjoy after having given us the ability to enjoy it.
Our lives should be full of self-denial, want, privation, suffering, etc to make us “worthy” to get into heaven and prove how spiritual and holy we are.
He’s happiest with us when we’re as miserable as we can possibly be.
Surely God didn’t put us here to ENJOY ourselves.....
“You mean God actually wants us to ENJOY pleasure?!?!?!”
Imagine!
We have taste buds to savor good flavors, sight to appreciate beauty, smell to anticipate baking bread, touch to enjoy love, and a very large concentration of nerve endings in our errogenous zones to enjoy sex.
All factory installed by the Creator!
Well, that's the idea I had, when I was in that works based religion. I thought God was going to zap me in to Hell if I messed up. I was always looking outside, to see if there were any stray lightning bolts, meant for me. 😀
Sounds like you need it more than me.
What was your previous freeper name?
What fight did I lose? Maybe you are confused?
You forget so soon?
That was some twisted up stuff you posted to daniel1212.
It was all explained previously. Keep the toilet images to yourself, also. Understand? You've got the passive-aggressive Mormon thingy down though. I'll have to hand you that.
Indian name (for you)
Well what do ya know, and all this time I thought we had to be civil in the RF. When did the rules change?
Well, genius -- you tell me.
That was trifling. It's what you did with after that, that was despicable.
Meanwhile, you lost the argument too. Then got your panties in a wad (or down around your ankles
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