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Speaker: Jerry Cisar
After meditating on Philippians 2:6-8, Charles Wesley wrote the hymn, “Amazing love! How can it be that you, my Lord, should die for me?” I think he saw the point clearly. In light of the fact that Paul tells believers to have the same way of thinking as Christ, Paul desires that others will be able to look at the church and say, “Amazing love! How can it be that you, you followers of Jesus, should give yourselves up for one another?”
In the world of the Philippians, Caesar Augustus had been exalted to the highest place… so they thought. To Caesar every knee would bow and tongue confess that he is Lord. It was the law. They had the power and military might to enforce it. But the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ dealt a crushing blow to the powers of Rome and it’s emperor worship.
“Why?” Crucifixion was a public sign of what happens to all who refused to bow to Caesar as Lord. After Rome had dealt their worst to Jesus, God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the highest place—a place above Caesar and every other power! Rome has nothing left to throw at Jesus!
While this is the glorious gospel, Paul brings it up because he wants the church to live this gospel…. to think (and therefore act) the same way as Christ. Join us as we explore what this means for us as followers of Jesus Christ.