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 emptied Himself, by 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 (Philippians 2:5-8).

We know the gospel is for unbelievers; those who are far from God and not part of His family. The mistake Christians make is that the gospel is “just for unbelievers”.  Certainly, the only way any of us finds forgiveness with God is through the gospel. But if that is where we think the gospel stops, then it would explain why so many Christians never share the gospel with anyone – because the gospel does not continue to shape the way Christians live.

How should the gospel continue to shape Christians?

Surrender – Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself. There is lots of debate as the nature of Christ’s “emptying Himself.” I will propose to you the simplest way to understand this is that Christ emptied Himself (surrendered) all the rights, privileges, entitlements, benefits, and freedoms that the Godhead enjoyed from all eternity. He did not continue to “count equality (rights and privileges) with God something to keep on grasping after but He surrendered them (abandoned them for a time) to become flesh and blood for the sake of redemption. He did not cease to be God but took a new role in the redemptive plan of the Father.

Relevance: we are to have the same mindset as Christ. If the mission of the gospel is to ever succeed then God’s people need to begin with surrendering our own “rights, freedom, entitlements, privileges” to live a self-directed life. If we do not surrender these things, we will always battle serving two masters – God or our own desires. We will always get entangled in our own rights and privileges that will be our best excuse to be on mission.

Servanthood – by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Christ became a servant in order to carry out the Father’s will. He did not come to do His own will but only to carry out the will of the Father (John 5:19, 30). We know this because He took to Himself flesh and blood in order to accomplish the purpose of the Father. He took the form or the mode of existence of a servant rather than the role of sovereign God.

Relevance: It is hard to be a servant if you think you should live as masters. But servanthood is very hard if we cannot first surrender our rights and freedoms. Only then can we entrust to God all that we are surrendering in order to serve the mission of the gospel faithfully.

Sacrifice: Christ was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Father’s plan of redemption was costly. The only solution to the wrath of God upon a sinful humanity was the death of His Son. Only through His sacrifice was the wrath of God satisfied. This was the only way – sacrifice.

Relevance: our sacrifice will never compare to Christ’s. That being said, many of us think the gospel is God’s problem and if He wants someone saved, He can do it without “me”. The gospel will never touch lives if we are not willing to make personal sacrifices. That can mean just about anything – our security, reputation, risking being mocked, isolated, frustrated, or even persecuted. But the key is not asking what is God asking me to sacrifice but am I being completely obedient to His call and leading.

In His grace,

Pastor Brad