Uniting Heaven and Earth
Christ in Philippians and Colossians
Lesson 4 - Wednesday
The Mind of Christ
Read Philippians 2:5–8
Philippians 2:5–8 stands among the most profound and beautiful passages in all of Scripture. In just a few verses, Paul lifts the veil on the heart of the gospel and invites us to behold not only what Christ has done, but who He is. Here, theology and devotion meet. Doctrine bends toward worship. Truth calls for transformation.
Paul begins with a command that is both simple and demanding: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Christianity is not merely about believing certain facts; it is about receiving a new way of thinking, a new posture of life shaped by the character of Jesus Himself.
Paul then traces the downward path of Christ’s humility. Though Jesus was “in very nature God,” fully equal with the Father, He did not cling to His rights or status. He did not grasp for advantage. Instead, He chose self-emptying—not by ceasing to be God, but by taking on the limitations of humanity. The eternal Son stepped into time. The Creator took the form of a servant. The Lord of glory embraced obedience.
And that obedience went all the way to the cross.
Not just death—but “even death on a cross.” The most shameful, humiliating, and painful form of execution in the Roman world became the place where divine love was most clearly displayed. Christ’s humility was not theoretical; it was costly. It was voluntary. It was redemptive.
What Is Paul Saying to Us?
Paul is showing us the heart of God. In Christ, we see that true greatness is found in humility, true power in self-giving love, and true glory in obedience to the Father’s will. Jesus did not save us by force or by display, but by surrender.
At the same time, Paul is holding up Christ as both Savior and model. What Christ has done for us is utterly unique—no one else could accomplish it. Yet the mind behind what He did, the attitude of humility and selflessness, is meant to shape our lives as His followers.
The Implications for Our Lives
If Christ did not cling to His rights, how can we cling so tightly to ours?
If Christ humbled Himself for others, how can we insist on being served?
If Christ obeyed the Father even when it led to suffering, how can we demand comfort as the highest good?
The mind of Christ reshapes our relationships, our priorities, and our view of success. It calls us to put others before ourselves, to serve without seeking recognition, and to obey God even when it costs us. This does not mean self-hatred or passivity; it means a life so anchored in God’s love that we are free to give ourselves away.
Our Response to What Christ Has Done
How should we respond to what Christ has done for us in Philippians 2:5–8? Honestly, no response can ever be truly “adequate.” The cross silences all boasting. The incarnation humbles all pride. Faced with such grace, the most fitting response is worship—falling on our knees in awe, gratitude, and surrender.
But worship does not end with words or songs. The mind of Christ calls for a lived response: a life of humility, obedience, love, and trust. We do not imitate Christ in order to earn salvation; we imitate Him because we have been saved.
This is why it is so wrong to think that our works can add to what Christ has already done. His sacrifice is complete. His obedience was perfect. To imagine that our efforts could improve upon the cross is to misunderstand grace. Our works are not a contribution to salvation; they are a consequence of it. We obey not to be accepted, but because we already are.
When we grasp this, our striving turns into gratitude, our obedience into joy, and our service into worship. The mind of Christ frees us from self-centered living and invites us into the beauty of a cross-shaped life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We stand in awe of what You have done for us through Your Son.
Jesus, You humbled Yourself, took the form of a servant,
and obeyed even unto death on the cross—for us.
Forgive us for our pride, our self-sufficiency,
and for the times we think our efforts can add to Your finished work.
Give us the mind of Christ—humble, obedient, and full of love.
May our lives be a response of worship,
not striving to earn grace, but joyfully living in it.
Teach us to serve, to love, and to obey as You did,
for Your glory and the good of others.
In the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.
More on Lesson 4 Unity through Humility
This Quarter's Sabbath School Lessons Here: Christ in Philippians and Colossians
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