Day 5 — What We Believe: The Core of the Christian Faith
Today’s Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
The apostle Paul writes to the believers in Philippi to settle a practical problem. The church faces internal friction and competing egos. Paul solves this by pointing them to the historical reality of the Messiah. He presents a precise record of the incarnation.
Paul shows them the complete trajectory of the Savior’s mission. Jesus existed as God, took on human flesh, and submitted to execution. Jesus emptied Himself to the cross, and God exalted Him as Lord. You can anchor your own mind to this firm sequence of events.
Context An Early Christian Creed
Scholars recognize Philippians 2:6-11 as one of the earliest creeds of the Christian faith. Believers recited these lines within a few decades of the resurrection. This text proves the first Christians worshipped Jesus as fully divine from the very beginning. They understood His human death and His eternal supremacy as established facts.
Philippians 2:5-6 (BSB)
⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Jesus possessed the exact nature of God. The original language points to an unchanging, eternal reality. Jesus held supreme authority and absolute divine rights. He chose to set aside the independent exercise of those privileges. He retained His divine identity while stepping into human history.
Philippians 2:7-8 (BSB)
⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
The creator of the universe entered the physical world as a servant. He took on real human flesh, real physical limitations, and real vulnerability. This descent reached its lowest point at the crucifixion. The Romans designed the cross to maximize physical agony and public shame. Jesus submitted to this specific execution to pay the penalty for human rebellion.
Word study "emptied", ekenōsen (Philippians 2:7)
Greek: κενόω (kenoō), pronounced ken-OH-o. Strong’s G2758. This verb means to make empty, to make of no effect, or to strip oneself of rightful dignity. Jesus poured Himself out entirely. He surrendered His heavenly glory to become the substitute for humanity.
Philippians 2:9-11 (BSB)
⁹ Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The resurrection and ascension reverse the humiliation of the cross. God the Father vindicated Jesus publicly. He granted Him the title of Lord, a title reserved for God Himself in the Old Testament. The historical record concludes with a universal verdict. Every conscious being will eventually acknowledge the absolute authority of Jesus Christ.
Study notes The Divine Name
Paul applies language from the prophet Isaiah directly to Jesus. God declares in Isaiah that every knee will bow to Him alone, proving Paul identifies Jesus as the Lord God.
"By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance." Isaiah 45:23 (BSB)
The historical trajectory of Jesus demands a personal response. Jesus emptied Himself to the cross, and God exalted Him as Lord. You can acknowledge His authority right now. Take five minutes today to write down three specific areas of your life (such as your schedule, your finances, or your relationships) and verbally submit each one to the leadership of Jesus Christ.