Bible Study - Humility - Various - Philippians 2, 3 - August 10, 2025

Bible Study – Humility – Various - Philippians 2, 3 – August 10, 2025

Consider the needs of others before your own.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 2:2 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

Being a Christian is more than being a member of a club, it is being “born-again” in a person’s spirit to become an eternal member of GOD’S Family. For this miracle to take place it took GOD’S only SON, JESUS, to come to earth to live as 100% human without sin and give HIS life to atone for the original sin of Adam and Eve.

Once the sin barrier was removed by the physical life of JESUS and HIS passion, the path to full and complete redemption was opened for all who place their faith in JESUS as GOD’S only SON, WHO takes away sin.

JESUS left HIS home in Glory and by doing so set the example for humility. Why? So that humans, through faith in JESUS, will have eternal life and live eternally in Heaven as its citizens, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:20 - Christian Standard Bible

²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

This study opens up an opportunity for us to consider the Trinity, which is GOD, The FATHER, GOD, THE SON and GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT.

JESUS has always been in Heaven and is the second person of the Trinity.

GOD, THE TRINITY, and the spirit world (the unholy world) existed before earth was formed.

The Bible introduces all humans to GOD, or as GOD told Moses in Exodus 3: ¹³ Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”

¹⁴ God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.^[e] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

GOD’S name is “I AM,” because GOD has always existed.

GOD has always been and so has the manifestations of GOD as the Trinity = GOD, THE FATHER, GOD, THE SON and GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE THREE ARE ONE.

ONE GOD, THREE MINIFESTATIONS OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE GOD DESIRES TO ACCOMPLISH.

When GOD created earth in Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ...

I love the word “hovering.” The Spirit of GOD was “hovering” or checking out every detail before HE took the next step which would set earth, as we know it, to function to sustain life.

GOD declared it “GOOD.”

Notice GOD’S next step. When GOD knew earth was suitable to sustain life for life for all HE had in HIS creative thoughts. GOD took the next step. But notice “let us” ----

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

“Let us” is the trinity – FATHER/SON/HOLY SPIRIT.

Even when GOD created earth, HE had a redemptive plan.

Body/soul/spirit – When a person accepts JESUS as his/her Savior, it is the human spirit that needs to be redeemed. All have sinned as recorded in Romans 3:23 - Christian Standard Bible

²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the^[a] glory of God;

The Apostle Paul studied the scriptures before and after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1: ³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons (daughters) through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

JESUS chose us in HIM when? Before the foundation of the world. To be what? TO BE ADOPTED AS SONS OR DAUGHTERS. Does that take away our freewill? NO!!! HIS foreknowledge allows HIM to know how we will choose. When facing eternity how do you think you will choose? Heaven or Hell?

At this point in life, most of us look through a glass darkly as recorded in

1 Corinthians 13:12 - Christian Standard Bible

¹² For now we see only a reflection^[a] as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

Discovery is rewarding. Scripture reveals in Matthew 7:7-8 Christian Standard Bible Ask, Search, Knock

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door^[a] will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Where were we/those who were ordained by GOD to become GOD’S SON or DAUGHTER through the miracle of Spiritual Birth?

I contend, safely in the mind and heart of GOD until the exact moment GOD chose for that person to be conceived.

GOD reveals Himself to Moses and ultimately to the children of Israel and the introduction of the Law. The Law was a place holder until JESUS fulfilled the Law and GOD established “GRACE.”

Exodus 3: Moses and the Burning Bush

Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. So, Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”

GOD got the attention of Moses. GOD still gets the attention of those HE calls to salvation and to serve HIM.

Moses chosen by GOD had questions only GOD can answer.

We read in Exodus 33: ¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”

¹⁹ He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” ²⁰ But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” ²¹ The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, ²² and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

This is one reason GOD’S only SON, JESUS came to earth to be born 100% human subject to sin and death. GOD desired to be ONE with each person but for that to take place the original sin barrier had to be removed and that was the purpose of JESUS.

The first Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit along with his spouse Eve. As a result of sin, physical death came upon all mankind. This is why GOD had to send JESUS, The Second Adam to earth as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:45

So, it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

JESUS is the second Adam.

The following is copied from an article By Jonathan Perz
From Expository Files 20.3; February 2013:

“In the beginning was the Word (JESUS), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3,14). We see Jesus as He was before His birth and ministry upon the earth. He was with God and was God and through Him the world was made. He dwelt with God before time began and unfolded the creation of the world. He watched as man rebelled against God and the Garden of Eden was no longer a safe haven for man.
From His presence with God He beheld the terrible flood that would consume the whole earth and destroy all that had the breath of life—save eight souls and an ark full of animals. He would witness the unfolding of the history of men as they would fight and kill one another, and the chosen people of God would rise in victory in their faith and fall in defeat in their unbelief. The “time” would come as the fullness of all things had come, and He knew that to save men from their downward spiral of destruction and fear of death—He would have to become a man.

“Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). The phrase “made Himself of no reputation” means that Christ “emptied” Himself from His place with God.
The greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus is found in what He left and what He became. He was God who became man in the flesh and had to bear under the burdens of the flesh. He was tempted as all men (Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:14-16; James 1:14; 1 John 2:16). He left a “realm” of all power, all knowledge, and all presence for a world where He had to learn to walk as a little child and learn to talk. He “increased in wisdom” (Luke 2:52) as other children, and yet He was far beyond them all in understanding (Luke 2:46-49). He hungered where He had never hungered before. He tired and needed to sleep; yet as God, He did not weary or sleep (Isaiah 40:28).

He wept and felt anguish of heart in the deep emotions of the human spirit (John 11). He felt the pain of the whips upon His back as they beat Him unmercifully before they drove iron spikes through His flesh and nailed Him to a cross. He had not felt or known these measures of man as God. He became man to be a merciful and faithful High Priest to aid those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:17,18).

By Jonathan Perz
From Expository Files 20.3; February 2013

JESUS willingly left HIS Home in Heaven because HE knew HE could trust HIS FATHER, GOD, HIS FATHER to be born 100% human – body-soul-spirit. Because of JESUS’ trust in GOD, HIS FATHER, HE willingly gave HIS sinless life to pay in full, for all sin for all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS atonement for sin.

How did JESUS atone for all sin?

We read in Hebrews 9:22

According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Life is in the blood and JESUS made eternal life available to all people who will place their faith and trust in HIM as the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD for all sin. The vital truth is that the penalty for sin has been paid for in full, but every person must accept what GOD has done through the passion of JESUS to redeem all who will place their faith in GOD’S Only SON, JESUS, and HIS PASSION.

JESUS became sin for all who place their faith and trust in HIM. Doing so results in the person of faith being “born-again” in his/her spirit to become a new eternal creation and an eternal member of GOD’S Family. This took humility and trust on the part of JESUS. And it takes trust in all people who place their faith in JESUS.

JESUS, the true SON of GOD had to have humility. After all HE was the SON of GOD, The Second Person of the Trinity.

Humility is not laying down and letting others walk all over you.

So, what is humility? Proverbs 22:4

Humility, the fear of the Lord, results in wealth, honor, and life.

Humility is the reverential fear of the LORD.

JESUS revealed HIS FATHER. How?

John 5:19

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.

Why did JESUS make sure everything HE did was according to GOD, HIS FATHER’S plan? There are no short cuts to salvation. Sin blocked the path to eternity, and the sin barrier had to be removed for all who place their faith in JESUS.

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

A person’s hands and heart are cleansed from sin by the shed blood of JESUS when a person places his/her faith in JESUS and HIS passion.

We read in Philippians 1:

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,^[a] 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you^[b] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,^[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Advance of the Gospel

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. ¹⁴ Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word^[d] fearlessly. ¹⁵ To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. ¹⁶ These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; ¹⁷ the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice ¹⁹ because I know this will lead to my salvation^[e] through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. ²⁰ My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Living Is Christ

²¹ For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. ²³ I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— ²⁴ but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. ²⁵ Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

²⁷ Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord,^[f] contending together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Dear JESUS enlighten all who have read this and if they do not know the joy of eternal salvation through faith in JESUS, issue each one a personal invitation to become YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER through the miracle of being “born-again” in your spirit.

Dear JESUS, I am a sinner, and I ask YOU to forgive me for all of my sins and I ask YOU to come into my heart and through the miracle of Spiritual birth make me your eternal Son or Daughter. Confirm this moment with the evidence of the indwelling confirmation of the Holy Spirit. If you are not already in a church or fellowship of Holy Spirit led believers, ask GOD to lead you to where HE desires for you to be fed Spiritually and grow. AMEN!!!

Blessings!!!