Sermons on Philippians 2:6-7
The various sermons below converge on the profound theme of Christ’s humility and self-emptying as central to Philippians 2:6-7, emphasizing Jesus’ voluntary relinquishment of divine privileges without forfeiting his deity. They collectively affirm the doctrine of the Incarnation, portraying Jesus as fully God and fully human, and highlight the passage as foundational for understanding Christ’s dual nature. Many sermons underscore the Greek terms such as “doulos” (servant/slave), “morphe” (form), and “harpagmon” (something to be grasped), unpacking their theological weight to show the depth of Christ’s descent from divine glory to servanthood. A common motif is the call for believers to emulate this humility in practical ways—whether in family life, church unity, or personal relationships—linking Christ’s kenosis to everyday acts of submission and sacrificial love. Some sermons use vivid metaphors, like a parabola illustrating Christ’s movement from exaltation to humility and back, or a ladder of humiliation marking each step of his self-lowering, enriching the interpretive texture. The theme of unity emerges strongly, with Christ’s humility serving as the model for resolving conflict and fostering oneness within the Christian community.
Despite these shared emphases, the sermons diverge notably in their theological and pastoral focus. Some prioritize a rigorous Christological defense, carefully navigating historical creeds to affirm the inseparability of Christ’s two natures and rejecting any notion that divinity was diminished or exchanged. Others lean more heavily into the practical outworking of humility, especially in relational contexts like marriage and parenting, framing submission as a joyful, voluntary act modeled on Christ’s example rather than a burdensome duty. While a few sermons delve deeply into the original Greek and poetic structure of the text, others treat Philippians 2:6-7 more as one piece of a broader biblical mosaic supporting the doctrine of the Incarnation. The tone also varies: some sermons adopt a more academic, exegetical approach, unpacking linguistic nuances and historical theology, whereas others are pastoral and experiential, drawing on personal testimony and everyday application. Additionally, the treatment of kenosis differs—some emphasize the relinquishing of divine privileges without loss of essence, while others caution against theological errors that misunderstand this self-emptying as a divestment of deity. This spectrum of approaches offers a range of interpretive lenses for preaching on this rich passage, from doctrinal clarity to heartfelt application.
Philippians 2:6-7 Interpretation:
Jesus: The Humble King of Servanthood and Obedience (Granville Chapel) interprets Philippians 2:6-7 as a radical redefinition of kingship, contrasting Jesus’ self-emptying humility with the absolute, often brutal power of ancient kings like Pharaoh, the Assyrian monarchs, and Herod. The sermon uses the Greek term for “servant” (doulos, also meaning “slave”) to emphasize the depth of Christ’s descent, and employs the mathematical image of a parabola to illustrate Christ’s movement from divine glory to utter humility and back to exaltation. The preacher highlights the poetic structure of the Greek text, suggesting it was likely an early Christian hymn, and draws out the magnitude of Christ’s self-emptying by comparing it to the everyday sacrifices of friendship, marriage, and parenthood, but ultimately showing that Christ’s sacrifice is incomparably greater.
Embracing Unity Through Christ's Humility and Service (David Guzik) offers a detailed linguistic and theological analysis of Philippians 2:6-7, focusing on the Greek word “morphe” (form) to argue that Jesus’ “form of God” means he truly and fully possessed the essence of deity, not merely an outward appearance. The sermon also unpacks the Greek behind “robbery” (harpagmon), explaining it as a “treasure to be clutched,” and thus Jesus did not cling to his divine privileges. Guzik uses the analogy of a king who removes his crown and robes to live as a commoner, emphasizing that Jesus did not cease to be God but voluntarily set aside the privileges of deity. The sermon also explores the “kenosis” (self-emptying) and warns against the “canonic theory” that Jesus gave up his divinity, instead arguing that he relinquished the privileges, not the essence, of deity. The preacher traces a “ladder of humiliation,” showing each step down from divine glory to servanthood and death, and notes that Jesus’ humility was not forced but freely chosen.
The three MLJTrust sermons ("The Mystery of the Incarnation: Christ's Dual Nature," "The Divine Mystery of Christ's Incarnation and Humanity," and "The Mystery of Christ: Divinity and Humanity Explored") all approach Philippians 2:6-7 as a foundational text for the doctrine of Christ’s dual nature—fully divine and fully human. They emphasize that the passage asserts both Christ’s pre-existence in the “form of God” and his true humanity, referencing the Greek but not delving into unique linguistic details or analogies. The sermons focus on cataloging biblical evidence for Christ’s deity and humanity, using Philippians 2:6-7 as one proof among many, but do not offer novel metaphors or detailed exegesis of the passage itself.
The Mystery of the Incarnation: God Becomes Man (Alistair Begg) offers a detailed and nuanced interpretation of Philippians 2:6-7, emphasizing the mystery and paradox of the Incarnation. Begg insists that Christ did not exchange or suspend his divinity for humanity, but rather added humanity to his divinity—an act of "addition or conjunction, not subtraction." He draws on historical church debates and creeds, especially the Chalcedonian Definition, to clarify that Jesus is one person with two natures, fully God and fully man, without confusion, change, division, or separation. Begg uses analogies such as the divine not being "attached like a mask or garment" and rejects the idea of a "mongrel existence" or a "multiple personality disorder." He also highlights the practical outworking of Christ’s humanity—his emotions, choices, and intellect—while maintaining his full divinity, and stresses the uniqueness of this claim among world religions.
Embracing Humility: The Call to Servanthood (SermonIndex.net) interprets Philippians 2:6-7 by focusing on the practical outworking of Christ’s humility and servanthood. The preacher contrasts the King James rendering "robbery" with a modern translation, clarifying that Christ did not consider equality with God "something to cling to." The sermon draws attention to Jesus’ repeated self-lowering in the Gospels, such as his statements about the Father being greater than himself, and his consistent choice of lowliness and servanthood despite his divine rights. The analogy of Jesus not just teaching humility but embodying it in "a surrendered life, sacrificial servanthood" is central, and the preacher connects this to the call for believers to make similar choices in daily life, especially in family and relational contexts.
Building a Divine Family: Unity, Love, and Prayer (SermonIndex.net) interprets Philippians 2:6-7 through the lens of submission and oneness, especially in marriage and family. The preacher highlights that Jesus, though equal with God, did not "hold on" to that equality but willingly "came down"—not just to the level of angels, but to the lowest level of humanity, as a bondservant. This voluntary descent is presented as the ultimate model for Christian submission, especially for wives in marriage, and is contrasted with worldly views of submission as oppressive. The preacher personalizes this by describing her own journey of learning joyful, willing submission, drawing a direct parallel to Christ’s attitude in Philippians 2:6-7.
Philippians 2:6-7 Theological Themes:
Jesus: The Humble King of Servanthood and Obedience (Granville Chapel) introduces the theme of kingship reimagined through humility and obedience, contrasting Jesus’ self-emptying with the self-aggrandizing power of ancient rulers. The sermon uniquely fuses the call to worship and obedience, arguing that true allegiance to Christ as King is expressed not just in praise but in daily, humble submission—a theme illustrated through the life of Keith Green and the integration of worship and obedience.
Embracing Unity Through Christ's Humility and Service (David Guzik) presents the theme of “kenosis” as the relinquishing of divine privilege rather than essence, and applies this to Christian unity: just as Christ did not cling to his rights, believers are called to lay aside selfish ambition and conceit for the sake of others. The sermon also introduces the idea that Christ’s humiliation was not only necessary for salvation but also serves as the ultimate model for resolving church conflict and fostering unity.
The MLJTrust sermons collectively stress the theological necessity of holding together Christ’s full divinity and full humanity, using Philippians 2:6-7 as a linchpin for this doctrine. They add the nuanced point that Christ’s “likeness of sinful flesh” means he was truly human but without sin or carnality, and that his temptation was real but external, not arising from a sinful nature.
The Mystery of the Incarnation: God Becomes Man (Alistair Begg) introduces the theme of the Incarnation as a unique, unrepeatable event in world history, distinguishing Christianity from all other religions. He stresses that if Jesus is not fully God and fully man, then Christianity loses both revelation and redemption. The sermon also explores the tension and balance between Christ’s divinity and humanity, warning against overemphasizing one at the expense of the other, and underscores the necessity of holding to orthodox Christology for the health and safety of the church.
Embracing Humility: The Call to Servanthood (SermonIndex.net) adds a fresh facet by connecting Christ’s self-emptying to the believer’s daily choices in family and community, especially in the context of parenting and self-denial. The preacher draws a parallel between Christ’s humility and the parental role of lowering oneself to teach and nurture children, suggesting that our servanthood mirrors Christ’s descent for our sake.
Building a Divine Family: Unity, Love, and Prayer (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme of submission as a joyful, voluntary act modeled after Christ’s own submission to the Father. The preacher reframes submission not as loss or oppression, but as a path to joy and unity, rooted in love and exemplified by Jesus’ choice to become a servant. This is applied specifically to marriage, suggesting that the wife’s submission is a reflection of Christ’s attitude in Philippians 2:6-7, and that true unity in marriage and family is grounded in this Christlike humility.
Philippians 2:6-7 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Jesus: The Humble King of Servanthood and Obedience (Granville Chapel) provides extensive historical context by describing the nature of kingship in the ancient Near East, including the Egyptian and Assyrian concepts of the king as a divine or semi-divine mediator with absolute power, and the notorious cruelty of rulers like the Assyrian kings and Herod the Great. The sermon contrasts this with the ceremonial, largely powerless modern monarchy, highlighting how Jesus’ kingship subverts both ancient and modern expectations.
Embracing Unity Through Christ's Humility and Service (David Guzik) offers historical context regarding crucifixion, noting that it was considered so shameful that Roman citizens (such as those in Philippi, a Roman colony) could not be crucified, and that for Jews, crucifixion was seen as a sign of being cursed by God. This underscores the depth of Christ’s humiliation in Philippians 2:6-7.
The Mystery of the Incarnation: God Becomes Man (Alistair Begg) provides extensive historical context, tracing the early church’s struggle to articulate the doctrine of Christ’s two natures. He references the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), the Council of Constantinople (AD 381), and the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451), explaining how these gatherings clarified that Christ is one person with two natures, ruling out various heresies such as docetism, adoptionism, and the idea of a "mongrel" or fused nature. Begg also notes the Westminster Confession’s articulation of this doctrine, emphasizing the importance of precise language to avoid confusion and error. He situates the passage within the broader context of religious pluralism, arguing that the Incarnation is a claim unique to Christianity and central to its identity.
Philippians 2:6-7 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Unity Through Christ's Humility and Service (David Guzik) references several passages to support and expand on Philippians 2:6-7: Isaiah 45:23, which Paul quotes to show that the universal submission to Jesus is a claim to his divinity; Hebrews 5:8, which explains that Jesus “learned obedience by the things which he suffered”; and 1 Corinthians 2:16, which states that believers “have the mind of Christ.” The sermon also references the Transfiguration (from the Gospels) to illustrate that Jesus’ glory was not lost but veiled, and Ephesians (regarding the summing up of all things in Christ) to show the cosmic scope of Christ’s exaltation.
The MLJTrust sermons cite a wide array of biblical cross-references to establish Christ’s divinity and humanity, including John 1:3 (creation), Colossians 1:16-17 (pre-existence and sustaining all things), Hebrews 1:3 (upholding all things), John 17:5 (pre-incarnate glory), 1 Timothy 2:5 (Christ as mediator), Hebrews 2:14 (shared flesh and blood), and Hebrews 4:15 (tempted yet without sin). They also reference Romans 1:4 (resurrection as proof of sonship), 2 Corinthians 5:21 (sinlessness), and 1 Peter 2:22 (no sin or guile), among many others, to build a comprehensive biblical case for the dual nature of Christ as seen in Philippians 2:6-7.
The Mystery of the Incarnation: God Becomes Man (Alistair Begg) references several biblical passages to support and expand on Philippians 2:6-7. He cites John 1:14 ("the Word became flesh") to emphasize the reality of the Incarnation, and 1 Timothy 3 ("the mystery of godliness is great: he appeared in a body") to highlight the mystery and centrality of Christ’s embodiment. He also references 2 John 7, warning against those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh, and Hebrews (specifically the passage about Christ’s ability to sympathize with our weaknesses because he suffered and was tempted) to underscore the practical implications of Christ’s humanity for believers. The sermon also alludes to the Gospels’ accounts of Jesus’ emotions and choices, and to the story of the rich young ruler as an example of Christ’s human affection.
Embracing Humility: The Call to Servanthood (SermonIndex.net) draws on several cross-references to reinforce the message of Philippians 2:6-7. The preacher cites Matthew 20:28 ("the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many") to illustrate Christ’s servanthood, and Hebrews 2:17-18 to show that Jesus became like us to be a merciful high priest and to help those who are tempted. 2 Corinthians 8:9 is also referenced ("though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor") to highlight the sacrificial nature of Christ’s humility. The preacher also mentions the broader context of Philippians 2 and the call to "look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others," tying it to the theme of self-denial and service.
Philippians 2:6-7 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing Unity Through Christ's Humility and Service (David Guzik) explicitly references Charles Spurgeon, quoting him on the consolation of Christ (“the Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation; if I may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the physician, but Christ is the medicine”) and on the response to Christ’s humiliation (“the lower he stoops to save us, the higher we ought to lift him in our adoring reverence”). These references are used to deepen the application of Philippians 2:6-7 to worship and adoration.
Jesus: The Humble King of Servanthood and Obedience (Granville Chapel) references Christian musician Keith Green, particularly his songs “To Obey is Better than Sacrifice” and “Make My Life a Prayer to You,” to illustrate the integration of worship and obedience in response to Christ’s humble kingship.
The Mystery of the Incarnation: God Becomes Man (Alistair Begg) explicitly references several Christian theologians and historical sources. He quotes Bruce Milne on the reality of Christ’s humanity ("humanness is not simply attached to Christ like a mask or a garment or an artificial limb; it is something which he is and through which he effectively expresses himself"), and Jim Packer’s "Concise Theology" to explain how Christ lived his divine-human life "in and through his human mind and body." Begg also references the Westminster Confession and the Chalcedonian Definition, using their precise language to clarify the doctrine of the two natures. These references are used to ground his interpretation in the broader tradition of Christian orthodoxy and to warn against doctrinal carelessness.
Philippians 2:6-7 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Jesus: The Humble King of Servanthood and Obedience (Granville Chapel) uses the mathematical concept of a parabola to illustrate the movement of Christ from divine glory to utter humility and back to exaltation, helping listeners visualize the “shape” of Christ’s self-emptying and exaltation. The sermon also references the modern monarchy (King Charles) and political leaders (Justin Trudeau, the President of the United States) to contrast contemporary, largely ceremonial or limited kingship with the absolute power of ancient kings and the radically different kingship of Jesus.
Embracing Unity Through Christ's Humility and Service (David Guzik) employs the analogy of a medieval king who removes his crown and robes to live as a commoner, emphasizing that the king remains king even when he sets aside his privileges. The sermon also briefly references the story of Aladdin’s Genie as a servant not in the likeness of men, contrasting this with Christ’s true humanity.
Embracing Humility: The Call to Servanthood (SermonIndex.net) uses a detailed secular illustration to bring Philippians 2:6-7 to life: the story of Arland Williams, a passenger on Air Florida Flight 90, which crashed into the Potomac River in 1982. Williams repeatedly passed the rescue rope to other survivors, sacrificing his own chance of survival so that strangers could live. The preacher draws a direct analogy between Williams’ self-sacrifice and Christ’s willingness to give up his rights and privileges for the sake of others, suggesting that while Williams’ act was extraordinary, Christ’s sacrifice was even greater. The story is used to challenge listeners to consider whether they would make similar sacrifices, not just in dramatic moments but in everyday acts of self-denial, such as giving up comfort or resources for others. The preacher also briefly contrasts Christ’s humble entry into Jerusalem with the pomp of modern political inaugurations, highlighting the radical difference between Christ’s kingdom and worldly power.