Jesus Christ, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  (8) 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.  (9) Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.  (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Apostle Paul wrote this magnificent passage on the nature and person and work of Christ Jesus.  He was writing to the Philippians to correct a minor problem in the church there.  Paul wrote to tell them the cure for their/any condition is to know the mind of Christ.  Paul described the suffering of Christ and emphasized here that Jesus, true God and true man, did not cling to His divine nature.  Jesus is equal with God but took upon Himself the nature and likeness of men.  And was obedient to death – not a common death but the lowest and most painful of death the Romans could apply.  But, as was the humility of Jesus also was and is His exaltation:  all created things shall pay homage to Him.

Paul tells us that essential nature cannot be changed and Jesus is essential and unalterable God and this was an objective reality  before the beginning of time.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow – He is always God.  The essence of Jesus is divine and this never changes.  He emptied Himself of His divine glory but not of His divine nature.  He emptied Himself of the self manifestation of His divine essence but not of His divine nature.  He continued to be the Son of God.

The dramatic act of incarnation – added to the divine nature of Christ was a complete human nature and the divine glory was veiled – voluntarily.  Christ Jesus submitted to human limitations APART from sin.  There is a profound truth here – we think of Christ’s miracles and His putting forth His powers as God:  quieting the storm, raising the dead, causing the blind to see and the lame to walk.  But a truer understanding of this human nature shows He did nothing of Himself.  The works He did were not His own but the Father’s who sent Him.  His human life was one of faith even as our life should be one of faith.   He is our PERFECT example.

A study of today’s verses tell us that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall give praise to God.  Even the fallen unredeemed angels and unredeemed man – even though under eternal condemnation –  will HAVE to bow before Jesus and acknowledge He is the Son of God.  Even hell itself will confess Jesus Christ is Lord – ultimately this will be so, either by choice or by force, that all will submit to Jesus Christ as Lord.   All that has happened and ever will happen moves through time toward this moment.  History shows the pattern and rhythm toward this conclusion and history is not an aimless sequence of events.  There is a meaning and purpose for everything in this world.  All history tells us of the sovereignty of God – all the Bible tells us this story.