LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN 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. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 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, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Php 2:5-16 NKJV
Php 2:5-16 NKJV
Having the "Mind of Christ" is not about US being the righteousness of God in Christ. It is NOT about US rejoicing over having right standing with God. It is not the notion of "Because Jesus obeyed, so we don't have to obey... " or "Jesus became poor and weak, so that we become rich and healthy!".
Paul declared this in the first sentence, "let this mind be in you, which was also be in Christ Jesus". What mind? That even though he did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, humbled himself and be OBEDIENT even to the point of death on the cross. The key theme of this passage is OBEDIENCE, NOT right standing. It is based on this context, that Paul urges the Philipians to WORK OUT their Salvation with fear and trembling.
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