Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) 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 has also 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 letter to the Christians in Philippi was written by the Apostle Paul to encourage them to remain steadfast in the face of persecution for their faith in Christ Jesus. Paul writes this letter from prison, likely in Rome, and is suffering for his faith too.

The message in Scripture is clear that while it may look like evil is overcoming in this world, the opposite outcome is sure and God IS sovereign. Christ through his death and resurrection has triumphed over death. We have the witness of the prophets of the Old Testament – all of which points to the promised Messiah of Genesis – and  the direct witness of the apostles who saw Jesus after the resurrection – and who, to a man, suffered all for Jesus. Indeed, the explosion of the church of Christ in those ancient times can only be explained by divine intervention.  God has a plan and we are part of it

The gospel is THE good news – we have been redeemed by Christ and “it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”.  The message is Christ as true God took on the nature of true man and became sin to be sacrificed to make man right with God. That is why He suffered so in the garden of Gethsemane – not because of the physical torture He knew was ahead but because He would become sin and so would be separated from the Father.  He came to save man in obedience to the Father.  The intended goal in our verses today was not the salvation of man (though that was true) but the glory of God the Father.   Jesus did come as a servant – not of man – but of His Father.  Thus the verses 9 to 11:  “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.”  Amen.