IT WAS NOT ROBBERY -- Monday:
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God . . . " (Phil 2:6,
Beyond all question, this is one of the most profound utterances in all of Scripture. It is the description of the "mind" we are to allow to dwell within us. "Let this mind be IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus" (verse 5). This represents the only acceptable approach to living for God and fulfilling His will. It involves the abandonment of personal preferences in favor of the will of the Lord.
On the surface, the phraseology may appear difficult. It is NOT saying Jesus did not consider being equal with God a detraction from God Himself. In such a case, being "equal with God" would be robbing God of His glory, as though being equal with God would be competing with Him. This is the kind of mind-set Satan had, who reasoned thus: "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isa 14:14). Our text, however, is not speaking of equality with God as an aspiration Jesus avoided.
Other versions read as follows. "did not regard (consider, count) equality with God a thing to be grasped" (NASB, RSV, NIV). The NRSV reads, "did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited." In this view, "equality with God" was already possessed by Jesus, and therefore there was no need to pursue it. But all of that does not seem to clarify the matter, and appears completely dissociated from the text.
The idea being expressed is not that of aspiration -, i.e., wanting to take hold of Divine attributes. Nor, indeed, is the thought that Jesus already possessed "equality with God," and therefore had no desire to seek it. Rather, the text affirms something Jesus was willing to relinquish, or let go of. "Grasped," in this case, means hold on to, or KEEP grasping. "Robbery," means Jesus did not consider Himself to have been robbed when asked to give up His former glory and humble Himself.
The text is affirming that Jesus let go of equality with God to enter into the world. When asked to do this, He did not consider Himself to have been exploited or taken advantage of. He did not think it "robbery" to actually become dependent upon God as a Man. Rather, He viewed the will of God as preeminent and right. He considered it best and preferable to step down in order that we might step up. He humbled Himself that we might be exalted. As it is written elsewhere, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Cor 8:9). He was "made a curse" that we might be blessed (Gal 3:13), and "became sin" that we might be "made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21).
More detail of this is provided in the tenth chapter of Hebrews. "Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come; In the volume of the book it is written of Me; To do Your will, O God.' Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them' (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God'" (Heb 10:5-9, NKJV).
In order for us to be saved, Jesus had to forfeit His equality with God – the "form of God." He had to temporarily lay His glory aside, and sheathe the sword of Divine prerogatives, so that He did not APPEAR to be God. He was required to enter into a body – a created body – and be subject to restriction. He would have to become obedient, and do so willingly. He would have to become totally dependent upon the Father, live by faith, be tempted in all points as we are, suffer, and die. He could NOT do this "in the form of God," but only as a Man. He could choose to hold on to "equality with God," or let it go. He could choose to remain "in the form of God," or let it go. He chose to let it go! He did not consider Himself robbed in doing that. He did not think the loss of humanity was worth maintaining an uninterrupted grasp on Divine equality. That is the solemn declaration of this verse.
When entering into the world, and living among men, Jesus did not cease to be "God," or Divine, but chose to enter into a "form" that concealed His true Person. He also chose to live among men, and in the devil's terrain, without fully exercising His Divine privileges.
It is not possible for this truth to enter the hearts of men without impacting upon the way they think and live. Such love as this will constrain the individual to live for God, and to do it sacrificially and without complaint (2 Cor 5:16). Knowing what Jesus forfeited in order to save us makes any Divine demand upon us light and able to be borne with dignity.
Wherever there are lukewarmness, disobedience, and slothfulness, these things are NOT seen, even though they have been revealed. Such conditions constitute rebellion, a love for the world, and inexcusable ignorance. They put one at a variance with God and aloof from Jesus, who is the sole source of our acceptance.
Remember, this is an exposition of humility – humility that we are exhorted to embrace. It is opening up "the mind of Christ," showing us how our Savior thought. That manner of thinking is the mode of the Kingdom. No other mind-set is acceptable. Any other way of viewing things is intolerable.
If we imagine considering others "better" than ourselves, and considering the interests of others as well as our own, is too difficult an assignment, let us think about Jesus. More than that, let us allow His mind to be in us. To conduct our lives in any other manner is to exalt ourselves and anger the Lord. In such a case, God will surely abase us. If, on the other hand, we choose to let this mind be in us, our God will exalt us in due time.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to have "the mind of Christ."