Sermon

Click here to print this sermon.

March 16, 2008
Palm Sunday
Philippians 2:5-8
Pastor Ben Berger

A CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE

What kind of attitude do you have? How would others describe your attitude? As we look at our lives through the lens of God’s word, we often focus on our actions. Today we’ll focus on attitude. Attitude is more important than action. Why we do what we do and in what manner we do it matters more to God than what we do. Attitude often determines action. What kind of attitude do you have? Through the apostle Paul God encourages us to have A CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE. To do so, we’ll have to 1) Lose the ‘tude we currently have and 2) Choose the ‘tude God wants.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (5). Before we can have a Christ-like attitude, we need to learn what attitude Jesus had. Paul tells us. He begins by reminding us who Christ is, Who, being in very nature God (6). Jesus always has been God, always will be God and never stopped being God. Not everyone believes that. Even during Jesus days on earth many people asked him, “Who do you think you are?” Jesus had told them he was God with his many “I AM” statements, even told them plainly that he was the Christ. Jesus showed them he was God by his many miracles, especially his resurrection from the dead. There’s no question that Jesus was, is and always will be in very nature God.

Yet, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing (6-7). Now we begin to see Jesus’ attitude. While still God, Jesus became man. When Jesus became man, he did not insist on proclaiming himself God. He did not need to grasp or hold onto or prove to everyone that he really is God. Instead, he willingly made himself nothing. That doesn’t mean he stopped being God; it means he did not fully use his power as God. He lived as man; he ate and drank and slept. He even allowed other men to put him to death.

While in very nature God, Jesus took on the nature of a servant (7). Jesus, God’s son, was willing to live as the Son of Man to serve you. Jesus knew that he was God; and he knew that if he lived as God on this earth, he would not have been able to complete his work as your Savior. If Jesus had used his divine power to protect himself or to overtake the Romans, he would not have died on the cross. Without Jesus’ death on the cross, we would still be in our sins. Jesus served us by his willingness, his attitude, to empty himself and become man.

Do we have a Christ-like attitude? Are we willing to empty ourselves to serve others? Just the opposite. We have sinful, selfish attitudes. Even though Jesus is God, he did not insist on grasping or holding to his divinity; he became man. Even though we are men, we insist on becoming little gods. We want to control our lives and the lives of those around us. And we don’t empty ourselves. We want everyone to bow down and worship us, to tell us how pretty or smart or athletic or good we are. We don’t take on the nature of a servant, using our gifts and resources for the benefit of others. NO, we simply want to see how much we can serve ourselves and how many others we can find to serve us. We have nothing but a sinful, selfish attitude.

It’s time to lose the ‘tude. Who do we think we are? We talk and act like we’re God when we are nothing but selfish, sinful human beings. What makes us think that we have anything to offer? Because of our sinful attitude, even the best of our words and works are tainted with sin. We act like the world owes us. And when life doesn’t go our way, it’s everyone else’s fault. We take no responsibility for ourselves or our sin. We act as if everyone, including God, owes us. Do you know what God owes us? Suffering. Death. Hell. That’s it. All we deserve is suffering, more suffering than any of us will ever face on this earth. And death – God clearly states that the one who sins will die. And hell – eternal suffering and punishment, for even the smallest of our sins. Not just for our sinful words and actions, but also for our sinful attitudes. Lose the ‘tude.

Instead of a sinful, selfish attitude, choose the ‘tude of Jesus. Have a Christ-like attitude.
Paul tells us more about Jesus’ attitude. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself (8). Did you catch that? Jesus humbled himself. Jesus chose his attitude. God the Father didn’t tell him what to do or force him to become a man. Humans certainly didn’t and couldn’t force Jesus to do anything. Jesus chose his own attitude; and he chose to humble himself. Again let me explain what that means. It doesn’t mean that Jesus stopped being God. It does mean that he chose not to use his power as God while on earth (except in a few instances like his miracles).

Paul explains, Jesus became obedient up to death, even death on a cross. Jesus chose an attitude of obedience. His heavenly Father asked him to become man’s Savior. Jesus agreed. To become our Savior, Jesus became obedient. He obeyed his earthly mother and father – even when they weren’t fair. Jesus obeyed the Jewish leaders – even when they falsely accused him. Jesus obeyed the Roman government – even when it falsely condemned him. Jesus obeyed his heavenly Father – resisting every temptation of the devil. Jesus even obeyed you – by giving his life as payment for your sins. Jesus humbled himself in obedience even to the point of death.

And not just any death. Jesus humbled himself even to the point of death on a cross. You may think that the pain and suffering of the cross were the worst part for Jesus. They weren’t. The worse part of the cross was its curse. Even in the Old Testament God commanded that dead bodies be hung from a cross to show everyone the result of sin. Jesus’ live body hung from a cross as the result of sin. God cursed Jesus for our sin. God asked Jesus to suffer not just physical death, but even hell, to pay for our sins. Jesus obeyed.

Jesus humbled himself for you. Jesus chose a life of obedience and a cursed death for you. You were Jesus’ motivation. Every time he wanted to use his divine power for his own benefit, he thought of you. While he could have protected and glorified himself, he wanted to protect and glorify you. While he could have saved himself from suffering, death and hell, he wanted to save you. Jesus chose his humble, obedient attitude to become your Savior.

After Jesus completed his work as Savior, God the Father exalted him. God gave Jesus the name above all names, that at his name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is still man, but now he lives as God. The Father exalted Jesus to prove to us that Jesus is our Savior and to give Jesus the glory he deserves.

In response to all Jesus has done for us, we have opportunity to now choose our ‘tude. Choose a Christ-like attitude. Do you realize that you have the power to choose? You cannot choose what other people will say to you. You cannot choose what other people will do to you. You cannot choose what other people will think of you. And you cannot choose what God will allow into your life. You have no control over others. But you do have complete control over yourself. And that control begins with your attitude. In spite of what others think, say or do or what God allows, you can now choose a Christ-like attitude.

Choose humility. In thanks for what Christ has done for you, in thanks that Jesus humbled himself to become your Savior, you can now choose to humble yourself in service to others. Repent of sin and admit that you’re not God. Quit filling yourself up to make others like you or even to make you like yourself. Stop living to make yourself happy and start living to serve others.

Choose obedience. Choose obedience even to the point of death. Let God control what comes or doesn’t come into your life. Simply ask him to give you the willingness to accept the life he has planned for you. Accept your parents. Accept your school. Accept your friends. Accept your gifts and abilities. Accept your job. Accept your bank account. And accept whatever suffering comes with all of your blessings. Accept even death as the door that now leads to eternal life.

Trust that God will exalt you. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday knowing that he was going to die. It’s the only time I can remember Jesus letting a crowd praise him as they did. Later in the week, the crowds shouted for his crucifixion. Jesus didn’t stress out over the quick change. He willingly obeyed even to death knowing and trusting that his Father would raise him from the dead and seat him in heaven. Your Father has also promised to raise you from the dead and seat you in heaven.

So lose the ‘tude. Get rid of the sinful, selfish attitude that controls so many of us. Instead, choose the ‘tude. Choose a Christ-like attitude, who, being in very nature God, humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross, to become your Savior.