The Form of a Servant
Christ, who is equal with God, took on the form of a servant to demonstrate His humility and love for humanity.
Charles Spurgeon preaches on the discipline of grace, emphasizing that grace serves as a schoolmaster to educate, train, and prepare believers for a life of holiness and maturity. Grace instills new principles, inspires gratitude, and cultivates love for God while revealing what is evil and guiding believers in discerning between good and evil. The discipline of grace includes instruction, correction, and chastisement, ultimately leading believers to deny ungodliness, live righteously, and eagerly anticipate the second coming of Christ.
Text
"Christ Jesus: who, being in THE FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7).
In His life, Christ hides His glory "the form of God," under the "form of a servant" as illustrated in the gospels. When asked for tribute, He pays the custom for Peter and Himself by commanding a fish from the sea to bring Him that very piece of money needed. On another occasion, He was the unnoticed guest at a marriage feast, yet as the very Creator of all He furnished it. Observe Him again in the vessel on the lake during a storm. He was there as a tired laboring man whose sleep was sweet. Such was His manifested form.
But underneath lay "the form of God." He arose and rebuked the sea into a calm. Who was He? None less than He of whom it had been written "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."
Sermon Outline
- The Form of God
- The Form of a Servant
- Manifestation of God's Power
- Christ's authority over creation
- Revealing God's glory
Key Quotes
“Christ Jesus: who, being in THE FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men” — J.G. Bellet
“He arose and rebuked the sea into a calm.” — J.G. Bellet
“The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.” — J.G. Bellet
Application Points
- We should strive to live a life of humility and service, just like Christ.
- We should recognize and respect the authority of Christ as the Son of God.
- We should seek to understand and demonstrate God's love and power in our lives.