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An Excerpt From My Book, Jesus Son of Man AnointedBut Jesus emptied Himself, (by) taking the form of a bond-servant, {and} being made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:7 NAS
Many Christians wrongfully use this scripture to say that Jesus laid aside or emptied himself of his deity and came to earth as a man yet functioned in the earth as both God and man. This scripture does not support such a notion.
The key to rightfully understanding this scripture is to discern what it is that Jesus emptied according to this passage of scripture. Remember Jesus in his humanity functioned in the likeness of sinful flesh having a body of flesh and blood and was tempted by all that the world could offer.
One may draw as a logical conclusion that if Jesus is tempted as is all of humanity then there were things which he needed to divest or empty from within. Again remember that desires are not sin until they are activated in the heart! Jesus never sinned. If Jesus did not have fleshly desires then he could not have been tempted. The Apostle James wrote…
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one (including Jesus) is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13-15 (NASU)
What is the Form of a Bondservant?
The subject verse says that He emptied Himself taking on the form of a BONDSERVANT. A bondservant title is relegated to men who serve our God and one another. Those of you who are bond-servants to God and all of humanity know that it takes all of the deity nature one can grasp in order to become a bondservant of God.
If we are to be bondservants of God, it will take deity capacities in order to successfully fulfill this role. Therefore Jesus in his humanity had to lay aside the desires of the flesh…the root of temptation. So what did Jesus really lay aside?
What must be emptied from man that would allow a selfless bondservant nature? The answer is selfishness
It is obvious from Philippians 2:7 that whatever Jesus emptied out or gave up would allow a bondservant nature to manifest. We know that Jesus is a bondservant to God and all of humanity therefore Jesus was successful in releasing selfish desires.
The opposite of a bondservant nature to God and humanity is a bond-servant nature which is self-serving. The preceding verses before Philippians 2:7 give us a clear description of the wrong nature needed to be lain aside, not only by Jesus, but by all believers.
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not {merely} look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (NAS)
Jesus was tempted in every way that the world has to offer…including selfishness. Remember that every man (including the man Jesus) is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires. Temptation is not sin. If Jesus was tempted in his humanity then Jesus had to have desires. We know that these challenges to Jesus in his likeness of sinful flesh never were acted upon; therefore Jesus never sinned.
This is where God wants all believers. Jesus by the grace of God (Hebrews 2:9) laid aside all desires of selfishness or empty conceit and made His priority the interests of His Father and of others above His own interest.
Remember…Temptation is not Sin
This wrong bondservant mentality is self-love without the love of God. It is ungodly fear and self-preservation that keeps one from emptying out so as to take on the Godly nature of a bondservant to God and humanity.
Jesus, who is the most fearless lover who ever existed among mankind, is empowered in his humanity to be a bondservant extraordinaire. Perfect love casts out fear. Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh and was tempted by all that the world could offer yet he never sinned. Romans 8:3 says that Jesus condemned or chose against sin in the flesh. The following two scriptures prove that which Jesus laid aside. He victoriously laid aside all solicitation or temptation to sin as we are called and empowered to do also.
How did Jesus do this? Jesus walked in agreement with the Holy Spirit voice of God, His Father; therefore being full of grace and truth (John 1:14-16). John 1:16 says that of Jesus' fullness have we received and grace for grace. Jesus in His love empowerment victoriously condemned or chose against sin in the flesh rendering powerless the devil's power of death. Glory to God forevermore!
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God {did} sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and {as an offering} for sin, He condemned (chose against) sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3 (NAS)
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, he himself (Jesus) likewise also partook of the same (Humanity…flesh & blood), that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Hebrews 2:14 (NAS)
In Conclusion, Jesus by the loving power of God (Deity capacities afforded both to Jesus and all believers), emptied Himself of all that would negate the power of a true bondservant of God.
The irony is that the man Jesus by the spirit of God literally picked up deity abilities instead of laying them aside as has been wrongly taught.
Gale Maiden
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