Philippians 2:5-8 says, “… Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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.“

God became man. That’s the story of Christ. The phrase “being in the form of God” refers to His eternal existence within the Godhead. We have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, co-equal and co-eternal. Ephesians 3:15 talks about the “family in heaven” from whom every family on earth and in heaven is named. What is the heavenly family? It’s the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By means of the virgin conception and birth, Jesus took on the form of a bond servant and came in the likeness of men. It was absolutely essential that He have a human body so that He could go to the cross. It’s important to note that in taking the form of man, Jesus did not lose the form of God. “Form” here is morphē. Morphē refers to the nature or the essence of the person. It is not in the abstract. It is the actual subsisting of the individual retained as long as the individual exists, both the morphē of God and the morphē of man are used.

This passage also makes clear that Jesus’ incarnation demanded an attitude and action on His part. He had to humble Himself. He had to choose to step down. He had to choose not to cling to His status and position in the heavens. Some translations say, “He did not regard equality with God a thing to cling to.” Some say, “He did not regard it robbery to be equal with God.” What it’s actually talking about there, the word “harpagmon” means a prize to cling to. And what it’s saying is, in His condescension and in His humility, He was willing to lay His heavenly glory aside and step down into a world of sin, sorrow, and suffering. He was willing to become a man. He never at any time ceased to be God. But He humbled Himself, and He emptied Himself.

The verb there “kenoō” means that He voluntarily relinquished the exercise of His divine powers. When Jesus was on this earth, He lived as a true human being. It’s interesting when you read the statements of Jesus in the Gospels; ask yourself, is He speaking from His deity, from His humanity, or both? In John 8:58, when Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” He was speaking of His deity. In Matthew 24:36 He says, “… but of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Some versions actually have “not even the angels, nor the Son.” He voluntarily laid aside the exercise of His omniscience in that case. And then sometimes He speaks as both. He says in John 10:30, “I and My Father are one.”

Jesus Christ — undiminished deity and perfect humanity, united together forever by means of the virgin birth. God became man. It’s an amazing thing!

Original lessons and notes here: https://basictraining.org/isaiah/

Jesus was the Ultimate Gift. Learn about “The Gift” here:
https://youtu.be/Jgkse3saH1U