Christ's Seven Steps Down

[Larry 2]

Christ's Seven Steps Down

Transcribed from A, S. Copley's

The Race Course of The Sons of God

Study Book of Philippians

Seven surpassing steps of His amazing condescension. They are unthinkable. No mere human mind could ever comprehend such a coming down. Only by divine revelation can we grasp it in some measure. Let us study closely and prayerfully each downward step by itself. But before we do so, we must note His exact state in heaven, as expressed by Philippians 2:6.

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." The Son of God sought nothing higher of greater; because He was already in the form of God; because He was equal with Him, for He was God. Because He announced Himself to be "equal with His Father are one," thus making Himself God, the Jews tried to kill Him-- John 5:18 and 10:30-33. Therefore when He came to the earth, He was not grasping after something; for He already possessed everything. Literally, "He esteemed not equality with God a thing to be seized with a hook;" but He

1. "Made Himself of no reputation." This is the first solemn step downward. That is, He "emptied Himself." All things were created by Him and for Him; by the emptied Himself of His strength, saying, "The Son can do nothing of Himself" -- John 5:19. "He was crucified thru weakness" -- 2 Cor. 13:4. He emptied Himself of His wealth, saying, "The Son of Man hath not where to lay His head" -- Matt. 8:20. Throughout the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus is called "the Son of Man" almost invariably, because He "made Himself of no reputation" as to His Deity. This emptying is expressed in Paul's words. "Tho He was rich, Yet for your sakes He became poor, that thru His poverty, Ye might become rich" --- 2 Cor. 8:9. He was rich in power and honor and place and ownership and holiness, but He voluntarily emptied Himself of it all for the sake of mankind.

Therefore He

2. "took upon Him the form of a servant." This is simply unthinkable. How could the high and holy Son of God, in debt to no one, not even to His Father, and needing nothing -- how could He take a slave's place and form? What an exchange! The holy Son of the most high God volunteered to exchange "the form of God" for the "form of a servant." Reader, do you grasp it? The Sovereign of the universe stepped from the loftiest place of absolute authority and power down to the low, menial place of slave.

3. "And was made in the likeness of men." If our Lord had taken on the form of a servant simply as the Son of God, His condescension would not have seemed so wonderful. If He had remained in heaven and served His Father and the Holy Spirit only, we might not marvel; but He became man. He took upon Him human flesh. He who fills immensity, assumed the limitations of a human body. It is simply an incomprehensible wonder. An elephant could never condense himself so as to occupy a thimble; but the eternal Son of God could clothe Himself with a man's body. Reason dashes its brains into atoms at this stupendous miracle; but faith lays hold upon it and turns a sinner into a saint makes him a "partaker of the divine nature" and transfixes him finally from earth to heaven.

4. "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself." The Son of God did not only become a man, but He took a lowly place as a man. He did not assume to be the chief master, chief slave. Study verse three again -- "In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than Himself." Exactly that is what our Lord did in humbling Himself, or taking a lower position. Again we are amazed. We stand speechless before such majestic condescension. Each downward step of Omnipotence adds to our wonder, but also strengthens our faith and augments our love for Him.

5. "Became obedient." In the glory , He had unbounded authority to give orders to angels and arch-angels How He takes orders. Indeed He does not make a move of His own accord. "I have kept my Father's commandments, " He declares -- John 15:19. He refused to assert His rightful authority. Therefore, He announced, saying, "All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth" -- Matt. 28:18. Mark you, this is not the authority which belonged to Him as the Son of God, but that which His Father has delegated to Him. As Man, Jesus Christ will be obedient eternally to His Father.

6. "Unto death." Here is another long stride downward. He became obedient. not only in service, by healing the sick, raising the dead ad by giving unparalleled instruction, all of which brought Him great honor; but He became "obedient unto death." When the Lord returned from His victorious conflict with Satan in the wilderness, "there went out a fame of Him thru all the region round about, and He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all" -- Luke 14-15. Never man spake like this man" exclaimed the officers -- John 7:46. Nevertheless, He voluntarily laid down that record-breaking life at His Father's behest. He calmly declared, "Therefore doth My Father love me because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me/ but I lay it down myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." -- John 10:17,18. His obedience reached into death.

7. "Even the death of the cross." Oh , marvel of marvels! And bear in mind, Jesus did not die as a martyr for some great cause which He championed. He died as a criminal. "He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sin of many" -- Isa. 53:12. "He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" -- 2 Cor. 5:21. The death the Son of God died was the most shameful death then known. The worst criminals and outlaws were punished by execution on a cross. The ignominy of Christ's death is expressed by the facts that He was hanged in the place of Barabbas, who was an insurrectionist, a robber, a murderer, and between two thieves. Oh, the language fails to express the condescension of Christ.

With most people, the real meaning of Christ's death is not understood; therefore, its value is not worthily appreciated. It was in the darkest moment of His life, that He cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' Because Jesus hung on the cross, dying in the sinner's stead, dying as if He were indeed the guilty sinner, upon whom holy justice cannot look with favor; for that reason He was accursed of God. The God of justice and holiness could not look upon Him. That is the meaning of the words, "He tasted death for every man." By that act, "He put away sin." He died as a transgressor, that the curse might be lifted from us the moment we believe. He wore a crown of thorns, that we might wear crowns of glory. He bore the eternal weight of our sins, that we might share with Him "an eternal weight of glory." The darkness of His hour of death and the depth of His unbearable suffering of soul, determined the brightness of the eternal light and the height of unmeasured joy that the saints may possess forever. "Oh, the unspeakable riches of His grace!"

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