Philippians 2:5-11
It’s easy to think of humility as optional—a personality trait some people have and others don’t. But Scripture presents humility as something far more central. It is the mindset that shapes the Christian life and transforms the way believers relate to God and one another.
That’s why Paul introduces one of the most profound passages in all of Scripture with a simple command:
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”
In other words, think like Jesus.
Philippians 2:5–11 is often called the “Christ hymn.” It traces the downward path of Christ’s humility and the upward movement of His exaltation. But Paul doesn’t include it merely so we admire its beauty. He gives it to us because this is the mindset every believer—and every church—must adopt.
The Call: Adopt the Mind of Christ
The Christian life does not begin with outward action but with inward posture. Our behavior flows from our thinking. If unity, love, and humility are ever going to characterize our lives, they must first take root in our minds and hearts.
Paul knows that humility doesn’t come naturally. We don’t drift into it. So he points us to the ultimate example—not an abstract principle, but a Person.
Look at Christ.
The Downward Path of Christ
Before Jesus ever walked the roads of Galilee, He existed eternally in the very nature of God. He lacked nothing. He reigned in glory. Yet He did not cling to His rights or insist on His privileges.
Instead, He chose the downward path.
Christ emptied Himself—not by ceasing to be God, but by taking on humanity. He laid aside the visible display of His glory and took the form of a servant. The eternal King entered our world not to be served, but to serve.
And that descent did not stop with becoming human.
Jesus humbled Himself through perfect obedience—obedience that led all the way to the cross. The Author of life submitted Himself to death. Not a quiet or honorable death, but the most shameful death the Roman world could impose.
The One who deserved worship was mocked.
The One who deserved honor was rejected.
The One who deserved service was nailed to a tree.
This is the shape of the gospel: down before up.
The Exaltation of Christ
But the story does not end in humiliation.
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him…”
Because Christ willingly went to the lowest place, God lifted Him to the highest place. The Father raised Him from the dead and exalted Him above every name. The humbled Christ is now openly declared to be Lord of all.
One day, every knee will bow—willingly or unwillingly—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The confession believers make now in faith will one day be universal and undeniable.
The question is not if we will bow, but when.
The Pattern for Our Lives
Paul does not give us this passage simply to inform us about Christ. He gives it to shape us.
The path Jesus walked becomes the pattern His followers are called to walk.
In God’s kingdom, the way up is always down.
Humility before honor.
Surrender before glory.
Obedience before reward.
We live in a world that urges us to grasp for recognition, defend our rights, and promote ourselves. Christ shows us a better way—the way of humility, service, and trust in the Father.
The mindset that changes everything is not striving upward, but bowing low.
When we choose humility over self-promotion, service over status, obedience over control, we walk in the footsteps of Jesus. And we can trust that God sees, God honors, and God lifts up those who humble themselves in His time and His way.
This passage calls us to more than admiration. It calls us to imitation.
To think like Christ.
To walk His path.
And to let His humility reshape our lives—for the glory of God.
