ExposingThe
Trinity!
How Did Jesus Empty Himself?
Church's wild imagination has led to confusion!
Nab B, October 2016
“Rightly Divide the Word”
(2 Tim 2:15-18)
“Shun the Traditions of Men”
(Col 2:8)
A Different Approach!
I hope my unorthodox approach will show you how the Trinity doctrine is inadequate to fit what is revealed in the scriptures.
My interest, and hopefully yours, is to find what God is saying, not what a system of theology is saying! My notes endeavour to show how the scriptures, though profoundly deep, are equally clear and simple to understand if we allow His Spirit to guide us. Whether you agree or not, let us "speak the truth in love". (Eph 4:15)
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Did you know that Adam and Eve (and most humans) wanted moral equality with God? They do so by deciding good and evil without God—essentially acting like gods!
"And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil." (Gen 3:22)
Jesus Christ was the complete opposite! He would not, for a moment, entertain such a thought! This was made clear in Phil 2:6-8:
(This passage is often misused to prove the Trinity. Read it very carefully!)
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"Who, being in the form [nature, form] of God [His origin is God],
Thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation [empty or be nothing],
And took upon him the form of a servant [lowly human],
And was made in the likeness of men...He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Let's be clear: NO ONE can be equal to God in any literal sense. If so, the equality meant in Philippians 2:6 is MORAL EQUALITY. It is the seizing hold of what is not ours and acting apart from God! But unlike Adam, Jesus surrendered himself completely to do his Father's will.
Did you know that the context of Phil 2:6-8 begins in verse one? There, Paul was simply encouraging the Philippians "To have the mind of Christ"; to be self-sacrificing, to show humility, obedience to God, and to serve others.
Now, if Jesus Christ was simply God who "Emptied" himself to be in the form of man, I beg you to tell me, how could this be an example to feeble humans (for the Philippians and us) who could never relate to such heavenly metamorphosing?
The fact is, Paul in this passage was saying that Jesus, the majestic human Son of God, surrendered all His rights (for us) to live a normal human life; denying Himself a home, a wife, children, money, work, position, and status. Now, will you not readily agree that this human Jesus is someone we all can relate to, emulate, understand, love, follow, and die for? It is why Jesus calls us "brethren." (Heb 2:11)
This is How Jesus "Emptied" Himself!
The passage in Philippians chapter 2 is NOT about Christ's taking on a new nature! Rather, it's about his absolute willingness to humble Himself, to be "Nothing", and "of no reputation" to save us all.
How far did Jesus go to empty himself? There are no better words than what God prophesied concerning Jesus through Isaiah the prophet:
"He is despised and rejected of men;
A man of sorrows,
Acquainted with grief:
He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
"He hath borne our griefs
Carried our sorrows:
Smitten of God and afflicted.
"He was wounded for our transgressions,
The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, afflicted,
Yet he opened not his mouth,
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and he openeth not his mouth.
He bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."
(Isaiah 53:3-12)
Although Jesus came from the Father to be in royal glory and full power, He chose to be a lowly servant to fulfill His Father's will perfectly.