June 21, 2025- Philippians 2:6-11 - "Christ Exalted"

Philippians 2:6-11

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "

Here we read, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him." What exaltation? In this context, it relates to His resurrection from the dead and His ascension into heaven upon completing the work of redemption that the Father gave Him to do while He was on earth. And now He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. In what sense has God exalted Christ? First of all, it is not concerning His Godhead, for He cannot be exalted above God the Father in the Godhead. The Godhead was not lower because He became a man, and so in His exaltation, He would not have been placed higher. But here it is in the sense not of His being God, for we know that He is God. Here in Philippians 2:6 Paul began with: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." So the exaltation here is not of one of the Persons of the Trinity over the other. No, they are equal. The three are one.

How then was the LORD Jesus Christ exalted as God come in the flesh?

First, He's exalted in His titles. The name of the LORD Jesus Christ is to be magnified. For Him to be LORD, it means that He is magnified in His sovereignty. He is LORD, not only over heaven, but earth. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). Scriptures say, in Revelation 1:18, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." And it's this LORD to Whom knees must bow. The name is here put for a person. The LORD Jesus Christ, His name, has to do with His character. It has to do with His Person and that One to Whom every knee will bow. Bowing is put for subjection. All must be subdued to Him either as a son or as a captive. In other words, some will be brought to bow in grace, while others will be brought to bow in His sovereign judgment. But either way, every knee shall bow to Him as to the LORD by His sovereign grace or to Him as the LORD and Judge in condemnation.

Second, we understand here that He is exalted in His office. God the Father has honored Him to be the Savior of sinners. In Acts 5:31, We read, "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior..." He didn't come just to try to save and hope that that would be many. No! In Matthew 1:21, we read, ""And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." And so, this is a great honor that is placed upon the LORD Jesus Christ. Not that He attempts to save, but that He has saved. He said, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:39). There's none that can pluck any out of His hand because of the Surety of His Person, His character, but also His work, having paid the sin debt for His people. They stand forever justified before a holy God, and there is therefore now no condemnation!

Third, God has exalted Christ in His ascension. Every part of His work is vital. Not only His birth and coming as a man, but His life that He lived out before men and before God the Father. It had to be perfect. His death is that just satisfaction to Holy God and the just demands of His law, but also His raising again from the dead. Had He remained dead, there would be no salvation. He would simply have died as a martyr, but His resurrection is a testimony and a proof that God the Father accepted His sacrifice on behalf of sinners (Romans 4:25). Christ not only rose from the grave, but He ascended on high, and this is an evidence again of the victorious nature of Christ's work.

When you hear of an ascension to a throne, you're thinking in terms of royalty. Certainly, that fits our LORD Jesus Christ. The manner of His ascension we read about in the Gospels, "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven" (Luke 24:50,51) When Christ ascended, He blessed His disciples. He didn't leave them houses and lands, but He left them His blessing. That's because everything upon this earth is temporal. We're to set our affection on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. And so, His ascension was that of a Conqueror. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men" (Ephesians 4:8). He triumphed over the world, sin, Satan, hell, and death, and His triumph is the triumph of those elect for whom He died.

Fourth, He is exalted in His being seated at God's right hand. "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places," (Ephesians 1:20). This verse speaks of His mighty power of God the Father working which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

Fifth, for Christ to be exalted means that He continues there as the Judge of the world. For Him to be exalted and to be seated with that honor and majesty means that all power has been put into His hands. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" (John 5:22). At the day of judgment, Christ will be fully and supremely exalted before the nations. He will come, as the Scripture says, in the glory of His Father. He will wear those royal robes of majesty given to Him by the Father, and He will come with all His holy angels. It is a solemn and awe-inspiring scene to consider: that Christ shall judge those who once judged Him. Think of Pilate, who condemned Him. Think of Herod. All of these kings must now stand before His throne—His bar—in the highest court of jurisdiction, where there is no appeal. The matter of salvation is in the hands of this One. It required His blood to be shed. It required His absolute obedience before God the Father—obedience that must be imputed to, or put to the account of, the sinners He came to save.

In light of Philippians 2:6-11, we are brought to behold the matchless humility and glory of our LORD Jesus Christ. Though He was in the form of God, He humbled Himself to take on our flesh, to obey even unto death—the death of the cross. Yet, through His perfect obedience and finished work, God the Father has highly exalted Him, giving Him a Name above every name. May we bow the knee in reverent worship, confessing with joyful hearts that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father. In His humiliation and exaltation, we see the full triumph of Christ in the salvation and condemnation of sinners! HE is LORD of ALL!