It will be readily seen that we are not listening to the Gospel to the

unconverted in its initial sense in these verses.  The whole is addressed to

those who are capable of following, at least in some measure, the great

Example of Christ.  Members C C deal with examples of self -denying and

suffering, and we give the structure here of the first and greatest.

A 5,6.

Equality originally (huparchon).

B 7,8.  The

a  He emptied Himself.

b

A bond -servant.

(seven -fold)

c  Likeness of men.

d

Fashioned as a man.

a  He humbled Himself.

b

Obedient unto death.

c  The death of the cross.

A 9-.  Wherefore highly exalted.

As inherited (Heb. 1:4).

B -9 -11. The

a  The Name given.

b

Every knee to bow.

(seven -fold)

c  In heaven on earth under earth.

b

Every tongue to confess.

a  Jesus Christ is Lord.

It is not possible in this series to attempt an exposition of such a

passage as this, we can but point out one or two items that bear most closely

upon our immediate subject, remembering, however, that the whole passage in

all its details really deals with the doctrine of the cross, as to its

significance, its reward, and its bearing upon the present and future of the

believer.  The climax of the great renunciation (the word rendered 'no

reputation' is derived from that which means 'to empty') is found in the

death of the cross.  It was the last manifestion of 'the mind that was in

Christ Jesus' and is the final word to the believer.  The more we study the

subject, the more we are convinced that the cross of Christ is not to be the

first reference to the Offering of Christ in the presentation of the Gospel.

The death of Christ, as we have seen, is the broad basis upon which the

Gospel rests.  The cross is connected with deeper lessons that only believers

can learn.  The utter worthlessness of the flesh, the necessity for self -

denial, the perfecting work of suffering with its future glory, the folly and

weakness of the wisdom and power of man, these are some of the lessons

learned at the cross of Christ.  Further, the cross is something that may be

experimentally entered into, only as a disciple following his Lord.

Immediately 'the death, even the death of the cross' is reached, then come

the words, 'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him', and He Who stooped

to the bond -servant's place, walked and lived and died as a man, Who

suffered the most awful and shameful death, He is to receive universal homage

and adoration.  The sequel, rather, the very reason for the introduction of

this marvellous theme at all, follows in verse 12, 'So that, my beloved ...

work out your own salvation'.  The salvation is already certain.  The

'working out' of it is the question that is now before them.

In Philippians we read of those who, by their walk, constitute

themselves 'the enemies of the cross of Christ' and Colossians 2:11 speaks of

the 'putting off of the body of the flesh' (not 'the sins of the flesh' as in