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Many of us don’t think much about theology, and we usually don’t think it has much to do with real life in the real world. However the Apostle Paul makes it clear in His Letter to the church at Philippi that theology does matter, and it does have huge implications for the way we live our lives. He calls us to live our lives with humility, and he uses a very specific argument from theology to illustrate what that means.

(Philippians 2:1-11 NIV) If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(John 8:58-59 NIV) "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

(Exodus 3:13-14 NIV) Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

(John 10:30-33 NIV) 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

(Hebrews 2:14-18 NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

(John 1:29 NIV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

(John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(Isaiah 7:14 NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Digging Deeper

1. What happened when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:1-24)? What does that mean – what were the ultimate consequences for them and their descendants (Romans 5:12-21; 8:20-22; Revelation 22:3)? Is it fair that we are held accountable for Adam’s failure? Why or why not? Consider Romans 3:9-20 and 23 as you answer.

2. Does it really matter if Jesus was man? Why or why not? (See Romans 5). Does it really matter if He was God? Again, why or why not? What are the implications for us if Jesus was only a man, perhaps a really enlightened one, but nonetheless only a man? (Hebrews 7:20-28; 1 Timothy 2:1-7).

3. Are there things in our world that we don’t understand? Does that make them not true? Can we understand the incarnation -- a fancy word for Jesus (God) becoming man “in the flesh”)? Does that mean it is not true? Would you be willing to die for this statement: “Jesus is fully God and fully man?” Or asking it another way should you be willing to die for that truth? Is it really that important? Why or why not?