Topic #5 Humiliation & Exaltation of Christ #2

All right, well, let's return to our topic before us. This is topic number five that Roger had outlined in terms of looking at key components of Philippians and those things that I think are really very, very specially exemplified in the book of Philippians. And let's again read Philippians 2, 5 through 11.

So whoever has it, please read. Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God thought of 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 man. 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. Okay, amen.

Class is over. It's kind of hard to add to that, isn't it? Well, today the topic is exaltation. Last week we covered humiliation in verses 5 through 8, and today we're going to be looking intently at 9 through 11. So verse 9, Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every other name. Therefore. What's it there for? Usually it's indicative of all the things that came before. and we've read those heavenly.

I mean we could go back to chapter 1 verse 1, but I think it's therefore because subsequent to the humiliation there's exaltation. The exaltation relates to the humiliation sequentially and spiritually. So I think therefore relates to those verses that we covered last week about the Lord Jesus Christ and his humiliation. So Philippians 2, 5 through 8 is the appropriate answer to that question.

Where's the resurrection here? We touched on that briefly last week and I said we'd get to that this week. Does anybody see the transition from humiliation to exaltation by being risen from the dead in this text? I don't. Does Paul assume this? You think he's talking to an educated audience here that the fact that the exaltation demands the resurrection, an essential precursor to the exaltation.

Keep in mind that the Epistle to the Philippians is among the last epistles written after the first and second Timothy and Titus were later, but almost all the other epistles were written before the prison epistles. Colossians and Philippians and Ephesians were all about the same time apparently. So there was some, you know, clear expression of Paul about the resurrection and many of his other epistles that preceded this.

But what do you think, let's look at Philippians 1 here. Let me get your ideas as to whether you think this was an adequate foundation for the resurrection as we relate to the gospel, the term gospel. So Ingrid, Philippians 1, 3 through 5. Jim, Philippians 1, 12. And Wayne, Philippians 1, 16 and 17, please. So keep in mind what we're looking at here is the gospel in context.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel. from the first day until now. Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel. The better do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel, the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my prison. Now, kind of a question that's somewhat open-ended.

Can we assume that the first chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians that deals with the gospel and three separate sections of Philippians 1, do you think the gospel, what the gospel is, was clear to the church at Philippi? What is the gospel? Christianity 101, what's the gospel? Christ's death, burial, and resurrection? That's the gospel, isn't it?

And the personalization of that, right? We covered this some last week. He dies for all the sins of the entire world, but he really died specifically for the believer in terms of the sin nature of being crucified. Only believers enter into that aspect of the gospel. But anyway, can we assume then that the gospel being taught in chapter one assumes that from the humiliation the exaltation demanded his resurrection? I think so, don't you? I mean, I don't think we have to say, gee, Paul left something out here. The exaltation followed the humiliation, but where's the resurrection?

All right, good. Now, highly exalted or hyper suo, aorist, active, indicative. OK, how do we deal with the Greek tense here. Well, Arist, good morning. Let's go to this more simplistic part of the Greek tense. Active. How is he highly exalted? Well, God highly exalted them, right? So, the first person of the triune. Good morning. All right, so deactive is God, in fact, exalting him. Indicative is factual, right? It's a fact, a scriptural fact, that God exalted the Lord Jesus Christ.

And eros is typically something that occurred at one point in time that may or may not have implications going forward, which here it clearly does. Now, this is the only biblical use of the term exalted. There's no other use in the Bible. Of course, New Testament, no other use. But in the Hebrew, this term is not the same.

It's to be lifted up to the highest possible rank or to exalt highly. This is really a superlative. The Lord Jesus Christ has taken on now a position that is above every other position. It's at the highest possible rank and it's God who declared it. I mean, what more can you say here? And as we go further, what is the name which is above every other name? I've read that the Lord Jesus Christ is called by some 250 names, I couldn't believe it was that many. Is it that many? I mean, some commentary said 250 different names for the Lord Jesus Christ. But this name now is above all other names.

Let's take a look at some of the verses that relates to his exaltation that pertains to the name above all other names. So, Roy, could you look at Ephesians 1, 19 through 23, Margaret, Colossians 1, 16 to 18, and Alan, Hebrews 1, 1 through 4. Is your Bible on the iPhone there or something? No, I was just texting some friends. Could you pay some of my bills while you're at it there too? Okay, right, Ephesians. Ephesians 1, 19-23.

What we're looking at is other exemplifications of His name being above every other name in His exaltation. Keep in mind, again, the word for exalt is only used once, and that's in Philippians. So we're trying to look at some parallel verses that also support this name that's above every other name. Verse 19, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe? according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him as his own right hand in the heavenly places. For above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come." Okay, good. Thanks for that. That really, I think, does exemplify this. Go ahead, Margaret. Colossians 1, 16 through 18.

For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. then in all things he might have the preeminence. The preeminence. Sounds like a pretty exalted position. Alan, the Hebrews passage, please. It is 1-4.

God, after he had spoke long ago to the fathers and the prophets in many portions and in many ways in these last days, had spoken thus in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world, And He is the radiance of His glory, and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than many. OK, so all these passages are just another examples of this exaltation. They simply complement what Paul is saying to the church in Philippi.

Let's turn to verse 10, then. In the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. Those in heaven, of those on earth, and those under the earth should bow, aorist, active, subjunctive. Now, aorist, active, we've covered that, simple. This is something we are to do, every knee, of everyone, for all time. Active, again, we are actively doing this. Subjunctive, what do you make of that? What's the subjunctive tense? Should? Should bow? Should? They did bow? Indicative? Factual? No. I wrote will bow in my margin, so somebody here must have said that when they taught this passage. Well, we're going to come to that in the next verse. So, I mean, that'll reflect back on this one, knees bowing and sins confessed. So, or confessing who the Lord Jesus Christ is in his position of exaltation.

Subjunctive could be, may happen, should happen, but doesn't necessarily have to happen. Any other thoughts about the subjunctive tense here or voice? Should thou, that's really what's expected. may not, at least in terms of the conscious active bowing.

Now the question is, ultimately, at the Great White Throne Judgment, we're going to come to this in a second, whether this ultimately that every knee will bow, and every voice will confess, whether or not that is an act of participation or not is unclear, but it will be done. Here it says, ultimately, remember he's writing to real people on the earth here, you should bow, every knee should bow, but every knee doesn't bow. It's kind of like what we dealt with last week in Humiliation, Christ died for all the sins for all men for all time. Is everyone saved because of that? Absolutely not. I kind of relate that to this, every knee should bow, but is every knee bowing? Of course it's not. Alright, let's continue.

In the Greek there's, by the way, there's no those or things in this passage. So it should read that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of, in heaven, or in heaven, on earth, and those under the earth. Okay? There's no those or things in the original Greek.

But persons or beings are implied. And that's why that's entered into many of the translations. Does anybody have a translation where it's not in the text? The interlinear Greek leaves it out. Well, mine are in Greek. In parentheses, in many of them. It only has one of those, the other two aren't in there. Kind of a small thing, but I think the Greek doesn't have those four things in there. But clearly it's implied.

Alright, what else has knees? Grasshoppers have knees? I was thinking mammals, but then I was thinking about insects. What? You can't bend your legs if you don't have knees. Well, it implies, you know, Some animals do, but when I looked at all 12 verses on which knees or kneeling is used, it's all persons. But I think you get the idea, and we're going to come to this, that ultimately all creatures will in fact acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ for who He is. But here, the knees, again, the 12 times this Greek term is used in terms of knees or kneeling, it's always humans that it's relating to. Even the physical clip has a knee. Even what? The physical cliff has a knee.

Sorry. We'll dismiss that comment. Alright. Let's go on to 11 now. Now things are going to get fun at this point. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Now notice, every knee is going to bow. And it should bow, by the way, but it will bow. And that every tongue should confess. That means, you know, should confess, but it's going to confess. Is that subjunctive also, Bob? It is. I'm not sure what happened to my animation here, but let's go ahead and do it without there. We don't seem to have it here.

But just like for every knee that bows, you know, everyone should confess. Err is middle voice subjunctive. Now the middle voice performs an action upon oneself that's somewhat reflective and it tends to be to one's own benefit. So this idea here is that you should confess because really it's to your own benefit to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But both the should bow and should confess is subjunctive.

That means it may not occur. And for confessing, it's to our own benefit. Knees bowing doesn't look, it's an act of participation. But here, the confessing really is to our own benefit. And that relates to our personal salvation. I think that's what Paul's addressing here.

Now Romans 14.11 says, For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Notice Romans 14, not Romans 2. Okay? So Paul set the stage of everything that precedes this. And note here, not only every tongue shall confess, but every knee should bow too. In heaven and in hell, what about on earth? And when is this going to occur? When is every knee going to bow and every tongue confess?

And then you think about creatures. Is some platypus someplace going to be confessing? I don't know. Let's look at a series of verses here and see if these fit at all. Is this Great White Throne? Or is it sometime before then? So here are the passages. Gail, 1 Corinthians 15, 25 to 28. Debbie, Revelation 5, 13. Let's see. Brian, can you do, no, Roy, do you want to do another one for us? Sure. Okay. I got you in Revelation 20, 11 through 15. Now we're trying to put this temporally. When is all this going to occur? So, let's start with 1 Corinthians 15, Gil.

For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put under him, it is manifest that he is expected, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, Then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Okay, alright, that relates. At some point everything is going to be put under subjection to him personally.

Okay, the Revelation 5.13 passage.

Revelation 5.13, And every created thing which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea and all things in them I heard saying to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." Seems to relate, doesn't it?

But here we're talking about everything in the sea and are those just humans in the sea? Read the passage again. All creatures, didn't it say? Yeah, and every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth. There would be trees. What's your problem back here? Well, I was thinking everything was affected, even the earth itself was affected in the fall. So why wouldn't it?

Okay, and we read earlier today that in the Colossians passage, he in fact is the creator of all things, right? And by the way, remember, And each has created efforts kind, right? This isn't some process of evolution. So, presumably, all things created will ultimately be put under subjection and confessed.

All right, the final passage, Revolution 20, 11-15, and this is the great white throne judgment. Roy, speak up. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. It was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.

And the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that was in it. And death and Hades delivered up the dead that were in them. And they were judged, every man, according to their works. and death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Alright, so time for discussion. When is this going to occur where every tongue is going to confess and every knee bow? Is this Great White Throne Judgment? Or can we temporally place this somewhere else in the prophecy that lies before us. We've read three passages that says everything is subjected to him and ultimately the book of life is going to have names written in it and there are names that are not written in it and those who are not are cast forever into the lake of fire and their punishment will be related to their works. But are we clear that this ultimate bowing on one's knee and confessing the Lord Jesus Christ as to who he is is going to take place at the Great White Throne Judgment. Is that our sense? Roy, Jim, everybody, what's the sense here? Is this going to occur before then? Are people going to be actually walking on the earth when this occurs?

I'm wondering about the millennial reign of Christ too, because he's coming as king, absolute monarch over the entire world and social order at that time. Obviously there will be children born in the generations of men that will not honor him, but at that point it would be at least one spot in the history of his plans that every knee would be bowing to him as king. It looks like all believers will be here on earth at that point when he takes up that throne. But it would not relate to those who have died, right? No, not them. That takes in the Great White Throne, you're saying. Other thoughts here? Jim? Those in hell, how would that relate to?

Well, they'll be contesting also, will they not? say that the knee bowing and there's also the other side with the confessing of the Lord so it's not just a bowing but also a confessing of who he is and so there's recognition and whether or not they believed or did not there's still that confession that's being made at that point.

Whether they accept it or not. That's right. The confession is something that rolls off their tongue and they can't deny it at that point. Certainly Satan knows he exists but he wouldn't. Right. But I think that through together at this point, so it seems at the right time. Yeah, it seems best to me. I did quite a bit of homework here and I couldn't come up with any better timing for this.

The other thing is some people have said that God's mercy and grace really reflects that those who in fact did not confess during their earthly existence are put in hell, rather than continue to stand before his throne eternally. That's kind of a wild and crazy thought, but anyway, that hell is merciful in terms of those who in fact did not believe, and that being in his presence eternally wouldn't be something that could be tolerated by him or them. I don't know, it's kind of a wild and crazy thought. It's just a thought here too, it says every created creature Satan is a created creature. When does he bow his knee and acknowledge to God that Christ is supreme Lord? I mean, when does that happen?

He's thrown in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, and he's released for a short period, and he's still not confessing, he's still not agreeing with God, even after that thousand year imprisonment. But he is cast into like a Isn't that something? He's included in that as part of the creation. Okay, good. And so what's the purpose behind all this bowing and confessing? What's to the glory of God the Father? God's glory, what is that?

Boy, that's a tough thing to summarize briefly here. It's the nature and acts of God in self manifestation. And just a quick thought about this. It's what he essentially is and does exhibited in whatever way he reveals himself, and particularly in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We could have months on God's glory and Hal would have, you look back at some of his notes on God's glory and he really has outlined it in many, many ways. So let's just look quickly at 2 Corinthians 1, 19 and 20. Ingrid, could you take a look at that for us, please?

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in Him it has always been yes. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are yes in Christ. And so through Him, the Amen is spoken to us, to the glory of God. Alright, so through Christ is the glory of God manifested. I mean, that's how He exemplifies His glory, through Christ. And we, being buried with Him in baptism unto death and risen with Him in the newness of life, reflect God's glory by the Spirit-led Christ life. That's what Christianity is all about.

Just a thought, you know this good seed material that we've been sort of reviewing talks about his name and just what does that mean when we use that word. We've used it here today as being he's been exalted in a position. But it's also his reputation. It's everything that he's done. It's who he is and what he's done. I think that's what Hal used to say. he's done for us. And to some extent what he will do. And isn't that a synonym then? His name is his glory? Everything that he is?

Seems good. I've not thought of that in that way, but that is good. I mean, it's the same concept as I was saved, I'm being saved, and will be saved, right? I mean, isn't that great? I mean, we can all identify, most of us anyway, identify a date where we came to the Lord. I mean, if you've been saved since a small child, sometimes that's more difficult, but it doesn't make any difference. The cross is the same either way.

But this concept of being saved is why we worship here and fellowship here. This being saved process isn't a series of legal-based works, it's a life. Christianity is a life. It's a life led by the Spirit in the new creation of Jesus Christ for each one of us.

And we will be saved in its ultimate, our eternity, in our eternal presence with Him. We're already, you know, positionally there, but conditionally we're still here. But the hope of eternity is something that we all have and will be saved to that outcome. It's really, really neat, the three verb tenses of being saved. All right, now. We're going to reflect on our last year, where we've carefully dissected, repeatedly, in some areas, Paul's epistles of the Philippians.

All right, so the task here, I'm going to ask everybody in this room, so get to work here. I'm going to give you three minutes, and everybody's going to give me a verse, or maybe two. I don't want six or seven. We want everyone to kind of look at this epistle, and we're going to say what's our favorite verse. And I'm going to give you a couple of minutes here, and then I'll get it going with my favorite verse. And again, it can be two, but let's put a limit on two.

Because whole passages are... I mean, the last two weeks we've been dealing with 5 through 11 in chapter 2, which really is a section that's really very, very concise in terms of its importance to each and every one of us. You have more time, because I'm going to start. And I'm going to randomly pick people around the room so there's going to be no sense of order here. Keep everyone on the front of their seats.

Alright, my favorite verse is Philippians 1.21 that says, for me to live as Christ and die as gain. And by the way, for each one of us, why is that your favorite verse and how does this choice affect your daily life? Okay, so we've got to build on this first. So why this first? Because I think it is as simplistically as possible represents us as believers and how we carry on our existence. For me to live as Christ, that's not for me to live as trying to be more like Christ or to work on being like Christ. It's a defined statement for me to live as Christ.

But the neat thing that Paul says, then, the alternative is also great. To die is gain. So the way I look at that verse is either way you win. By faith for me to live is Christ being empowered by the Spirit to exemplify his glory in me. Praise the Lord. Not my works, not my effort, but his life through me. And how does that affect my daily life? It makes even the circumstances, when they're difficult, seem that my position is heavenly, my life is His to be led, and the circumstances are still there, and I may respond to them in the human sense, not well at times, but nevertheless, it really is an uplifting kind of verse. So, let's go to Donna, second. That one was an easy one for me.

Philippians 3.10, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. Be conformed to his death. And why, and how does that affect your daily existence? That's the hope, and you're in the hands with the Holy. You're in a sovereign Lord. Very encouraging to me. To know him, right? And that's, for me to love his Christ is kind of, there's two very much related. Okay, Debbie?

My favorite is Philippians 2.3. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourself. Oh, me. I love that one. It just gives you the sense of how you can glorify the Lord by not really looking at yourself, but just putting others before yourself. In a sense, that's a Christ life lived out, right? Okay. Gail, you're next. I don't have my Bible that I underlined everything. I can't find my favorite. That's not an excuse.

Chapter 4 verse 7 I like very much. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep or guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And I think that's important to me to know that He is doing it and that His peace comes from Him. I don't have to find it. that in times of hardship or confusion, the peace of God keeps us sane.

All right, good. And you can't give it to other people much as you'd like to. They have to come to that on their own. Okay. Great. Wayne? I don't know. I think for 13, I can do all things to strengthen trials come. He doesn't do away with the trial, but he strengthens us through the trial. Alan?

Since you stole mine, and she stole mine. No, you can get the same place. Actually, I do like 310, but one that I also like is 25. Let this mine be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus. How are you doing at that? It's a reminder to operate from our position. I like Philippians 4, 6 and 7.

Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving Let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." So nice to know that you can bring everything to Him. It's true. Whatever He's interested in, cares about Him. All I can say is Amen to that one, doesn't it?

Mine's actually the same as Doris and Gail, just Philippians 4, 6, and 7. Since I was young, I've always kind of clung to that one, and clung myself even about it and it's just the one that pops in my mind when I feel the anxiety and just knowing I can't go to him and have that peace.

Yeah, just to relate to that personally is that on, when was it, on Friday I was, I have a probably a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder so anyway I was getting an MR and I don't know if you've ever been in an MR machine but it If you have any claustrophobia at all, you're in trouble because the space between your nose and the top of the machine is about an inch, and you're trapped. Because they're doing this show, they immobilized this and pushed my whole body to the... And it's a 40-minute deal, and it's this bullet, kind of dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, constantly for 40 minutes. And they put music on, but I asked for KVOD and they put on some jazz station, which is okay.

The point is, and I didn't think I was claustrophobic, but I must admit to take all things to the Lord. Not so much that, but trying to think of everything in the world that I could take to the Lord in terms of that time. I was thinking about this, that, and the other thing. Be anxious for nothing. Well, I'm getting out of this trap. I've got to hang in here. I'm supposed to get this procedure done. All that aside. Jim? And again, nothing wrong with duplication.

There are a lot of favorites for sure, but Philippians 3, 8 and 9, you mentioned I could have two and I think it makes sense to see these in conjunction with one another. He says, I count all things to be lost in view of the surpassing value of the Lord Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish, so that I may gain Christ. basis of faith.

But the portion there of knowing and gaining and being found in, and Paul perceived his relationship with Christ as one that was a positional perspective because he had lost all things that were earthly, even his status as a Hebrew of Hebrews and Jew of Jews and so forth. Yeah, and it ties back to beholding the Lord Jesus Christ through his word and how we gain Christ in that perspective. That's really nice. And yet Paul in Timothy defines himself as the greatest among all sinners, and I think in a sense that verse reflects that. And I think when we lose that concept that the cross was specifically for me, so unworthy, I think it really keeps things really in the right perspective. And I think those verses really point to that, about all these earthly things that were done that he might have Christ. Thanks. That's really great. Brian, do you have a verse? No. Okay. Ingrid, how about you? All these verses really relate to each other.

I've picked out 320. But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. And I just love just knowing that I'm grounded there. Nothing's going to change that ever. I belong there. I'm there now and I will be there in actual form in the future. But I just like it because it just when I start worrying about stuff, I just can kind of tune out what's important and look forward to my life with the Lord, or just enjoy what I have in Christ. That's what's important.

I mean, all great verses. I think it does reflect the nature of this epistle, doesn't it? I mean, isn't this an uplifting epistle? Can you think of any other one that Paul wrote that's more uplifting than this? It seems like they were doing everything right. You know, I mean, not everything. There wasn't much in the way of accusation here, was there? I mean, it was just an encouragement, a lifting up in joy to be a believer. He didn't talk to the Philippians about being bewitched or anything like that. Or wrong teaching. Everything seemed to be... They were of one mind. Yeah, they were of one mind. That's true. Any other thoughts or reflections on this book? We've got time, we've got a few more minutes.

One thing that was interesting to me, I've been talking to Vernon a little bit about the book of Ephesians, and I've got some questions about Philippians as well, and it's interesting to know that when he wrote this, in the time that he was actually, that this group of people became believers, they were only believers for about 11 years.

And so they had got to this point within 11 years, and Ephesians and Galatians were similarly the same age, roughly, because of Paul's mission and journey through that. So it's just interesting to think about, you know, this is an 11-year-old body of believers who is quite mature, and I don't know, I guess one of those observations, or that particular observation, caused me to think about, you know, just what's happened in the last 11 years, than he did in others, or how they maybe sought to know him more so that they maybe founded him more. But nonetheless, it was interesting to think about the age of these believers was not that old. Well, if you think of 11 years, you may think of 9-11, right? I mean, it's 11 years plus a couple months. So in an 11-year span, think of where you were when you heard about that, and experience that, and think about that to now, and that's how young the gospel was in this group of believers. So that's kind of amazing.

Well, those that will join us for James and you, we're going to kind of be walking down a somewhat different path, and all the scriptures there are for us and for our edification, so we'll be looking at a A different author will be looking at a different theme, but I feel importantly that Paul's epistles are orderedly in the New Testament for a reason. And when we approach James, as we read from the book of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, the foundation of Paul's epistles helps us interpret books that are a little bit differently transcribed and appear to have a little bit different message appropriately. So those of you who will be joining us, wonderful. And those who will not, we wish you well. What are the other classes? The Holy Spirit's one, right? And what's the third one? John. Gospel of John. OK, good. All right, let's close in prayer. Jim, will you close us, please?

Lord, we just thank you so much for our time and the word and being able to share as a body and just the truths that you have for us in Philippians. We thank you for just the testimony of those believers that we'll be able to share time with in the future. We thank you for how they chose to support Paul through the gospel and we know that your work is not done in that and it will not be done until the day of Christ Jesus and we just look forward to that. Lord, we know that between now and then us with all our needs according to your riches. We just thank you for that. We trust that you'll continue to teach us and grow us in your word as we behold you through it. It's your name that we pray. Amen.