Christ's Forbearance vs Christ's Self-Emptying and Humbling

 

Christ's Forbearance vs Christ's Self-Emptying and Humbling

Phil 4:5-7 "Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is near. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."

Phil 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a treasure to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross."

2 Cor 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor in order that you through His poverty might become rich."

Matt 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Mark 10:43-44 "It is not so among you; but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all."

 

Comparison Items	Christ's Forbearance	Christ's Self-Emptying and Humbling
Definition	Being reasonable, considerate, and caring for others without strictly demanding legal rights. Including patience and moderation, not arguing, fighting, or disputing with others	Christ setting aside the form of God, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men, and then humbling Himself unto death, even death on a cross
Nature	Manifestation of character qualities	Process of redemptive action
Purpose	Practical expression of living Christ	Necessary steps to complete the work of redemption
Temporality	Continuous life attitude and character	Historical redemptive event and process
Scope	Character manifestation in interpersonal relationships	Execution of universal redemptive plan
Object	Mainly directed toward relationships with people	Mainly directed toward relationship with God and redemptive work
Level	Expression at character level	Change in essence and position
Outward Expression	• Calm, peaceful, tranquil, quiet • Anxious for nothing • No murmuring or arguing • Patient and moderate • Not arguing or fighting with others	• Form of God → form of a slave • Divinity → humanity • Heavenly position → earthly lowliness • Life → death • Glory → shame
Inward Reality	• Thinking what Christ Jesus thinks • Having Christ as life content • Being filled with Christ and expressing Christ • Life flow of living Christ	• Complete obedience to the Father's will • Willing self-sacrifice • Complete manifestation of love for God and man • Complete execution of redemptive plan
Seven Stages/Steps	• Not being selfish or vainglorious • Not coveting vain glory • Not murmuring • Not arguing • Patient and moderate • Considerate of others • Anxious for nothing	• Emptied Himself • Took the form of a slave • Became in the likeness of men • Humbled Himself • Became obedient • Obedient unto death • Even death on a cross
Biblical Examples	• Lord Jesus' gentle responses when challenged by Pharisees • Remaining calm when misunderstood • Mercy and consideration toward sinners • Wise words in conflicts	• The entire process of incarnation • Obedient prayer in Gethsemane • Death on the cross • Interceding for enemies with love
Modern Application Examples	• Choosing to be quiet and wait for appropriate timing during marital disputes • Not competing for power in church service • Not rushing to defend when misunderstood • Gentle treatment in workplace	• Laying down one's position to serve others • Willingly suffering for gospel work • Obeying God's guidance to change life direction • Sacrificing worldly enjoyments for the Lord
Family Life Application	Patience and consideration in spousal relationships, not speaking at inappropriate times, practicing quiet waiting	Serving family with a servant's heart, sacrificing one's own rights and enjoyments for family members
Church Life Application	Harmonious relationships among brothers and sisters, not arguing or competing, maintaining spiritual unity	Willingly being servant of all in ministry, not seeking one's own glory
Workplace Application	Gentle treatment in work environment, not competing with colleagues, being a witness of peace	Having Christ's heart in workplace, not considering position as important
Social Relations Application	Tolerance and consideration in various interpersonal interactions, being a peacemaker	Serving people in society with humble attitude, seeking no reward
Main Scripture	Phil 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfish ambition or from vainglory, but in lowliness of mind consider one another more excellent than yourselves. Do not look out only for your own things but also for the things of others." Phil 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and reasonings, that you may be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation."	Phil 2:9-11 "Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality."
Supporting Scripture	1 Pet 3:4 "But let it be the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptible adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is very costly in the sight of God." James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, forbearing, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, without hypocrisy." 2 Tim 2:24 "And a slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, skillful in teaching, forbearing."	Heb 2:17 "Hence He should have been made like His brothers in all things that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." Isa 53:3-4 "He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows."
Contrast with Negative Things	Contrasts with selfish ambition, vainglory, murmuring, and arguing; contrasts with stormy life and disputes	Contrasts with insisting on divine position and glory, with worldly pursuit of elevation and splendor; contrasts with selfish human nature
Results Produced	• Calm and peaceful life • Harmonious interpersonal relationships • Peace given by God • Being light witnesses in crooked generation	• Completion of redemptive work • Becoming Savior of all • Being exalted by God to the highest • Receiving the name above every name
Significance to Believers	This is the practical manifestation of living Christ, the character expression believers should have in daily life	This is the pattern for believers to follow, the content of thinking what Christ Jesus thinks
Spiritual Lessons	Learning not to insist on one's own rights in interpersonal relationships, having peace in mind, being considerate of others	Learning to lay down one's position and interests, willingly sacrificing oneself for God and others
Practice Points	• Speaking with wisdom, knowing when to speak and when to be quiet • Not arguing when spouse is angry • Being quiet outwardly, calling on Lord inwardly • Waiting for appropriate time to speak peaceful words	• Having Christ's heart as heart in all things • Not considering equality with God a treasure to be grasped • Willingly taking form of slave to serve people • Dedication with heart of obedience unto death
Relationship to Philippians Theme	This is the concrete manifestation of living Christ described in Philippians 4, the practical expression of "to live is Christ"	This is the pattern of Christ mentioned in Philippians 2, the content of believers "thinking what Christ Jesus thinks"
Internal Relationship Between Both	Christ's self-emptying and humbling is the historical redemptive fact and pattern, while forbearance is the concrete application and manifestation of this pattern in daily life. The former is the foundation and source, the latter is the expression and result. Through thinking what Christ Jesus thinks, believers can manifest the character of forbearance in life, which is the true witness of living Christ.

 

Core Points:

• Christ's self-emptying and humbling is a historical redemptive fact that sets the pattern for us
• Christ's forbearance is the daily life manifestation, the practical expression of living Christ
• Relationship between both: The former is the foundation and source, the latter is the expression and result

Conclusion:

The table demonstrates how Christ's historical work of redemption becomes the living pattern for believers' daily character expression.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 June Semi-Annual Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Part 2: Knowing Christ as Our Model and Taking Him as Our Model