System Upon Systems In the Bible by William OuYang

Chapter One ...

Philippians 2 on Rights and How Our God Is and The Call to Do Likewise

I have a list of thirty-nine rights that people are fighting for or have fought for. Some of these thirty-nine rights are controversial; there is debate whether people really deserve or are entitled to these so-called rights or not. I am going to give you all three examples of rights people are fighting for, and then I’d like to open the floor to see if you all can get the remaining thirty-six.  

Number one, some people fight for and have fought for the right to peace, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. During the American Revolution, Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” Number two, some people fight for animal rights (they hate to see an animal being abused). Number three, some people fight for the right to bear arms, even to carry automatic weapons like an Uzi (machine gun) or a Russian AK-47.

Hopefully, you see a range in these three examples. Now I’d like to open it up to the peanut gallery. How many of the thirty-six remaining rights can you all get?  

The question again is this: what are the rights people are fighting for today?

Another right people are fighting for is the right to breathe clean air. My brother Ben was in Asia, where “No smoking” signs are often ignored. Smoking is much more common in Asia than in the USA. He jokingly mentioned to me that when he landed back in the USA,  he exaggerated breathing in the good air here in the USA and kissed the ground. He breathed deeply to the right, then to the left to show me how bad the air was in Asia. He also said if you have a zit in the morning in Asia, in the evening it is all inflamed because of the air pollution.

Here are some other rights people fight for:

Right to custody of a child following a divorce.

Right to choose your spouse (some parents choose)

Right to execute a murderer (capital punishment)

Right to choose to die when very ill (euthanasia)

Right to use drugs or smoke marijuana

Right of students in school to eat fatty foods (a school district was putting apples in vending machines)

Right to an education

Right to free speech (people have died fighting for this)

Right to gamble

Disability rights (right to equal access)

Right to hunt and kill Bambi the deer

The main scriptural text we will look at today is Philippians 2:1-11, starting first with Phil. 2:6 (NIV), which begins with “Who, being in very nature God.” Let me stop at this first statement and point out: “Who, being in very nature God” is saying that Jesus is 100% God! Furthermore, Phil. 2:10(NIV) states “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” But the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 clearly state that we should bow down and worship only God. Therefore, if Phil. 2:10 says every knee will bow and Exodus 20 says we should bow down and worship only God, then this can only mean that Jesus is God. Jesus is part of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So, in Philippians 2, two verses heavily argue and declare Jesus is God.

Continuing on, the second half of Phil. 2:6b (NIV) says that Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage”; Jesus was not like the world, which tries to hang onto all that they can hold onto and claim all their rights to their own advantage. Instead, Phil. 2:7(NIV) says, “Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” In general, scripture is saying Jesus gave up His right to live in Heavenly comfort because of His love for us. He was born among the animals. Hay and straw surrounded Him instead of a bassinet. Jesus gave up His right to be with God the Father in Heaven. He gave up His right to be worshipped properly. During His time on earth, He was not always worshipped properly as He should have been. He gave up His right to emanate blinding glory in all directions. He gave up His right to wear a king’s crown and to be honored and served—as a king. Phil. 2:8(NIV) says, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”  When Jesus was nailed to a cross, one word—humiliation—captures the scene. As the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus on purpose gave up His right to “not be humiliated”. He gave up kingly rights for a crown of thorns, a Roman scourging, and nails in His hands and feet. In a world where people were and are trying to get more and more rights, our God instead gave up His rights—because of His love for us. This is the God that we worship! This is how our God is. Jesus loved us so much that he willingly gave up many of His rights just for us.

The above was preached at a Campus Bible Fellowship gathering near the campus of the University of Notre Dame by someone who graduated from Liberty University but who loved Notre Dame football.  The following below is my further analysis of what he said.

Let’s contrast what Jesus did with how Satan is. Satan tried to grasp equality with God and to overthrow God. From another two passages of Scripture, Isaiah 14 and Revelation 12:7-9, we know that Satan failed to overthrow God. Satan tried to claim rights that were not his to claim.

Furthermore, the way Satan fell is the same way that he tempted Eve to fall in the Garden of Eden. Satan fell because he wanted to be like God or to be God. Satan told Eve in Genesis 3:5 (NIV):

For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God...

Satan said, “If you eat this fruit, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.” The picture I want you to visualize is of Eve reaching (and grasping) for the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, thinking she was grasping for the right to become like God. Both Satan and Eve reached for rights that were not theirs to take.

I would like to summarize what we have done so far: I have used a literary tool called contrast. I have contrasted the special way our God is with how the world is, how Satan is, and how Adam and Eve were. The world, Satan, and Adam and Eve chose to reach for more and more. In some cases, for rights that were not even theirs to reach for. Whereas our God has chosen sacrificially to lay down many of His rights for us.

We will now move into how this affects us as Christians. But before we do, I want to tell you a story about when I was at the University of Notre Dame. My super-smart friend saw me reading my calculus textbook one day and asked me why I was reading it. He said to me, “Bill, Bill, Bill, do not read the theory part of calculus textbooks, that is ‘use-a-less.’” (My friend was from Malaysia.) “Bill, Bill, Bill, just look at the example problems that follow all the theory stuff. Look first at how the problems are solved. If you can understand how the problems are solved, then you do not have to read the long theory part that comes before all the examples. Just study the problems and buy the supplemental calculus workbook, which has even more examples of how to solve problems. Read the theory stuff only if you don’t understand how the example problems are being solved.”

Why did I tell you all this story? Because so far in this chapter I’ve skipped the theory section completely. I have skipped Phil 2:1-5 and have gone straight to the “example problems” first. If math problems can be solved by looking at the examples first, before looking at the theory, then why not preach the concrete example first, and then have everyone look at the theoretical side of the house? I have broken Philippians 2:1-8 into two major sections. Verses 6-8 are the example set by the Lord Jesus, and they tell us how our God is. Whereas Phil. 2:1-5 is the theoretical case. Verses 1-5, in theory, are about how our God wants us to be. How He wants us to be like Jesus.

A few minutes later, the metro train hums beneath me, the rhythmic clatter of steel-on-steel filling the near-empty car. A teenager slouches in the corner, hood pulled low, head bobbing to the bass line leaking from his earbuds. Across from me, a businessman types furiously. As I sip my latte, letting the warmth seep into my hands, the inevitable question creeps in—Are these late nights really worth it? 

Absolutely. We are now going to look at verses 1-5 in detail, starting with verse 5. Philippians 2:5(NIV) says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”  This is a request from God that we have the same mind as Christ Jesus; that we be more like Jesus. Hence, what rights is God calling us to give up? What rights must we give up to be more like Jesus? Has God also called us to humble ourselves, just as Jesus humbled Himself?

Phil. 2:3-4 (NIV) says:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 

not looking to your own interests

but each of you to the interests of the others.

God is calling us to put the interests of others before our own or on par with them.

Let’s look at Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV). This is a computer science passage because it is a massive “If–Then” construct. Verse 1 contains four ifs, and verse 2 contains the then to all those ifs.

Therefore

if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love,

if any common sharing in the Spirit, 

if any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, 

having the same love,

being one in spirit

and of one mind.

Shop from our affiliate link!

 

Let’s look at the following table:

The first if-then are both talking about similar things: unity and like-mindedness. The next if-then are both talking about having the same love. The third if-then are both talking about having one spirit. The last if says, “If any tenderness and compassion.” “Tenderness and compassion” means essentially “if you have been moved by Christ at all.” The corresponding then says, “[then] be of one mind.” All four, unity, same love, one spirit, and one mind, are talking about the importance of being one in Christ.

Summarizing again, the main flow of this chapter thus far is this: First, our God wants us to be like Him—not like Satan, and not like the world, which is constantly grasping for rights. Second, God has called us to humble ourselves like Jesus humbled Himself. And third, for the sake of unity and being one in Christ, we must be willing to lay down some of our rights for God’s kingdom.

Applications

Now let’s draw some applications from this passage. How can we humble ourselves, and what are some rights we can give up for God’s kingdom (so that God’s kingdom here on earth will have unity)?

Maybe you’ve been upset or offended by another Christian in your church or small group. Maybe you feel you have a right to be angry. This right to be angry with someone could be the first right that you should give up. In fact, we must give it up.

Maybe someone at your church doesn’t agree with one of your ideas or opinions, and this disagreement is causing tension between you two. This is the second right that we can give up: the right to defend our own opinions at all costs.

Perhaps someone has hurt you and you feel you have the right to hold a grudge against that person. Or perhaps you feel you have a right to get even with that brother or sister at church. The third right that we must give up is the right to hold a grudge or get even: we must give up these rights for Jesus. We must not take vengeance on another brother or sister, even if we feel it is our right.  “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19 KJV); it is not our place.

Or perhaps we have accomplished some great things academically and we’ve earned the right to be proud of ourselves. The fourth right that we can give up is the right to be proud. Scripture says that God resists the proud.

We must give up rights that are barriers to God’s kingdom. If what God has done for us means anything to you, you must consider giving those rights up for God’s kingdom.

Please consider laying down some of your rights for the sake of unity in all kinds of situations:

Infighting on deacon boards

Fighting with your spouse

Fighting with your parents or your kids.

Save for situations where safety could be at risk, the best solution is usually not to fight for your right at all costs.

What may have sparked the Holy Spirit to move Paul to write Phil. 2:1-11? In this same letter to the Philippian church, Paul says in Phil. 4:2, Euodia and Syntyche seem like they aren’t on speaking terms and cannot get along with each other in the church. Maybe Phil. 2:1-8 was written by the Holy Spirit and by Paul to remind these two sisters in the Lord to humble themselves and love each other. That one of them or both might give up their rights to being angry with each other.

It hurts parents when their kids fight with each other. All parents want their kids to get along and love each other. In the same, way, God wants His children to not fight and love each other as well.

I want to tell you all about one cycle that God might use to remind us not to take things too personally and not to be easily offended. I have three older sisters, and I got bossed around all the time when I was little. My first girlfriend, on the other hand, never bossed me around. And when she wanted something from me, she never commanded me or used a sharp tone of voice. Instead, she came to me and said in a really sweet voice, “Honey, can I ask you a favor?” Of course, when she did this, I always said yes. How could I say “no” to that pleasant smile?

But about every 28 days, for some unknown reason, I got “smacked in the head” for absolutely no reason at all. No reason that I could figure out, anyway. I’d be just sitting there and then whack, she’d let me have it verbally.  If you had asked me why this was, I will tell you that God has a sense of humor. And in his infinite wisdom, maybe, I think God wants sisters (and brothers through their sisters) to realize that sometimes people get upset with you or are difficult towards you, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you. If a person is difficult with you, please don’t take it personally. Let’s all be understanding.

So, we must forgive others, we must not hold grudges, we must cut people more slack—especially when we have a right to be unhappy with them. Because we must try to be more like Jesus and lay down some of our rights for the sake of God’s kingdom.

Shop from our affiliate link!

Let’s move on to Phil. 2:9-11 (NIV) which says,

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
 in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
 to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus was humiliated on the cross. But one day, Jesus will be exalted: “Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place.” The next thing I am going to say, Scripture does not say directly, but it is strongly implied. Scripture indirectly says that those who give up their rights for God and His kingdom will one day be exalted by God as well. One of many scriptures implying this is 1 Peter 2:19 (NIV), which says,

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering [lays down their rights for the Lord] because they are conscious of God.

When you lay down your right to be angry, for example, and give up your right to get even, because you are conscious of God and you want to do this for God’s kingdom, it’s painful. You internalize the event—you absorb it.

“Commendable” here means that God sees what you have done for His sake because of your love for Him. God knows who you are and whether you have done this for Him. And the implication is that what God sees you do will not go unnoticed. In Philippians 2, Jesus is our example, and in the end, God the Father does not let what Jesus has done slide. One day, Jesus will be “exalted to the highest place.”

Another scripture saying the same thing is 1 Peter 5:5-6 (NIV):

In the same way, you who are younger,

submit yourselves to your elders.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility 

toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
 but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore,

under God’s mighty hand,

that he may lift you up in due time.

God’s eye is all-seeing and all-knowing. Another passage of scripture says, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” No energy, no effort is ever wasted on the Lord. God will lift you up in due time when you humble yourself, bury your pride, and do these things for Him.

Shop from our affiliate link!

One more passage implying that God lifts up those who lay down their rights for His name’s sake is Matthew 20:16 (NIV), where Jesus says, “the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

When you are last, you have done something for his kingdom, and it often involves humbling yourself. God will not let this go unnoticed; He will not let the sacrifice you have made slide.

There is a famous song that I hope you will recognize that is probably based on 1 Peter 5:6. The famous song, which hopefully you can now tie to a scripture verse and to all of Philippians 2, goes like this:

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord

And He will lift you up,

Higher and higher, and He will lift you up.

Summary

I would like to summarize the main points of this chapter. First, the whole world is seeking after and fighting for the rights they can get. Second, our God did the opposite and gave up many of His rights and privileges for us. Third, our God wants us to be like Him—not like Satan, Eve, or the world. These all sometimes try to claim rights that are not even theirs to claim.

Instead, God has called us to humble ourselves just as Jesus humbled Himself. And, for the sake of Christian unity, we must be willing to lay down some of our rights for His kingdom. God may also in His humor have created the woman’s cycle to remind us not to take things so personally when other brothers and sisters offend us, but instead to cut them some slack for His kingdom.

Lastly, Jesus will one day be exalted. God knows who has laid down their rights for Him. Scripture says that doing so is commendable in the eyes of God. The implication is that these things will not go unnoticed, and in due time He will lift up all those who have laid down rights for His kingdom.

Copyright © 2025 by William OuYang