First Humiliation then Exaltation

In order to rightly view the cross of Christ we must not see it first as a means for our exaltation but rather for our humiliation; for it was primarily our sin’s collision with divine holiness that reckoned Jesus to endure such cosmic humiliation. This sin-induced humiliation must inform our understanding of exaltation.

Therefore, there is nothing in the cross for us to boast in other than Christ; for he was not motivated to save us by anything valuable in us whatsoever. Instead, it was his essential character of love and goodness which moved him. And in obedience to his Father, he came and in my place condemned he stood.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Meditations on Christ’s Humiliation
2. Meditations on Christ’s Humiliation
3. I am thankful for…
4. The Need of Every Hour for Everyone
5. The Essence of the Christian Message is…

2 Responses to “First Humiliation then Exaltation”

1. Lori says:

   December 12, 2009 at 5:40 pm

   Powerful. Amen.
2. donsands says:

   December 12, 2009 at 8:32 pm

   Excellent words Erik. What a grace filled heart you have brother. May the fill you beyond measure with His wisdom and love as you preach His Word on the Lord’s Day. Amen.

   I was looking for a particular Stott quote but couldn’t find it, but I found this one instead:

   “When . . . we have glimpsed the blinding glory of the holiness of God and have been so convicted of our sin by the Holy Spirit that we tremble before God and acknowledge what we are, namely hell-deserving sinners, then and only then does the necessity of the cross seem so obvious that we are astonished we never saw it before.”