A Humble Blog Post
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
God opposes the proud...
Biblical pride can be defined in this phrase as:
- high-mindedness, haughtiness, a feeling of superiority
- boasting in an insolent, empty assurance which trusts its own power and resources, and in turn despises divine laws and human rights
- a presumption which trusts the stability of earthly things
So let's say biblical pride as understood in the phrase "God opposes the proud," means those who are boasting in their own power and resources, who despise God's teaching as well as their neighbor, and trust in the stability of earthly things.
...but gives grace to the humble.
Biblical humility can be defined in this phrase as:
- having a humble opinion of one's self; modest
- one who stoops to the condition of a servant
- one who has a deep sense of one's own moral littleness; confesses and deplores one's spiritual littleness and unworthiness
- one who submits one's self in a lowly spirit to the power and will of God
So let's say biblical humility as understood in the phrase "but gives grace to the humble," means those who of a modest recognition of their own spiritual unworthiness who submit in a lowly spirit to God and place their confidence not in themselves but in His power and will.
We best see humility in the bible as shown in the person of Christ.
In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul outlines the beautiful example we have in the humility of Christ:
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
(Philippians 2:5-8 ESV)
How did Christ demonstrate humility?
"did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped" (Phil. 2:6 ESV)
Christ stooped to the condition of a servant, he took the form of a servant. He abandoned his eternal glory in the Godhead to become flesh, a mortal man. On earth, he associated with the lowly, and served even unto his dying breath. Two great examples are the washing of the feet at the last supper (John 13) and his begging God's forgiveness for those who put him to death (Luke 23:34).
"he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil. 2:8 ESV)
Christ humbled himself through his obedience. Jesus shows us in obeying God and doing His will even unto death shows us the perfect example of how to submit one's self in lowly spirit to the power and will of God. Christ humbled himself, obeyed God, and "for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross". (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)
And his humility was rewarded. Paul continues in Philippians:
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name," (Philippians 2:9 ESV)
In exalting Christ to the highest place of honor, God was rewarding his humility according the His word, "The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. " (Proverbs 22:4 ESV)
Conclusion
This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Christian message. Jesus, being fully God, stepped out of eternity and entered fully into our mess here on earth, so that he might redeem us. As a man he submitted fully to the Father's will, even though for him it meant suffering, humiliation, and a terrible death. In his obedience he showed his love for us and for God. For he himself has said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15 ESV) In his obedience he also made us righteous, as it says in Romans:
"For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19 ESV)
God used Christ's obedience and turned the horrifying scene of the Cross into the good news of the Gospel! Christ was "delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25 NIV) Through Christ's obedience comes our life!
Now consider this analogy: We are all clay in the Maker's hands. The clay that hardens itself with pride and high-mindedness cannot be shaped by God into a beautiful creation because it has determined to make itself beautiful of its own accord. However, the clay that humbles itself and makes itself malleable, pliable, and receptive to God's hand can be molded into a masterpiece in accordance with the creative glory of it's Maker. God can turn death to life.
What can God do with our obedience?
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
"did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped" (Phil. 2:6 ESV)
Christ stooped to the condition of a servant, he took the form of a servant. He abandoned his eternal glory in the Godhead to become flesh, a mortal man. On earth, he associated with the lowly, and served even unto his dying breath. Two great examples are the washing of the feet at the last supper (John 13) and his begging God's forgiveness for those who put him to death (Luke 23:34).
"he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil. 2:8 ESV)
Christ humbled himself through his obedience. Jesus shows us in obeying God and doing His will even unto death shows us the perfect example of how to submit one's self in lowly spirit to the power and will of God. Christ humbled himself, obeyed God, and "for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross". (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)
And his humility was rewarded. Paul continues in Philippians:
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name," (Philippians 2:9 ESV)
In exalting Christ to the highest place of honor, God was rewarding his humility according the His word, "The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. " (Proverbs 22:4 ESV)
Conclusion
This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Christian message. Jesus, being fully God, stepped out of eternity and entered fully into our mess here on earth, so that he might redeem us. As a man he submitted fully to the Father's will, even though for him it meant suffering, humiliation, and a terrible death. In his obedience he showed his love for us and for God. For he himself has said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15 ESV) In his obedience he also made us righteous, as it says in Romans:
"For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19 ESV)
God used Christ's obedience and turned the horrifying scene of the Cross into the good news of the Gospel! Christ was "delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25 NIV) Through Christ's obedience comes our life!
Now consider this analogy: We are all clay in the Maker's hands. The clay that hardens itself with pride and high-mindedness cannot be shaped by God into a beautiful creation because it has determined to make itself beautiful of its own accord. However, the clay that humbles itself and makes itself malleable, pliable, and receptive to God's hand can be molded into a masterpiece in accordance with the creative glory of it's Maker. God can turn death to life.
What can God do with our obedience?
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
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