Philippians 2:5-11 Humiliation is both the act of humbling and the state of being humbled. As an act of humiliation Christ descended from an elevated state: Philippians 2:5-6"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" In a state of humiliation Christ showed Himself free of selfish pride and in submission to the divine will: Philippians 2:7-8 "But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." This two fold humiliation of Christ in both act and state is sometimes called "The Theology of the Cross", and is summarised in seven downward steps which portray the mind of Christ in executing the purpose of God to procure eternal redemption.[list type=decimal][*]He left heaven's glory.[*]He made Himself of no reputation.[*]He took on Him the form of a servant.[*]He was made in the likeness of men.[*]He humbled Himself.[*]He became obedient unto death.[*]Even the death of the cross.[/LIST]Exaltation is both the act of exalting and the state of being exalted. As an act of exaltation God lifted Christ higher than He had been previously. Philippians 2:9"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:" In a state of His being exalted everything bows in submission to Christ, confessing Him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11"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." This two fold exaltation of Christ in both act and state is sometimes called "The Theology of Glory", and is summarised in seven upward steps which portray the mind of God in declaring His satisfaction with Christ's work while recognising Him as divinely equal.[list type=decimal][*]God has highly exalted Him.[*]God has given Him a Name above every name.[*]God has done this so that every knee should bow.[*]God says things in heaven should bow. [*]God says things in earth should bow.[*]God says things under the earth should bow.[*]God says that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.[/LIST]In humiliation on earth Christ was God appearing as a man. In exaltation in heaven Christ is a man appearing as God. Although all will one day worship Christ, only those who put their faith in Him in this life will have an everlasting relationship with Him after death.
