CHAPTER XVIII.

OUR LORD.


III. HIS LIFE.

The Saviour's life includes two states; namely, His Humiliation and His
Exaltation.

HIS HUMILIATION.

Christ's state of humiliation comprises His life on earth, during which
He laid aside the full use of His divine glory and was content to appear
among men in the form of a servant. He humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, [Phil. 2:8+] in order
that He might redeem us. He gave men glimpses of His divine glory: in
the authority with which He taught, [Matt. 7:28-29] in the holy life
which He led, [John 8:46] and in the miracles which He performed. [John
2:11] But in general He appeared like other men.

This state of humiliation includes five stages:--He was

1. CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Christ might
have appeared among men in the full splendor of His divine glory and
majesty. But, in order to redeem us, He was content to be born in
poverty, [Luke 2:7, II Cor. 8:9+, Matt. 8:20+] to grow up in obscurity,
[Matt. 2:23] and to appear to most men as if He were simply a man.