Man Humbled and Christ Exalted in the Gospel

Isaiah 1:11 proclaims that "the lofty looks of man shall be humbled... the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." The Lord abases human pride whenever He makes His presence felt by the power of His Spirit upon the heart. Then the haughtiness of man is bowed down, and Adonai is exalted within.

God's object in the Gospel is precisely this: that self may be humbled, and Christ exalted. Consider three points where men typically bolster themselves in pride.

First, men presume natural ability to understand Scripture as they would any common text, forgetting its character and object. They read to know, not to be—yet the Word transforms character, making one "a new creature in Christ Jesus."

Second, men imagine they can save themselves through moral balance—weighing their good deeds against their failures, trusting Christ to make up the difference. This delusion prevents genuine humiliation before Yahweh.

Third, men form foolish thoughts of God's character, imagining the difference between themselves and the Holy One is merely one of degree, not nature. They ignore that "God is a Spirit" while they are carnal. Morality alone cannot fit a man for heaven; palingenesia (rebirth) is essential. As the Lord declares, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Yet men form their own opinions. God responds: "Thou thoughtest that I was such an one as thyself; but I will reprove thee."