True humility in its greatest demonstration was evidenced by the subordination of God the Son in his offices to God the Father for the purpose of redemption. When he “thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” he willingly set aside the glory he had with his Father, but he did not cease to be God.  When he “made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant,” he took into union with his divine person, true sinless humanity, body and soul as God-Man.  When he “humbled himself and became obedient unto death,” he was made to be sin by imputation only, in order to satisfy all the conditions for the sins of his people as God-Man Mediator.  When “he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” he became a curse to put away sin for all those he represented, for it is written;” cursed is every one who hangs on a tree.”  And through all this he remained holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” What humility!

The second demonstration of true humility is that sinner who is submitted to Christ and his righteousness imputed as his only means of salvation and acceptance before God.  He has seen that God would be just to condemn him based on his best efforts to serve God and that nothing short of Christ’s righteousness imputed could ever recommend him to God.  He has seen that Christ’s righteousness imputed is his one and only means of standing complete before a holy God, and he is glad to stand there.  “Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner” is his only plea.