Is it Proper to Call our Present Condition a State of Humiliation?

[Ed Walsh]

1 Corinthians 15:19 [KJV]

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.​

Our Redemption is complete in two phases. First - The Redemption of our souls by the shed blood of Christ, and, Second - The Redemption of our bodies at on that Day when Christ returns. In the interim, are not our days often filled with many dangers, toils, and snares? Although we now have clear title to heaven, we still have the struggles due to remaining corruptions, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Few men have experienced the joy the Apostle Paul, yet he said that "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:19) We were made for heaven-destined for the throne. Are we not presently in a time of humiliation? I think so and have found that keeping this firmly in mind can spare us much consternation while we wait for our change to come. What do you think?

Consider Paul's word to the Phillippians, where in verse 21, he calls our present body 'vile.' This word is sometimes translated as humble and humiliation. (See examples below)

Phillippians 3:20-21 [KJV]

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our 'vile' body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.​

Other translations of 'vile' (ταπείνωσις)

[ESV] our 'lowly' body
[NASB] the body of our 'humble state'​

Other verses where this word is found:
Luke 1:48 [ESV]

for he has looked on the 'humble estate' of his servant.​

James 1:10 [ESV]

and the rich in his 'humiliation,' because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.​

Acts 8:33 [ESV]

"in his 'humiliation' justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth."​

 

[Alex Foo]

'Are we not presently in a time of humiliation?'

In a sense, yes.

But let's remember the context of 1 Cor 15:19. Paul warned against disbelief of Christ's resurrection, as doing so will forfeit the faith and the joy that comes with it. Without resurrection, our faith is futile, and we are the most pitiful, having no help either in this life or the next.

Now we're heaven-bound, but our body is still here on the earth. Christ will come back one day and clothe us with glorified body. For now we need to endure as what Christ has endured in this life, persecution of faith, mockery, even Satan's devices, and dealing with the remaining sin in our body.

These 'pain' will one day be a testimony of Romans 8:18, that our Christ is worthy, and by His strength we will walk through these, like the Pilgrim's Progress.