Many Christians struggle with the issue of pride. Whether you struggle with pride because you walk around thinking you've got this thing figured out or you struggle with pride because you're walking around in condemnation. Living in condemnation is still a derivative of pride because in order to be condemned you much think that grace is based off of your actions rather than who God is and what Christ did.
Let's look at a few scriptures.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (Prov. 3:7)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15,16)
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. (Romans 5:18)
God absolutely hates pride, but at the same time Christ's blood paid for us to not live in condemnation of our sin. Is there a balance?
The answer is found in this passage. Romans 5:
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me, and justified me through His blood... and now we exult God for sending His son that paid for our reconciliation.
In other words there is no room for pride because CHRIST DIED FOR ME KNOWING THAT I WAS A SINNER... I didn't achieve some "Holy" status that made it possible for me to earn forgiveness. Where I was, where I am, and where I will be Christ died for me. He shed His blood which purchased redemption, salvation, reconciliation, and so much more for me.
Also, BECAUSE CHRIST'S BLOOD bought redemption, salvation, and reconciliation for me I don't have a right to live in condemnation. As Romans 8:1 says there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and you have been transformed from a slave into a child of God then your sin has been paid for. Living in self condemnation is a lack of faith in what Christ has already accomplished for you.
I cannot be in pride because I didn't earn my justification, but I can't live in condemnation because I HAVE BEEN justified.
The final step is examination.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Cor. 13:5)
We need to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith. Do we not know that Christ is inside of us???
Faith in the fact that Christ is on the inside of me does not allow pride or condemnation!
We are challenged to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith... not so that we can have pride and not so that we'll be condemned, but rather so that we will continue to grow in faith in who God is, what Christ has done, and who we are to be, with the Holy Spirit's help.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
No comments:
Post a Comment