Can I Really Ever Overcome Sinful Pride by faith alone in Jesus? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

Perhaps the most difficult thing for the human heart is to overcome sinful pride. We are born with this sin nature that pulls within our hearts desiring to think of me first always. It is in the heart of the child screaming “mine”. And it never seems to go away during our lifetime. Even we who have put our faith in Jesus Christ are plagued by Sinful Pride. Can we ever overcome sinful Pride? We tend to be self-centered. Desiring love, recognition, and wanting others to recognize what we do.

Even the work I think I am doing for God often gets turned toward wanting glory for myself. Instead of being only for His Glory. This despite all the Glory being His Alone and none of mine. I can do nothing, absolutely nothing good apart from His Holy Spirit working through me. Should not my entire desire be for His Glory Only? He who gave His Life for me.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. II Corinthians 5: 12-19 KJV

Overcome Sinful Pride by Remembering Previous Study Above in Romans

No one of the flesh is Righteous. Absolutely No One can be saved trying to climb their way to Righteousness. Even those who do works continuously trying to redeem themselves are doing so with a self-pride. Often trying to be whom they can never be alone. Essentially what we just finished studying earlier in Romans 3 points out our inadequacies. And then shows what Christ accomplished on the cross in our behalf.

First, Jesus in dying for the glory of God upheld the value of the Glory of God. In such doing he restored what we have dishonored. Repairing the injury we have done in despising the Glory of God. What do I mean by saying we have despised the Glory of God. We do it all the time. By our actions, how often do we treat God as unimportant in our lives? We go about our days with no regard for Him. This alone suggest He is of low worth. Meanwhile, we prefer worldly pleasures and self-exaltation over His divine beauty and greatness. It is a preference for temporary things over the eternal joy and fellowship found in God. We further display this by our frustrations when He does not do it our way. As though we deserve anything from Him.

Furthermore

He absorbed the wrath of God for us. This is something we must never forget. The depth of His payment for us. He appeased God for all the condemnation that was for us and deflected it ALL upon Himself. All the guilt, all the shame, and all of what we justly deserved.

He paid the ransom for all who come to believe in Him as Lord and Savior. He did this only by His grace as our redeemer. Thereby He freed us from the guilt, condemnation, fear, and power of our own sin. Our only hope to sin less is by surrendering to the Holy Spirit, every moment of every day. Sin usually occurs when I ignore the promptings He whispers in my head.

Furthermore, God vindicated the righteousness of God Himself in His son. The righteousness of God cannot dwell with sinful man, unless the price is paid for our unrighteousness. How arrogant and proudful are we when we are fighting to do the right thing in our own flesh? And we all do it. What hypocrites are we.

Our only hope to Overcome Sinful Pride is Dying Daily to Self

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:16-21

Yes, I truly understand how hard that can be. To die to self, so that I let Him live through me. I must allow it to be Him that shines and never seek my own Glory. Yet, it is so hard not to say, “Look what I did this week for Him.” I, we are wired that way. Always wanting at least to be noticed for what we do. But when I tell others what I do, am I not falling again into the trap of pride. Hoping to get a “wow” from someone. It is so hard to not speak of how much you give or do for the Lord. Our excuse is we want to shine a light on His work.

But the truth is we want an “attaboy” from those around us. We want to feel a little better about ourselves. Which is foolish really. Should it not be enough that God chose me before the beginning of time? Me, so prone to sinful pride. And is not sinful pride what causes me to be critical of others? Comparing myself to them, whether I realize it at the time or not. Always wanting a leg up. If we are all in the same boat. All sinners saved by Grace Alone, then what is there to compare? That is why Paul wrote, “Where is boasting, then?”

We are His Workmanship Not Our Own—Big Difference

And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 3:1-10 KJV

Our works did not save us. Yes, we are to persist in working for Christ. But that work must come out from the workings of the Holy Spirit. Not ourselves. The same as we cannot earn our salvation. We do not truly earn our crowns by pulling up our boot straps to work for Him. Instead, we surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us and thereby shining the Light fully on Christ.

The New Testament describes several types of crowns believers can receive at the judgment seat of Christ. This judgment occurs after the rapture while the tribulation is going on earth. So, this is a judgment for believers. These crowns are:

Crown of Life: For those who endure persecution and trials with faithfulness.

2. Crown of Righteousness: Given to those who love and eagerly anticipate the appearance of Jesus Christ.

3. Crown of Glory: A reward for faithful leaders, such as pastors, elders and teachers.

4. Crown of Rejoicing (or Soul-Winner’s Crown): For those who evangelize and bring others to Christ.

5. Crown of Incorruption: For those who overcome the desires of the Flesh

But here is the caveat. When we receive the crowns, we will then cast them at Jesus feet. Why? Because there we realize, He did the work when I stepped aside and let Him. I could not of my own accord do it.

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:10-11 KJV

So, How do we Really Ever Overcome Sinful Pride

We must keep our eyes focused on Him. Then we are transformed little by little through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

Paul in writing to the Corinthians referred to the believers there as an epistle demonstrating the truth of the gospel of Christ. Not written with ink or human effort. But rather written by the Spirit of the living God in fleshy tables of the heart. Just as God promised in Isaiah, His law would be written on our hearts. This is His work. When I desire to sin. His Spirit convicts me. And provides the way of escape at which point I listen or I don’t. Yet, He will draw me back in, one way or another; because I am covered by the blood of Christ. I would rather listen than to have to be drawn back. Sometimes the drawing back is tough, but even that is better than marching forward in my own prideful desires.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

The letter of the law only leads to death. But the spirit gives life eternal to all who accept the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

When Moses had gone up on the Mount of Olives, his face shown so brightly that he had to wear a veil. He had been in the presence of God. God’s commandments are glorious. They are righteousness revealed. How much more glorious, His Grace toward us!

So, Now What can we do to overcome sinful pride

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 2 Corinthians 3:12-15

The veil remains unless one accepts Jesus Christ. He is the one who unveils the truth.

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

So as we look upon Him who died in our place. We behold His Glory, although dimly and there in we are being transformed, day by day. Little glories, little changes; but one day I will have His heart. No longer will there be the dark spots I now see. All my sinful pride will dissipate in the presence of His Glory. Then I will see Him face to face and fall prostrate at his feet, knowing it was only He when goodness came forth from me.

Concluding Thought

When I consider the truth of who I am. I am reminded that I can do nothing without Him and to Him is due all the Glory. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

So, it takes me to the illustration I heard Jack Hibbs present in his sermon regarding Romans 3:26-31.

A Father Oxen working hard pulling the plow, turning all the dirt. He did the job with great skill. Alongside him was a young ox, yoked to him. His feet hardly touch the ground, held up in the air slightly by the Father’s yoke. The Father smiled as the young calf happy to see all that was being accomplished. Yet, knowing all along that only the Father was laboring.

Well that little calf is me yoked to my Lord and Savior. He does all the work, when it is good. And He through the work is sharing a tiny piece of His Glory with me. While at the same time shining forth His Magnificent Glory through me. What Grace and Mercy is That!

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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How to be Truly Justified Freely by the Blood of Jesus Christ

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Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

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