Interestingly I’ve studied both the James and Revelation passages the past two weeks in our Bible Study and Sunday School class.
An intriguing point is if we dwell too much on our humility, can we take on an another subtle form of self-righteousness? We always need to be careful. It is said….
Romans 3:10-11 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
I highlighted a couple of Mike’s points…..
Self-righteousness is the result of human pride.
Only true Christians can be genuinely humble.
Simply making a profession of faith solves nothing if it is not also accompanied by a change on the inside that results in being zealous and penitent
The word translated here as repent, metanoēson, is a command to change ones mind or way of thinking towards God and about oneself. This is the result of regeneration. God opens their eyes so that they will no longer be spiritually blind.
Self-righteousness is the result of human pride.
Only true Christians can be genuinely humble.
One of my favorite examples to contrast this is found here.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
If you desire further reading, Old John Bunyan had two small works that delve into this more deeply.
The Barren Fig Tree,
or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor.
John Bunyan 60p 1688
The title page was printed with a wide black border, most probably, to get the reader’s attention.
A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
John Bunyan
Read at your own risk!
Rainbow Trout 