I was thinking about posting a comment to Mike’s blog on this but then decided I had too much to say, so I will say it here.
In other comments, I know that both Mike and I are reading the Andrew Murray Book Humility. I’m still only in the beginning chapters and at the initial stage where I’m not quite sure I understand Murray placing so much significance on the term. He equates it as a core if not the primary doctrine about Christ. While I agree on it’s importance it’s a word used only 15 times in the New Testament and a few times in the context of a false humility warning.
Matthew and Luke both mention it as do Paul, Peter and James so it certainly has Apostolic authority.
An interesting example is:
Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
This comes from the context of Paul’s meeting with the Ephesians elders where he speaks solemnly his trials and temptations and gives warnings to the Church, which apply even to today’s time.
My current study of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jone’s sermons, which number 232, on the Book of Ephesians is helping me to get a deeper understanding of this Church. The Ephesus was a Church which benefited by over 3 years of Paul’s teaching. His continued support and pray for them as noted in both his visit (Acts 20) and the Letter he wrote, as well as their having the benefit of Paul’s chief disciple Timothy being a pastor to them. Probably after I finish what may be a 4-5 study of Ephesians, I will pick Paul’s letters to Timothy, there is most likely much to be learned about secondary discipleship from them.
Reflecting back on Humility, Murray does define it against its opposite “Pride”. It’s useful to look at what it means from that common trap that we can easily fall into. Perhaps those in Mike’s class were Proud of their own ideas, or at least Stubborn.
It’s also curious that in the larger James passage Mike quotes the man who turns away from the mirror and forgets who is was falls into the same trap. That could be Pride. Though simple forgetfulness or even ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
Btw, when I read the James passages quoted I couldn’t help but hear echos of the same themes that are in the first two chapters of Ephesians. Paul makes much about our condition, a condition that in humility we need to remember when we turn from the mirror:
….who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
….he hath chosen us
….predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 2:1-6 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 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: 3 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. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
I might say and such were all of you at least in some sins and our deadness.
One other observation is the more I study Ephesians and read James, the apparent Faith vs Works difference between Paul and James evaporates. We need to understand both.
Finally, I don’t find this easy. I still struggle with the “doer” part. Maybe an analogy is like how Jesus answered the question “who is my neighbor?”. When we encounter an idea in the Scripture in our walk of faith, we don’t cross to the other side of the road and ignore it but we embrace it as an opportunity to apply it. Paul was helpful to Timothy with these words which remain for us today:
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God – Doctrine Matters!
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Rainbow Trout 