some thoughts on humility

April 10, 2008 | 3 comments

Jim

Humility is that part of character that is gone the moment we think we have it. I was reading in James 4 and was struck by the notion that there is additional grace from Jesus for the humble. This is repeated in 1 Peter 5, where Peter is quoting from the Proverbs. If we are saved we have grace to be sure, but there is more grace to be had. A little more investigation revealed that humility is something that we are asked in the Bible to “put on” ourselves. It is so easy to see the good things in my life as coming from my abilities and efforts. However, this is an illusion. What good I have is due to the grace of God. When the Apostle Paul said that he was “forgetting what lies behind” (Philippians 2:13), he was referring to his successes and accomplishments. He was referring to his lineage, religious training, passion, and righteousness. These are things he could have boasted of. Paul “put on” humility by forgetting all this. Jesus was another example. He put on humility by submitting himself to the cross, and not insisting he be treated for who he was. This is a tall order.

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The Discussion

April 13th, 2008

Judd Johnstone

I have been blessed by what you wrote and was actually pondering this same exact point. The point of how it has been all accomplished by Jesus Christ. But I’m interested, how would you explain the old covenant and how works oriented it was?

April 14th, 2008

Danny

I’ll pitch in my two cents for what it’s worth, which is about 2 cents. Even the old covenant was a faith based system. The nation of Israel had to place their faith in the slaughtered animals blood just like we place our faith in Christ’s blood. All the “works” were purity laws that set the nation apart and made them a “light” unto the world. Similar I suppose to the works of sanctification that God has called us to for His glory. Eph 2:10 We will be discussing the covenants in depth this sunday and for the Leaders Training we’ll dig into Covenantal Theology deeply, dealing with it’s good points and faults so you’ll be getting a lot of info on this very subject over the next 6 months to a year. Great questions Judd, keep firing away.

April 15th, 2008

Jim

The old covenant was intended to point the nation of Israel (and the world) to the comming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. “Works” (how we could earn our way to God and heaven) arose out of our pride. We think or efforts can please God, pay for or sins, and warrant a place in eternity. This is a common thread to all religions that believe in an afterlife. With this attitude, even the new covenant can appear to be “works oriented”. It is only by the illumination of the scriptures by the Holy Spirit, that we understand salvation by grace.

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