combating pride in the body of christ turn to: romans 12:3-6

Combating Pride Combating Pride in the Body of Christin the Body of Christ

Turn to:Turn to:Romans 12:3-6Romans 12:3-6

Romans 12:3Romans 12:3

• For I say, through the grace given unto me, to For I say, through the grace given unto me, to

every man that is among you, every man that is among you, not to not to think of himself more highly think of himself more highly than he ought to thinkthan he ought to think; but to think ; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:4Romans 12:4

• For as we have many members in one body, For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: and all members have not the same office:

The one body is the local NT church—the universal body of Christ does not

have offices.

Main IssueMain Issue

Pride in the Body of ChristPride in the Body of Christ@ the Church at Rome@ the Church at Rome

SecondarySecondaryJust the OppositeJust the Opposite

Types of PrideTypes of Pride

• He takes pride in his work.He takes pride in his work.• I am really proud of you [or them].I am really proud of you [or them].• That is one arrogant person.That is one arrogant person.– HaughtyHaughty– ConceitedConceited• having an excessively high opinion of oneselfhaving an excessively high opinion of oneself

Two Common ErrorsTwo Common Errors

Self-EvaluationSelf-Evaluation1.1.To think of ourselves more highly than we To think of ourselves more highly than we

ought to think.ought to think.

Remember—the conceited person Remember—the conceited person doesn’t think they are thinking too doesn’t think they are thinking too

highly of themselves.highly of themselves.

Serious ProblemSerious Problem

• God Opposes the ProudGod Opposes the Proud–God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace

unto the humble.unto the humble.• James 4:6James 4:6

– be clothed with humility: for God resisteth be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.• 1 Peter 5:51 Peter 5:5

ApplicationApplication

Let’s admit that pride is that Let’s admit that pride is that sin that I can see the speck [of sin that I can see the speck [of pride] in my brother’s eye but pride] in my brother’s eye but can’t see the log [of pride] in can’t see the log [of pride] in

my own eye.my own eye.

Ways to Combat PrideWays to Combat Pride

1.1. Recognize that pride, conceit, and arrogance Recognize that pride, conceit, and arrogance

in my life is in my life is SSiiNN. We are commanded not . We are commanded not

to be proud.to be proud.

2 Timothy 3:2-42 Timothy 3:2-4

Look at this list of various sinsLook at this list of various sins

2 Timothy 3:2-42 Timothy 3:2-4

• lovers of selflovers of self• proudproud• arrogantarrogant• swollen with conceitswollen with conceit

Romans 12:16Romans 12:16

• Be of the same mind one toward another. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high thingsMind not high things, ,

• but but condescend to condescend to men of low estate. men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Be not wise in your own conceits.

James 4:10James 4:10

In the ImperativeIn the Imperative

• Humble yourselves Humble yourselves in the sight of the in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Lord, and He will lift you up.

ApplicationApplication

Do things out of the norm Do things out of the norm that show you don’t think too that show you don’t think too

highly of yourself.highly of yourself.

Ways to Combat PrideWays to Combat Pride

1.1. Recognize that pride, conceit, arrogance in Recognize that pride, conceit, arrogance in my life is a SIN.my life is a SIN.

2.2. Understand that IT is Understand that IT is foolishfoolish to be filled with to be filled with conceit.conceit.

Proverbs 16:18Proverbs 16:18

• Pride goes before destruction, Pride goes before destruction, • And a haughty [arrogant] spirit And a haughty [arrogant] spirit

before a fall. before a fall.

Ways to Combat PrideWays to Combat Pride

1.1. Recognize that pride, conceit, arrogance in Recognize that pride, conceit, arrogance in my life is a SIN.my life is a SIN.

2.2. Understand that IT is Understand that IT is foolishfoolish to be filled with to be filled with conceit.conceit.

3.3. Get a good understanding on what the Bible Get a good understanding on what the Bible means by GRACE.means by GRACE.

Romans 12:3Romans 12:3

• For I say, For I say, through the grace given unto through the grace given unto meme, to every man that is among you, not to , to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as think; but to think soberly, according as God God hath dealt to every man the hath dealt to every man the measure of faithmeasure of faith. .

James 1:17James 1:17

• Every good gift and every perfect gift is from Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, lights, with whom is no variableness, neither with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. shadow of turning.

All Grace!All Grace!

1 Corinthians 15:101 Corinthians 15:10

• But by the grace of God I am what I am: and But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; not in vain;

• but I labored more abundantly than they all:but I labored more abundantly than they all: • yet not I, but the grace of God which was yet not I, but the grace of God which was

with me. with me.

Ways to Combat PrideWays to Combat Pride

1. Recognize that pride, conceit, arrogance in my life is a SIN.2. Understand that IT is foolish to be filled with conceit.3. Get a good understanding on what the Bible means by

GRACE.

4.4. See self-conceit for what it See self-conceit for what it is—a boasting in is—a boasting in self that takes away from the glory of Godself that takes away from the glory of God..– Redirect praise but don’t be a fakeRedirect praise but don’t be a fake– Don’t minimize what people sayDon’t minimize what people say

1 Corinthians 15:101 Corinthians 15:10

• But by the grace of God I am what I am: and But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; not in vain;

• but I labored more abundantly than they all:but I labored more abundantly than they all: • yet not I, but the grace of God which was yet not I, but the grace of God which was

with me. with me.

Turn toTurn to

1 Corinthians 1:26-291 Corinthians 1:26-29

Ultimate QuestionUltimate Question

Preacher, why are you making Preacher, why are you making such a big deal of this?such a big deal of this?

Answer #1Answer #1

Pride divides the body of Pride divides the body of Christ; and division destroys Christ; and division destroys

the testimony of Christ.the testimony of Christ.

The 1The 1stst and Ultimate Division and Ultimate Division

Ezekiel 28Ezekiel 28

““The First and Ultimate Sin”The First and Ultimate Sin”

Satan’s FallSatan’s Fall

Isaiah 14:14Isaiah 14:14• I will ascend I will ascend

above the heights above the heights of the clouds, I of the clouds, I will be like the will be like the Most High.’ Most High.’

1 Timothy 3:61 Timothy 3:6• not a novice, lest not a novice, lest

being being puffed up puffed up with pride he fall with pride he fall into the into the same same condemnation condemnation as as the devil. the devil.

Ultimate QuestionUltimate Question

Preacher, why are you making Preacher, why are you making such a big deal of this?such a big deal of this?

Answer #2Answer #2

• God Opposes the ProudGod Opposes the Proud–God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace

unto the humble.unto the humble.• James 4:6James 4:6

– be clothed with humility: for God resisteth be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.• 1 Peter 5:51 Peter 5:5

Two Common ErrorsTwo Common Errors

Self-EvaluationSelf-Evaluation1.1. To think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.To think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.2.2. To think of ourselves lower than we ought to think.To think of ourselves lower than we ought to think.– This would be a self-worth that does NOT consider the gifts, talents and This would be a self-worth that does NOT consider the gifts, talents and

abilities God has granted the believer in Christ Jesusabilities God has granted the believer in Christ Jesus

Romans 12:3Romans 12:3

• For I say, through the grace given unto me, to For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberlybut to think soberly, according as God hath , according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. dealt to every man the measure of faith.

SoberlySoberly

• Earnest, thoughtful characterEarnest, thoughtful character• marked by temperance, moderation, or marked by temperance, moderation, or

seriousnessseriousness• sensiblesensible• showing no excessive or extreme qualitiesshowing no excessive or extreme qualities

This is where I get This is where I get NOT too high or NOT too lowNOT too high or NOT too low

QuestionQuestion

What does the text say is the What does the text say is the governor to keep my thinking governor to keep my thinking

NOT too high or too low?NOT too high or too low?

Romans 12:3Romans 12:3

• For I say, through the grace given unto me, to For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, but to think soberly, according as God hath according as God hath dealt [given] to every man the measure of dealt [given] to every man the measure of faith. faith.

Sovereign Grace and Faith Sovereign Grace and Faith keep it from being too high keep it from being too high

and likewise too low. and likewise too low.

QuestionQuestion

What is the issue with TOO What is the issue with TOO low?low?

Wrapping it UpWrapping it Up

Romans 12:4-5Romans 12:4-5• For as we have many members in one body, For as we have many members in one body,

and all members have not the same office: and all members have not the same office: • So we, being many, are one body in Christ, So we, being many, are one body in Christ,

and every one members one of another. and every one members one of another.

My over or under assessment of My over or under assessment of myself impacts others. myself impacts others.

Wrapping it UpWrapping it Up

Pride is when sinful human Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to position of God and refuse to

acknowledge their dependence acknowledge their dependence upon Him.upon Him.

What do I do with my OVER or What do I do with my OVER or UNDER thinking?UNDER thinking?

1 John 1:91 John 1:9

Where do I go?Where do I go?

Run to the CrossRun to the Cross

Philippians 2:5-8Philippians 2:5-8

When I Survey the Wondrous CrossWhen I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous crossWhen I survey the wondrous crossOn which the Prince of Glory died,On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but lossMy richest gain I count but lossAnd pour contempt on all my prideAnd pour contempt on all my pride

Isaac WattsIsaac Watts

Galatians 6:14Galatians 6:14

• But God forbid that I should glory [BOAST], But God forbid that I should glory [BOAST], save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. unto the world.