BEWARE SPIRITUAL ARROGANCE

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”—1 John 1:8.

Beware spiritual arrogance! As Christians our hope is found in Christ alone. The Christian walk is a walk of honesty and humility, or else it is not founded in Christ at all.

The man or woman who proclaims their own righteousness or holiness or great faith is the one who is most certainly to be deceived.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “Ah, but preacher, my sins have been washed away!” Your adoption into the family of God is certain and eternal, however the washing, the cleansing; your need for forgiveness is continual. Praise God, His grace is sufficient. Never forget; “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Could Christ have offered the challenge, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone” John 8:7 Short of understanding Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”?

Would I have you doubt your faith? If your faith is in your own perfection and goodness than I would say, not only doubt it, denounce it, as Christ did after a disciple called Him good; "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. Mark 10:18 If He who was tempted in all things as we are yet remained without sin did not consider Himself good, who are you and I to believe that we who are born into sin and remain at odds with sin should boast in our own “goodness”?

Are we to be like the Pharisee praying in the temple; “God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector” or should we be like the tax collector who “would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' Jesus said, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Beware spiritual arrogance! Amen!