Combating Pride in the Body of Christ Turn to: Romans 12:3-6

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: For as we have many members in one body, 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 Issue Pride in the Body of the Church at Rome Secondary Just the Opposite

Types 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. – Haughty – Conceited having an excessively high opinion of oneself having an excessively high opinion of oneself

Two Common Errors Self-Evaluation 1.To think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Remember—the conceited person doesn’t think they are thinking too highly of themselves.

Serious Problem God Opposes the Proud God Opposes the Proud – God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6 James 4:6 – be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5 1 Peter 5:5

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

Ways to Combat Pride 1.Recognize that pride, conceit, and arrogance in my life is S i N. We are commanded not to be proud.

2 Timothy 3:2-4 Look at this list of various sins

2 Timothy 3:2-4 lovers of self lovers of self proud proud arrogant arrogant swollen with conceit swollen with conceit

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

James 4:10 In the Imperative Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Application Do things out of the norm that show you don’t think too highly of yourself.

Ways 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.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty [arrogant] spirit before a fall. And a haughty [arrogant] spirit before a fall.

Ways 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.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. All Grace!

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was 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 with me. yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Ways to Combat Pride 1. 1.Recognize that pride, conceit, arrogance in my life is a SIN Understand that IT is foolish to be filled with conceit Get a good understanding on what the Bible means by GRACE. 4.See self-conceit for what it is—a boasting in self that takes away from the glory of God. – Redirect praise but don’t be a fake – Don’t minimize what people say

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was 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 with me. yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Turn to 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base [low in position] things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory [boast] in his presence.

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

Answer #1 Pride divides the body of Christ; and division destroys the testimony of Christ.

The 1 st and Ultimate Division Ezekiel 28 “The First and Ultimate Sin”

Satan’s Fall Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

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

Answer #2 God Opposes the Proud God Opposes the Proud – God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6 James 4:6 – be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5 1 Peter 5:5

Two Common Errors Self-Evaluation 1.To think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. 2.To think of ourselves lower than we ought to think. – This would be a self-worth that does NOT consider the gifts, talents and abilities God has granted the believer in Christ Jesus

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Soberly Earnest, thoughtful character Earnest, thoughtful character marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness sensible sensible showing no excessive or extreme qualities showing no excessive or extreme qualities This is where I get NOT too high or NOT too low

Question What does the text say is the governor to keep my thinking NOT too high or too low?

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt [given] to every man the measure of faith. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt [given] to every man the measure of faith.

Sovereign Grace and Faith keep it from being too high and likewise too low.

Question What is the issue with TOO low?

Wrapping it Up Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. My over or under assessment of myself impacts others.

Wrapping it Up Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him.

What do I do with my OVER or UNDER thinking? 1 John 1:9

Where do I go? Run to the Cross Philippians 2:5-8

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride Isaac Watts

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory [BOAST], save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. But God forbid that I should glory [BOAST], save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

This faith Vincent defines as follows: “Its meaning, therefore, must not be strictly limited to the conception of justifying faith in Christ, though that conception includes and is really the basis of every wider conception. It is faith as the condition of the powers and offices of believers, faith regarded as spiritual insight, which, according to its degree, qualifies a man to be a prophet, a teacher, a minister; etc., faith in relation to character, and which therefore, is the determining principle of the renewed man’s tendencies, whether they lead him to meditation and research, or to practical activity. As faith is the sphere and subjective condition of the powers and functions of believers, so it furnishes a test or regulative standard of their respective enduements and functions. Thus the measure applied is distinctively a measure of faith. With faith a believer receives power of discernment as to the actual limitations of his gifts. Faith, in introducing him into God’s kingdom, introduces him to new standards of measurement, according to which he accurately determines the nature and extent of his powers, and so does not think of himself too highly. This measure is different in different individuals, but in every case faith is the determining element of the measure. Paul, then, does not mean precisely to say that a man is to think more or less soberly of himself according to the quantity of faith which he has, though that is true as a fact; but that sound and correct views as to the character and extent of spiritual gifts and functions are fixed by a measure, the determining element of which, in each particular case, is faith.” Translation. For I am saying through the grace which is given to everyone who is among you, not to be thinking more highly of one’s self, beyond that which one ought necessarily to be thinking, but to be thinking with a view to a sensible appraisal (of one’s self) according as to each one God divided a measure of faith. Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), Ro 12:3.