Calling oneself a Christian is a claim that is not be taken lightly by many religious individuals. In fact, according to the Bible in Exodus 20:3, God Himself declares, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” This is actually the third commandment of the Ten Commandments.
Sanctification
When a religious person accepts Jesus as his or her personal Saviour, the person may begin the process of putting away sin and becoming "Christ-like" in character. The Bible teaches that pride and other sins like it have no place in the Christian life. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 states, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.” This is sometimes referred to as "growing in grace" by religious groups.
Christians believe that sanctification does not happen immediately upon acceptance of the free gift of salvation, but requires effort on the part of each Christian. In Philippians 2: 12, Paul admonishes believers to strive for perfection in these words, “Work out your own salvation.” Christ explains the reason that Christians must aim for perfection in these words as recorded in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Help for Overcoming Pride
The Bible offers words of hope and encouragement to Christians who struggle with pride. Here is what the Bible teaches about pride and how to overcome a proud nature.
- Pride is hated by God, according to Proverbs 6: 16-19 where it says, “Six things doth the Lord hate… a proud look.”
- Pride is resisted by God. The Bible teaches that God resists those who nurture pride, for in James 4:6 it says, “God resisteth the proud.”
- Pride is a sin, as the Bible states in Proverbs 21: 4, “An high look, and a proud heart… is sin.”
- Pride goes before destruction, according to the Bible. Pride precedes disgrace and ruin, for the scriptures say in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
- Pride was Satan’s downfall. The Bible teaches that pride originated with Satan, for Ezekiel 28: 17 records, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty.”
- Pride will be destroyed in the end, as the scriptures teach that pride and all other sins will ultimately be destroyed, for in Malachi 4:1 it says, “All the proud…shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up.”
Assurance of Victory Over Pride
Although pride may be rooted in a person's life, Christians may find reason to hope for deliverance from this besetting sin. Many Christians believe that they have assurance of victory over sins like pride because of statements offered in the following Bible verses:
- “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” ~1 John 5:5
- “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 15:57
- “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” ~Romans 8:37
 |
