Avoid Spiritual Pride and Abuse

Christ Changes Our View of the World

Becoming what we are designed to be, when we really connect to the idea of a new life in Christ, changes us in more ways than we can imagine. When we sacrifice ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit begins a work in us, to make us holy and acceptable. As our minds are renewed, and we are transformed into God’s children. the world looks so much different than if we allow ourselves to be conformed to it.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Sometimes things start like this: We begin to see more of the sin in our own lives that we had recognized before we were saved. We go through a season of facing and confessing our past sins, and as the Holy Spirit begins to purify our hearts, the world starts to look very different. Bad behaviors we used to overlook or think were not a big deal become important to us. We see the sin around us, and we become more critical of it.

That’s why, as we shared a couple weeks ago, in Rom 12:3, we are warned to keep in mind that each of us is but one part of the One Body of Christ; so get personal pride under control. Your goal is to see clearly

Don’t Become a Bible Bully

Romans 12:3–5 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Be Careful of Spiritual Pride

Don’t Get Into Arguments of Opinion

Romans 14:1 ESV

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Don’t Disrespect Dietary Decisions

Romans 14:2–3 ESV

2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Don’t Try to Rate Spiritual Success

Romans 14:4 ESV

4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Remember What is Really Important

Calendar Conflicts Are Not Salvation Issues

Romans 14:5 ESV

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Make Sure It’s A God Choice

Holy days, holidays, diet choices, hot dish choices, raw foods, which meats to eat, it’s all OK as long as you live with a heart that is thankful.

Romans 14:6 ESV

6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Why is one day any different than another? Some say this settles the Sabbath question for Christians: must we observe a Jewish 7th day Sabbath rest, or is substituting the Lord’s Day — Sunday — to honor the Resurrection of Jesus Christ all we need to worry about?

In terms of what the whole of scripture says, we are stubborn about our Sundays, because we like the options this verse provides

Remember Whose You Are

Romans 14:7–8 ESV

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Bought With a Price

Romans 14:9 ESV

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

God Gets the Glory

Romans 14:10–12 ESV

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Next week we will look at Romans 14:13-23 and consider how we can better Practice Grace Under the Spirit’s Leadership