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Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
Selfish Ambition
What is the reason Jesus died on that cross? Was it not that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness? Was it not that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us? And, when he shed his blood for us on that cross, was it not to buy us back for God that we might now glorify God with our bodies?
[Lu 9:23-26; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Co 6:19-20; 2 Co 5:15, 21; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6; Tit 2:11-14]
Then, why is that so many people who call themselves Christians don’t believe and don’t practice this? How can anyone read these Scriptures noted here and walk away with the belief that they don’t have to repent of their sins, that they don’t have to obey the Lord, and that they don’t have to submit to Christ as Lord, as though these things are optional?
It is because they are selfish, prideful, self-indulgent people who do not want to submit to Christ or leave their lives of sin behind them. They don’t want to obey the Lord, because they want to continue controlling their own lives, doing whatever it is that they want to do (See Rom 1:18-32).
So, in order to justify their indulgences and their rebellious and wicked behaviors, they created a “different gospel” and “another Jesus” to justify and to gratify the sinful cravings of their flesh (2 Co 11:1-4).
This different gospel and this other Jesus (not the Jesus of the Bible) make no demands on you at all for holiness, godliness, and righteousness. They do not demand submission to Christ or obedience to him, or repentance. Instead, they teach a false grace which gives permission for the sinner to continue in sin while they give them a false hope of eternal life with God.
But Jesus didn’t give his life up for us on that cross so that we would continue living in sin while ignoring him and his commands to us. He died to deliver us from our slavery (addiction) to sin and to empower us to live godly and holy lives, pleasing to him, while we wait for him (Tit 2:11-14).
In Humility
What happens when we have this idea that faith in Jesus Christ gives us free license to continue living in sin, only without guilt? We continue living in sin, right? And, who does sin hurt? Truly it does hurt the one sinning, but who else? It hurts those we sin against, and that is not love.
We don’t live to ourselves alone, and we don’t sin to ourselves alone. If we deliberately keep on sinning, doing what we want to do, then we are going to hurt other people, which is utter selfishness. This comes from pride. And, it is not looking to what is best for others.
Instead, we are to leave our lives of sin behind us, submit to the Lordship of Christ over our lives, and we are to walk (in lifestyle) according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (Lu 9:23-26; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17).
And, we are to humble ourselves by considering others’ legitimate needs and what is in their best interest above our own. We are to consider what is best for them, i.e. what is for their ultimate good above our own, but not to the detriment of ourselves. For, this is not about self-hate.
This is not to say, though, that you would not sacrifice your own life for the salvation of other people’s lives in cases of true emergencies, or that you would not be willing to die (be martyred) for sharing the gospel of Christ in order to see others find true freedom in Christ from sin. You would.
In Conclusion
Jesus Christ died for us on that cross many years ago to put sin to death in our lives so that we no longer live to sin but to God and to his righteousness. Thus, his plan of salvation is NOT freedom to deliberately keep on sinning. And, his gospel does not free you from having to repent of sin or obey the Lord or submit to Christ as Lord.
If we deliberately keep on sinning, we are living in disobedience to our Lord, we are not honoring him as God, and we are insulting the Spirit of Grace. Thus, we are not in relationship with God, we are not saved from our sins, and we don’t have the promise of eternal life with God, but of judgment.
Not only that, but we are not acting in love toward other people, because we are choosing to go our own selfish way and to live however we want, regardless of who gets hurt in the process, because that is what sin does.
So, don’t believe the lies people are telling you that say you don’t have to obey God or that you don’t have to give up your sinful lifestyle. How is that “good news” for anyone if you remain in your sin, living however you want, continuing to willfully sin against others?
Humble yourselves before God, repent of your sin, walk in obedience to your Lord, and love others with the love of Jesus, considering their true needs above your own. And, give God all the glory for everything he does in your life and through your life for the praise of his name.
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: we’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Selfish Ambition
What is the reason Jesus died on that cross? Was it not that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness? Was it not that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us? And, when he shed his blood for us on that cross, was it not to buy us back for God that we might now glorify God with our bodies?
[Lu 9:23-26; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Co 6:19-20; 2 Co 5:15, 21; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6; Tit 2:11-14]
Then, why is that so many people who call themselves Christians don’t believe and don’t practice this? How can anyone read these Scriptures noted here and walk away with the belief that they don’t have to repent of their sins, that they don’t have to obey the Lord, and that they don’t have to submit to Christ as Lord, as though these things are optional?
It is because they are selfish, prideful, self-indulgent people who do not want to submit to Christ or leave their lives of sin behind them. They don’t want to obey the Lord, because they want to continue controlling their own lives, doing whatever it is that they want to do (See Rom 1:18-32).
So, in order to justify their indulgences and their rebellious and wicked behaviors, they created a “different gospel” and “another Jesus” to justify and to gratify the sinful cravings of their flesh (2 Co 11:1-4).
This different gospel and this other Jesus (not the Jesus of the Bible) make no demands on you at all for holiness, godliness, and righteousness. They do not demand submission to Christ or obedience to him, or repentance. Instead, they teach a false grace which gives permission for the sinner to continue in sin while they give them a false hope of eternal life with God.
But Jesus didn’t give his life up for us on that cross so that we would continue living in sin while ignoring him and his commands to us. He died to deliver us from our slavery (addiction) to sin and to empower us to live godly and holy lives, pleasing to him, while we wait for him (Tit 2:11-14).
In Humility
What happens when we have this idea that faith in Jesus Christ gives us free license to continue living in sin, only without guilt? We continue living in sin, right? And, who does sin hurt? Truly it does hurt the one sinning, but who else? It hurts those we sin against, and that is not love.
We don’t live to ourselves alone, and we don’t sin to ourselves alone. If we deliberately keep on sinning, doing what we want to do, then we are going to hurt other people, which is utter selfishness. This comes from pride. And, it is not looking to what is best for others.
Instead, we are to leave our lives of sin behind us, submit to the Lordship of Christ over our lives, and we are to walk (in lifestyle) according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (Lu 9:23-26; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17).
And, we are to humble ourselves by considering others’ legitimate needs and what is in their best interest above our own. We are to consider what is best for them, i.e. what is for their ultimate good above our own, but not to the detriment of ourselves. For, this is not about self-hate.
This is not to say, though, that you would not sacrifice your own life for the salvation of other people’s lives in cases of true emergencies, or that you would not be willing to die (be martyred) for sharing the gospel of Christ in order to see others find true freedom in Christ from sin. You would.
In Conclusion
Jesus Christ died for us on that cross many years ago to put sin to death in our lives so that we no longer live to sin but to God and to his righteousness. Thus, his plan of salvation is NOT freedom to deliberately keep on sinning. And, his gospel does not free you from having to repent of sin or obey the Lord or submit to Christ as Lord.
If we deliberately keep on sinning, we are living in disobedience to our Lord, we are not honoring him as God, and we are insulting the Spirit of Grace. Thus, we are not in relationship with God, we are not saved from our sins, and we don’t have the promise of eternal life with God, but of judgment.
Not only that, but we are not acting in love toward other people, because we are choosing to go our own selfish way and to live however we want, regardless of who gets hurt in the process, because that is what sin does.
So, don’t believe the lies people are telling you that say you don’t have to obey God or that you don’t have to give up your sinful lifestyle. How is that “good news” for anyone if you remain in your sin, living however you want, continuing to willfully sin against others?
Humble yourselves before God, repent of your sin, walk in obedience to your Lord, and love others with the love of Jesus, considering their true needs above your own. And, give God all the glory for everything he does in your life and through your life for the praise of his name.
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: we’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
