“Satan uses two
types of pride to keep us trusting in the worth or our own grace. One I call mannerly
pride, the other, a self-applauding
pride.
This doctrine of
justification by faith has had more assaults made against it than any other
teaching in Scripture. Indeed, many other errors were but the enemy's sly
approaches to get nearer to undermine this one. When Satan cannot hide the
truth, he works to hinder the practical application of it. Thus you see
Christians who speak in defense of justification by faith, yet their attitude
and actions contradict their profession. Like Abraham, when he went in to
Hagar, they tried to accomplish God's purpose by a carnal plan. All these
efforts that seem so noble are really baseborn, for they are rooted in pride.
At bottom, pride
in your own abilities is what keeps you working for righteousness. You keep
trying to pray harder, working to be a better Christian, laboring to have more
faith. You keep telling yourself, "I can do it!" but you will soon
find your own grace insufficient for even the smallest task, and your joy will
run out at the crannies (a
narrow opening, as in a wall or rock face; chink; crevice) of your imperfect duties and weak graces. The language of pride
hankers after the covenant of works. The only way out of this trap is to let
the new covenant cut the cord of the old one, and acknowledge that the grace of
Christ supersedes the works of the law.
Satan uses two
types of pride to keep us trusting in the worth of our own grace. One I call a mannerly
pride; the other, a self-applauding pride.
Mannerly pride
tiptoes in, disguised as humility. This is a soul that weeps and mourns for its
vile condition, yet refuses to be comforted. It is true-- not one of us can
paint our sins black enough to do them justice. But think how you discredit
God's mercy and Christ's merit when you say they are not enough to buy your
pardon! Can you find no better way to show your sense of sin than to malign the
Savior? Are you unwilling to be in Christ's debt for your salvation, or too
proud to beg His forgiveness?”
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