“The Believer’s Self-Perception” Part 1

     Born again believers are meant to view themselves neither with arrogant self-exaltation, or morbid self-loathing.

     “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 12:3).

     Note that we are not to view ourselves “more highly than we ought,” which by implication means that there is a place for a somewhat high view of ourselves.  Certainly, God Himself thinks enough of us to redeem us from our sins rather than destroy us as a misbegotten and worthless race.  When considering the price He paid to do so, we must conclude that, again, we consider ourselves neither too highly nor too lowly.

      Much is lost in our Christian experience by either arrogance or a misguided humility that does not reflect Biblical teaching.  The former error we understand more clearly, because Scripture continually declares pride to be the prelude of failure and destruction.  The call to humility, however, challenges our understanding because humbleness of heart and mind fills the pages of God’s Word, providing the very ground upon which all of His graces are received and spiritually assimilated.   

     How then are we to view ourselves?  We will consider this vital matter over the next several days.  For now, let us simply propose that apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, we are all helpless, hopeless and lost.  By definition, however, the born again believer is not apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.  His presence and working on our behalf actualizes a humanity created by God, and purposed by Him for wondrous things in both time and eternity.   Understanding both aspects of our existence goes far in providing a proper perspective of ourselves and the life in Christ to which God has redeemed us.

“Without Me, ye can do nothing.”

(John 15:5)

“Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

(Galatians 4:6-7)