In the last BLOG (Humility 27) there was a beginning effort to show that William Law was correct in thinking that the religion of self, when carried on under the name of Christ, actually has more of a diabolical nature than the Jewish Pharisees. Matthew 23:23-33 was quoted to show how much Jesus disliked and even detested the religion and activities of the Pharisees. Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 were quoted to show that the words “synagogue of the Jews” is a phrase used by the resurrected Christ in telling John what to say to the churches. It can be argued that this strong phrase was being spoken of about those who called themselves Jews or it could be argued that this was actually about believers since Romans 3:28-29 says that the true Jews are those who are so inwardly. But either way, we see what a religion of self does. Even when it is being carried on under the guise of truth it is actually the work of Satan. All those who take the name of Christian on their lips and yet are without the truth of Christ in the soul are proud souls who have not been humbled. God does not dwell with the proud, but only with the humble.
“Therefore it must be added that a religion of self, carried on under the banner of Christ-whether it contend for Scripture doctrines or for worldly glory and prosperity-has more of a diabolical nature than that of the Jewish Pharisees. The highest and last working of the mystery of iniquity is this living for self, Satan, and the world under cover of a lip-profession of denying self, of being crucified with Christ, of being led by His Spirit, of being set with Him in heavenly places. Those who boast of their heavenly position in Christ, while living to self, stand in the fullest opposition to the gospel though they contend loudly in words for all orthodox doctrines.” (William Law)
Paul fought against the influence of works for salvation throughout the main portion of the New Testament letters. A form of Christianity that has substituted works in the place of true Christianity is without question the work of the devil. It is nothing but pride and the blindness of pride brought into religion that gives us such teaching and practices. It might sound arrogant to say, but those who preach such things are nothing less than the mouthpieces of the devil. But even worse, when those who are given to self hold to orthodoxy and yet essentially preach a religion of self, they are also mouthpieces and agents of the devil. Those who are closer to the truth and use it for selfish ends are, without real question, worse than those who do not pretend to be orthodox and yet serve self. The closer one is to the truth of Christianity and the more one takes that name to him or herself and yet serves self makes that person more diabolical. The more truth that one has and still uses for self is demonstrative evidence that the person has a very hardened heart. The truth that does not soften the heart will harden it.
The unforgivable sin has been debated, but at least some think it is coming to the point of recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah and still resisting that truth and not bowing to Him as Lord. Some think that this is the sin against the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6 is at least evidence that this as true:
“4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”
Those that the Spirit have enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift are those that have tasted the good work of God. In doing this they crucify the Son of God again (in some way) and put Him to open shame. So we can at least see that those who attend church, have the workings of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God is preached, are those that can be described at the ground that drinks in the rain and yields thorns and thistles. These are proud hearts that hear the Word of God and yet go on in their stubborn unbelief while deceiving themselves and others by professing faith in Christ. These are those that are religious and do plenty of good things but their hearts are hard against the truth of God and against grace alone. These are those that attempt to use the things of religion for self and selfish gain. They are no better than their daddy who is the devil who quoted Scripture and tried to use it for his selfish purposes in the temptation of Eve and then of Christ Himself. It is utterly diabolical to use the name of Christ and His Word for the purposes of self because that is exactly how the devil uses it also. Oh how our hearts need to be humbled and broken to properly use His Word.
God Loves... Himself 
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