We have been exploring a statement of William Law’s in reference to the utter need of humility. A devout believer in profession at least and yet without true conversion may be in the commission of the most vile sins that can be committed. When a professing believer does all his or her religious acts in the service of self, whether in the desire for fame and riches or just doing it for the idol self, this is diabolical. It is wickedness beyond what the human mind can conceive to profess to be crucified with Christ while indeed crucifying Him again with sin (Heb 6:6; 10:29). It is to bring Christ to open shame when this is done (Heb 6:6).
“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)
Apart from humility Law says those who contend loudly for orthodox doctrine are really standing in the fullest opposition to the gospel while they are contending for the doctrine of the gospel. We can see this in Judas who was sent out by Christ with the other disciples to preach, yet later on he was the one that denied Christ in full opposition to the gospel of Christ. Though Peter repented after he denied Christ, yet he was loud in his boasting that he would follow Christ anywhere and even to death just before he denied Him. Someone said years ago that a person that has not denied self will sooner or later deny Christ. We see this throughout Scripture. As long as self is on the throne whether in profession of Christ or not, Christ will be denied in reality.
In the great display and example of humility Jesus humbled Himself to take human flesh (Phil 2:5-11), and He then humbled Himself to go to the cross. Jesus was not born with a sinful nature and so He was not full of pride to be humbled, and yet He still humbled Himself. Humility is opposite to pride, but even in a perfect man (Jesus) who was without pride He still humbled Himself. He who was worshipped in heaven day and night without ceasing humbled Himself and while on earth girded Himself with a towel and washed the feet of the disciples. He who lived in perfect and unceasing love in the Trinity humbled Himself and was hated and despised by men while on earth. He who was life itself humbled Himself and gave up His life on the cross. He who could know no pain or suffering humbled Himself and went to the cross to endure agony and suffering that no human can understand. He who was and is absolutely sovereign over all humbled Himself and put Himself in the hands of men. He who was and is perfectly holy humbled Himself and took the sins of sinners upon Himself. He who was and is Truth itself humbled Himself and was ridiculed and called crazy and a liar. He who was obeyed perfectly by the angels in heaven humbled Himself and obeyed His Father in heaven perfectly even in going to the cross.
The Lord Jesus Christ was perfect in humility and it is a mockery to think that He lives in human souls without working that humility in them. Sinful human beings don’t just deny Christ with their mouths, but they also deny Him with their lives, loves, and intents. All those born dead in sin and trespassed deny Christ every moment in some way until they are regenerated, but those who profess Christ with their lips and yet live like the devil in living for self and trying to use Christ and His Word for self are much worse. Luke 12 points to this:
47 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
Those who know more will receive more punishment because they have sinned against knowledge. Those who know more are truly more selfish in their denial of Christ in the embracing of self. Those who know more deny more of Christ while being filled with self even more. Those who know more about Christ and profess Christ bring Him to ridicule in the sight of others even more. It is a wicked thing to study the humility of Christ and see His perfect life of humility and then to live in pride. It is a wicked thing to see Christ on the cross and then crucify Him before others in a sense with a wicked life. Without humility our religion and works are nothing but diabolical.
God Loves... Himself 
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