Originally Posted by
fibbermcgee
Paul remember "pride goeth before a fall." Also you might have some concern as to how God thinks of you.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
First you do not know how I started off, there can be no pride on my part, if you know what pride is.
All people have pride it is part of our life, but few can take pride in themselves, because everything we have comes from the accumulation of others.
I can take pride in my knowledge of electrical generation, but must take note that it is based on the progress made by others, and not exclusively on my achievement.
The same can be said of the faith, I base my faith on what is given and not on what I achieved in myself.
I have to acknowledge each and every individual in the Scriptures for their faith—that is why faith is a gift—the Creator gives us commands and we in faith obey these commands. So, without these commands we cannot have faith.
(1Co_4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else?
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? )
So, it is not pride in my achievements, but confidence in the faith.that I keep, as Paul the Apostle stated--
2Timothy_4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith. [
So we who love the Creator keep the faith, which is the giver of all things, including the faith that we keep.
(Rom_5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of
the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians_2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—)
So I am a defender of the true faith in Christ.( Jude_1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you
to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the Saints.
So I am about the original FAITH—not this substitute!!!