Post by Cindy on May 8, 2016 10:38:04 GMT -5
SELF-CENTEREDNESS: LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE
Sin cannot be understood or described without reference to self-centeredness. “The flesh” (Gal. 5:24; 1 John 2:16) is self-focused. Carnality is self-expression in behalf of your own interests.
The self is the unique gift of God to each person, the basis of individuality, the bearer of the divine image. But turned in upon itself, self becomes the source of temptation, the evidence of sin, and the obstacle to holiness (Rom. 1:28–31; 7:14, 15; Eph. 4:17–24; James 1:14, 15).
“Every evil thing” can be traced back to the desire to gratify self, whether envy, boasting, lying, wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, demonic” (James 3:14–16), or the many other descriptions of ungodliness in human behavior. This mind-set ultimately leads to destruction (Phil. 3:19).
Self-centeredness is a product of the will: We choose whether the center of our affections will be self or God (Matt. 6:24). When we trust God with our innermost being, then our wills also belong to Him, and His will becomes our motivation. Jesus describes self-denial as that state in which God has center stage (Matt. 16:24).
The Woman’s Study Bible.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16)
Christ is the example. As He laid down His life for others, Christians are to lay down their lives if necessary for the brethren. Death to self-centeredness is a reverse of the Fall, the restoration of the image of God and the corporate good (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14–15; Phil. 2:5–11; Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:21). Mankind, though created in God’s image and free from sin, chose to rebel against God. Although tempted by a supernatural agent, Adam and Eve were responsible for their willful self-centeredness. Their rebellion has affected humanity and creation. We are all in need of God’s mercy and grace both for our corporate condition in Adam and our individual volitional rebellion.
The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
Negatively, one must deny himself decisively (“deny” is an aorist imper.) saying no to selfish interests and earthly securities. Self-denial is not to deny one’s personality, to die as a martyr, or to deny “things” (as in asceticism). Rather it is the denial of “self,” turning away from the idolatry of self-centeredness and every attempt to orient one’s life by the dictates of self-interest. Self-denial, however, is only the negative side of the picture and is not done for its own sake alone.
Positively, one must take up his cross, decisively (“take up” is also an aorist imper.) saying yes to God’s will and way. Cross-bearing was not an established Jewish metaphor. But the figure was appropriate in Roman-occupied Palestine. It brought to mind the sight of a condemned man who was forced to demonstrate his submission to Rome by carrying part of his cross through the city to his place of execution. Thus “to take up one’s cross” was to demonstrate publicly one’s submission/obedience to the authority against which he had previously rebelled.
Jesus’ submission to God’s will is the proper response to God’s claims over self’s claims. For Him it meant death on the cross. Those who follow Him must take up their (not His) cross, whatever comes to them in God’s will as a follower of Jesus. This does not mean suffering as He did or being crucified as He was. Nor does it mean stoically bearing life’s troubles. Rather, it is obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word, accepting the consequences without reservations for Jesus’ sake and the gospel (cf. 8:35). For some this includes physical suffering and even death, as history has demonstrated (cf. 10:38–39).
In Jesus’ words, Follow Me, “follow” is a present imperative: “(So) let him keep following Me”. Saying no to self and yes to God is to continue all through one’s following Jesus (cf. Rom. 13:14; Phil. 3:7–11).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
Sin cannot be understood or described without reference to self-centeredness. “The flesh” (Gal. 5:24; 1 John 2:16) is self-focused. Carnality is self-expression in behalf of your own interests.
The self is the unique gift of God to each person, the basis of individuality, the bearer of the divine image. But turned in upon itself, self becomes the source of temptation, the evidence of sin, and the obstacle to holiness (Rom. 1:28–31; 7:14, 15; Eph. 4:17–24; James 1:14, 15).
“Every evil thing” can be traced back to the desire to gratify self, whether envy, boasting, lying, wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, demonic” (James 3:14–16), or the many other descriptions of ungodliness in human behavior. This mind-set ultimately leads to destruction (Phil. 3:19).
Self-centeredness is a product of the will: We choose whether the center of our affections will be self or God (Matt. 6:24). When we trust God with our innermost being, then our wills also belong to Him, and His will becomes our motivation. Jesus describes self-denial as that state in which God has center stage (Matt. 16:24).
The Woman’s Study Bible.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16)
Christ is the example. As He laid down His life for others, Christians are to lay down their lives if necessary for the brethren. Death to self-centeredness is a reverse of the Fall, the restoration of the image of God and the corporate good (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14–15; Phil. 2:5–11; Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:21). Mankind, though created in God’s image and free from sin, chose to rebel against God. Although tempted by a supernatural agent, Adam and Eve were responsible for their willful self-centeredness. Their rebellion has affected humanity and creation. We are all in need of God’s mercy and grace both for our corporate condition in Adam and our individual volitional rebellion.
The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
Negatively, one must deny himself decisively (“deny” is an aorist imper.) saying no to selfish interests and earthly securities. Self-denial is not to deny one’s personality, to die as a martyr, or to deny “things” (as in asceticism). Rather it is the denial of “self,” turning away from the idolatry of self-centeredness and every attempt to orient one’s life by the dictates of self-interest. Self-denial, however, is only the negative side of the picture and is not done for its own sake alone.
Positively, one must take up his cross, decisively (“take up” is also an aorist imper.) saying yes to God’s will and way. Cross-bearing was not an established Jewish metaphor. But the figure was appropriate in Roman-occupied Palestine. It brought to mind the sight of a condemned man who was forced to demonstrate his submission to Rome by carrying part of his cross through the city to his place of execution. Thus “to take up one’s cross” was to demonstrate publicly one’s submission/obedience to the authority against which he had previously rebelled.
Jesus’ submission to God’s will is the proper response to God’s claims over self’s claims. For Him it meant death on the cross. Those who follow Him must take up their (not His) cross, whatever comes to them in God’s will as a follower of Jesus. This does not mean suffering as He did or being crucified as He was. Nor does it mean stoically bearing life’s troubles. Rather, it is obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word, accepting the consequences without reservations for Jesus’ sake and the gospel (cf. 8:35). For some this includes physical suffering and even death, as history has demonstrated (cf. 10:38–39).
In Jesus’ words, Follow Me, “follow” is a present imperative: “(So) let him keep following Me”. Saying no to self and yes to God is to continue all through one’s following Jesus (cf. Rom. 13:14; Phil. 3:7–11).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
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