Pride is a deadly spiritual enemy. Becoming proud is like ingesting poison. Never forget that pride comes before a fall! A glaring example proving pride comes before a fall is the devil himself. Ezek. 28:12-17 refers to the fall of Lucifer (and not just the king of Tyre). Before Lucifer's fall through pride, he:
- was an anointed cherub (singular for the angelic cherubim)
- was the model of perfect wisdom and beauty
Lucifer Became Proud Because of His Beauty
Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. (Ezek 28:17)
What a powerful truth for our day when physical beauty is so unjustly magnified.
Beauty queens and models, take heed -- pride comes before a fall!
Pride Comes Before a Fall Even For New Converts
Clearly, the fall of
Lucifer was a shocking event.
Pride changed an anointed angel into the devil! That same deadly sin -- pride -- can/will take down Christians too! Pride comes before a fall. Note Paul's dire warning about placing a new Christian into spiritual leadership:
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. (1 Tim 3:6)
For Timothy to violate that instruction and place a new convert into spiritual leadership would mean that Christian would be tempted with pride because of his position and potentially fall under the same condemnation as the devil! That truth is stirring reality and blows away the
once saved always saved myth. Here is how:
The Devil's Condemnation
(1)
The devil's condemnation is eternal fire in the lake of fire, where he will be tormented day and night for ever and ever:
Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Mat 25:41)
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:10)
That is where the former Christian, taken down by pride, will also go -- proving there absolutely is NO once saved always saved for him either! Pride comes before a fall -- a deadly fall. See also Mark 7:21-23.
(2) Since the former Christian, taken down through pride,
does not inherit the kingdom of God, then all of the pro arguments advanced for the
heresy of eternal security are neutralized immediately! 1 Tim. 3:6 is vital to consider when noting the
no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1), as also stated by Paul. The truth is,
there is only no condemnation if we remain in Christ, but we certainly can get out of Christ over various reasons, and be condemned.
Beautiful Lucifer Was Already In Heaven
Lucifer (which means morning star) was already in heaven and lost his salvation. There definitely was no once saved always saved for him. With Lucifer's fall in mind, Paul wrote about the danger of placing a new convert where he should not be!
That ultimate condemnation for any Christian who succumbs to pride illuminates Rom. 8:1. Pride comes before a fall.
Furthermore, the
seal of the Holy Spirit wouldn't protect such a new convert from the condemnation of the devil either!
The same is true about all of the so-called proof texts cited by OSAS wolves in sheep's clothing and misused, including the no one can pluck them out of my hand argument, given only for faithful followers of Jesus (Jn. 10:27,28)!
As Lucifer's heart became proud on account of his beauty, the new Christian would become proud over his spiritual position and influence. Both would have the same condemnation! The problem of evil is the issue, and pride coming before a fall remains a constant. God opposes the proud (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5), angelic or human.
What Is Pride
In short, pride is a puffed up distorted self-opinion because of something given or acquired. With Lucifer it came because of his model beauty (Ezek. 28:17), but it can also be through
knowledge (1 Cor. 8:1b) and/or
power, as with the new Christian in 1 Tim. 3:6. Resist pride! Pride comes before a fall and the
condemnation for its victims is the same as the devil's!
That includes weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Now you know what the bible says about pride.
OTHER TOPICS:
Skull And Crossbones Awards For False Prophets And False Teachers
Plan Of Salvation
Your View Of Scripture
The Real Blessed Mother of Jesus, Mary
Dave Hunt's Dangerous Misrepresentation Of Arminius
Prepare For Death
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