We are inclined
towards self-serving. This natural inclination is something we are born
with and it is something we are given an
opportunity to overcome- not on our own, but through another. We can do all
sorts of good on our own- good that helps others tremendously and seemingly
selflessly. Yet as long as we rely upon ourselves we are serving self through
this natural inclination inside of us. Many would argue that we are all there
is so we have to serve ourselves there is no other. We will help others as we
see fit- to indulge our self-worth, or to bolster our self.
The only way to rid
ourselves of our natural self is to surrender to another- to Christ Jesus our
Lord, our Savior. We must truly and wholly rely upon HIM to do all we cannot
do. Our worth must be in Christ's worth. Our natural inclination must be recognized
and once recognized- repented of. All through grace.
*******
'The Great
Controversy - Chapter XXX- Enmity Between Man and Satan
“I Will put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise
thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” [Genesis 3:15.]
The divine sentence
pronounced against Satan after the fall of man, was also a prophecy, embracing
all the ages to the close of time, and foreshadowing the great conflict to
engage all the races of men who should live upon the earth. God declares, “I
will put enmity.” This enmity is not naturally entertained.
When man
transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and
not at variance, with Satan.
There exists
naturally no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin.
Both became evil
through apostasy. The apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy
and support by inducing others to follow his example. For this reason, fallen
angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship.
Had not God
specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against
Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family
would have been united in opposition to God.
Satan tempted man to
sin, as he had caused angels to rebel, that he might thus secure co-operation
in his warfare against Heaven. There was no dissension between Himself and the
fallen angels as regards their hatred of Christ; while on all other points there
was discord, they were firmly united in opposing the authority of the Ruler of
the universe. But when Satan heard the
declaration that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between
his seed and her seed, he knew that his efforts to deprave human nature would
be interrupted; that by some means man was to be enabled to resist his power.
Satan’s enmity
against the human race is kindled, because, through Christ, they are the
objects of God’s love and mercy. He desires to thwart the divine plan for man’s
redemption, to cast dishonor upon God, by defacing and defiling his handiwork;
he would cause grief in Heaven, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And
he points to all this evil as the result of God’s work in creating man.
It is the grace that
Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan.
Without this
converting grace and renewing power, man would continue the captive of Satan, a
servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates
conflict where hitherto had been peace.
The power which
Christ imparts, enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen
to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions
that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from
above.
The antagonism that
exists between the spirit of Christ and the spirit of Satan was most strikingly
displayed in the world’s reception of Jesus. It was not so much because he
appeared without worldly wealth, pomp, or grandeur, that the Jews were led to reject
him. They saw that he possessed power which would more than compensate for the
lack of these outward advantages. But the purity and holiness of Christ called
forth against him the hatred of the ungodly. His life of self-denial and
sinless devotion was a perpetual reproof
to a proud, sensual people. It was this that evoked enmity against the Son of
God. Satan and evil angels joined with evil men. All the energies of apostasy
conspired against the champion of truth. '
To be continued...
To be continued...
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