Self-love
Because mankind is depraved, we naturally hate God and love ourselves. This is humanities default setting. Joseph Bellamy said that, “If we love God supremely, we shall live to him ultimately; if we love him with all our hearts, we shall serve him with all our souls; just as, on the other hand, if we love ourselves above all, then self-love will absolutely govern us in all things.”[1] Bellamy further wrote,
For although they pretend to love and worship God, yet it is not at all because he is God; though they pretend to pay divine adoration to him, yet it is not at all because he is a divine being; so that when they pretend to pay divine worship and adoration to God, it is merely from selfish consideration; from self-love, and for self-ends; there is no true regard to God, but all centres in self: so that self, indeed, is their idol, and the only God they serve; and their pretending to love and worship God is mere mockery.[2]
Self-love is complicated and wicked. Thomas Goodwin wrote, “When God was thrown out of man’s heart when Adam did sin, then self-love was next heir, and stepped up into the throne.”[3] Pride gives birth to self-love. Since sinful man loves himself, they seek their own best interest. This includes wanting to be delivered from judgment (self-preservation), desires the benefits of God and heaven, wanting material blessings, comforts, peace of mind, absence of trials and pain, and nothing inconvenient or undesirable (Phil. 2:21; Rom. 2:8; Jn. 6:15, 26). Ironically, this is the opposite of what biblical Christianity teaches. Christianity teaches and demands sacrifice, self-denial, and death to self (Matt. 16:24; Gal. 5:24; Rom. 6:11; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3; Rom. 12:1).
Self-righteousness
Legalism has always been a cancer that has infiltrated and destroyed from the inside out. As long as there has been humans, there has been self-righteous legalists trying to be good enough and earn God’s favor. The law is that terrible tempest that stirs up sin and blows strength into man in order to sin. But Christ, his grace, his gospel, calms the storm. He rebukes it and declares, “peace, be still.” Sinful man instead burdens itself with the commandments and tries to walk on water while keeping their eyes on self and their accomplishments. It cannot work; it will not work. “For by the works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight” (Rom. 3:20). “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness” (Tit. 3:5). “This is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works” (Eph. 2:8-9). See also Rom. 3:20; Col. 2:23; Tit. 1:15-16; 2 Tim. 3:5; Lk. 16:15; 18:19.
“As faith”, wrote Goodwin, “turns the commands of the law into gospel in a regenerate man’s heart, so conscience, in an unregenerate man, turns gospel into law.”[4] Thomas Brooks referred to formalists [legalists] when he wrote, “a formalist is more light than life, more notion than motion, more head than heart, more outside than inside, more leaves than fruit, more shadow than substance.”[5] This is a most dangerous sin because it appears right and we want to contribute or merit salvation or blessings. It is so easy to be legalistic. Anyone can make up rules and follow them and then look down on others when they don’t subscribe to or follow your laws. A self-righteous person is prideful and hypocritic.
Self-deception
One of the most frightening things imaginable is to be mistaken about salvation; not just mistaken but deceived. Because of sin and the depravity of human nature, we can be deceived into thinking that everything is alright. “If anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:3). It is possible to be deluded about being religious and whether or not we are sinful (Jm. 1:26; 1 Jn. 1:8).
Some may be deceived about the condition of their souls or where they will spend eternity. In Matthew 7:21-23 there are terrifying words spoken by the Lord to men that were deceived. They said all the right things and even had “religion”. But the one necessary things was missing, Jesus. He did not know these men. And what is most astonishing is that they thought that they knew him. They were sadly and regretfully misguided. This mistake cost everything, for they were condemned to hell.
Similarly, in Revelation 3:17 the church at Laodicea was also deceived. It appeared, at least from the outside, that this church had it all figured out. The Lord revealed something different. The Laodiceans were wretched, poor, blind, naked, and pitiable. They were lukewarm. What is troubling is the fact that they thought that all was well. Sin blinds men and tricks them into seeing what isn’t there. It can also sugar-coat or paint over what really is there.
In addition, man can be deceived about sin and its consequences (2 Tim. 3:13; Tit. 3:3). What is often the case is that man has a low view of sin and an even lower view of God’s holiness. We do not see sin for what it is: rebellion, malignant, anti-God, evil. As a result, sin is not so bad so it is not deserving of eternal punishment. Hell and God’s wrath are done away with. Predictably, this void is filled with the dribble and malaise of modernity. Man is elevated and deified, while God is stripped of his glorious attributes and humanized.
Another deception is confusion about the way of salvation. If God’s holiness, hatred for sin, and his wrath are discounted then the atonement and sacrifice of Christ are no longer needed. Mankind can essentially save himself- so they think. A man-centered, work-based religion is fostered around prideful and self-seeking, idolatrous infidels. There is only one rule: there are no rules. Anything goes, just don’t judge or push your religion on others. Follow the inner light and you will find happiness. Be true to yourself.
At times, people feel the need to invoke Christ. His name puts a legitimate spin on any erroneous teaching. Jesus becomes a mere tag-line akin to a celebrity advertising a below average product. Jesus, to these, is nothing but a genie to get what they desire or a skeleton key to open any door to eternal bliss. Hear the words of A. W. Pink,
With many they are willing for Christ to save them from hell, but are not willing for Him to save them from self... you must be saved on His terms, or not at all... many are never saved because they wish to divide Christ; they want to take Him as a Saviour, but are unwilling to subject themselves unto Him as their Lord... there are multitudes which are quite ready for Christ to justify them, but not to sanctify...many are willing for Christ to officiate as their Priest, but not for Him to legislate as their King.[6]
The scriptures are clear, there is nothing man can do to save himself. Jesus is the only way of salvation and it is always on his terms. He is Savior and Lord; he justifies and sanctifies; he is Priest and King. Let the reader meditate on Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-10, Tit. 3:4-5, and Romans 9:30-33.
Self-flattery
The Psalmist wrote, “he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated” (Ps. 36:2). Luke records the words of our Lord in chapter thirteen. These verses tell of men who did not see their sin. When they compared themselves to other sinners, they were not as bad. Jesus enlightened them; they too were sinners and needed to repent. If they remained unrepentant, they would likewise perish like those whom they discussed. Because man is deceived, self-righteous, and prideful they naturally flatter themselves in believing that they are forgiven and all is well with their souls. “Men are naturally prone to flatter themselves that their sins are not sins, when indeed they be; and that they are but small sins, when they are great and grievous... and they are apt to flatter themselves that they have grace when they have none; and that their grace is true, when it is but counterfeit; and that their condition is not so bad as others, when it is worse...”[7] Jonathan Edwards spoke to this, “some flatter themselves with a secret hope that there is no such as another world... that death is a great way off... they lead moral and orderly lives, and therefore think that they shall not be damned... that they are already converted.”[8]
According to Edwards, many flatter themselves into thinking that: death is far off, there is no judgment or hell, they are moral and live good lives, heaven and eternal blessing are deserved, and that they are saved and forgiven. This should not be a surprise, natural man is blind and ignorant of the things of God. Their thoughts are not on grace, forgiveness, eternity, the worth of their soul, the breaking of God’s laws, etc. They remain comfortable in there sin and stupor. Here they will stay until awakened in hell. Of course, it will be too late and they will have all the more reason to curse and blaspheme God.
[1]Joseph Bellamy, True Religion Delineated (Ames, Ia.:International Outreach, 1997), 23.
[2]Ibid. 76-77.
[3]Thomas Goodwin, “An Exposition of the First Chapter of The Epistle To The Ephesians” in The Works of Thomas Goodwin, 12 vols. (Tanski, 1996), 1:363.
[4]Thomas Goodwin, “The Work of the Holy Ghost In Our Salvation” in The Works of Thomas Goodwin, 12 vols. (Tanski, 1996), 6:261.
[5]Thomas Brooks, “London’s Lamentations” in The Works of Thomas Brooks, 6 vols. (Banner of Truth, 1980), 4:87.
[6]Arthur W. Pink, Studies On Saving Faith (Pietan, 2009), 28-29.
[7]Thomas Brooks, “Heaven On Earth” in The Works of Thomas Brooks, 6 vols. (Banner of Truth, 1980), 2:398.
[8]Jonathan Edwards, “Self-Flatteries: Or, The Vain Self-Flatteries Of The Sinner” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 2 vols. (Hendrickson, 2004), 2:218-219.
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