Do It Your Self

"...Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD..." Job1:9-12.

"...For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom..." Matt 16: 26-28.

"... From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it..." Matt 16:21-25.

"...Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. ..." John 5:19.

"...So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do..." Luke 17:10

"...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God..."1 Cor 2:12.

"... For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.." Col 3:3-4.

"...Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
-- For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure..." Phil 2:12-13.

"...Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began..." 2 Tim 1:9.

Do-it-Yourself And Take-It-Or-Leave-It Religion

John Newton, the noted preacher and poet of the eighteenth century and author of the (now) popular hymn, Amazing Grace replied when asked who he thought had been the worst Pope that had ever lived. Newton answered: Pope "Self" - And so it is true - Self is a great ruler over the human ethos. Selfishness is a basic make-up of the human nature. The instinct of personal survival is strongly built into our human nature, even as it is in all the biological species of earth. It is pretty much true in Satan's half-lie, and from the human standpoint, as was stated by him in his temptation of Job during Job's trial: "...Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life..." Job 2:4. (See 1:9-12 also) This answer to God during His dealings with us will run through our (carnal) minds just as it did with Job's wife and others when Job was called as an example of patience and endurance of God's children under affliction and temptation. Satan, or that spirit of adversity that is of, and connected with the fallen nature of man is not (consciously) in harmony and agreement with the Divine Will and Purpose as we see illustrated so many times in the Holy Scriptures. Take for instance, the episode between Jesus and Peter that occured when Jesus plainly made known to His Disciples the fact that He would be taken by wicked hands of the Jews, and crucified and slain by the Roman authorities. The human nature in Peter was revolted by this revelation so much that he even began to rebuke and dispute with Christ Himself upon the subject; that which goes against the human ego and preconceived notions thereof is not easy to accept. We are all pretty much like the daughter in the TV commercial of a few year's back, who said to her mother in the kitchen "...Mother, I would just rather do it myself..."

The natural man is like that in religion - even as he is in human nature - "a do-it-your-selfer". Do It Yourselfers are admired in the natural world, and that with justification, and there is a whole facet of the business enterprise devoted to serving various types of do-it-your-selfers. In fact, even the present writer is pretty much a do it your selfer. I have by nature always been a gadgeteer and experimenter, and have probably wasted? some time and money upon these pursuits. Though do-it your-self works pretty good in the world, and is even part of that system that "makes the world go 'round", it is not a part of the guiding principles and teachings of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. The principles of vain-glory, self aggrandizement, personal ambition, desiring and striving to gain the preeminence, showing partiality among equals, following the monsters of envy, jealousy and pride are - in short the manifestation of all the "works of the flesh " and all these have been prohibited from a ruling position in the kingdom of Christ among His saints. Too, these principles (or lack of honest principles) are not acceptable among good men in general throughout the world, knowing that they are false, harmful and injurous to their fellowman, and contrary to that spirit of love and good will toward our fellow beings.

The children of God, called by grace to virtue and glory are forbidden to be led by the spirit "which is of man" to the extent they are overcome therein. Listen again to the Lord Jesus: "... And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can.
And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John..." Mark 10:35-41.

"...But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many..."Ver 42-45. Jesus's doctrine was very different from that "which is of man" upon this subject. The world of mankind in general teaches that you get "about as much out of anything as you put into it". In fact, there is a popular and (well received) axiom in the world that says "God helps those who help themselves" and is often quoted as being in the Bible - where it is not - In fact, if this teaching was in the Scriptures it would be contradictory to other teachings found there.
Help-yourself-religion was the doctrine of the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day, whom Jesus severally reprimanded for their hypocrisy, and again seems to be the leading teaching of the present day in religion. Most of their hypocrisy was founded upon this erronous belief and teaching. They consistently taught that all our blessings were predicated upon the merit and efforts of human works - even eternal life itself being thus based. This point is clearly illustrated in the incident of Jesus with the rich young ruler, who thought that eternal life was merited upon man's works, or a work that persons could perform of themselves; thus Christ uses this encounter in His Purpose of God to severely rebuke this young man (and with us also, when by nature we tend to think the same way, at least, at times)This rebuke came in the form of beginning to teach and show the young man (whom Jesus loved) that he was not able to do the least of those things which lead to life and salvation without the strength of Almighty God working in him to the place that God's children are brought off all trust in human strength and merit, and made to trust in the power of God alone in the work of salvation (and in everything else also), because - "...These things are impossible with man..." But all things are possible with God" - even those things that the "do-it-your-selfers can and will never get done in their do- it- your- self religion, though they put ever so much trust in (the doing of) these things. This would include any work such as repentence, acceptance, good works, etc., that is, anything that would be left to man's volition to comply with according to his own free will and abiity, as take-it-or-leave-it-religion always strives to teach.

Jesus did not teach a "earn-your-blessings" religion, but rather He taught the very opposite. This contrary doctrine was prevalent among the Jews, especially during the time that Christ made His earthly advent. Jesus taught that to seek a blessing predicated upon works that we perform at our option, and looking for and seeking a reward therein would expose us as having an ulterior or even sinister motive, and not an honest heart motivated by love alone. Paul taught the same. "...For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?..."1 Cor 4:7.
To my mind, Paul means here that a brother (or sister) has no foundation for boasting against another (of God's children especially) because this would imply that they had attained unto a (superior) status before God by their own efforts. If this is not the essence of what Paul teaches, then what does he teach? Grace makes no distinction between the brethren as far as the love and mercy of God toward them is concerned; although God has dispensed various gifts upon them according to His own Will, Did they obtain their calling by the gift of divine grace, or by how well they perform and "keep up the steam" so to speak. It seems to me that people that think in this legalistic way about the grace of God do not manifest a true and consistent appreciation for the gift of Divine grace, because they turn the wondrous grace of God toward His Own Elect people into nothing, and found the blessings and favor of God toward them as being predicated upon the desires of men.

Jesus taught that when you give or perform your "good works" to seek, ask for, expect - nothing again in return - at the same time He said your reward would be great. Is Jesus being inconsistent? God forbid. The inconsistency is always in us, His children who are slow to learn. But in this we have a legalistic nature about us that is of the flesh, thinking that we can earn the blessing and favor of God by our actions and efforts to please Him through our works (of righteousness.) Because of this, it seems that most cannot distinquish between a debt owed and a reward given. "...For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works..." Rom 4:3-6.
A reward is not a payment for services rendered as many would seem to teach. It is not a reward of debt, but of grace; God as a Gracious Giver gives more grace and "grace for grace" - He loads us with blessings so that He in His providence may further bless us. "...By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ..." Rom 1:5-7. This was not a new doctrine that Jesus orginated at the time He appeared in flesh. These were eternal truths that He brought to light, especially at this time, because the leaders of the people then, as now, had severely corrupted the doctrine of grace by erronous teaching that would tend to turn the grace of God toward His favored people into nothing. ".... For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them..."Psa 44:3.

Now "take-it-or-leave-it" and "you-get-as-much-out-of" (or perhaps a whole-lot-more-out than you put in)- as is so commonly believed and taught in our age of religion) -Although this religion is not the religion or teaching of the Lord Jesus. I purposefully term this "a religion" as such because salvation by the efforts, works and merits of the creature is the leading principle that seems to guide the teachings of religion of this day - though many times it is ironically encouched within the specious terminolgy of "grace", "salvation by grace", etc. Thus by such means "Grace or The Grace (Divine Favor) of God has become an hollow expression; and as it was in the days of Jesus when He declared unto them: "...This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men..."

We may justly glory before man (comparatively speaking) as man-to-man, but there is no glorying and boasting allowed in the creature before God as boasting in or glorying in their works performed - in anything. The spiritually applied religion of the Lord Jesus has excluded all boasting on the creature's work in the gift of eternal salvation. Back to the subject: In Luke 6:35 Jesus says "...But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil..." If our motive to good works are in order to earn the reward and we teach such, then we have in principle violated Jesus' teaching; for if I give with the motive or incentive of receiving as much, or perhaps much more than I give, I am hoping for something again in return based upon my giving. This is not Jesus' teaching upon the subject. If God is pleased to freely reward His children in the performance of their good works (that He by His Spirit works freely in them by His grace in their hearts - not for them - as a payment), I am not justified as teaching these things as in a relationship of them and their Maker as these things being meritorious on their part, but as being the reward of Divine grace as multiplied favors and blessings to them as His children to be as found as such. The relationship between Christ and His people is a relationship founded upon love. -Not a relationship founded in a mere legal way based upon buying and selling, and payments for services rendered. If we be the spiritual children of God, and the elect ones of His Own choice as the scriptures teach and our own hearts are led to feel and believe, we know these things are so. We would not want them to be otherwise. Jesus says that the servant abides not in the house forever. Why is this so? Because the relationship between a servant and a son or child is different.
A child enjoys and partakes of the privileges of the house of the father because of their inherent relationship founded upon love which is stronger than death and all other legal ties. With a mere servant it is not so; when his legal services and contracts have been consumated then the legal relationship between the servant and master ends, but the relationship between the father and child never ends, nor can it be severed because it is based upon firmer principles. If these things be true in nature (and they are) what hope we have in the surer foundation from which they are drawn, Jesus Christ yesterday, today and forever.

Again, Jesus emphasized through His doctrine (which is the doctrine of God) that the motives behind our works are very important in our relationship and peace with God and Truth, and it is not the actual performance of those works or "a work" that justifies us (by works) in the sight of God, but the faith (which is the gift of God) that brought about the execution of those (faithful) works. Thus, the Apostle James says:
"... But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only..." James 2:20-24.

Man in nature has such a strong proclivity to trust in his works as being meritorious (in the sight of God), that it is only through a thorn in their flesh, much teaching, trials, and sometimes (if God please) through chastisement of His children that they are finally brought off from their natural tendency and the spirit of legalism caused by the condemnation of sin that is in their flesh to trust in their works as being meritorious in God's sight - to trust in the glorious and freely sovereign gift of salvation by The Sole Grace or Divine Favor of God in Christ Alone. - They then in joy feel free and delighted to be justified by Grace (and not by works, you will observe) - both for time and eternity, though the motions of quilt, sin and therefore death still reside in their members. (See Rom 7 & 8 and Galatians)They then delight in the Law of God (that is written in their new heart in the newness of the Spirit), for the oldness of the letter which kills and brings them unto condemnation is now gone, so they can triumphantly say with Paul :

"... I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain..." Gal 2:20-21.
Though Jesus emphasized in His teaching or doctrine the motives of our works and not the mere or bare work itself, Many people in religious and other efforts produce many good and useful works in the world and in the professing church; but no works are acceptable to God in the worship of Him, except through the intercession of His Own Spirit which manifests obedience to His revealed will, and unless they are truly scantified in and through His Own Power and Name as the Sovereign God Who Rules in heaven and earth according to counsel of His Own will.
For God will accept no worship of Himself except that which He has explicity authorized, and wrought Himself; thus help-your-self-to-it religion went out the window. In proof of this, see Lev 10:1: "... And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace..." Lev 10:1-3.

"...LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name..." Isa 26:12-13. A Chaldean king of old learned a lesson from God concerning pride (undue glorying in man's works as such) and the record thereof was left for posterity and is contained in the Book called the Holy Bible:

"...All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee,
---Until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will..." Dan 4:38-42.

No doubt, it was through God's Own providence that this vain-glorying monarch had accomplished the things that he had, and become head of all the (known) world governments of his time; but God's dealings with him stands (or should stand) as a warning for future generations who would glory in God's blessings as being accredited to man himself - that man in pride may glory therein (as these productions being works of themselves, with no recognition of the sovereign Hand of God) is his error: Do not these same swelling statements of pride yet resound down to our own times throughout the world? "... That I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?..."

Pride has not only engulfed the secular world, but seems to also have played havoc throughout Christiandom as well. The spirit that produces and encourages pride in man is not of Christ. Have we forgotten that there are many spirits both of men and devils in the world? The believer is admonished to try the spirits whether they be of God's Spirit, or they be from another source: ".... Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world..."1 John 4:1.

The Apostle Paul, by Divine inspiration predicted these times. He was especially referring to religious pride, and not the ordinary kind common to all, as can be seen by his finishing statement in 2 Tim 3:5: "...This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away..." 2 Tim 3:1-5.

If persons love themselves and their own glory more than God and His Glory, they will fit the above description and all that follows - as Paul in his summation declares; Do not these Scriptures so much exactly fit the circumstances and conditions of our times? True religion of the Spirit of Christ does not exalt ones(self) in the estimation of their own power, goodness and merit, etc., but rather it makes them humble before God and causes them to debase themselves in their own sight before Him as Sovereign Creator in all things; but again, this is not so among those under consideration - they boast in their own abilities - They boast in their own inherent dignity as creatures of God and His supposed obligation toward them as such.They especially boast in the work of salvation as being a -take-it-or-leave-it proposition - That "God has done His part, now He has left the rest up to you.", thus exposing their legalism as only such. That glory that is properly due to Christ and God's Eternal Purpose they accrue and accede to themselves. They do this because they are lovers of themselves more than lovers of God and His Own Glory. Jesus says that he that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted. But these types have reversed the process as is usual for them. God has said that He would not give His Glory to another, nor His praise unto graven images. Religious times have changed (at least in the Western World) to the extent that people no longer bow down to literal or physical pieces of rock, wood, gold, silver and precious stones, but the principles of idolatry remain firmly fixed within the depraved faculties of fallen man - like some movies and TV shows, as listed in the credits and disclaimers at the end of the program: "The events depicted in this presentation are based upon a true story - only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." - It is the same comparison and analogy with the context of the present subject - only the names have been changed, everything else remains the same. The glory that is due to the worthy Jesus shall not be given to another, For when heaven and earth was searched, none but He was found worthy, (and therefore able) to open the Book and worthy to look thereon in the opening of those things that were eternally sealed in The Purpose of God in Him. When men in nature in and out of a religious profession are found to be "lovers of themselves", then we see that the times of these divine predictions are being fulfilled, which would include all of the gospel dispensation; but seems especially rampant in the present period.

"... And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea..." Matt 18:2-6.

To quote an humble and highly esteemed servant of the Lord from the past, Silas Durand:

"...It is the saddest of all conditions for a child of God to become convinced that he can do the things that he would. So far as he feels this to be true, that far he is from Christ, and from a knowledge of his constant need of him, without whom he can do nothing that is good. It is a serious error in a teacher to teach that any one of the Lord's people can do the things that he would. It is also a serious error in any one to decide how often a gospel truth shall be repeated, and when a point of gospel doctrine shall no longer be preached or written about.

The child of God who knows his own inability, and who feels his entire dependence upon the dear Savior, will be enabled to walk in all the ordinances of the Lord's house blameless, and this gospel walk he will count as an inestimable blessing bestowed upon him, and will give God all the praise for the desire and ability so to walk, and for the peace and comfort that are found in that blessed way...:

Humbly submitted for what God makes it worth to you,

O. Allen Bailey

Lord, help me now to find this day,
( For I so often go astray)
To seek the true, the narrow way;
Then Thy presence shall be my stay.

No continu'ing rest here I find;
Though I have left the past behind,
These present cares still weigh my mind,
And friends around remain so kind;

The good I would, I cannot do,
For sin has pierced me through and through;
Come soul, tell me, is it with you?
Who walk the narrow way here too.

I find no rest in what I do,
And so I'm found among the few
Where Christ alone their Rest is found,
For they can't rest upon earth's ground.

I greater righteousness I have
That from my sin will also save;
Though oceans over me may lave,
Christ still will be my healing salve.

Oh! what a peace is Christ to me,
Whose mercy daily makes me see
Of righteousness, I still have none,
But all is found in God's Own Son.

Then may earth's cares still weigh me down,
- May I not shun the world's great frown,
When for His Name I know reproach,
And on His Grace they would encroach;

In Love may I still speak the truth,
Though all around may grow aloof;
In patience may my soul press on
In Hope of that enduring home.

Copyright, Feb 2003,

O. Allen Bailey