11. Love Ourselves?

The End Time Men
W.W. Fischer
Scriptures Referenced in This Chapter:
          (Follow the Scripture links if you want to study the Scriptures for yourself.)
Job 40:4 π Job 42:6 π Eccl. 1:14 π Isa. 5:21 π Isa. 6:5 π Lk. 14:26-27 π Rom. 5:6 π Rom. 8:7 π 2 Cor. 5:15 π Eph. 3:19 π Phlp. 2:7-8 π Phlp. 2:21 π Phlp. 3:3

We are not going to love like Jesus loves by loving ourselves.

We are looking for a way to love ourselves, to satisfy the self-life in us, which was meant to die. “The carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God.” ( Rom. 8:7 ) Our love is a selfish love; God’s love is totally sacrificial: “…In due time Christ died for (us) the ungodly.” ( Rom. 5:6 ) In order to duplicate this Godly love, we must decrease so the God-like love can increase in us. We are to love God will all our hearts and to forsake all we have in order to be God’s disciple. ( Lk. 14:26-27; top )

“…He died for all so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves but to and for Him who died and was raised again for their sake.” ( 2 Cor. 5:15 , Amp.; top)

“…(Jesus) stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave)… He abased and humbled Himself…” ( Phlp. 2:7-8 , Amp.; top) “…Put no confidence or dependence on what we are in the flesh…” ( Phlp. 3:3 , Amp.; top)

It is not ourselves that we are to love, but the Godliness implanted by God into us by being born-again by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. We can love the portion in our inner soul (being) that came from God via the new birth’s implantation by God’s Holy Spirit. However, everything that is not of God’s Spirit in us is fleshly and is to be abhorred. It is carnal and the carnal man is destined to die so “that you (we) may be filled with the fullness of God.” ( Eph. 3:19; top ) Then we can love as God loves, totally sacrificially, which is void of self-love.

Solomon, in spite of his great wisdom, great wealth, great accomplishments and exalted position, said concerning human endeavors, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” ( Eccl. 1:14; top )

Job’s exclamation when he realized God’s greatness and his own unrighteousness said, “…I am vile…” ( Job 40:4 ) and further said, “wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” ( Job 42:6; top )

Isaiah’s comment was, “I am a man of unclean lips” ( Isa. 6:5; top ), when he realized God’s Almighty status. Up until this time they had been completely self-righteous; their ego and pride had been their principle motivation.

Any ego-centered “Christian” message that feeds the selfish, carnal nature of man, has no place in the word or plan of God. This selfish type of message is totally alien to all standards of scripture and is the direct opposite of the character of Jesus.

“For all seek their own (good), not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” ( Phlp. 2:21; top )

“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight.” ( Isa. 5:21; top )

According to modern psychology and sociology, a robust ego is necessary for success in an ego-centric world, but in God’s social order the law of sacrifice, humility and self forgetfulness is totally supreme.

We are looking for a way to love ourselves because we need love as humans; however, human love is a poor substitute for God’s love.

God’s love produces an abundance of divine works, mainly:

He who loses his life shall save it; he who saves his life shall lose it.


10. Our Real Enemy π 12. Give, Give, Give
The End Time Men

I’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!

Site Panel π Home π MNQs π New Posts π Songs π Books π Series π Articles π PDFs
Scriptures π Greek Dictionary π Top 25 Scriptures π Top 50 Writings π Twisted Scriptures π Bible Bullets
Authors π Subjects π Titles π Links π Donations