Bible Commentaries

Acts 15:9

The three great outbreakings of selfishness in our unrenewed nature are: (1) Pride—the inordinate valuing of ourselves; (2) Covetousness—the inordinate valuing of created objects; (3) Self-indulgence—the inordinate valuing of that which created objects can bring us. From each of these justifying faith in Christ purifies our hearts. Take

I. Pride. This is setting up the honour of self above the, honour of God. It is self-worship, and refuses to recognise any righteousness but self-righteousness. Now watch the effect of justifying faith on this sin. What is the very prime object of faith? What do I receive into my heart if I realise Christ's work for me? Is it not this, that the mighty God, He who is higher than the highest, laid aside all His glory and came down into the depth of humiliation for me? If I love Christ, if I am changed into Christ, how can I be proud? how can I honour self, worship self? And accordingly we see that pride is the very first obstacle that must be cleared away before a man can believe on Christ. The life of faith is the death of pride.

II. Covetousness. The opposite of covetousness is the love which imparts to others. The very highest example of this love is He on whom justifying faith is fixed. If my inner regards are really fixed on Him who gave all He had, yea Himself, for me; if this blessed self-devotion of Christ be really apprehended in my heart; if I be really fused into and united with such a course as this, where is there room in me for covetous desires?

III. Self-indulgence. Has faith a charm to draw the eye from its desire—a gem before which the jewels of this earth are dull? Yes, for who is its object? Is it not He who has solemnly told us that none can be His disciple without daily self-denial? The Christian who lives by faith in Christ can and does enjoy in the best and highest sense the true delight of social intercourse, the true kindnesses of companionship; but the Christian who lives by faith in Christ cannot be a seeker of pleasure, cannot surrender his noble privilege of self-denial, in the bondage in which he sees the children of the world fettered. Faith is an enemy to self-indulgence no less than to pride and covetousness.

H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons, vol. iv., p. 206.

References: Acts 15:9.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxiii., No. 1350. Acts 15:11.—Ibid., vol. xiii., No. 765; Preacher's Monthly, vol. iv., p. 36. Acts 15:28.—J. J. S. Perowne, Sermons, p. 134. Acts 15:30, Acts 15:31.—R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons, 4th series, p. 31. Acts 15:36.—Homilist, vol. iv., p. 51; W. Adamson, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxxii., p. 163. Acts 16:1.—Preacher's Monthly, vol. viii., p. 309.