Lost Doctrines Christ Life for Self Life

In a society that spends millions of dollars to advertise self-empowerment products and services, it's not surprising to see this philosophy spill over into our churches. That's why books on self-improvement become Christian bestsellers. But is this a good thing? Does this philosophy go against the biblical truths of being a Christian? We are in our study today, friends, of lost doctrines of the church, and today we'll cover the lost doctrine of the Christ life for the self-life.

In Philippians chapter 2, beginning in verse 6, we read, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. This striking passage of scripture is often used as the reference for Christ emptying himself.

J. Sidlow Baxter used to say, How can a man, full of himself, preach to Christ, who emptied himself? When one goes through the word of God, one soon discovers that the Christian life is a life of death to self, with Christ living within. It's the Christ life for the self-life. The apostle Paul knew full well what the Christ life was when he wrote Galatians 2.20, which states, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.

In 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. We see this grand theme throughout scripture of the self-emptying process. The Christian life is not about self-improvement, self-empowerment.

That's a man-centered gospel, a man-centered message. The Christian life is a God-centered gospel, and a Christ-centered message. It's about the exchanged life, where self goes, the way of the cross, and Christ lives within.

Listen, friend. Self must be dethroned, and another enthroned there, the Lord Jesus Christ. I highly recommend a book to you, written by F.B. Meyer, entitled The Christ Life for the Self-Life.

In this little jewel of a book, F.B. Meyer writes, the curse of the Christian is that self is our pivot. It is because Satan made self his pivot that he became a devil. The philosophy of the Bible is to do away with self and to make Christ all in all.

Well, that's so true, friends. The modern church today needs power because she lost her authority with society. By conforming to the world, we need to recapture the doctrine of the Christ life for the self-life.

If we truly want power and influence for God, self-emptying is a painful process few wish to engage. We see this principle in the life of Moses. Listen to this comment by F.J. Hegel.

For 40 years on the lonely slopes of Midian, the fiery Moses is schooled. There were graves, if I may so speak, scattered all over the mountainside, where hope after hope was buried until at last self went down in utter annihilation. Well, I like that quote, friends, because it demonstrates God's activity in the life of a servant, preparing him for the great work that lays before him.

Oftentimes, God will place a servant of his in a great adversity or time of testing to prepare that person for a deeper influence for God as a means of blessing to others. I believe the Puritan Thomas Watson was right when he made this following observation. Some are designed and cut out for higher service to be eminently instrumental for God, and these must have a mightier work of humiliation pass upon them.

Those whom God intends to be pillars in his church must be more who? Paul, the prince of the apostles, who was to be God's ensign bearer to carry his name before the Gentiles and kings, was to have his heart more deeply lanced by repentance. Listen, friend, if you're going through a trial, God may be using that to make you more fruitful for him. His ways are not our ways.

His ways are higher than our ways, but usefulness is found in the Christ life for the self life. Remember this. God builds his servants through his divine process of reducing and decreasing.

Gold must be reduced to its purity in the furnace of affliction. A branch must be pruned back and decreased before it can bear more fruit. If we desire greater usefulness to God, then we must submit to both the refiner's fire and the divine pruning knife.

We must be made willing to be reduced to nothing so Jesus can be everything in us. Well, I hope this little message has been helpful to you, friends. I will say this.

When the silversmith has the silver in the fire, he never once takes his eyes off the silver.