(Thank you to Iffany for use of her picture.)

In my Bible study last week, we were asked in one of the questions to reference a page in the back of the John MacArthur Study Bible for a reference to use as a resource to answer this question,

“What does saving faith look like in the life of a believer?”

That page is titled: “The Character of Genuine Saving Faith“. Three lists were given, but the one that showed true salvation listed the following as evidence of salvation and gave many scriptures to back it up.

Here’s that list:

1. Love for God.
2. Repentance from Sin.
3. Genuine Humility.
4. Devotion to God’s Glory.
5. Continual Prayer.
6. Selfless Love.
7. Separation from the World.
8. Spiritual Growth.
9. Obedient living. (See John MacArthur Study Bible)

As I looked up the scripture references, when I got to number 7 — “Separation from the World“— one of the scriptures listed was 1 John 2:15-17 which says:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (NIV)

I know what pride is, but what is the pride of life?? So I went to …

Got Questions

This is what I found out.

“The phrase ‘pride of life’ is found only once in the Bible, but the concept of the pride of life, especially as it is linked with the ‘lust of the eyes’ and the ‘lust of the flesh,’ appears in two more significant passages of Scripture—the temptation of Eve in the Garden and the temptation of Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4:8-10)…. The pride of life can be defined as anything that is ‘of the world,’ meaning anything that leads to arrogance, ostentation, pride in self, presumption, and boasting.”

In Eve’s circumstance the forbidden fruit appealed to her appetite – “the lust of the flesh- which satisfies physical needs. It also was pleasing to the eye and caused a desire to possess which covers “the lust of the eyes.” And, it would give her a wisdom beyond her own. Got Answers ends this section with: “Here is the essence of the pride of life—anything that exalts us above our station and offers the illusion of God-like qualities, wherein we boast in arrogance and worldly wisdom.”

When Satan tempted Jesus, He went after him with these three tactics:

1. Lust of the flesh: Jesus was hungry for the bread.
2. Lust of the eyes: all the kingdoms of the world could be His.
3. The pride of life: throw Himself off the temple and it would prove He was the Messiah “by an ostentatious display of power that was not in the will of God or His plan for the redemption of Mankind.”

Jesus passed His test. Mankind did not.

Got questions says that Satan hasn’t changed his methods because they work.

He tempts us with:

• Lust of the flesh: sexual gratification, gluttony, excessive alcohol consumption, drugs….

• Lust of the eyes: “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21). And, Satan tempts us with “the endless accumulation of ‘stuff’ with which we fill our homes and garages and the insatiable desire for more, better, and newer possessions, which ensnares us and hardens our hearts to the things of God.”

But…

“… his most evil temptation is the pride of life, the very sin that resulted in Satan’s expulsion from heaven. He desired to be God…” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

“… the pride of life motivates the other two lusts as it seeks to elevate itself above all others and fulfill all personal desires. It is the root cause of strife in families, churches, and nations…. it is the arrogance that separates us from others and limits our effectiveness in the kingdom.” It keeps us from serving God and makes us our own gods.

But there is a happy ending — in verse 17 of 1 John 2 — these desires pass away (YAY!) —and— “whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

So… what do we do?

• Make sure we show the fruit of salvation by going through the nine things listed in John MacArthur’s, The Character of Genuine Saving Faith.
• Look for ways to escape the temptations because God will prepare a way out. See 1 Corinthians 10:13
• Submit to God. Resist the devil. Come near to God. See James 4:7
• Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. See Matthew 26:41
• Flee youthful lusts. Pursue righteousness. See Timothy 2:22

And…

“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” Philippians 2:12b-13 (NIV)

Have a great week!