(Romans 5:6-10)(Romans 5:6-10)

IntroductionIntroduction• In our previous lesson, we saw that

“Spiritual Growth Is A Choice”. 1. Commanded by God (2 Peter 3:18) 2. Requiring diligent effort (Phil 2:12) 3. Assisted by God (Philippians 2:13) 4. Blessed by God (2 Peter 1:8-11)

• Yet, many Christians do not reach their potential for spiritual growth…

• Poor self-esteem is a major hindrance to spiritual growth.• We make excuses for not

trying.• We often give up before we

make progress.• On the other hand, spiritual

growth greatly enhances self-esteem.

• As we grow, our achievements encourage us to do more.• As we grow, we gain

confidence that we are on the right track.

SELF-ESTEEM AND THE CHRISTIANSELF-ESTEEM AND THE CHRISTIAN• Self-esteem and self-image

are closely related, they are based mostly on

feedback during childhood.

• Feedback may come first from others (parents,

peers, other important figures).

• But then reinforced by our own self-talk (what we tell

ourselves).

SELF-ESTEEM AND THE CHRISTIANSELF-ESTEEM AND THE CHRISTIAN• Healthy self-esteem is

enhanced by childhood experiences that include:

• Being praised.

• Being listened to, being spoken to respectfully.

• Getting attention and hugs.

• Experiencing success in sports or school.

• Having trustworthy friends.

SELF-ESTEEM AND THE CHRISTIANSELF-ESTEEM AND THE CHRISTIAN• Childhood experiences that lead

to low self-esteem include:• Being harshly criticized, • Being ignored, ridiculed or

teased.• Being expected to be “perfect”

all the time.• People with low self-esteem

were often given messages that failed experiences (losing a game, getting a poor grade, etc.) were failures of their whole self.

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Pr. 23:7).

There are many Christians that are not growing the way that they should, because of the simple fact that they have extremely low self esteem!You need to recognize who you are, in order to mature and to grow as a Christian!I cannot do it, I am not good, let others do it etc, are simple excuses that Satan comes and sow among us!

Those who have low self esteem will likely be critical of themselves & think they can’t do anything right.

But those who think too highly of themselves will likely be arrogant, boastful, and conceited.

The Bible warns against both extremes.

What is the proper basis of self esteem?

We will examine what the Bible says it is, along with some silent assumptions that distort how we should rightly view ourselves.

Biblical Basis for Self Esteem We are not valuable because of

who we think we are, but because we were created in God’s image (Gen 1:26-27)

The Psalmist praises God for the magnificence with which he was made (Psalm 139:13-14).

Even though we all have sinned, God sent His Son to purchase our redemption, even though we were unworthy (Rom. 5:6-10).

But instead of the Biblical basis for self esteem, we are greatly influenced by worldly ideas.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,

according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,

over all the earth and over every creeping thing that

creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own

image; in the image of God He created him; male and female

He created them.

13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and

wonderfully made;Marvelous are Your

works,And that my soul knows

very well.

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died

for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet

perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God

demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we

shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were

enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been

reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

“I Must Be Approved by Others” Any criticism or complaint that they

receive is taken as a personal rejection of themselves.

They try to please others & not offend anyone.

We should seek to be approved by others in what’s right (parents, spouse, teachers, employers), but that can’t be the total basis of our feelings, or we’ll be miserable.

Was the apostles’ self esteem based upon the approval of men, or of God (1 Cor. 4:9-13)?

If everyone approves of you –look out! (Luke 6:26)

9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last,

as men condemned to death; for we have been made a

spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are

fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak,

but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are

dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And

we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat.

We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of

all things until now.

26 Woe to

you when all men

speak well of you,

    For so did their

fathers to the false prophets.

Bible: Seek First to Please God Because the apostle Paul sought to

please God first, he rebuked the Galatian brethren (Galatians 1:8-10).

But the rulers compromised what they knew was right, because they loved man’s approval more than God’s. (John 12:42-43)

Are you seeking to please God first or man? If you are motivated to please man over the Lord, you can’t serve Him & aren‘t worthy of Him (Matt. 10:34; Jas. 4:4).

The world hates the righteous (Jn. 15:18-20) so you won’t be able to please them unless you’re a hypocrite.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach

any other gospel to you than what we have

preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you

than what you have received, let him be

accursed.10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not

be a bondservant of Christ.

42 Nevertheless even among the

rulers many believed in Him, but because

of the Pharisees they did not confess

Him, lest they should be put out of

the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of

God.

34 “Do not think that I came to bring

peace on earth. I did not come to

bring peace but a sword.

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of

the world makes himself an enemy of God.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If

you were of the world, the world would love its own.

Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore

the world hates you. 20 Remember the word

that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than

his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will

also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will

keep yours also.

“My Self Worth = My Net Worth” How many people think that their life consists of their

assets? Their worth is the sum total of their job, stocks, money,

house, and possessions. Those who don’t have much want to get rich – 82%

according to Pew Research Poll in 2007. Many have lost their jobs, houses, and had to give up

some of their possessions in the recession. Jesus taught that our life does not consist of what we

possess (Luke 12:15).

Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Bible: Store Up Treasures in HeavenSolomon learned that riches do not

satisfy; instead, they leave you empty and depressed (5:10-12)

Those who want to get rich end up drowned in debt with a bankrupt faith & anguished souls (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

Are you storing up riches on earth or in heaven, which won’t corrupt or be stolen (Mt. 6:19-21; Eph. 2:7)?

“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26; Luke 12:16-20)

5:10-12 He who loves silver will not be satisfied

with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is

vanity. 11 When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners

Except to see them with their eyes? 12 The sleep

of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the

abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

1 Tim 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall

into temptation and a snare, and into many

foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in

destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which

some have strayed from the faith in their

greediness, and pierced themselves through with

many sorrows.

6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves

treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where

thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also.

6:26 For what profit is it to a

man if he gains the whole world, and

loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for

his soul?

Conclusion Modern psychology wants you to focus on yourself

for the source of your happiness without God or guilt.

The Bible refutes this philosophy. Jeremiah said, “I know O Lord that a man’s way is not in himself. It is not in a man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23).

We have great value because we have been created in the image of God and were redeemed by His Son.

If you obey the gospel, you can be free from the guilt and burden of sin through the precious blood of Christ.