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Renew Your Understanding of Self, As Falling Short of the Glory of God
Bible study on sin and renewing the inner man.

Life is like playing organized sports. A coach does not always tell his team how great they are and that no one could ever beat them. The coach emphasizes weaknesses in addition to strengths. A coach renews his team at every practice improving upon short comings and increasing the team's level of play.

In Col. 3:10 renewed is in the past tense but denotes continuous action. We continuously renew our minds, putting away sin and striving unto perfection. Paul says to Christians: ". . . since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge . . ." (Col. 3:9-10). "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . ." (Rom. 12:2).

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). There is not one person on earth who is perfect - all have sinned. "Sin" is a verb meaning: to fail to attain or maintain a set standard, miss the mark, do actual or moral wrong; violate the will of God. "Fall short" is a verb meaning: fail to attain; and "glory" is a noun meaning: radiance, glory, honor, fame.

Who here has perfectly hit the mark of righteousness before God? Which one of us has attained to God's glory? Which one of us does not need God - His grace, mercy, and love?

I must be mindful of the fact that I am a sinner and that I fall short of God's glory. No, not that I knowingly commit sin every day, but that I never attain to the glory of God.

The apostle Paul says that he is chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). So, who here can say that he is better than the apostle? Should we not all say: "I am chief of sinners"? Is there any difference between me and anyone else? Paul says: "For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:22-23).

But herein lies what I call Christian pride. Those who believe that they are better than others become haughty, proud, and boastful. They believe that their sins are forgiven and that they have attained to a spiritual plane unattainable by most people. But with this attitude one falls because of pride. Paul says: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

The first principle is: Seek God. The second principle is: Renew Your Understanding of Self as Falling Short of the Glory of God. From a humble and sincere heart I seek to serve God to the very best of my ability. I realize that I fall short of God's glory and that I could never have a home in heaven except for God's grace. Hence, I renew myself day by day, seeking the things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, putting to death the flesh that I may serve God.

All of this is in hope of the coming day in which those who are found faithful to God shall be immortally arrayed in His glory - corruption putting on incorruption; mortality putting on immortality. It is in this hope that we rejoice (Rom. 5:2) awaiting the revealing of Christ on which day we will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:4).