I’ve been reading a little booklet entitled, Am I Really A Christian?
The author, Thomas Boston, explains eight common reasons that believers may doubt the genuineness of their conversion.
Here’s DOUBT #6: “Comparison to others”
“My life falls so far short of the standards of the great saints of the Bible and of the excellent Christians that I know personally. When I look at them, I can hardly stand to look at myself in comparison. How can I claim even to be in the same family with such saints?”
Have you ever felt that way?
“Answer: We can see a measure of grace and holiness in this life that we should have, but cannot ever reach. This should humble us. It should also make us press all the more vigorously toward the mark. The devil wants weak Christians to be tortured by comparing themselves to strong Christians (2 Corinthians 10:12). To give in to this temptation would be like a child doubting his relationship to his father because he is not the same height as his older brother. It is irrational! There are saints of various sizes in Christ’s family. Some are fathers; some are young men; and some are little children. (1 John 2:13-14).”
The two passages mentioned in Boston’s comments shed much light on this topic.
Paul wrote about the foolishness of comparing ourselves to others:
“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”
2 Corinthians 10:12
And John provides a helpful picture of the various levels of spiritual maturity among believers:
“I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.”
1 John 2:13
A word
to the wise
from the Word
is sufficient.
I thank God for his straightforward advice on the foolishness of comparing myself to others.
To get a free copy of Am I Really A Christian: Eight Doubts Answered, visit:
https://www.chapellibrary.org/book/aira/am-i-really-a-christian-bostonthomas
NOTE: This booklet contains selected sections from Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, by Thomas Boston, modernized for easier understanding by today’s reader. Jeffrey T. Riddle, pastor of Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, provided the abstraction and modernization. Copyright 2015 Chapel Library. www.ChapelLibrary.org
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