The Only Difference is Forgiveness

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit…”

Why? Because our standing as sons and daughters of God has nothing to do with us; it has everything to do with God. If we are Christians it is because God saved us through Jesus Christ. If we are Christians it is because God’s Holy Spirit has convicted us of our sins and helped us to repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. It’s all God’s doing. It’s all God’s grace.

We are told by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Because salvation is all God’s doing, it would be silly for us to take credit for being Christian. That’s just embarrassing. We didn’t do anything to earn it. God did it all.

That’s why, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.”

“Rather,” we are told, “in humility value others above yourselves.” Because of all that God has done for us, in humility value others above yourselves. The word “value” there means literally to “count,” “think,” “consider.” Because of all that God has done for sinners through Jesus Christ, we who have been redeemed are to value, count, think of, consider others above ourselves.

Why? Because the primary difference between those who have been saved and those who have yet to be saved is forgiveness. We are forgiven. Those who have yet to be saved are yet to be forgiven because they have not repented. We are no better than anyone else. As a preacher once said, “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar to find bread.”

That’s what we’re doing when we tell others about Jesus. We are telling others how to find forgiveness.

So, “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”