The Sin of Arrogance
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Definition and Nature:
Arrogance, often synonymous with pride, is a sin characterized by an inflated sense of one's own importance, abilities, or achievements. It is a disposition that elevates the self above others and, more grievously, above God. In the biblical context, arrogance is not merely a personality flaw but a spiritual failing that disrupts one's relationship with God and others.

Biblical References:
The Bible frequently addresses the sin of arrogance, warning against its destructive nature. Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This verse highlights the inevitable downfall that follows arrogance, emphasizing the spiritual and moral peril it brings.

In the New Testament, James 4:6 declares, "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" This passage underscores God's active resistance to the proud, contrasting it with His favor towards the humble, thus illustrating the spiritual consequences of arrogance.

Examples in Scripture:
The Bible provides numerous examples of arrogance leading to downfall. One of the most notable is the account of King Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel. In Daniel 4:30 , Nebuchadnezzar boasts, "Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" His arrogance results in God humbling him, demonstrating the divine response to human pride.

Another example is found in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee's self-righteous arrogance is contrasted with the humility of the tax collector, illustrating the spiritual blindness that arrogance can cause and the justification that comes through humility.

Theological Implications:
Arrogance is fundamentally a rejection of God's sovereignty and an assertion of self-sufficiency. It is a sin that distorts the created order, placing the creature above the Creator. Isaiah 2:11 warns, "The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day." This prophetic declaration points to the ultimate humbling of all human pride before the majesty of God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
From a moral standpoint, arrogance breeds discord and strife. Proverbs 13:10 notes, "Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised." Arrogance disrupts community and fellowship, as it fosters an environment of competition and division rather than unity and love.

Practical Application:
Believers are called to cultivate humility as an antidote to arrogance. Philippians 2:3 exhorts, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." This call to humility is not merely a personal virtue but a reflection of Christ's own character, as seen in His incarnation and sacrificial love.

Conclusion:
While the Bible does not explicitly list arrogance as one of the seven deadly sins, its pervasive presence and destructive consequences are evident throughout Scripture. The sin of arrogance is a barrier to spiritual growth and communion with God, necessitating a continual posture of repentance and humility before the Lord.
Subtopics

Sin

Sin Against the Holy Spirit

Sin Being Equal

Sin in Believers is a Reproach to the Lord

Sin is of the Devil

Sin is the Transgression of the Law

Sin Money

Sin Money: General Scriptures Concerning

Sin of Eli's Household

Sin Offering

Sin: A City of Egypt

Sin: Against Knowledge

Sin: Against the Body

Sin: Aggravated by Neglecting Advantages

Sin: All Men are Conceived and Born In

Sin: All Men are Shapen In

Sin: All the Imaginations of the Unrenewed Heart Are

Sin: All Unrighteousness Is

Sin: Attempt to Cover, Vain

Sin: Babylon

Sin: Besetting

Sin: Blessings Withheld on Account of

Sin: Christ Alone Was Without

Sin: Christ Was Manifested to Take Away

Sin: Christ's Blood Cleanses From

Sin: Christ's Blood Redeems From

Sin: Coming from the Heart

Sin: Confession of

Sin: Confusion of Face Belongs to Those Guilty of

Sin: Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children

Sin: Conspiracy

Sin: Dead Works

Sin: Death, the Punishment of

Sin: Death, the Wages of

Sin: Deceitful

Sin: Defiles

Sin: Defiling

Sin: Degrees In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: Counted In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: Manna and Quail Given In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: The Complaint for Bread In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: The People of Israel Journey Through

Sin: Disgraceful

Sin: Entered Into the World by Adam

Sin: Excludes from Heaven

Sin: Fools Mock At

Sin: Forgiveness of

Sin: Fruits of

Sin: God Has Opened a Fountain For

Sin: God is Provoked to Anger By

Sin: God is Provoked to Jealousy By

Sin: God: Abominates

Sin: God: Alone Can Forgive

Sin: God: Marks

Sin: God: Punishes

Sin: God: Recompenses

Sin: God: Remembers

Sin: Guilt of Concerning

Sin: If we Say That we Have No, we Make God a Liar

Sin: Ignorant

Sin: Israel's

Sin: Jealousy

Sin: Known to God

Sin: Leads to Disease

Sin: Leads to Disquiet

Sin: Leads to Shame

Sin: Like Scarlet and Crimson

Sin: Little Sins

Sin: Love of

Sin: Ministers should Warn the Wicked to Forsake

Sin: Murder

Sin: National, Punishment of

Sin: No Escape from the Consequences of

Sin: No Man Can Atone For

Sin: No Man Can Cleanse Himself From

Sin: No Man is Without

Sin: None in Heaven

Sin: Not Counted Against Righteous People

Sin: Often Manifold

Sin: Often Mighty

Sin: Often Presumptuous

Sin: Often Very Great

Sin: Omission of What we Know to be Good Is

Sin: Paul's Discussion of the Responsibility For

Sin: Pleasures of

Sin: Prayer Hindered By

Sin: Progressive

Sin: Punishment of

Sin: Reaching to Heaven

Sin: Rebellion Against God

Sin: Redeemed

Sin: Reproaching the Lord

Sin: Repugnant to God

Sin: Repugnant to Righteous People

Sin: Saints: Abhor Themselves on Account of

Sin: Saints: Ashamed of Having Committed

Sin: Saints: Cannot Live In

Sin: Saints: Dead To

Sin: Saints: Have Yet the Remains of, in Them

Sin: Saints: Made Free From

Sin: Saints: Profess to Have Ceased From

Sin: Saints: Resolve Against

Sin: Scripture Concludes all Under

Sin: Secret Sins

Sin: Separates from God

Sin: Shall Find out the Wicked

Sin: should be Abhorred

Sin: should be Avoided Even in Appearance

Sin: should be Confessed

Sin: should be Departed From

Sin: should be Guarded Against

Sin: should be Hated

Sin: should be Mortified

Sin: should be Mourned Over

Sin: should be Put Away

Sin: should be Striven Against

Sin: should be Wholly Destroyed

Sin: Sinfulness of

Sin: Sometimes Open and Manifest

Sin: Sometimes Secret

Sin: Specially Strive Against Besetting

Sin: The Abominable Thing That God Hates

Sin: The Egyptians

Sin: The Entangling

Sin: The Fear of God Restrains

Sin: The Fruit of Lust

Sin: The Ground Was Cursed on Account of

Sin: The Holy Spirit Convinces of

Sin: The Israelites

Sin: The Law by Its Strictness Stirs Up

Sin: The Law is the Strength of

Sin: The Law is Transgressed by Every

Sin: The Law: Curses Those Guilty of

Sin: The Law: Gives Knowledge of

Sin: The Law: Made to Restrain

Sin: The Law: Shows Exceeding Sinfulness of

Sin: The Sodomites

Sin: The Sting of Death

Sin: The Thought of Foolishness Is

Sin: The Unpardonable

Sin: The Wicked: Boast of

Sin: The Wicked: Cannot Cease From

Sin: The Wicked: Dead In

Sin: The Wicked: Defy God in Committing

Sin: The Wicked: Delight in Those Who Commit

Sin: The Wicked: Encourage Themselves In

Sin: The Wicked: Encouraged In, by Prosperity

Sin: The Wicked: Excuse

Sin: The Wicked: Expect Impunity In

Sin: The Wicked: Guilty of, in Everything They Do

Sin: The Wicked: Heap Up

Sin: The Wicked: Led by Despair to Continue In

Sin: The Wicked: Make a Mock At

Sin: The Wicked: Plead Necessity For

Sin: The Wicked: Servants To

Sin: The Wicked: Shall Bear the Shame of

Sin: The Wicked: Tempt Others To

Sin: The Wicked: Throw the Blame of, on God

Sin: The Wicked: Throw the Blame of, on Others

Sin: The Wicked: Try to Conceal, from God

Sin: The Word of God Keeps From

Sin: To be Hated

Sin: Toil and Sorrow Originated In

Sin: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To, Defining and Illustrating

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Cleanse Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Deliver Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Forgive Our

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Keep Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Make Us Know Our

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Search For, in Our Hearts

Sin: Whatever is not of Faith Is

Sin: when Finished Brings Forth Death

Sin: Works of Darkness

Related Terms

Sinai (38 Occurrences)

Lively (5 Occurrences)

Expired (29 Occurrences)

Mountain (298 Occurrences)

Mount (311 Occurrences)

Hill (217 Occurrences)

Sin (782 Occurrences)

Church (110 Occurrences)

The Sin of Amnon
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