A saved person feels the crushing weight of sin upon his heart and mind. The Holy Spirit's power to convict causes him to repent in tears, understanding that outside of the Lord's mercy and grace ... he is without hope.
But the man whose religion is 'egocentric'; refuses to humble himself. We witness this dichotomy in the following passage ...
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner".
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 18:10-14
Pride chains the sinner to his sin. When a man arrogantly ignores his inability to satisfy the moral laws of God and goes about establishing his own standard of righteousness ... the terms of salvation are corrupted.
Without Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice, the soul is lost for eternity ...
A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down, but he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29:23
The throne of grace awaits you, repentant sinner ...
A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17
J. Stewart Perowne - We might have expected Him to say, a 'joyful heart', or a 'thankful heart', but instead of that he says, a 'broken and contrite heart'. The joy of forgiveness does not banish sorrow and contrition for sin: this will still continue. And the deeper the sense of sin, and the truer the sorrow for it, the more heartfelt also will be the thankfulness for pardon and reconciliation.
Brokenheartedness over sin is not to be seen as a lack of faith ... but that which draws you ever nearer to God.
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