First Resurrection
I received a great question from a good friend about something I taught last Friday in a message called "Rapture of the Elect". I'll post the message below, if you are interested.
I appreciate questions very much.
Here is the question:
Question: Would you give me the scriptures that say confessing our sins publicly is a prerequisite for the first resurrection? Revelation 20:4-6 is pretty clear on who qualifies.
(Revelation 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.)
My Answer:
I wasn't saying public confession of sin was a prerequisite, although public confession of sin, if we put all the passages together, is clearly part of the prerequisite, which is getting clean before the Lord as a leader.
The first resurrection is for those who will rule and reign....will be Kings and priests, or leaders, forever. Not everyone, according to Rev 20:5, will experience this. Over and over in the New Testament we hear about not losing our crowns, or our place of leadership. Here is one of several examples:
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Not all believers will lead, and not all will take part in the first resurrection. This has to do with "not loving one’s life, even to death". In Hebrews we hear about the "better resurrection" and how to get it:
Hebrews 11:32-40 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: (33) who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (36) Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. (37) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— (38) of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, (40) God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
All of these are leaders. All of these are part of that great cloud of witnesses that showed us how to live in faith. They all had failures we know about. Think of Moses, Daniel, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Rahab, among many others...we know of the private and public failures. This is part of their testimony. They were willing to endure shame that you and I might find our way to the cross, as well.
The Bible is clear that we can’t just "tell people to repent" (in fact, this is one of the main problems with the modern western church), but WE need to REPENT as leaders, first. Picture Daniel in Babylon...probably to most righteous, but as a leader he is the only captive we get a record of his public repentance.
The testimony of the Bible is that we lead by example 1 Peter 5:1-4
1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: (2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; (3) nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; (4) and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
James 5:16 tells us to confess your trespasses to one another as part of overcoming sickness:
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
To overcome, we need to get holy and pure. This is the basic description of the Bride. She is robed in righteous acts (Rev 19:8). We find out from Matthew 22 that without this robe of righteousness, we are removed from the 1st resurrection, or the wedding feast of the lamb:
Matthew 22:12-14 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. (13) Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (14) "For many are called, but few are chosen."
This doesn't mean a person is "unsaved" it means they are not a leader in the 1,000 year reign of Jesus. Many will be subjected to a different judgment (Rev 20:11-15). The first resurrection subjects a person to the Bema seat, or the judgment seat of Christ where rewards are given. Paul, AFTER being "saved", worked hard to attain this resurrection, too!
Philippians 3:7-15 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (8) Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (11) if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
There came a point where Paul knew he had attained this:
2 Timothy 4:5-8 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (6) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
To be a LEADER..to take part in the first, or "better," resurrection...isn’t about being a pastor, apostle etc...taking titles....in fact, it is QUITE different than that.
It is about leading others, as a servant, in getting ready to be joined (married, as the Bible describes the whole company of people who choose this) to Jesus. This requires reaching for purity and spotlessness in a way that gives vision for OTHERS to do it. That is what makes a person a real leader. The testimony of our repentance is what leads others (the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, Rev 19:10) .....the testimony is what makes us a leader.
Rev 12 tells us we overcome (not just sickness) as in James 5:16, but the devil himself by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony!
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
The blood of the lamb talks about the cleansing of our sin.
The word of our testimony relates to testifying about our cleanliness by Jesus. That is how the devil is overcome: by our repentance. When we get clean before the throne, the devil literally runs out of accusations. Jesus literally told us this in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:25-26 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. (26) Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Jesus paid for me to be totally clean, but I have to actually agree that I need it! If I have done this...agreed that the accusations against me are legitimate and then talk to Jesus about it and let Him cleanse me....If I have done this and it has worked, LOVE requires I testify about some of it. This is what makes a person a leader. Not loving their lives, even unto death. Part of loving our lives is loving our reputations more than people getting free.
Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (14) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Revelation 12 tells us that the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony is part of "not loving our lives even to death!"
The point of my message on Friday night was highlighting what the Bible says it means to be elect, or chosen, for leadership forever. That kind of greatness requires a heart to serve others primarily by being like our Shepherd, who endured shame on a cross that we might live...then he told us to pick up our own cross and follow Him.
Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. (21) And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." (22) But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." (23) So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." (24) And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. (25) But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. (26) Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (27) And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
That is what every writer in the Bible did. Many of them we know their secret sins only they could know, like Elijah running to a far away mountain to be chastened by the Lord, or Moses at the Burning bush, or David's many Psalms where he pours out before us his secret confessions so we might do the same.
Hebrews 12:1-8 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (4) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. (5) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; (6) FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." (7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
This is what it means to be the elect.
If we did this, the world would be given a witness of how to follow Jesus, but as long as we point our finger and speak wickedness...telling the world to repent when we won't do it before them, we lead no one to the place where all shame is taken away and a white robe is given.
But, good news! Some will come out! Some will lead. A MULTITUDE will follow. They, and those who lead them, will be raised to the Lord at His coming!
Revelation 7:9-17 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (10) and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (11) All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (12) saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" (14) And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15) Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. (16) They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; (17) for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Luke 18:9-14 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (10) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' (13) And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."ok
I appreciate questions very much.
Here is the question:
Question: Would you give me the scriptures that say confessing our sins publicly is a prerequisite for the first resurrection? Revelation 20:4-6 is pretty clear on who qualifies.
(Revelation 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.)
My Answer:
I wasn't saying public confession of sin was a prerequisite, although public confession of sin, if we put all the passages together, is clearly part of the prerequisite, which is getting clean before the Lord as a leader.
The first resurrection is for those who will rule and reign....will be Kings and priests, or leaders, forever. Not everyone, according to Rev 20:5, will experience this. Over and over in the New Testament we hear about not losing our crowns, or our place of leadership. Here is one of several examples:
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Not all believers will lead, and not all will take part in the first resurrection. This has to do with "not loving one’s life, even to death". In Hebrews we hear about the "better resurrection" and how to get it:
Hebrews 11:32-40 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: (33) who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (36) Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. (37) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— (38) of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, (40) God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
All of these are leaders. All of these are part of that great cloud of witnesses that showed us how to live in faith. They all had failures we know about. Think of Moses, Daniel, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Rahab, among many others...we know of the private and public failures. This is part of their testimony. They were willing to endure shame that you and I might find our way to the cross, as well.
The Bible is clear that we can’t just "tell people to repent" (in fact, this is one of the main problems with the modern western church), but WE need to REPENT as leaders, first. Picture Daniel in Babylon...probably to most righteous, but as a leader he is the only captive we get a record of his public repentance.
The testimony of the Bible is that we lead by example 1 Peter 5:1-4
1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: (2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; (3) nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; (4) and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
James 5:16 tells us to confess your trespasses to one another as part of overcoming sickness:
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
To overcome, we need to get holy and pure. This is the basic description of the Bride. She is robed in righteous acts (Rev 19:8). We find out from Matthew 22 that without this robe of righteousness, we are removed from the 1st resurrection, or the wedding feast of the lamb:
Matthew 22:12-14 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. (13) Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (14) "For many are called, but few are chosen."
This doesn't mean a person is "unsaved" it means they are not a leader in the 1,000 year reign of Jesus. Many will be subjected to a different judgment (Rev 20:11-15). The first resurrection subjects a person to the Bema seat, or the judgment seat of Christ where rewards are given. Paul, AFTER being "saved", worked hard to attain this resurrection, too!
Philippians 3:7-15 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (8) Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (11) if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
There came a point where Paul knew he had attained this:
2 Timothy 4:5-8 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (6) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
To be a LEADER..to take part in the first, or "better," resurrection...isn’t about being a pastor, apostle etc...taking titles....in fact, it is QUITE different than that.
It is about leading others, as a servant, in getting ready to be joined (married, as the Bible describes the whole company of people who choose this) to Jesus. This requires reaching for purity and spotlessness in a way that gives vision for OTHERS to do it. That is what makes a person a real leader. The testimony of our repentance is what leads others (the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, Rev 19:10) .....the testimony is what makes us a leader.
Rev 12 tells us we overcome (not just sickness) as in James 5:16, but the devil himself by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony!
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
The blood of the lamb talks about the cleansing of our sin.
The word of our testimony relates to testifying about our cleanliness by Jesus. That is how the devil is overcome: by our repentance. When we get clean before the throne, the devil literally runs out of accusations. Jesus literally told us this in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:25-26 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. (26) Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Jesus paid for me to be totally clean, but I have to actually agree that I need it! If I have done this...agreed that the accusations against me are legitimate and then talk to Jesus about it and let Him cleanse me....If I have done this and it has worked, LOVE requires I testify about some of it. This is what makes a person a leader. Not loving their lives, even unto death. Part of loving our lives is loving our reputations more than people getting free.
Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (14) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Revelation 12 tells us that the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony is part of "not loving our lives even to death!"
The point of my message on Friday night was highlighting what the Bible says it means to be elect, or chosen, for leadership forever. That kind of greatness requires a heart to serve others primarily by being like our Shepherd, who endured shame on a cross that we might live...then he told us to pick up our own cross and follow Him.
Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. (21) And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." (22) But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." (23) So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." (24) And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. (25) But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. (26) Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (27) And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
That is what every writer in the Bible did. Many of them we know their secret sins only they could know, like Elijah running to a far away mountain to be chastened by the Lord, or Moses at the Burning bush, or David's many Psalms where he pours out before us his secret confessions so we might do the same.
Hebrews 12:1-8 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (4) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. (5) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; (6) FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." (7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
This is what it means to be the elect.
If we did this, the world would be given a witness of how to follow Jesus, but as long as we point our finger and speak wickedness...telling the world to repent when we won't do it before them, we lead no one to the place where all shame is taken away and a white robe is given.
But, good news! Some will come out! Some will lead. A MULTITUDE will follow. They, and those who lead them, will be raised to the Lord at His coming!
Revelation 7:9-17 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (10) and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (11) All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (12) saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" (14) And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15) Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. (16) They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; (17) for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Luke 18:9-14 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (10) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' (13) And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."ok
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