For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Rom 10:3).
What was their problem? They were ignorant of God’s righteousness. How were they ignorant of God’s righteousness? They tried to establish their own righteousness. What is wrong with establishing your own righteousness? You won’t submit to God’s righteousness.
Did you notice that it doesn’t say that they tried to establish their sins? Their crime wasn’t sin, it was their righteousness!
What is righteousness? The good things that you do for God.
The emphasis of the Gospel is not what we do for God; it’s what God does for us! Religion, is what we do for God. Christianity is what God does for us. Their crime was that they based their faith on their righteousness instead of God’s righteousness.
It’s not your fasting, it’s not your holiness, it’s not your prayers, it’s the cross of Jesus that saves you.
We teach the unbelievers to repent of their sins, that’s okay. We should also teach them to repent of their self righteousness.
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
(Luk 18:9-14)
The Pharisee fasted twice every week [nothing wrong with fasting], paid his tithes, he was not an extorter, he was not in adultery, but he wasn’t justified. Why? He trusted in his self righteousness. The publican was ungodly but he was justified, why? Because he placed his faith on God’s mercy.
What is wrong with righteousness? Nothing. I believe in righteousness, God’s righteousness. My boast is the lord. Thank.
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2 comments:
Thanks for bringing up Luke 18:9-14 which perfectly illustrates the difference between justified by self-righteousness and God's righteousness.
Righteousness is not about doing but rather being ie. having the right standing before God.
We are righteous ie. have the right standing before God, not because of all the good deeds we have done but because of the one deed Christ has done - his sacrifice on the cross, and subsequent resurrection by the Heavenly Father.
Therefore we do not boast of our works, we boast in the Lord (2 Cor 10:17)
Our righteousness is not about doing because we can't do enough to earn it.
Jesus has paid the price for us, that's why it's now a free gift to us all.
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