An interesting topic to ponder is none other than the sin of self-righteousness. What is self-righteousness? Self-righteousness is defined by Cambridge Dictionary as the quality of believing that one’s ideas, standards and behavior are morally better than those of other people.” Then what does the bible says about this sin? The bible defined self-righteousness as relying on one’s own merits or righteousness as the grounds for their salvation and the reason for God to save them. In essence, it is both legalism and a form of pride. If it is a form of pride, certainly self-righteousness is a sin. This sin, in itself has three personalities, the Pride of Life, Lust of Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes. Commonly found in all man since the advent of sin at the Garden of Eden. Adam displayed one of its personalities by conveniently pushing the fault to Eve for the consumption of the forbidden fruit. Adam and all his descendants have sinned as stated in Romans 3: 22 that “…. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Again in Isaiah 64: 6, the prophet wrote that “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, takes us away.” So, it is not possible that man can save himself, through works or deeds, but save the works of Christ at Calvary.
Jesus, Himself had a fair share of this hypocrisy in His life time dealing with the Pharisees. His condemnation of self-righteousness in the Jewish leadership then was evident in His harsh treatment towards them. Our Lord condemned the scribes and Pharisees for blindly and rigidly adhering to their legalistic traditions. He knew the hypocrites would always hide behind the curtain of self-righteousness to make themselves look better to others. Many references told by the Lord Himself depicted the Pharisees as a group of people who honour God only with their lips. Their hearts are far from God despites their religious displays. Jesus detested their own version of mosaic laws, mainly with the ways they presented it as though they were God’s. Therefore, He spent a great deal of time and energy warning His disciples about the dangers of self-righteousness, making it clear that, without Him, The Person Grace, we all could do nothing to save ourselves in John 15: 5
Apostle Paul, on the other hand, had to deal with Jews of his time expounding on the Grace of God that is freely given to all who believe in HIM by faith for salvation. The Jewish leaders, elders and teachers of the laws wanted the believers to work for their salvation by doing and adhering to the rigid laws that Apostle Paul condemned strongly. But the laws given by Moses at Mount Sinai were not wrong. The Mosaic laws had served its purpose under its own dispensation. In the dispensation of Grace, Grace and Truth came through our Lord Jesus Christ stated in John 1:17. What the Laws did was to complement the works of Grace. It was given to men to show the incompetence of ourselves to salvation by adhering it. We can never be able to say for an iota of truth that we have kept the laws of God zealously and not commit sins. Apostle Paul viewed that if one can relied on one’s own merits or works as a basis for their salvation and the reason for God to save them, then Christ would have died in vain (Gal 2: 21). God forbids. I am eternally grateful that Jesus Christ came as a man, a righteous person without sin, to be the perfect Lamb of God for the atonement of my sins. I do not dare to think that my works, hypocrisies, and self-righteousness would qualify me for a place in heaven. Thank God that Grace amazingly came for me; His stubborn and reckless love took hold of me when I am destined eternally for hell. Like in Isaiah 61:10 quote; “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a Robe of Righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels”, unquote.
I am now clothed in the garment of righteousness that my Savior had violently and forcefully snatched me from the clutches of hell with His shed precious blood. I do not want to be presumptuous like the man who was caught wearing his old clothing in the parable of the Wedding Feast. Only to learn the offence it was of self-righteousness that caused him to be removed from the celebration. The punishment is not just being thrown out of the wedding feast. It is the most dreaded thought of being cast into outer darkness, existence without God for eternity. Our Lord has specifically mentioned that there is no other way, as He is the way, and the Truth, and the Life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by Him in John 14: 6. Apostle Paul reiterated the salient point that “There is salvation in no other, because there is no other name given to men in whom we may be saved.” in Acts 4:12.
So, would not you want to be clothed in the Robe of Righteousness, provided freely by our Lord Jesus Christ? Do it now!