Sunday, May 27, 2018 pm
PROBLEMS CHRISTIANS FACE
Self-Righteousness
a.
Defined – it means to be
convinced in your own mind that you are righteous, based upon your own
achievements. It is often
accompanied with smug moralistic and intolerant opinions of others.
To be righteous means to be right with God because you are doing what He
says.
b.
While we need to be
righteous (1 Peter 3:12, Matthew 5:6, 1 Timothy 6:11, 1 John 3:7, etc.),
self-righteousness is condemned.
We will see this by examples in a moment.
c.
What self-righteousness
is NOT:
i.
Sometimes the word is
abused as charges are made. The term “self-righteous” is a powerful word
that we seek to avoid being called. IT is often used to guilt or label
someone for what they stand for.
That is why we need to understand what it is not.
ii.
Carefully obeying God – Hebrews 5:8-9, 1 Timothy 4:6 – Timothy had carefully
followed the truth. Also,
Matthew 7:21-23
iii.
Being zealous or dedicated to the truth
– Titus 2:14, Romans
12:11 – we are fervent in spirit
iv.
Exposing and condemning sin
– Ephesians 5:11, 2 Timothy 4:2.
Cf. Galatians 2:11-14 where Paul rebuked Peter for his hypocrisy.
v.
Refusing to fellowship those in sin and error
– 2 John 9-11
a.
Trusting in ourselves
– Luke 18:9-12. Wasn’t this
the constant attitude that Jesus challenged and condemned among the
religious leaders? Measuring
and comparing themselves with themselves – 2 Corinthians 10:12
There are many today who are overconfident and hove overinflated
opinions of themselves and their standing before God.
I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:12.
b.
Creating our own
standard
– Romans 10:1-3 – Paul grieved because of this.
Many think they are fine, because they had made up their own rules for
what it means to be fine.
Philippians 3:9 – Paul was willing to give up his own ways so that he
could be found in Him, “not having my own righteousness, which is from
the law”. Instead he sought
the righteousness from God and faith in Christ.
c.
Seeking to justify ourselves – Luke 10:29 – seeking to justify himself. Jesus interacts
with a lawyer who asked, “What is the greatest commandment.”
He thought of some technicality and asked, “And who is my
neighbor?” Jesus gave the
parable of the good Samaritan.
How many today will make excuses for their failed behaviors and thus
declare their righteousness?
Think of excuses for failing to assemble, failing to prefer our
brethren, failing morally, etc.
Luke 16:15 – you are those who justify yourselves before men, but God
knows your hearts. Heed the
warning!
d.
Overestimating our
obedience
– thinking we have earned it.
This is the mentality of many.
They reason that if their good outweighs their bad, they are fine
(Of course, they get to define what is good – see above points).
This was the rich, young ruler who had kept MOST of the
commandments from youth (Matthew 19:20), but he lacked that one thing!
This was the attitude of the Pharisee praying in Luke 18 10-12.
We may know better, but how many of us DEEP DOWN think we are fine
because we do most of what He tells us to do rightly?
e.
Judging others by our
personal standards
– again, think of that praying Pharisee.
We have been discussing our liberties in Christ (in class – Romans 14).
We know there are areas of personal preference, maybe even things
we’ve “always done that way”, but we can’t bring ourselves to letting
others do those things differently.
There’s a big problem with turning matters of faith into liberties.
But is there not also a problem with turning liberties into a
matter of faith? In reality,
such things are self-righteousness.
f.
Working to be seen of men – Matthew 23:5-7 – Jesus condemned the Pharisees for doing
their works to be seen by men. It was more about satisfying their ego
than doing what was right. In
Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus was clear that in matters of private worship, we do
not seek to draw undue attention to ourselves (prayers, giving and
fasting).
Yet how many today do good works, and then brag about it or seek
validation? Or maybe we brag about what we DON’T do.
I think of the Pharisees in the latter part of Matthew 23:29-31
where they proclaim they would have never killed the prophets, but Jesus
knew their hearts.
Preachers have to be careful they do not do this!
Paul went out of his way to make sure he was not charged with
this!
Whatever we do, it is about God and not us!
g.
Hypocrisy
– when we are pretending to be what we are not – e.g. true Christians,
whatever we do is about us.
By its very definition, hypocrisy is outwardly hiding what we really are
inwardly. So we are
pretending righteousness. In
Matthew 23, some 7 times Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes
hypocrites. In vs. 25-28 Jesus described their corruption as whitewashed
tombs.
Most hypocritical people, deep down are hoping they are going to get by.
And thus they put weight upon whatever it is they do correctly.
This too is a form of self-righteousness.
a.
First realize that we
are NOT righteous.
Romans 3:10, 23 – there is none righteous.
1 John 1:8-10 – don’t lie to yourself. One
point to consider is to avoid this ungodly behavior we HAVE TO know what
true righteousness is.
b.
But you need to be
righteous –
just because we cannot save ourselves, even by meritorious works,
doesn’t mean we should not try to do the right thing and live
righteously. We must. BUT
with an understanding of our need for Him (Romans 5:19 – through Jesus
we are made righteous).
Matthew 5:20 – it must exceed that of the scribes and pharisees (the
hypocritical)
1 Peter 3:12 – the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous…
c.
Humility – a
key quality that will put us in our proper place.
Matthew 5:3ff - “poor in spirit”
Philippians 2:3-5 – think of others and look to His example.
Romans 12:3
Luke 18:13 – the tax collector would not even look up
d.
Seek FIRST the kingdom
of God and His righteousness
- Matthew 6:33. This involves both attitude AND action.
Matthew 5:6 – we need to hunger for it!
e.
Put your confidence in
God – as
already noted, we need God to make us righteous.
Philippians 3:4ff – Paul speaks of “confidence in the flesh.”
2 Corinthians 10:18 – it is about whom the Lord commends.
Philippians 3:9 – Be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, …but
through faith in Christ.
Acts 17:31, God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness. Are we ready
for that day? If we are
seeking our righteousness anywhere but through Him and His ways, we will
dread that day. What about
you? How is your
righteousness?