The Danger of Self-Righteousness

Our Lord Jesus warned against trusting in our own righteousness in His parable of the Pharisee and the Publican at prayer.

By all accounts, the Pharisee was a good man: he didn't cheat people, he was fair in business, he was faithful to his wife, he was faithful in his religious duties.

Most striking, though, is that he gave God the glory and thanks for his happy state!

But Jesus said he was not justified - which means, that as good as he was, he was still condemned to eternal torment in hell!

Of course, he did exhibit the sin of pride when he compared himself to the poor Publican. But this is the inexorable outcome of trusting in works-righteousness: the very instant a man acknowledges his good deeds and commends himself to God because of them, he has committed the sin of pride.

It is pride to think that God is pleased with our goodness. The truth is, that our goodness is offensive to God - all our righteousness is as filthy rags!

This is because God looks on the heart, and sees the selfish motive behind all such good works. Up against His perfect holiness, our best is tarnished and faded and broken.

Rather than bring our good works to God, we must bring our sin to God. That is what the Publican did when he cried out "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

Jesus declares the true judgment: that a sinner who casts himself to the mercy of God and disclaims any right to salvation, but calls upon the name of the Lord in trust, that man is declared justified by God!

God declares the trusting sinner perfect in every respect! All his sins blotted out at once!

God can only forgive sinners because of the blood of Jesus. He paid the price at Calvary!