What do you understand by self-righteousness?

            It is actually a thing?

                        What are your thoughts on it?

Self-righteousness, looking at the word itself is a righteousness by self. It is the kind of righteousness which is attained by self, by intellect, and by “works”. It gives the kind of vibe which says, “by my works, I am justified.”

Is this right? Is righteousness by self justified?

Let’s go deeper: Why did Jesus come? After Adam sinned, why did Jesus come? People lived in the Old Testament days, obeying laws (to be justified), and yet it seems that wasn’t enough so Jesus had to come to earth. Why did he come?

Let me tell you, Jesus came to introduce a new ‘realm’ to us. In the past (the Old Testaments) God spoke through his prophets to give laws to the people. The people had to obey these laws in other to be ‘clean’ ,but there was a problem: Their flesh was weak. The more they knew these laws, “Thou shall NOTs”, the more they wanted to break those laws.

It was as if the law gave them the knowledge of sin, rather than the knowledge of righteousness. Thus, man couldn’t be righteous through the law; the good he wanted to do, he couldn’t do. But the bad which he is NOT supposed to do, that is what he enjoys doing or easily does. So Jesus came!

Before he came though, the Holy Spirit existed. He came upon prophets, kings and priests to help them lead the people or nations, and then he leaves.

This time around, Jesus was trying to introduce a new realm to us, where the Holy Spirit wouldn’t leave but dwell in us, and with us.

This opportunity doesn’t come through ‘works’. It comes from something called Grace. The Grace of God. It says, “Even though you are not “worthy”, and not holy, I still see ‘potential’ in you; you desire to do good, but your flesh is weak. I am going to give you my strength, the Holy Spirit to help you. I desire to have a relationship with you, I desire intimacy with you just like I had with Adam. I know you have tried to be holy by observing the laws, but you haven’t been successful. Now instead of looking at your successes in obeying the law, I will rather look at my son, through his blood, and declare you as righteous (through my son, Jesus Christ). Yes, I know you aren’t righteous ‘yet’, but my son is going to die for the world, he is going to be the lamb to atone for your sins so that henceforth, when I look at you, I will see you through his blood (holy). And through that, I will have an intimate relationship with you.

Where does self-righteousness come in? Self- righteousness is of the devil. It is Anti-Christ. Self-righteousness says, “God, I don’t need all that you are doing with Jesus. I can be good all by myself. I can make you accept me through my works. Thus, I will obey the laws without even accepting Christ as my Lord, and I will be good.”

Is this right? Would you accept someone who hates your son, yet is nice to you? Wouldn’t you be suspicious of him?

How can a human being be holy on his own? Could you be so holy enough to dwell in the inapproachable light of God’s presence?

Self-righteousness stems from pride. And we all know what pride did to Satan (Luke 10:18-19].

Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Saviour is Humility. It is you saying, “Yes, LORD, I want to be close to you, I want to have a relationship with you but I am too weak, and too filthy to come near you. I accept the ‘Christ offering’ and I accept your Holy Spirit to help and lead me to you.”

Isn’t this humbling? Isn’t this sweet and lovely? Should someone tell you that they love you and desire a relationship with you but don’t know how, and that they would accept and appreciate any help or knowledge you would give them, wouldn’t you feel honored and happy, as compared to someone who says he wouldn’t ask you what you want or the ‘way’ to you, but would find his own way to you, and you must accept him (his ways)?

Now let’s look at this: God says that to come to him, you have to come through Jesus Christ. He is the way. But self-righteousness says, I wouldn’t go by that way (Christ). Should I even use that way, I still would love to use my own methods to get to you, not your methods. Is this love? How prideful could you be?

“Non self-righteousness” is rooted in love and humility. Check yourself: Do you have love? Do you love? Are you humble?

Since self-righteousness is of the devil, it has devil-like traits like; it accuses (Accuser of the Brethren), it condemns (the Holy Spirit convicts and corrects. He doesn’t condemn), it’s prideful, it can lie, and it’s deceptive.

We have to be very careful. You can be a “good” Christian and mistakenly walk in the spirit of self-righteousness.

Self-righteousness screams, “I can do good ALL by myself. I don’t need Christ as my Saviour or the Holy Spirit as my helper.”

• Self-righteousness condemns people when they fall. They feel no compassion or love for the lost.
  • Self-righteousness doesn’t see the need for the Holy Spirit because it cannot submit under authority. It’s so wounded in every part of its body that any ‘foul’ touch causes it to react: It’s touchy.
    • Self-righteousness glorifies SELF. “I am doing this so that they will praise ME, or everybody will see that I have done this or that.” etc.

Remember what Jesus said: If you want to follow me, YOU MUST FORGET SELF (self-glorification), CARRY YOUR CROSS (feel pain, and probably go through humiliation and ridicule), and then FOLLOW ME (become like me, refined by the fire [sufferings one has endured]).

Stay Blessed, and Stay Peaceful.

#Forget Self

#You aren’t self-righteous love.

I Love You.