To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 18:36:32 -0600
Subject: Bible Study HF054 - The Stumbling Block of Self Righteousness

Hebraics,

In Hebrews we are told to "lay aside every encumbrance and the
sin which so easily entangles us." (12:1) When we think of 'the sin'
that easily entangles us, our minds usually go to unbelief. That
certainly is true enough. But there is another sin peculiar to many
the Jewish folk of that time. It was the sin of self-righteousness.
(Keep in mind that Hebrews was written by a Jew, to a Jewish
audience, and in Jewish thought form.)

Self-righteousness had long been the stumbling block of the Jew.
Actually it remains that way even today. But self-righteousness
can also be a stumbling block for Christian adherents. Now that I
have your attention, lets consider this study together. This is Bible
Study HF054 - The Stumbling Block of Self Righteousness.

A few years ago my wife and I were in Israel. A large group of
Christians gathered from around the world to have a March for
Jesus in Jerusalem. There were about 5000 of us. We had our
march. The condition was, 'no banners.' It was a beautiful sight to
behold. We sang and worshipped through the streets of Jerusalem
and ended up in front of the Knesset for a prayer rally. What an
awesome experience indeed.

But it was while traveling in Israel that I became acquainted with
our tour guide. He asked me a couple of times to share with the
other members of the group from the Bible. Thinking he had his
own interest, at the proper moment I began to share with him about
Jesus. But my tour guide quickly let me know that he did not need
to be saved, because he was a Jew. His mind was closed to further
discussion. (I think he had a problem with conviction.)

I shared that incident to let you see how the sin of self-
righteousness still continues to be a stumbling block for many of
our Jewish friends. Their idea of salvation is far removed from that of
Biblical salvation. It is Jewish teaching to this day that a person
atones for their sins in death. Nothing else is required. But his key
is being of the lineage of Abraham.

It was the ancient teaching of the Jews that no seed of Abraham
could ever be lost. John the Baptist had this in mind, when he said,
"Do not suppose you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for
our father', for I say to you that from these stones God is able to
raise up children to Abraham." (Matthew 3:9)

This was quite an affront to John's listening audience. He didn't
even point to another group of people. His point was that their
Jewish blood line had no value whatsoever when it comes to
salvation. Paul himself addressed this issue for the Roman Jews.
He said, "But if you bear the name 'Jew' and rely upon the Law and
boast in God,' then Paul went on to address all the things the
Jewish folk were looking to. They had their boasts. (Rom2)

Paul continues this discourse, and finally says, "Now we know that
whatever the Law says, it speaks to those under the Law, so that
every mouth may be closed and all the world may become
accountable to God." (Rom3) His point was that all the world was
under the condemnation of sin, and the Jew was in no better
position with regard to salvation that was the Gentile. (Jesus
Himself had to often confront this attitude.)

The problem with self-righteousness is that it causes men to place
their faith in things that are not true. It wouldn't matter if a person
could trace their genealogy directly back to Mary, this would have
no bearing on their merit for salvation. But rather than humbling
one's self as a sinner in need of salvation, with nothing to offer, the
self-righteousness person claims merit on his own goodness, or
his ability to achieve righteousness by his own works.

How then can the sin of self-righteousness become a stumbling
block for Christian adherents? For one thing it can keep a person
from being born again. There is likely a great many 'adherents' to
Christianity who have never had a birth from above. Their faith is
elsewhere than the cross. Very often faith can be placed in a
religious institution. Sometimes it is faulty teaching where the
person is led to believe that they must become good enough before
God can accept them. There are numerous channels through which
self-righteousness works.

Lets come back to Scripture. Paul said, "For indeed Jews ask for
signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ
crucified, to the Jew a stumbling block and to Gentiles
foolishness." (1Co1:23)

The Greeks saw the cross as utterly disgusting. They were beauty
worshippers, with a special emphasis on both the male and female
body, but especially on the male. To look to a man who had been
disfigured by crucifixion was utterly abhorrent. They were repulsed.
They say nothing beautiful in Christianity.

But for the Jew is was different. They had to have their signs. After
all they were very special people in the earth. Their faith was in the
conquering Messiah, son of David. To accept a crucified man as
their Saviour was a reproach to their dignity as Jews.

Is this yet a sin among Jewish folk? While we should thank the
Lord that a great many Jews are turning to the Lord, there are still
those who despise Jesus Christ. I've had opportunity to witness to,
and discuss the things of Christ with Jewish folk. I came across a
Jewish joke being passed around, with the punch line, "I am not
going to worship a Jew on a stick."

We see that as a hideous thing to say. But what of Christian
adherents who never take Jesus off the cross? There is an
extremely large group who focus their righteousness on a religious
institution that is functionally nonBiblical Christianity. Yet it takes
the name Christian to itself.

But it is not a matter of pointing fingers. To do this simply places
us in the same self-righteous mold. Yet it is important to
understand that self-righteousness is not simply a Jewish sin. It
harbours in the lives of many Christian adherents. (An adherent is
simply someone who claims the title Christian.)

Lets take it a step further. We know that self-righteousness will
keep a person out of the kingdom of God. But how about those
who have actually been born again? Can self-righteousness appear
in another form and cause even these believers to stumble? Most
assuredly.

Anytime in our Christian walk where we began to measure
ourselves with ourselves, we are not wise in this. All the blessings
of God come by grace through faith. But when we come to the
place where God has to pay particular attention to us because of
'who' we are, or because of certain 'achievements' we attained, then
we end up deceiving ourselves.

When believers come to the place where they feel that the Lord
must bless them, or heal them, or look upon them with special
favour, that is, because of what they have managed to achieve, this
in itself is reason enough for the blessing to be withheld.

How many times have we heard someone say, "Why is God
punishing me, I've searched my life. There is nothing I can find that
I've done wrong.' Or, 'My sins have been little ones. I've never done
the things that so-and-so has done." All of this is the language of
self-righteousness. See the problem. We ourselves can stumble
over our own self-righteousness. And self-righteousness will nullify
God's grace at work in our lives.

Lets try to complete this study on a positive note. What kind of
righteousness is acceptable before God? Remember that Jesus
told the people, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5:20)

This must have place an overcast on His listening audience. No
one could surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
They not only kept the Law of Moses, but they added law after law
after law for the people to keep. Of course all they were doing was
dismantling the very Law they claimed to uphold.

The only righteousness that God accepts is that of His own. His
righteousness is perfect. It has no flaw. And it is this righteousness
that is given the humble repentant one, who turns to Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Savior. The Father takes the very righteousness
of Jesus and clothes each believer. From that moment on there is
no earning merits in the heavenly kingdom. The blessings of God
come into our lives on faith alone, that is, by faith in Jesus.

But there is a point I must not leave unsaid. If we seek to glorify
Jesus in our lives, by lifting Him up, by looking to Him for
everything, by presenting Him as Savior to a lost and dying world,
then, yes, the Lord does bless those things. But this is not in the
category of self-righteousness. If we are truly living a Spirit-
controlled life, then lifting up Jesus will be the natural outflow of our
life. Jesus Himself said, "If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor
him." (John 12:26)

So, what is the sin that so easily entangles us? Sure it is unbelief.
But is it not also self-righteousness? The self-righteous one looks
to himself as worthy in himself for God's attention. The truly
righteous person never looks at himself as worthy. He looks to
Jesus, and Jesus alone. This is why true righteousness has a
prayer that is natural to it. It is the prayer of 'Abba! Father!'

The Abba Father is the true pray of the Christ-honoring child of
God. We are saying, 'Not my will. Not who I am. Not my
achievements. But who You are. Your will alone. You alone are
worthy!'

Think about it. The study is open.

Buddy

Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org

"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)