Dictionaries :: Self-Righteousness

Self-Righteousness:

self-ri'-chus-nes: A term that has come to designate moral living as a way of salvation; or as a ground for neglecting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The thought is present in the teaching of Jesus, who spoke one parable particularly to such as reckoned themselves to be righteous (Lu 18:9 ). The Pharisees quite generally resented the idea of Jesus that all men needed repentance and they most of all. They regarded themselves as righteous and looked with contempt on "sinners." Paul in all his writings, especially Ro 3; Ga 3; Eph 2; Php 3, contrasts the righteousness that is God's gift to men of faith in Jesus Christ, with righteousness that is "of the law" and "in the flesh." By this latter he means formal conformity to legal requirements in the strength of unregenerate human nature. He is careful to maintain (compare Ro 7) that the Law is never really kept by one's own power. On the other hand, in full agreement with Jesus, Paul looks to genuine righteousness in living as the demand and achievement of salvation based on faith. God's gift here consists in the capacity progressively to realize righteousness in life (compare Ro 8:1 ff).

Written by William Owen Carver

See SANCTIFICATION

Self-Righteousness: General Scriptures Concerning

Num 16:3; Deu 9:4-6; 1Sa 2:9; Job 6:13; 11:4-6; 12:2; 13:3, 13, 15, 18, 19; 16:17, 18; 18:2-4; 21:27-29; 22:2, 3; 32:1, 2; 33:8, 9; 35:2, 7, 8; Psa 10:5, 6; Pro 12:15; 14:12; 16:2; 20:6; 21:2; 25:14, 27; 26:12; 27:2, 21; 28:13, 26; 30:12, 13; Isa 5:21; 28:17, 20; 47:7; 50:11; 64:6; 65:3-5; Jer 2:13, 22, 23, 34, 35; 7:4; 8:8; 17:5; 49:4, 16; Eze 33:24-26; Hsa 12:8; Amo 6:13; Hab 2:4; Zep 3:11; Mat 7:22, 23; 9:10-13; 16:6; 19:16-22; 22:12, 13; 23:29-31; Mar 2:16; 8:15; 10:17-22; Luk 5:30; 7:36-50; 10:25-37; 15:2, 25-32; 16:14, 15; 18:9-14, 18-23; Jhn 9:34, 39-41; Rom 2:17-20; 3:27; 10:3; 11:19-21; 2Cr 1:9; 10:17, 18; Gal 6:3; Rev 3:17, 18

Self-Righteousness: References Concerning

See HYPOCRISY; SELF-EXALTATION

Self-Righteousness: Instances Of:

Saul,

1Sa 15:13-31.

Young man, see above.

Lawyer, see above.

Pharisees,

Luk 11:33-54; Jhn 8:33-59; 9:28-34.

Israel,

Rom 10:3.

Church of Laodicea,

Rev 3:17.

Self-Righteousness: Man Is Prone To

Pro 20:6; 30:12

Self-Righteousness: Hateful to God

Luk 16:15

Self-Righteousness: Is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is

But external

Mat 23:25-28; Luk 11:39-44

But partial

Mat 23:25; Luk 11:44

No better than filthy rags

Isa 64:6

Ineffectual for salvation

Job 9:30,31; Mat 5:20; Rom 3:20

Unprofitable

Isa 57:12

Self-Righteousness: Is Boastful

Mat 23:30

Self-Righteousness: They Who Are Given To

Audaciously approach God

Luk 18:11

Seek to justify themselves

Luk 10:29

Seek to justify themselves before men

Luk 16:15

Reject the righteousness of God

Rom 10:3

Condemn others

Mat 9:11-13; Luk 7:39

Consider their own way right

Pro 21:2

Despise others

Isa 65:5; Luk 18:9

Proclaim their own goodness

Pro 20:6

Are pure in their own eyes

Pro 30:12

Are abominable before God

Isa 65:5

Self-Righteousness: Folly Of

Job 9:20

Self-Righteousness: Saints Renounce

Phl 3:7-10

Self-Righteousness: Warning Against

Deu 9:4

Self-Righteousness: Denunciation Against

Mat 23:27,28

Self-Righteousness: Illustrated

Luk 18:10-12

Self-Righteousness: Exemplified

Saul

1Sa 15:13

Young man

Mat 19:20

Lawyer

Luk 10:25,29

Pharisees

Luk 11:39; Jhn 8:33; 9:28

Israel

Rom 10:3

Church of Laodicea

Rev 3:17