RIGHTEOUS

• “in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God”

• “innocent, faultless, guiltless” • “approved of or acceptable of God”

(Thayer)• All have sinned…none righteous by

being sinlessly perfect, Rom. 3:9-10, 23

2

RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Faith is counted for righteousness, Rom. 1:16-17; 3:21-23; 4:3-8; Phil. 3:9

• The sin of self-righteousness is a constant temptation to God’s people, Deut. 9:3-6

• Trouble: It is hard to see S-R in ourselves! Luke 18:9-14

3

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

• “I am right!” Luke 18:9• Trust in oneself: Convinced,

persuaded, assured, confident in self

• Not God-defined (by faith, Rom. 4:5)

• Self-defined, Luke 18:9

4

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Produces self-deception, Lk. 18:9; Isa. 65:2-7; Jas. 1:26

• Causes unjust comparisons and unrighteous judgments, Isa. 65:5– Despise others, 18:9–Unjust, foolish, harsh, fleshly

judgments, Lk. 18:11-12; 2 Cor. 10:12

– cf. Phil. 3:17-19 5

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Results in isolation, Luke 18:11– It is not empathetic nor merciful,

Matt. 5:7 (Lk. 18:13)– It does not encourage others, Gal. 6:1-

3

• Results in condemnation, Luke 18:13-14

6

OVERCOMINGSELF-

RIGHTEOUSNESS• Be conscious of our own

unworthiness, Luke 18:13–Stand “afar off” in reverence, Isa.

64:5-7–Penitent confession of sins,

Psa. 40:11-12; 34:18; 51:17; Lk. 23:48

–You do not earn mercy, Lk. 18: 13; 17:11-14 (10); Titus 3:4-5, 7

7

OVERCOMINGSELF-

RIGHTEOUSNESS• Be humble before God and

toward men, Luke 18:14– “I am a sinner!”– Impress God – not others!

Matt. 6:1-18; Lk. 14:7-11 (16:15)– Do not seek repayment from

others, Luke 14:12-14

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OVERCOMINGSELF-

RIGHTEOUSNESS• Do not put confidence in the

flesh, Phil. 3:3-11–Radically different value system!–Not in law-keeping (a sinner),

Rom. 3:20; 7:9-12–Rely on “the righteousness

which is from God by faith”, 3:9– Life is about Jesus, not ourselves!

Gal. 2:20; 1 Jno. 5:3-49

TheSelf-

Righteous

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Luke 18:11

1 Peter5:5-7