The Futility of Self-Righteousness

The Law reveals our sin.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.Romans 7:7

The Law stirs up our rebellion.

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.Romans 7:5

The Law condemns us as guilty before God.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.Romans 3:19-20

Is the Law sinful? No, the sinner is.

Why do we preach against sin every week?

We must become lost before we can be saved.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.Romans 3:9-12

We must be condemned before we can be justified.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:Romans 2:3-6

We must be under wrath before we can receive grace.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;Romans 1:18

Self-righteousness removes God from the equation.

We cannot save ourselves.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Titus 3:5

We cannot maintain our own righteousness.

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:Philippians 3:9

We cannot maintain our own salvation.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Titus 3:5

We have nothing to contribute to our own salvation apart from our sin and our faith.

We are utterly dependent on the work of Jesus to save us, sanctify us and keep us.

More important than simply reading the Bible, we should let the Bible read us.

Conviction of the Holy Spirit is a gift. Don’t run from it, run to it.