Righteousness Not Mine
Matthew 5:15 says, " For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!" (Complete Jewish Bible) I asked the Lord what that looked like since the Pharisee's followed the law to the strictest sense and were known for their behavior and corrective bent.
He reminded me then of Luke 18 which in part says, "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find this trust on the earth at all?" 9 Also, to some who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Parush and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Parush stood and prayed to himself, `O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector! 12 I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . ' 13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted." (CJB) "Parush" refers to Pharisee. Think about these things and think about a question from author Richard Owen Roberts in his book, "Repentance, The First Word of the Gospel". Here's the question: "Have you ever seen the immensity of your sins? Do you see your role as a Christ-crucifier"? (pg 180) Roberts also says that "repentance is a purifying pain". (pg 179) Unfortunately we ignore or run from any designation of pain...even when it is purifying and could bring us to the "thorough, CONTINUAL, and permanent" change necessary...for us. (pg 178 caps added)
Consider that Job was righteous...even according to God, but Job's righteousness did not even pale in comparison to God when Job SAW God. The righteousness of man became non-existent when face to face with God. We needed a savior...and Christ is that savior. Repentance always shows us the iridescence of our "visible" righteousness, but when SEEN our own righteousness is stained and becomes invisible. Only the rainbow like colors of promise, the exposure of our sin, and the gentle hand of the Master is able to blow on us, and to hold us. Will you trust Christ today where your righteousness is more than "your" righteousness? The place where you beat your breast because you have...or are willing to SEE God? The only way for your, or my righteousness to be "far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim" is to accept Christ where His covers yours. He loves you!
Love is the Answer, Repentance is the Call, and Willingness is the Relationship.
