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“"Self-Righteousness is Rejection of the Cross "”

Thoughts for Today:

The NIV translates the Greek word ETE to the English word "if". However, I don't think this simple translation completely captures the thought Paul intended to convey. Thayer's Greek Lexicon provides a little more insight: "of a thing which went on formerly, whereas now a different state of things exists or has begun to exist." In other words, at one time (prior to his conversion), Paul also proclaimed and enforced a version of the same legalistic attitudes as the Judaizers. (Acts 8:1-3: "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul [Paul] began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.")

At one time Paul was the persecutor; yet, when he converted and embraced the Gospel of grace, he then became the persecuted. It always seems to work this way. The people who preach what WE must DO, persecute the ones who preach what JESUS has already DONE. The message of the Cross is that Jesus paid it all because we could never afford the price. Our best efforts at holiness wouldn't even make up for the smallest of our sins. (Isaiah 64:6: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.") We needed a Savior other than ourselves. Why? Because our holiness would never be enough. However, those who become pleased with their own efforts will always reject the message of the Cross.

Questions to Ponder:

Perhaps the worst sin of all is the one of self-righteousness. God is patient with us for all types and manner of sins that we commit -- except one -- the one in which we believe that our own holiness is sufficient. Are there any areas of your life in which you retain a hint of self-righteousness? How should you deal with this attitude? Will you?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.