Self Righteous

Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author   Close Window

There are two types of righteousness in life.

One is to be self righteous. This means we are doing everything ourselves; not of God, but of our own ability.

A person who thinks they are righteous because they do not cuss, smoke, drink, do drugs, gossip, and so on are self righteous.

To be righteous of God is to be made a new again.

Matthew 12:36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The above shows a problem some will have on judgment day, the idea that we are accountable for every word. Well, to avoid the judgment and to also be of the righteousness of God read what comes next.

II Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

IN CHRIST means in the anointed one and His anointing. If we are of Christ we are of the anointing.

I Corinthians 1:24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

So to be of Christ, or the anointed one and His anointing, we are as He is, of the power and wisdom of God.

II Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Ministry of reconciliation, what does this word mean and what does this phrase mean?

First we need to look at who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ

Strong's Ref. # 2644

Romanized katallasso

Pronounced kat-al-las'-so

from GSN2596 and GSN0236; to change mutually, i.e. (figuratively) to compound a difference:

KJV--reconcile.

A mutual change, meaning as we were called and realized we were missing something and needed to change, we opened the door for the change. We were changed by what He did for us.

Strong's Ref. # 2643

Romanized katallage

Pronounced kat-al-lag-ay'

from GSN2644; exchange (figuratively, adjustment), i.e. restoration to (the divine) favor:

KJV--atonement, reconciliation(-ing).

So we are changed, and now we have atonement, right standing with God, divine favor. We have been restored by the blood of Jesus, and we are now in the ministry of restoring all who are not restored. Like a carpenter does with an old piece of furniture, he restores the furniture to its former self and sometimes better than its former self. After he sands it (removes the old outer coat) then he applies oils to bring back its luster (anointing) and it is new again.

Strong's Ref. # 1248

Romanized diakonia

Pronounced dee-ak-on-ee'-ah

from GSN1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or techn. of the diaconate):

KJV--(ad-)minister(-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service(-ing).

and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation

So we have a service to restore all that needs to be restored.

II Corinthians 5:19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath comitted unto us the word of reconciliation.

As even God was in Christ He is in us, reconciling us to Him and using us to reconcile the world unto Him.

II Corinthians 5:20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Notice we are ambassadors of Christ, not Jesus, not Christ Jesus or Jesus Christ, but Christ, the anointed one and His anointing. We are the ambassadors of the power and wisdom of God, of the ministry of reconciliation.

II Corinthians 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Now Jesus comes in as Jesus the man. There are 3 aspects to salvation, a calling of the Spirit of God to us, then the spilt blood of Jesus to cover our sins to make us in right standing to get connected, and then the connection which comes in the Christ (anointing) which creates us anew.

We are called.

We are saved

We are connected.

Teaching the word, the word of power, the word of God.

Hebrews 5:12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Hebrews 513. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Hebrews 514. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

I Cor. 1:24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Ephesians 1: 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Ephesians 1: 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1: 8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Ephesians 1: 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Mark 4, the sower of the word.

John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2. The same was in the beginning with God.

3 John 1:. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Colossians 1:13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Colossians 1:14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 1:15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 2: 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Old Testament :

Points out sin

Points need for sacrifice

Points out the promise

Delivers the law

New Testament :

Completes sin

Completes sacrifice

Completes the promise

Completes the law

Hebrews 9:28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 10:1. For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Hebrews 10:2. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Power in the word is to PURGE us of sin. In the Old Testament God had to point out to mankind that sin was in man's life. He then showed, through sacrifice, that sin could be cleansed , even for a short time. The law was established to help mankind stay in some guide lines of living a sin free life, and the promise of that life would one day be perfected.

The New Testament is the accumulation of the old, the bringing of the word to fruitfulness in the world to complete the sin cycle, to bring a once and for all sacrifice, and to bring the promise to hand as well as completion in the law. Where there is no sin, there is no law. The law still exists to help us until we are purged of sin in our life.

Hebrews 1: 3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

I John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I John 3:3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Galatians 4:7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

We can only accept the Lord, believe without doubt in His word, and be transformed. Anything else is a form of self righteousness.

Copyright © 1996 - Gods Gift For You All Rights Reserved.

1-27-04-120