SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A REJECTION OF GOD'S LOVE



SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A REJECTION OF GOD’S LOVE.
Matt 21:32” For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
        The religious Jews of Jesus’ time were self opinionated and struggled with self righteousness mainly due to their genealogical links with Abraham and the fact that the ten commandments was given by God to the Jews through Moses. They imagined nobody had the authority to instruct them in matters about God therefore, the religious leaders rejected Jesus’ authority.         
        Jesus through the above parable revealed God's rejection of the Jews in response to their rejection of His Son and that it was those who do the will of God who are actually the ones invested with God's authority to represent Him on earth. These leaders were known for disobeying the laws of Moses and were quick to reprimand those who did likewise.
       Unlike these religious bigots, the publicans and harlots had no form of godliness, but were quick to come to repentance when confronted with their sins. Many of them were known to surrender to God through the ministry of John the baptizer as they sought God’s mercy .These religious Jews disqualified themselves from being God's messengers while playing the role of Moses because of their hypocrisy and insensitivity. On the other hand, the publicans and harlots were preferred above these religious Jews , because they truly loved God and were willing to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ . The greatest undoing of most religious people is the false sense of self-righteousness; that is to honour the Lord based on human standards which often involves externalism-an open display of worship without a heart commitment.
          These sinners knew they were sinners and they put their faith in a Saviour therefore, they have a better chance at entering the kingdom of God ahead of the very religious Jews. The worst form of self destruction among religious people is that of self-righteousness and it is the deception that we will be saved because of our good deeds. This totally eliminates the need of a saviour and portrays God as unjust, unloving and evil because the burden of sin is left for man to bear under such a circumstance.  We cannot save ourselves regardless of how good we behave publicly. There is no such thing as best sinner or a good righteous man therefore morality has nothing to do with our salvation. One sin in a person’s life makes him or her a sinner likewise one act of righteousness makes you righteous ( Rom,5:17). Righteousness is a gift from God obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. .Receive grace to overcome guilt and embrace God's love in Jesus name.

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