Saving Righteousness

When I was growing up, I never remember hearing anything on this topic. It is funny that something so important could be left out of the teaching of God's word. I like, most people grew up thinking that if I lived a good enough life, that God would have to except me. I mean, what more could God ask for then a good effort. What more could God want then for a person to continually confess their sins, ask Jesus into their heart, make a profession of faith, go to church and live a good Christian life? That is all any human being can offer right? That is dead wrong, not good enough and God will not accept that. That is just dead religion and doesn't save. You would have just as good of a chance at eternal life being a Muslim or a Buddhist. All religion teaches that your righteousness (if it is good enough) will get you to heaven or some sort of reward in the afterlife . Every person is born with this natural religion.

This "Natural Religion", is inherent in every human being. Every man knows that there is one God. There can only be one cause for the universe. You do not need a Koran or a bible to know that. Some might not admit that, but when they are pinned against the steering wheel in an overturned car that is on fire, they will not pray to a "great force", they will say "Oh God get me out of here, I'll be good I promise". Also every human knows that he ought to do good and not murder, steal from or rape his fellow man. You don't need a bible or any other book to know that. Every man knows that he ought to treat his fellow man right, but natural religion goes farther then that. It says that if you see your neighbor in need, that you should help him. You do not need a bible to know that. Natural religion also says that you need to be good to please God, and that is absolutely true. Natural religion also teaches that everyone is a sinner. Every person will admit that. Also every person believes in some sort of reward or punishment in the afterlife. Even reincarnation teaches that if you are bad that you will return as some lower life form. Even those religions that teach that everyone goes to heaven, just let something dirty and horrible happen to their loved ones and ask them if they think that person is going to heaven.

Also we know that no one is confident that they have lived well enough in this lifetime, to inherit eternal life. No one can say with absolute confidence that according to their righteousness, God wants them in his heaven. Absolutely no one. And all we sinners can offer, is our effort. The world is full of people that think God will accept our efforts, but He will not, no God expects much more. God calls our righteousness filthy rags.

Isa 64:6 ¶ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Here in the following passage Paul says that he counts his righteousness as dung. Paul says that if you think you have confidence in the way you have lived your life, that it will be acceptable to God, he has more reason to brag. He says that his righteousness as pertaining to the law (doing what he knew to be right) was blameless. The law said not to steal, Paul never did. The law said to keep the sabbath holy, Paul always did. No man could accuse Paul of breaking the law. He was blameless. And then he says that all of that righteousness, all of those good things he did, he counts as dung, and hopes, that he will not be found with his own righteousness, but with the righteousness of God which is by faith. There is two righteousnesses?

¶ Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9 ¶ 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:

This is profound! This is departing from all natural religion. This goes against all the laws of nature! No other religion teaches this. You are not good enough to spend eternity in heaven, by your own good works. I cannot stress this enough. This makes no sense to the average sinner. My best effort at doing good and abstaining from evil is not good enough. Think about that. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Well, you might say, I sin less than most. I am glad that in a terminally ill ward at the hospital you feel better. I am glad the medicine they gave you, makes you feel good, but there is still only one way out of here. They roll you out in a cart and bury you. All are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Look at Paul. He put quite the brag together. I hope we don`t think that we have more righteousness then Paul. And Paul did not want to be caught with his own righteousness. If he would be, then he would go to hell. I wonder how many people are going to present God with their own righteousness. You would be just as well off presenting Him your sin.

Ro 3:20 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.

There we have it. Nobody will or can get be justified before God and inherit eternal life in heaven by doing the things in the law. You cannot inherit eternal life by your own righteousness. You cannot be justified in God`s sight by going to church, praying, reading your bible, loving your fellow man, keeping the sabbath or any other work that you could do.

Ro 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Can we even comprehend that. The righteousness of God without the law, by faith in Jesus Christ. WE NEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Remember what Jesus said,"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS... How do we get this righteousness of God? God says BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED. That promise itself stirs faith in me. When we believe that Jesus bore our sin on that tree, died, and rose again, God imputes the righteousness of Christ to our account. That makes those that believe on Jesus as righteous as He was, without any works. God counted Jesus as a sinner so that He could count us as righteous. That is God`s promise. That promise itself produces faith in me and that is what pleases God. That is how I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am saved. I would be an idiot if I was not sure of my salvation, when I am in God's sight as righteous as Jesus Christ.

Well in many churches they would tell you now that you need to receive Jesus. That is ridiculous. You cannot receive Jesus. You either believe this gospel of Jesus Christ or you go back trusting in your own righteousness. You know where that will get you. And as far as believing goes, you do not decide to believe something. You either believe in something or you don`t. When you are convinced of something or persuaded, then you believe it. If you are not convinced that Jesus died in your place, then you need to hear the gospel until you do believe it. When faith comes, you will know.

So what is my purpose in writing this you might ask? Because many people are counting their own righteousness as gold, when it is like filthy rags to God. When you count your own righteousness as something precious, you are trusting in it. What is precious to God is faith. All good relationships are based on faith and the purpose for salvation is so that God will have a family that puts their trust in Him. Cast yourselves wholly on Jesus. Trust that His shed blood is sufficient. Please, don't trust in your good works. Count your righteousness as dung like Paul and cling to the righteousness of God. This faith will free you like you never dreamed possible.