Romans 9:30 (NKJV) What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;
Romans 10:3-4 (NKJV) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Apostle Paul compared the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus to the pursuit of establishing one’s own righteousness. The gospel shows us how righteousness is obtained through faith in Jesus’ work of redemption and atonement. However, some people seek to attain their own righteousness. This is self-righteousness. We must be careful not to slip into self-righteousness, as it can lead to pride and Pharisaic behaviour.
One good example of self-righteousness is revealed in the prayer of the Pharisee.
Luke 18:9-12 (NKJV) Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
Those who are self-righteous tend focus more on their deeds to be accepted by God than on being His children. They boast about doing good works, fasting, tithing, and praying. While these are all important, their motives are driven by self-righteousness aimed at earning God’s acceptance. They trust in their own deeds for salvation rather than in the blood of Jesus. They are often judgemental, critical, and look down on others. Typically, such people have a very legalistic, religious spirit and are bound by tradition instead of trusting in the Word of God about righteousness in Christ.
Isaiah 64:6a (NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
Filthy rags in this Scripture refer to worthless self-achieved righteousness, which is powerless to produce results or makes us pray ineffectively because God doesn’t accept it. We cannot come to God based on our own achievements, nor can we have a right standing with God through good works. The self-righteous will lack confidence and faith that God will answer their prayers because they will always think that they have not done enough or are not good enough.
Throughout the years, people have attempted to gain God’s love and acceptance through their own effort—the law, philosophical thoughts, and good works, but they will fail miserably and get tired of religion.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In contrast, Jesus wants us to recognise our identity as children of God and live based on all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. That’s why His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Sermon Series: Righteousness: Religion or Reality
谨防自以为义
罗马书 9:30 这样，我们可说什么呢？那本来不追求义的外邦人反得了义，就是因信而得的义。
罗马书 10:3-4 因为他们不明白神的义，想要立自己的义，就不服神的义了。律法的总结就是基督，使凡信祂的人都得着义。
使徒保罗在此对比了两种义——一种是因信耶稣而得的义，另一种是人靠自己努力所追求的义。福音清楚地向我们启示，真正的义是通过信靠耶稣基督在救赎与赎罪中所成就的工作而得着的。然而，有些人却试图靠自己的行为来成就义，这就是“自以为义”。我们必须谨慎，不要陷入自义之中，因为这会导致骄傲与法利赛式的行为。
一个关于自义的典型例子，就是主耶稣在比喻中提到的那位法利赛人的祷告。
路加福音 18:9-12 耶稣向那些自以为义、藐视别人的人讲了这个比喻，说：“有两个人上圣殿去祷告，一个是法利赛人，一个是税吏。那法利赛人站着，自言自语地祷告说：‘神啊，我感谢你，我不像别人勒索、不义、奸淫，也不像这个税吏。我一个礼拜禁食两次，凡我所得的都捐上十分之一。’”
自以为义的人往往更关注自己的行为，好像借此可以被神接纳，而忽略了他们与神的儿女关系。他们喜欢夸耀自己所做的善事、禁食、奉献与祷告。这些行为本身固然重要，但若动机出于自义——想藉行为换取神的接纳，那就偏离了真理。他们信靠自己的行为得救，而不是依靠耶稣的宝血。这类人往往容易论断他人、挑剔批评，甚至轻视别人。他们常被律法主义和宗教传统所捆绑，而不是信靠神的话语中所启示的基督里的义。
以赛亚书 64:6 我们都像不洁净的人，所有的义都像污秽的衣服。
经文中的“污秽的衣服”指的是人靠自己成就的义，这种义在神面前毫无价值，不能带来任何属灵果效，也使人的祷告失去能力，因为神并不接纳这样的义。我们不能凭自己的成就来到神面前，也不能藉着善行与神建立正确的关系。自以为义的人往往缺乏信心与确信，总觉得自己不够好、不够做得多，因此难以相信神会垂听他们的祷告。
历世历代以来，人类不断试图通过自己的努力、律法、哲学思想或善行来赢得神的爱与接纳，但这样的努力终将失败，并使人精疲力竭，陷入宗教的重担中。
马太福音 11:28-30 凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式，这样，你们心里就必得安息。因为我的轭是容易的，我的担子是轻省的。
相反，耶稣邀请我们认识自己是神的儿女，并活出在基督里属天各样属灵福分的生命。这正是祂所说“祂的轭是容易的，祂的担子是轻省的”的真正含义。
讲章系列：公义：宗教要求，还是救恩的确据？