Corinth - Spring of AD 57
Since Paul, the self proclaimed apostle of the martyred Jew named Jesus, arrived in Corinth, the disciples of Jesus have been openly speaking about their master, whom they claim has been raised from the dead. One of the teachings they often repeat is a warning against self-righteousness.
They say that once, when Jesus was teaching a group of people, the religious leaders began to sneer at him. "He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.’ " (Luke 16:15 NIV)
"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." " (Luke 18:9-14 NIV)
It has been reported here in Corinth that Paul recently wrote a letter to some Christians in Rome. From what we have been able to determine, the subject of self-righteousness was a major topic of this letter. Reprinted here is some of what he wrote.
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." (Rom 10:1-3 NIV)
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Rom 3:21-26 NIV)
Insight from Look at the Man by Tim Woodroof and Glen Gray
The Religion of Jesus is Mercy not Merit from Look at the Man by Tim Woodroof and Glen Gray
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Copyright © 1996 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.