2. R IGHTEOUS “in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God” “in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God” “innocent, faultless, guiltless” “innocent, faultless, guiltless” “approved of or acceptable of God” (Thayer) “approved of or acceptable of God” (Thayer) All have sinned…none righteous by being sinlessly perfect, Rom. 3:9-10, 23 All have sinned…none righteous by being sinlessly perfect, Rom. 3:9-10, 23 2

3. R IGHTEOUSNESS Faith is counted for righteousness, Rom. 1:16-17; 3:21-23; 4:3-8; Phil. 3:9 Faith is counted for righteousness, Rom. 1:16-17; 3:21-23; 4:3-8; Phil. 3:9 The sin of self-righteousness is a constant temptation to God’s people, Deut. 9:3-6 The sin of self-righteousness is a constant temptation to God’s people, Deut. 9:3-6 Trouble: It is hard to see S-R in ourselves! Luke 18:9-14 Trouble: It is hard to see S-R in ourselves! Luke 18:9-14 3

4. S ELF -R IGHTEOUSNESS “I am right!” Luke 18:9 “I am right!” Luke 18:9 Trust in oneself: Convinced, persuaded, assured, confident in self Trust in oneself: Convinced, persuaded, assured, confident in self Not God-defined (by faith, Rom. 4:5) Not God-defined (by faith, Rom. 4:5) Self-defined, Luke 18:9 Self-defined, Luke 18:9 4

5. S ELF -R IGHTEOUSNESS Produces self-deception, Lk. 18:9; Isa. 65:2-7; Jas. 1:26 Produces self-deception, Lk. 18:9; Isa. 65:2-7; Jas. 1:26 Causes unjust comparisons and unrighteous judgments, Isa. 65:5 Causes unjust comparisons and unrighteous judgments, Isa. 65:5 – Despise others, 18:9 – Unjust, foolish, harsh, fleshly judgments, Lk. 18:11-12; 2 Cor. 10:12 – cf. Phil. 3:17-19 5

6. S ELF -R IGHTEOUSNESS Results in isolation, Luke 18:11 Results in isolation, Luke 18:11 – It is not empathetic nor merciful, Matt. 5:7 (Lk. 18:13) – It does not encourage others, Gal. 6:1-3 Results in condemnation, Luke 18:13-14 Results in condemnation, Luke 18:13-14 6

7. O VERCOMING S ELF -R IGHTEOUSNESS Be conscious of our own unworthiness, Luke 18:13 Be conscious of our own unworthiness, Luke 18:13 – Stand “afar off” in reverence, Isa. 64:5-7 – Penitent confession of sins, Psa. 40:11-12; 34:18; 51:17; Lk. 23:48 – You do not earn mercy, Lk. 18: 13; 17:11-14 (10); Titus 3:4-5, 7 7

8. O VERCOMING S ELF -R IGHTEOUSNESS Be humble before God and toward men, Luke 18:14 Be humble before God and toward men, Luke 18:14 – “I am a sinner!” – Impress God – not others! Matt. 6:1-18; Lk. 14:7-11 (16:15) – Do not seek repayment from others, Luke 14:12-14 8

9. O VERCOMING S ELF -R IGHTEOUSNESS Do not put confidence in the flesh, Phil. 3:3-11 Do not put confidence in the flesh, Phil. 3:3-11 – Radically different value system! – Not in law-keeping (a sinner), Rom. 3:20; 7:9-12 – Rely on “the righteousness which is from God by faith”, 3:9 – Life is about Jesus, not ourselves! Gal. 2:20; 1 Jno. 5:3-4 9

10. 10 Luke 18:11 1 Peter 5:5-7