One of the chief spiritual lies that leads to the damnation of men’s souls is the belief that one can earn his way into heaven by good works. The Bible is plain in its declaration of man’s sin. The Scriptures point out “there is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). Yet, somehow, we are inclined to believe that if we do enough good works that these will outweigh the bad and give us that heavenly home we desire.
The Apostle Paul sought earnestly to eliminate that false hope writing “that no man is justified [declared righteous] by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). He meant that doing the good things the law required while not doing the things the law condemned would save no one because it simply is impossible to do. James confirmed the guilt of this inevitable failure. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
Jesus likewise spoke to the foolishness of self-righteousness in a parable. “And he [Jesus] spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14).
The Pharisee, a religious leader, boasted to God by comparing himself to other men. It is always possible to find someone that we compare ourselves with favorably. But our righteousness is not measured in the sight of men, but as Paul noted, in the sight of God! Jesus saw through the hypocrisy of these religious fakes. They were quick to “tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith” (Matthew 23:23).
The publican, a tax collector, was very much aware of his sin before a holy God and was so humbled by it that he could not even look heavenward. Rather, he pleaded that God would be “merciful” toward him, that God would accept him on the basis of the sacrifice.
Jesus concluded the parable “this man [the publican] went down to his house justified [righteous]” and not the Pharisee. The publican received a righteous standing with God thru faith while the Pharisee sought to establish his own righteousness, but came up lacking. How about you? Do you identify with the Pharisee or with the publican? Are you trusting in your own good works or do you need a righteousness that is not your own. Jesus through his death, burial, and resurrection has “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Hebrews 10:12). Receive him and know the righteousness of God.
From the Chaplain 