Caption – Works Righteousness
I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. {Phil 3:6 NLT}
To depend on impressive credentials like having Christian parents, Pentecostal church affiliations, service in the church or even giving of your finances to support the work of the gospel as basis to please God and get His approval, will be an effort in futility. Our scriptural focus for today states – I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. We may ask, why did Apostle Paul a devout Jewish leader as at this time, persecute the church?. The answer is clear – He felt Christianity was heretical and blasphemous. Secondly he saw Christianity as a religious and political menace aim at destroying the Jewish religion and the fragile harmony between the Jews and the Roman government.
Its amazing to discover that he was wrong, because he was using the wrong measuring stick. He was evaluating himself based on the standards set by men and not by Gods own standards for righteous living. As far as obeying the outward demands of the law, he was faultless and successful in his own eyes. Whenever he looked at himself or looked at others, he always gave himself a pass mark considering himself to be among the most righteous of his days. But one day, he had the privilege of seeing himself in comparison with Christ, it was then he saw how miserable he was, depending on human works to achieve righteousness with God.
Today there is a gradual shift in the church, this is unknown to some but they are already practicing righteousness that is based on human works. There is nothing you will ever do that will quality you to be righteous except in Christ Jesus. Don’t be entangled in this web.
Righteousness is only in Christ.
Have a Grace filled day – Good News awaits you.
Twitter, Instagram – @PastorIhu
Last modified: February 10, 2016
