Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8823 self-righteousness » 8825 self-righteousness, and the gospel
Self-righteousness is an obstacle to the gospel, which insists that true righteousness can only be found in Jesus Christ.
The real issue of righteousness
Job 9:2 See also 1 Samuel 6:20; Job 4:17; Job 15:14; Job 32:2 Although Elihu had misjudged Job, his main point, that only God was righteous, was correct; Job 40:8; Psalm 130:3
True righteousness is not the result of human effort
Romans 3:20 Even though God's law tells people what God requires, human beings cannot keep it because of the weakness of their sinful human natures. See also Romans 9:31; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 John 2:16
Self-righteousness is a contradiction in terms
2 Chronicles 6:36; Isaiah 64:6 See also Ezra 9:15; Psalm 14:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Daniel 9:7; Romans 3:10,23
God calls people from their pretended self-righteousness
Isaiah 2:22 See also Psalm 75:2-4; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 5:20
True righteouness
It comes from God
Romans 10:3 See also Psalm 98:2; Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 51:5; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Romans 1:17
It is grounded in Jesus Christ
Acts 13:39 See also 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21
It comes about by faith
Romans 5:1 See also Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 2:8
It is received in humility
Luke 18:13-14 See also Romans 3:27; Romans 4:2; 1 Corinthians 1:31; Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 11:30; Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 6:13-14; Ephesians 2:9; Philippians 3:7-9
See also
6676 justification 8020 faith 8154 righteousness 8774 legalism
