Bible Study The Moral and Immoral Both Alienated from God

[for_his_glory]

"Christ calls us to repent of both our good and bad works, for we have no righteousness of our own."

Even if one is not yet Spiritually born again from above, John 3:5-7, why would they have to repent of good works and what kind of good works would this be?

 

[Dave...]

Even if one is not yet Spiritually born again from above, John 3:5-7, why would they have to repent of good works and what kind of good works would this be?

Hi Glory

Sometimes what we believe are good works are, in reality, self righteousness and sin. The works of our flesh is sin, no matter how good they may appear.

Paul gives an example here.

Philippians 3:3-10 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Paul repeats this thought in...

Romans 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Dave

 

[for_his_glory]

Hi Glory

Sometimes what we believe are good works are, in reality, self righteousness and sin. The works of our flesh is sin, no matter how good they may appear.

Paul gives an example here.

Philippians 3:3-10 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Paul repeats this thought in...

Romans 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Dave

It doesn't matter how righteous one thinks they are and the good works they do as it's all in vain if they are not Spiritually born again from above and indwelled with the Holy Spirit, John 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-10; Colossians 3:1-17.

 

[Dave...]

It doesn't matter how righteous one thinks they are and the good works they do as it's all in vain if they are not Spiritually born again from above and indwelled with the Holy Spirit, John 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-10; Colossians 3:1-17.

Exactly. It's kind of a catch twenty two. If you trust in your own works, you're probably not born again. Most people who trust in themselves, believe that they are saved, though. They find some way of incorporating themselves into a system of justification that needs their input. This is actually a denial of the righteousness of God which saves us. It literally stands the Gospel message up on it's head.

Dave