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Self righteousness cannot save

Self righteousness cannot save

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Self righteousness is dangerous, and can lead to hell fire. So many people hang the hope of their eternal salvation on self righteousness, and morality. They think that if they can be disciplined without grace, that they’ll get to heaven. Some will say, “I don’t fight, I don’t steal, I don’t engage in clamouring, I don’t fornicate, I don’t do all those things that people do.”

However, I need you to understand, the scripture says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We are all sinners, for I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceived me, says David the great psalmist of Israel. And now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

On that great judgement day, when all nations shall be gathered before the King of glory, and the books shall be opened: and another book shall be opened which is the book of life, self righteousness will avail not. Only those who acknowledge their helplessness and sinful state, and looked to the cross of Christ for salvation, and were clothed with the Redeemer’s righteousness, which was imputed on them, and then implanted in them, will be saved from the indignation of the LORD.

The rich man will stand before the Ancient of days, and all his riches will vanish away, his fame will be silenced, his lawyers and entourage will all be desponded, as they will hear the LORD of glory say to him, “Depart, ye cursed into everlasting fire.”The educated man and certificate engrossed will stand before the Ancient of days, and his certificate would have been eaten by moth, his grammatical quotient will not persuade the Son of God, and his subjects will hear the Redeemer say to him, “Depart from me into hell fire.”

And those who rejected the salvation of God in Christ Jesus, and the grace of holiness in Christ, will stand before the same LORD whom they rejected while they were on earth, and all their works will be revealed, both those done in the secret: the hypocrisy, the immorality, the secret pride, and all the evils they did; and then they shall hear from the LORD, “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.”

The religious man will stand before the everlasting King, and shall begin to justify himself: “I am a worker, I am this and that, I was once a leader, I gave my all to the church, even look thou on all my title deeds, they call me brother holiness, see all my converts.” Then the eternal God shall say to him, “I never knew you.” He will reply, Lord, you held crusade in our street, and I was the usher, during your Sunday program, I ministered with the choristers. Then shall the Holy One of God say unto him,

“Thou art an abomination to me, I never knew you, depart into everlasting fire.”

And O, what a weeping and wailing, as the lost were told of their fate; they cried for the rocks and the mountains, they prayed, but their prayer was too late.

This is the hour of decision. And the Lord Jesus Christ, is offering to all his righteousness. For the scripture says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Why will you die, O house of Israel? Stop all that self righteousness, hypocritical disposition, noise making speaking in tongues, and come now to the Saviour: he’s JESUS.

He promised to array thee with the Redeemer’s robe, with inward and outward holiness; adorn thee with all his sanctifying graces, and honour thee with his token of adopting love. Give your life to the Lord, turn away from your sins; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

More Reads: The consequences of being a slothful and unprofitable servant

Reagan Azoyenime is a born again Christian and an undergraduate student of Ambrose Ali University, Nigeria. He writes edifying Christian messages centred on salvation in Christ and holiness.

E-mail: razoyenime@gmail.com

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