The Doctrine of Self-righteousness

The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cheribims; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy” Psalm 99:1-5.

That through darkened eyes Satan should think to defame the Holy and Righteous name of God is unspeakable. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” Isa. 14;13,14. A most devious plan in the warped mind of the fallen star! If he would exalt himself he must first bring God down; to slander His name; “to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious.” (Webster). Satan would lie his way to the top. He would seek to dethrone God in the eyes of his creation. . .

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?. . .For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” Gen. 3:1,5. Satan spoke, as it were, of the deprivity of man: it’s not in the English dictionary, but it might well be. “God has withheld something good and desirable from you - He has deprived you of that which you rightly deserve. You should take matters into your own hands - pick the fruit which God has disallowed and partake of it!” Eve, beware of the deception of the Evil One! Know the Truth: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” Psalm 84:11.

Satan was indeed subtle and beguiling: “Eve, make up your own mind - you have a will: choose you this day whom you will serve!” And self righteousness was conceived. A better term yet - unrighteousness. Whatever the term - it is Sin.

“Ye shall be as gods.” A ‘god’ being the high authority that he is, sets his own rules of ‘righteousness’: he answers to no one; others must abide by his commandments or suffer the consequences. “Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Actually, as a god, it is more than knowing. It is, is his own eyes, determining that which is ‘good’ and that which is ‘evil.’ One who is a god himself, thinks to remove himself out from under the authority and jurisdiction of Almighty God. Therefore he reasons that his own decisions and actions are not subject to the law nor judgment of Divine authority. This we may call the ‘Doctrine of Self-righteousness’ which may be discovered in the ‘bible’ self-written and changeable at will by the god of self righteousness, and according to his own ‘good pleasure.’

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” Rom 10:3. Ignorant, agnoeo, Gr. (by implication, to ignore.) “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” John 1:9. “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” John 1:10. That is to say, they willingly, deliberately chose to ignore the Light.

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” Rom. 1:19,20.

Men are said to “hold the truth in unrighteousness;” they became “vain in their affections,” their “foolish heart was darkened.” “Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness,” He gave them up unto vile affections,” “gave them over to a reprobate mind.” Romans chapter 1. In a nutshell, “being filled with all unrighteousness” Rom. 1:29. In this do have full authority from the Word of God to use the term, Total Depravity. For an extensive definition of the term, one can do no better than to read Romans chapter one in its entirety.

ODE TO THE FLESH

O thou my flesh, To thee do I bow and pay homage.

Thee and thee alone do I seek to exalt.

My goal continually is that I may please thee.

I will that thou receivest every pleasure;

That thou be enriched in the things of this world.

O thou my flesh, in thee do I glory.

Thou art exceedingly great; Thy wisdom and thy strength

do I set forth for all to behold.

Thou standeth alone, O flesh, For thou art self-sufficient,

And needest not help from anyone: For who is greater than thou?