We have an enemy that desires to rob us of our joy and peace of living in the good of Christ’s righteousness, and that enemy is self-righteousness. You may not realise that this enemy is your experience but you are aware of it in others, without realising it has a hold in you.

How many times do we feel as if God’s love for us changes according to whether our ‘quiet time’ have gone well or we seem to have got through the day relatively unscathed as far as our sins are concerned?

It is possible to know that we are saved by grace and yet live as if God’s blessings are given to us dependent upon our performance.

Jerry Bridges, in his great book, ‘The Bookends of the Christian Life’ gives the following questions to ask ourselves in evaluating the existence of self-righteousness in our lives:

• Do you tend to live by a list of dos and don’ts?
• Is it difficult for you to respect those whose standards aren’t as high as yours?
• Do you assume that practicing spiritual disciplines should result in God’s blessing?
• Do you feel you’re better than most other people?
• Has it been a long time since you identified a sin and repented of it?
• Do you resent it when others point out your ‘spiritual blind spots’?
• Do you readily recognize the sins of others but not your own?
• Do you have the sense that God owes you a good life?
• Do you get angry when difficulties and suffering come into your life?
• Do you seldom think of the cross?

Be honest with your assessment of yourself if necessary ask others for their opinion.

If you find that you are answering yes to these questions it is likely that the enemy of self-righteousness exists in your life.

It needs to be defeated by realising and dwelling in the truth that our performance no matter how good will ever meet with the approval of God.

Our confidence rests with the Apostle Paul in what he writes to the Corinthian Church in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21:
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him WE might become the righteousness of God.

It’s in His righteousness we stand, therefore there is no requirement for self-righteousness.