I think the following video does a great job of distinguishing between self-righteousness and being faithful in God. I just found it two days ago. It's part of an overarching series studying the Ark of the Covenant, but I think she does a great job at clearly explaining my position as one who's
obedient to God's law but who's saved by Christ's grace through faith alone. Below it, I post a few key time-stamps where she makes great points (along with my own added points supporting hers).
It's 43 mins but really easy to follow, so I ask you to give it a chance.
[video=youtube;4CM3MTzbfOo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CM3MTzbfOo&list=PL643C879DAE964A5A[/video]
11:25 - example:
Theft is still forbidden (even *after* being pardoned for theft).
11:30 -
"If the man continues his criminal activities [even *after* being pardoned] he can still be stopped as the law still stands."
11:53 -
"If [God] had done away with the law, God could not judge anyone...free pass for anyone to heaven."
12:45 -
"Mercy is 'the exception'...If mercy were 'the rule', it would not be mercy."
This is why the two tablets of
the law were placed in the ark and
COVERED by the MERCY seat:
a) As the ark is a representation of the Throne of God, the Law (in the ark) is the foundation/base of God's supreme authority.
If the law is done away then God's authority is done away...If there's no authority, there's no right to judge *ANYONE*.
b) As the mercy seat covers the law; the same one who established the law has the authority to dispense mercy for transgressions of that law (to the truly repentant and not the willful lawbreaker), which is why
God can *immediately reverse* any mercy/pardon/forgiveness he shows (like in the parable of the unforgiving servant).
16:19 - (note the context)
"Scripture shows that those who accused the disciples of speaking against God's law* were called "false witnesses. Today many Christians continue this false witness claiming the disciples spoke against God's law."
16:43 - "
The disciple had been told to first preach to the lost tribes of Israel (so that the gospel would maintain its *correct context*), and THEN it was to be given to the gentiles."
Christ said to the Samaritan woman, "...you don't know what it is you worship...salvation is of the Jews". The Samaritans are known for changing ordinances of God's law.
17:18 -
Function "A") The Moral Law = defines/witnesses to sin & expose the transgressor (establishing God's holiness, authority & justice)
Function "B") The Ceremonial Law (sacrificial system) = atonement/forgiveness/justification for sin (i.e. blotting out and pardoning/obtaining mercy for breaking the Moral Law).
These are the "works" men could no longer do to achieve forgiveness/salvation from sin that Paul refers to in his letters, NOT the works of following God's Moral law (i.e. God's righteousness) but performing sacrificial rituals and MAN-MADE traditions of worship (i.e. "self-righteousness").
Christ did not do away with God's Moral Law, but did away with the Ceremonial Law, perfecting forgiveness by becoming the eternal High Priest & Sacrifice to perform function "
B".
This is why we must have faith in Christ's work; belief in Christ's work (alone) to obtain the required mercy from God FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE (unchanged) LAW.
Then Christ's gift of The Holy Spirit provides us with the power to perform function "
A"; obey God's Moral Law *AFTER* we've obtained mercy...and when we stumble & sin through weakness (requiring a sacrifice) we now take our sins to Christ for him to take care of (in the new & living covenant), ask forgiveness and repent (i.e. turn away from that sin forever).
22:18-22:30 - The debate was **never** about whether "one could obtain atonement/forgiveness (function "
B") through God's Moral Law" because that was NEVER its function..." Yah's Moral Law was *NEVER* for atonement (whether fully or partially), rather God's Ceremonial/Sacrificial (i.e. "sin PAYMENT") Laws forshadowed that function "
B" (which was only affected once Christ finally appeared).
In other words, the debates exemplified in Acts were centered around
The Sacrificial Laws (Not The Moral Laws)...this is why Hebrews goes to great lengths to explain the fulfillment of the "Ritual of Atonement" and the difference between the blood of animals and Christ's blood...while STILL emphasizing that *deliberately continuing willful sins* [Heb. 10:26] are NOT covered by Christ's sacrifice (because that's taking Christ's grace as a license to continue breaking God's law, treating his one & only sacrifice with disdain).
This is what Christ was talking about when he said "one can't pour new wine in old wine skins". His words here had nothing to do with God's Commandments (Moral Law) but with the sacrificial laws that "atone" (including fasting and other efforts that attempted to "MAKE PAYMENT for a transgression"). Christ also wasn't talking about the traditions of the Pharisees when he said this, rather Christ would flat out rejected the pharisaic traditions at *every* opportunity (because they weren't part of God's Moral Law).
30:36 - "
Paul is the only writer in the bible that the bible itself **warns against** misunderstanding".
Without the foundation of the Old Covenant & God's Laws, one can't properly understand Paul...but many incorrectly establish Paul's writings as the foundation for understanding the Old Covenant & God's Laws.
But notice in Revelation that the judgments of God only follow *AFTER* the ark of the covenant is shown from heaven. The ark; the throne of God that contains God's Moral law at its foundation.
35:30 -
"[Apostles/Disciples] did not have authority as lawmakers above God..."
36:47 -
"The Heart being **in harmony with God's law** was more important than a ritual" (1 Cor. 7:19)
36:30 -
"...not to put the commandments of men above the commandments of God."
39:34 -
"traditions and commandments of men BASED UPON SCRIPTURE BUT STILL MAN-MADE are *still* illegal"
(Forgive me but) this includes things such as new holidays, a new rest day, preaching "tithing else cursed" commandment (i.e. being partial with this law even though the whole law is supposedly done away at the same time), restrictions on preaching without receiving a diploma from bible college or seminary, etc.
These things are actually examples of true self-righteousness because they *did not* come from any command God spoke but came from things men decided to do (albeit for God).
It's the written Sacrificial Laws that are not ours to follow; not anyone's to follow anymore who believes in Christ...but not God's Moral Law; those are still ours to follow.
If God's law is done away, God's kingdom is done away, and God's authority as "King" is done away too. God has *no right* to judge anyone for anything on Judgment day. Without the law as a standard, anyone can believe in the God/Christ of their own heart (i.e. "I feel God wants me to...") and righteousness becomes "relative" (i.e. "I can't see how God would have a problem with me...").
Self-Righteousness.
Judges 17:6In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes [i.e. self-righteousness].