Rendered Righteous

The familiar parable of the Pharisee and the publican is often misunderstood to conclude that anyone who claims to be free from sin is actually full of pride.  We find the story in Luke 18:9-14, but if we look closely, we'll see this parable reveals more than a simple blanket interpretation of sinless = prideFULL.

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

You see, the pride lies in those who DENY their inherit sinfulness, and rather trust in their OWN works and efforts at righteousness, just as that Pharisee.  The true humility is found in the repentant sinner, who acknowledges his bondage to sin, asking for deliverance which he knows he can't attain himself.  And it's by this Godly repentance and belief that he's able to walk away justified -- justified means RENDERED RIGHTEOUS. 

When we truly hate our sin, and we love the Lord so much that we want to obey him in ALL things, he then DELIVERS us from that sinful heart, giving us a brand new one, HOLY and OBEDIENT.  HE renders us righteous, because we humbled ourselves to admit we can't be righteous on our own. 

It's the self-exalting Pharisees that Jesus confronted and rebuked -- the whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones, who have a FORM of godliness, but deny the POWER thereof.  These are the same who today jerk their thumb at the finished work of Christ, claiming he didn't do it all, preferring to applaud what they deem as their own "active role" in salvation.  They put the cart before the horse, preaching we must make the OUTSIDE of the cup clean, when Jesus is clear it's the INSIDE which must be made clean first.  They pride themselves in THEMSELVES, seeking recognition for their self-willed holiness.  They have not yet humbly submitted their heart to God, and their folly is evident by the fact they're still sinners, outwardly appearing righteous unto men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

True born-again children of God would NEVER take credit for what Christ did in them.  Our holy behaviour and good works for the Kingdom are by Jesus Christ IN us -- the RESULT of salvation by grace through faith, not a means to it.  We are simply the sick who were made whole, testifying throughout the city what great things the Lord did for us, giving HIM all the praise and the glory, and inviting all to partake of this free gift as well.  This is by no means pride, but rather the ABSENCE of it.

Humility is not living in willful disobedience, nor is it trusting in your own will to achieve holiness.  Humility is completely and totally submitting yourself to God -- no longer MY will be done, but THINE.  Only then can we be made a NEW creation, a holy vessel in which he lives and works.  Praise God for this amazing grace!