February 24, 2011

• Surely none is righteous, no, not one ~ The Pharisee's Warning (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:9-10)

  Ecclesiastes 7:20: Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
  
  Romans 3:9  ...For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10  as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one...

  21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.  For there is no distinction: 23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  26  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

  27  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Sinners we, sinners all
  Polluted each by Adam's fall

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  None a friend, each God's enemy
  Dead in sins, finding no remedy

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Man's best works a filthy garment
  No true covering for sins scarlet

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  God's glory missed, the law broken
  Condemnation rightly spoken

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Death's final pronouncement
  But - Behold! the angel's announcement

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Jehovah-jireh sent His Son
  The only Righteous, Holy One

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  God His hand the heavens rent
  God Incarnate, the Lamb's descent

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Good news to sinners one and all
  Ransom for sinners from the fall

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Light breaks in gloom on all who mourn
  Behold, He comes - salvation's Horn

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Bethlehem's song and jubilation
  Peace to every tongue, tribe and nation

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  All ye sinners, hopeless and helpless
  Christ alone your perfect righteousness

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Atonement provided, blood so precious
  For sinners like us, o, so wretched

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Sinner, be saved, look and see
  Burnt offering nailed to the tree

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Believe on Him, kiss the Son
  It is finished, it is done

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  All dead works you must now cast out
  Lest from His presence be shut out

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Finest, choicest works at their best
  Leave the heart wholly unaddressed

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Your outside cup though polished, shined
  Leaves the heart inside uncircumcised

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Fruits of repentance do you grow
  True profession then you will show

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Pharisee, be not fooled nor be deceived
  Your righteousness God will never receive

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  His righteousness imputed by faith believing
  Salvation never earned by your own achieving

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Do not think yourself at all secure
  How can a sinner his own sin cure

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  See yourself as sick and in need
  To the Physician's words take heed

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Sinners the Redeemer came to buy
  Stop your ears to the deceiver's lie

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Lest you see yourself as the chief sinner
  Never will you sit with Christ at dinner

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  May He show you your bankruptcy
  Humble you before His throne of mercy

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Discard your filthy rags for His fountain
  Come sup with Him on His holy mountain

  Surely none is righteous, no, not one
  Gracious Lord, show me now my own disease
  Mine own heart reeks of vile hypocrisy

  Mark 2:15  And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16  And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17  And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
  
  
  Matthew 3:7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9  And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10  Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
  
  11  “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

  Philippians 3:1  Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
  
  2  Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3  For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4  though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. 7  But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

  ---

  Related:

  Links to my posts on true and false religion and legalism (includes links to some of the posts listed below)

  Christ's work for us:

  Advent #2 WHY HAS JESUS COME? to give his life as a ransom for many
  Advent #3 WHY HAS JESUS COME? not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance
  Bible Reading: Jeremiah 23--THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
  No other ~ Never shall the merit of Christ decay
  He will abundantly pardon for your joy (Isaiah 55) | Letter 102 on assurance & fighting for joy
  Bible Reading: Ezekiel 7–"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more"
  who are we to say . . . (Christ's atonement and assurance)
  "Salvation unto Us Has Come by God's free grace & favor"
  A little child shall lead us: Christ died for our sins (precious penal substitution)
  The Gospel: Penal substitution? Really? Yes, really!
  why we need a new heart (Bible reading - Matthew 5)

  the Gospel and works:

  "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" (Labor Day)
  Labor Day: Do you know the blessedness of not working? (Romans 4:1-8)
  the parable of Jesus and the Pharisee
  1st Sunday after Epiphany: Characteristics of false religion, # 1-Hypocrisy
  4th Sunday after Epiphany: Characteristics of false religion, # 4-Self-righteousness
  6th Sunday after Epiphany: Characteristics of true religion, # 2, part 1-honesty & sincerity
  Good Friday: Are you glorying in the cross or in your works?
  First Week of Advent: The Most Scandalous Bailout Ever
  Second Sunday of Advent: FAQ about Santa Claus and the Gospel of Christ
  Is your faith living – or is it dead? (Isaac Watts)

  on Biblical mourning:

  you say you want Jesus

  What is Biblical mourning? (Ash Wednesday)
  Biblical mourning, assurance and false guilt
  "You shall be holy to Me..." Bible reading: Leviticus
  Things to Look for in a Church: Humility before God leading to confession, repentance & fruits worthy of repentance
  Ash Wednesday: Do you despise yourself? | Job 42
  Bible Reading: Job 2:1 - "Again" (To press on we must always be mortifying sin | John Owen)
  the visitor we can't ever entertain (mortifying sin)
  Postcards from God in England: the frisking at Heathrow
  why we need a new heart (Bible reading - Matthew 5)
  Postcards from God in England: sanctification is gloriously messy!
  Blessed Be God for His Kindness Which Leads Us to Repentance

  Links to my series "Dealing with Past Sins & Guilt" including:

  Dealing with past sins & guilt: God does not despise the broken & contrite heart
  Dealing with sin & guilt: Are you wearing the Garment only God can provide?
  Dealing with sins & guilt: Godly guilt leads us to declare spiritual bankruptcy & run home

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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