Related Posts
Matthew 5:20 (NKJV)
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Some people take this verse and affirm the following: “If you, as a believer in Christ, will not get to a point where you live more holy than the scribes and Pharisees, then you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You will not be saved anymore.” What was the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? They were fasting three times a week, paying their tithes regularly, praying often, and doing all kinds of good works externally, according to the requirements of the Law of Moses. In other words, their righteousness was a righteousness of good works, more specifically, of the works of the Law. And Jesus comes along saying that if a person’s righteousness doesn’t exceed the one of the works of the Law, by no means will she enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Does Jesus mean here that a believer must do exceedingly more good works than the Pharisees to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Definitely not! Jesus was referring to another type of righteousness that was to come through His death and was superior to the one given by the Law—that is, God’s gift of righteousness received by faith in Jesus Christ:
Romans 3:20–22 (NKJV)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.
Finally, let’s take a moment to see how Paul describes the righteousness of the Pharisees:
Romans 10:1–4 (NKJV)
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes. He is the righteousness of God that exceeds the one of the scribes and Pharisees and which a person must receive by faith to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. A believer has become, once and for all, the righteousness of God in Christ at the time of salvation:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Listen / Watch / Download
You can listen to the audio message of this article, watch the video message, or download it in different formats (mp3 / mp4 / pdf) from the following link:
Session 11 – The Post-Salvation Unbelief (Saved for Eternity) – June 19th, 2024
