And Jesus 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. The Pharisee went home dignified, the publican went home justified.
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden Jesus saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him: for she is a sinner.
Some people boast that they are right with God. They would never boast and speak like that if their eyes were opened to their own sinfulness. Open eyes make humble hearts. These kind of folks that *think* they are so right with God begin to think they are righteous, and then they begin to despise others first in heart, and then in word.
Wherefore let him that 'thinketh' he standeth take heed lest he fall. For if a man "think himself" to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Even while Paul was writing Romans 7, he was struggling with sin as he wrote the very holy scriptures. But still today, here in miserable and wretched Laodicea, we still have many silly stuffed-shirt professors boasting of their stand with God. The only One who was ever truly right with God in the truest sense was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. All glory be to Him alone forever and ever.
* We must trust only in Christ's rightness with God, not ours at all. We are perfect in Him, not in anything we've done or will do. Every day we sin and stumble and fall, but just like a child learning to walk, we want to get right back up, we look up and by the help of our Father's hand we take a few more steps by His grace - only by His grace. (Prov 24:16; Psa 119:176)
* Paul, one of the holiest saints that ever lived, one of the most free from impurity, always felt his sins most. He whose garments were the whitest, best perceived the spots upon them. He whose crown shined the brightest, always knew when he had lost a jewel. He who gave the most light to the world, was always able to discover his own darkness.
* The law of God deals with sins of thought, — the imagination of evil is sin. The transit of sin across our heart, leaves the stain of impurity behind it. The law, too, extends to every act, — tracks us to the privacy of our homes, goes with us to church, and if it discovers so much as the least sign of wavering from the strict path of sinless integrity, it condemns us. When we think ourselves most excellent, we are really defiled with sin and spoiled with impurity.
* Just when "you thought" you were 'right with God' (whatever that means) here comes a whole new army of sins over the hill after you. Oh dear saved sinner, put the Lord's armor on, and the let the captain of your salvation lead you in the battle. Below is a small list and just a few of the dark soldiers you will face in the heat of the battle every day, there is no discharge in this war. Here are the some of the sins that religion never tells you about or brings up, because religion cannot help you overcome them - only the living Savior can do that. And for you poor self-righteous sinners, that are trying your best to live a good life and trying to eke out your own self-salvation and help Jesus out with your own works - there's no hope for you - this army of dark fiends will swallow you up daily and eternally when you die in your sins - Be wise, Flee to the Rock that is higher than you.
Here is the host of hell, a few of the dark legions that your soul is up against:
Deceit, laziness, carnality, pride, covetousness, lascivious and sensual habits, secret sins, uncleanness, self-righteousness, filthy songs and dance, profane oaths, gambling, pilfering, stealing from work, cheating on your taxes or expense report, defrauding others, not paying someone what you owe them in money, time, or devotion; lust, drunkenness, lustful stares and glances, evil eye, impure thoughts, dirty jokes, thoughtless jeers and jesting, foolish talking, lewd movies and web sites, unholy thoughts, evil desires, lustfulness, wanton and lewd speech, vile gestures, blasphemous words, hatred of God's people, malice, loose conversation, sins of the ear, listening to talebearers and gossips, tauntings of unbelief, self-will, slanderous communication, trifling and idle words, slothfulness, dirty ways, vile profanities, greediness, loose pleasures, pictures, vain music, vain conversation, lewd songs, stinting on the job, gestures, impure imaginations that lead to unlawful gratification of evil passions.
Idolatry that exalts self and the creature in the place of the Creator; the golden calves of wealth, technology, science, philosophy, fashion, power, position, possessions; jealousy and emulation, secret dislikes and envying of others, bickering and quarreling; disliking of those not of your clique or denomination, arguments, contentions, inclined to quarrel, combative, belligerent, it sickens you when another is praised or promoted, you pine away if another prospers, fleshly desires to equal or excels others religiously, jealous rivalries, quick temper, strife, sensitiveness to being offended, regard to one's own dignity, desires to have the preeminence, temptations to create your own doctrine-Bible-Gospel-conviction so that others will notice or follow you, religious delirium, foul looks, smutty desires, lewd affections, impure fantasies, disgraceful acts, fraud, ashamed of the Savior, impure novel or magazine, cold worship, dusty Bible, forsaken prayer closet, hard thoughts toward God, idleness, self-pity, religious show and performance, thinking yourself better than others, gluttony, flippant attitude, make excuses for sins, blame others for your failures and lot in life, perjury, drawing attention to your self, when you enter the room - you think to yourself - "Here I am everyone!", forsaking the assembling and unity with the saints, dishonesty, evil habits, carnal indulgences, intemperance, bitter envyings, worldliness, evil passions, ill words, filthy pleasures, unlawful gain, vile fantasy, deeply-ingrained superstition, a lustful eye, fickleness, presumptuous sins, private rebellion and wandering, envious of others' things, high looks, proud thoughts, self-confidence, vain glory, nasty desires, licentious thoughts, vile glance, cherishing unclean desires, angry thoughts, foul expressions, unholy resolve to retain some favorite sin, impure stares, obstinate determination to be saved in your own way, unbelief in God's goodness and truthfulness, propensities and compulsions to rebel and wander, sensual indulgence, defiant attitude toward God, violations of conscience, money-grubbing, the thought of foolishness is sin, music and movies that inflame lusts, atheistic and blasphemous thoughts, profanity, immoral affections, fleshy thoughts and acts, foul thoughts and secret unchaste desires, yielding to temptation, sinful mirth and merriment, backbiting of neighbors and enemies, selfish choices, wasting of time and money, bad stewards of our bodies and souls, impure doctrine, laxity of faith, lascivious thought crossed your mind, impurity stirs your imagination, repeat a fact or rumor to your neighbor's disadvantage, loving something more than God, make a god of your family, pleasures, job, belly, or self; worship of mammon, taking God's most holy name in vain, neglect God's word, rebelled against your mother's or kick at your father's advice or command, dishonoring of parents, misinterpret someone's motives or designs, evil surmisings, unwillingness to forgive, drinking from the foul ditch-water of human merit, leave God out of your decisions and choices, secret indulgence of lewdness, inward corrupt desires.
Idolatry that exalts self and the creature in the place of the Creator; the golden calves of wealth, technology, science, philosophy, fashion, power, position, possessions; jealousy and emulation, secret dislikes and envying of others, bickering and quarreling; disliking of those not of your clique or denomination, arguments, contentions, inclined to quarrel, combative, belligerent, it sickens you when another is praised or promoted, you pine away if another prospers, fleshly desires to equal or excels others religiously, jealous rivalries, quick temper, strife, sensitiveness to being offended, regard to one's own dignity, desires to have the preeminence, temptations to create your own doctrine-Bible-Gospel-conviction so that others will notice or follow you, religious delirium, foul looks, smutty desires, lewd affections, impure fantasies, disgraceful acts, fraud, ashamed of the Savior, impure novel or magazine, cold worship, dusty Bible, forsaken prayer closet, hard thoughts toward God, idleness, self-pity, religious show and performance, thinking yourself better than others, gluttony, flippant attitude, make excuses for sins, blame others for your failures and lot in life, perjury, drawing attention to your self, when you enter the room - you think to yourself - "Here I am everyone!", forsaking the assembling and unity with the saints, dishonesty, evil habits, carnal indulgences, intemperance, bitter envyings, worldliness, evil passions, ill words, filthy pleasures, unlawful gain, vile fantasy, deeply-ingrained superstition, a lustful eye, fickleness, presumptuous sins, private rebellion and wandering, envious of others' things, high looks, proud thoughts, self-confidence, vain glory, nasty desires, licentious thoughts, vile glance, cherishing unclean desires, angry thoughts, foul expressions, unholy resolve to retain some favorite sin, impure stares, obstinate determination to be saved in your own way, unbelief in God's goodness and truthfulness, propensities and compulsions to rebel and wander, sensual indulgence, defiant attitude toward God, violations of conscience, money-grubbing, the thought of foolishness is sin, music and movies that inflame lusts, atheistic and blasphemous thoughts, profanity, immoral affections, fleshy thoughts and acts, foul thoughts and secret unchaste desires, yielding to temptation, sinful mirth and merriment, backbiting of neighbors and enemies, selfish choices, wasting of time and money, bad stewards of our bodies and souls, impure doctrine, laxity of faith, lascivious thought crossed your mind, impurity stirs your imagination, repeat a fact or rumor to your neighbor's disadvantage, loving something more than God, make a god of your family, pleasures, job, belly, or self; worship of mammon, taking God's most holy name in vain, neglect God's word, rebelled against your mother's or kick at your father's advice or command, dishonoring of parents, misinterpret someone's motives or designs, evil surmisings, unwillingness to forgive, drinking from the foul ditch-water of human merit, leave God out of your decisions and choices, secret indulgence of lewdness, inward corrupt desires.
* Be wise - Stay Humble, Look to the Blood of Jesus continually, and always prayerfully depend on the Power of the Holy Ghost. Stay humble or you will stumble; Ponder or you will wander. The Lord and you must weed the garden of your heart, if you want to feed others from that garden. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
