Although the Bible states the above and follows it with the only way to be justified, made righteous; it is so easy for us to rely on their own merit to be right before God because we are so accustomed to doing everything in our own strength….
As a former in law said to me before her death, “Oh, I think I’ve lived a pretty good life.” Indicating she had no worries about judgment day; how could she have, she never went to church, read the Bible…but relied on the kind of information about God that one finds in the small talk of any community: God is love; my good deeds will outweigh my bad; there is no hell….
The Bible states that there is one way to be made righteous:
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Below is a 13 minute reading of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion wherein he speaks to the aforementioned grave error committed by believers and unbelievers alike. The points Calvin discusses take a lot of Bible study and familiarity with scripture to ascertain; but knowing them, one can more easily discerned these things via reading scripture. That is, hearing him state these things will be beneficial to those who read their Bibles.
I have been reading the Bible for 15 years and have to say that knowing biblical truth, and knowing how I am actually living my life are two different things. That is, if I do not observe my own conduct to ascertain from it what I am actually believing, then I can never know if my walk is biblical.
In other words, it is easy to know the truth and hold to it intellectually, but to actually be living like an atheist, or a pagan.
God the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of believers to their sins and idolatry when they seek such knowledge via prayer. Those who abide in God’s means of grace (Bible reading; prayer; hearing preaching of the gospel; taking the Lord’s supper; fellowship with believers), are humbled by these and moved to seek understanding about their motives for sinning, their sins, the power of grace necessary to overcome sin and so on.
Self-observation; self-examination; and meditation on the aforementioned seems to be required. I am still figuring these things out.
STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS:
For more information related to this post, see: Categories, Sin: Its Role in Christian Growth.
Also, see: Categories: Sin, John Owen; Justification; Calvin’s Institutes; Jonathan Edwards; Thomas Brooks; Bible Key Word Study; Christian Meditation; Discernment; Gospel Message Defined; Gospel Message; Lust; Study Helps; The Beatitude Life; True Kingdom Citizen.