The horrendous act of self righteousness

The horrendous act of self-righteousness

 I wonder how many of us that are examining and considering the way we approach the throne of grace, whether it is through our own self-righteousness which is as filthy rags before God, whether it is by the works of the law by which of course no flesh shall be justified, or by Jesus Christ our righteousness.

It is imperative that we examine ourselves concerning this very important issue in order to avoid falling victim to the horrendous act of self –righteousness because, whether we ignorantly, deceptively or deliberately committing this act the consequences are the same because, ignorance of the law is no excuse and as we have been duly admonished saying: “that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few” (Luke 12:47-48).

It is self-righteousness on the part of anyone who believes that, he/she can present themselves before the throne of the Most High at any time and without presenting to Him the food for His offerings. For thus says the Lord who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

“When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

First and foremost one cannot approach the throne of grace without an appointment, if the day is not ordained by the Lord Himself everything done will be futile, prayers will be considered an abomination because the Lord has ordained specific days when we are to appear before Him, for thus says the Lord Who is the same yesterday, today and forever; “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” And, “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:2, 4).

So there are specific days which the Lord has ordained for His people to appear before Him on their own volition as stated by the apostle Paul who wrote; “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:-6).

There is absolutely no legalism, it is simply an expression of faith, love and thanksgiving to God for what He did for humanity on these specific days and for which we commemorate and express our gratitude.

Secondly, when approaching the presence of the Most High one must consider the holiness of God and present to Him the food for His offerings, for this is what the LORD spoke, saying: ' By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified “ (Leviticus 10:3).

To regard the Lord as holy is not to associate Him with sin for this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1John 1:5-7).

Please note carefully that, in order to have fellowship with one another and with the Father and the Son it is imperative that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, without this cleansing we cannot have fellowship with one another and with the Father and the Son.

It is the blood of Jesus Christ through the administering of the blood of the New Covenant that cleanses us from all sins and grants us access in the presence of the Most High as alluded to by the apostle Paul who wrote; “I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:15-17).

Furthermore, the main objective for having a holy convocation is to offer the Lord the food for His offerings for thus says the Lord Who again is the same yesterday, today and forever; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:37-38).

This offering as one can clearly see it is besides or in addition to observing the Sabbaths which were ordained principally to come and appear before the Lord and it is also besides or in addition to any other  gifts or offerings one may desire to offer to the Lord and the Command to offer the Lord the food for His offerings reads as follows;  “Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).

I therefore beg to ask the question, when we appear before the Lord on a day which He has not ordained and appearing before Him without presenting to Him the food for His offerings is this not being self-righteous?

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With brotherly love 

Lucius Joseph