I recall those family members who lived their lives in church every week but seemed to lack all the fruit of the Spirit. They invested deeply in appearances but behind closed doors, they were mean regularly and didn't think anything was wrong with them.
Matthew 23:5 "5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"
Luke 16:15
"And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
When confronted with their mean attitudes the self-righteous person will fight to defend what God calls evil. They feel justified in their mean deeds because in their minds you are worse than them, even if the "worse" was based on their idea of you rather than anything they saw for themselves.
When we notice people acting superior as though they are worthy of great prizes for who they think they are, we are observing someone who has never confronted their own sins to be cleansed.
Anyone who has been crushed under the weight of their own sin, confessing it to God to become born-again could never enjoy holding the past sins of others against them. It is only the unsaved who think they have always been good and worthy of praise who have the audacity to feel superior.
The word "contrite" in the following passage means to be completely crushed, so much so that we are on our knees before God desiring to be cleansed by Him because we know we cannot cleanse ourselves and we know how filthy our inner being is before God.
Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Those who have never been crushed under the weight of their own sin asking God to make them a new creation, can not be born-again. Until this happens to everyone who comes to Christ, there is no salvation, they remain in their sin-sick state and are on their way to hell.
Hell awaits the self-righteous person. Heaven awaits those who have been crushed, repented, and trusted in Christ. Why would anyone choose hell? It is a choice and a permanent one!
Matthew 5:4-5 " 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.…"
