The Highway Forums Announcements What's New on The Highway website? "Self-Righteousness" by J.C. Ryle

“He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” — Luke xviii. 9.

ARE there none to whom this parable is applicable in the present day? Truly, if it were so, the ministers of Jesus would have comparatively a light employment and an idle post. We do not often meet with men who deny the divinity of Christ, or the personality of the Holy Ghost, or disbelieve the Bible, or doubt the existence of a God, and so bring upon themselves swift destruction; but, alas! we have daily proof that the disease spoken of in our text is as deep-seated and hard to cure as ever, and of all the mischievous delusions that keep men out of heaven, of all the soul-destroying snares that Satan employs to oppose Christ’s Gospel, there is none we find so dangerous, none so successful, as self-righteousness.

The above quote from this article on "self-righteousness" by J.C. Ryle should automatically give you an indication of what the subject is and to whom he addresses his further comments. We know that unbelievers are by nature self-righteous. But have we ever considered that believers and we ourselves, in particular, may also be guilty of self-righteousness? It is hoped that what seemed good to Bishop Ryle to write on this subject will evoke some self-examination of every reader.

Read this article here: Self-Righteousness

For later reading, go to "Calvinism and the Reformed Faith" and click on the "Sola Fide" button on the left.

In His service and grace,