Originally Posted by savedbygrace97
Sometimes I have to wonder if Reformed Protestants don't do the same thing only in a different way. Many of the Reformed preachers and teachers tend to leave us with the attitude of Perfectionism. The idea that we must always be looking at our works or our own righteousness to be sure that we are saved.
Dave,

I don't know that we will find "most" reformed teachers/preachers telling us to look at our own righteousness. I personally tell people to look to Christ. It is in Him we find our peace, strength and the willingness to do good. We approach things the wrong way when we look at our works to assure us. So often we approach the bible as a list of rules "how" to be righteous, but I believe the Word of God is much more. When we look into His precious word, we should see ourselves. We are encouraged because we have the marks of a true child of God. The word speaks of Christ and we are to be Christlike. I always tell people "don't try" to be good, allow God to make you good. How? by following the instruction in Rom. 12:1-2, renewing our minds and presenting our bodies living sacrifices. If you love the puritans, you will see they were faithful to point out our sin and then pointed to Christ as our hope. When we read the Epistles by Paul, we see he did the same thing. A combination of understanding our sin and then seeing Christ will lead to the changed life. We will then say the love of Christ constrains us instead of "trying" to be good enough. The true changes that last in the Christian are those He effects through His word, not those we do in our own strength in order to be good enough.

In Christ,
Hisalone

Hisalone
Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV