Originally Posted by hisalone
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.
Hmmmm, I'm contused! confused Can you help me out here? Are not the "marks of grace" that which are perceptible, i.e., they can be discerned by ourselves and in many cases by others? (Matt 7:16, 20) So, in one sense, aren't we called to examine ourselves to see if Christ (Holy Spirit) is truly in us by seeing some evidence of transformation? (Jam 2:24-26) To be sure assurance is obtained by several factors, e.g. our love for God and Christ evidenced in our desiring after righteousness, good works performed, the testimony of the indwelling Spirit that we are children of God, etc. So, isn't it legitimate for a professing believer to examine his/her life to see if there is spiritual fruit on the tree?

Secondly, this REALLY caught my attention: "I always tell people "don't try" to be good, allow God to make you good." I am going to assume, rightly or wrongly, that you are not simply redressing that old Antinomian byword which was so popular back in the '70s, "Let go and let God!". crazyeyes There are so many biblical passages which come to mind which contradict that type of Antinomianism:

Quote
Matthew 12:50 (ASV) "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Luke 6:46-47 (ASV) "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Every one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:"

John 14:15 (ASV) "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments."

John 14:21 (ASV) "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him."

Romans 16:25-26 (ASV) "Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith:"

Galatians 5:22-25 (ASV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

Philippians 2:12 (ASV) "So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;"

1 Peter 1:2 (ASV) "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Assurance and sanctification are inextricably joined together. For one who has the Holy Spirit dwelling within will exhibit, evidence that indwelling Spirit in visible, recognizable works. We are most assuredly saved by grace through faith ALONE, but not by a faith that is ALONE. grin

The more one matures in the faith, i.e., as one grows in grace being conformed to the image of Christ the more one will know one's sinfulness. And this knowledge of one's own sinfulness (not just someone who does sin occasionally) proportionately, that person will look to and rest in the Lord Christ Who is our "wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:" (1Cor 1:30).

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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