CONFRONTING THE PHARISAICAL MINDSET  
IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY 

Christ died for the ungodly, Jesus was compassionate toward sinners, but one particular group he was less than kind to were religious people (like the Pharisees and Sadducees). They depended on something other than the Messiah (Christ), of whom the psalms and the prophets foretold, to save them from their sins, “for they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law."(Rom. 10:3)” “Seeking to make a righteousness of their own”, they replaced God’s way of righteousness with their own moral law and requirements” (Rom. 10:3). This produced pride and arrogance in their own character, rather that the peaceful fruit of righteousness which manifests in those who walk after the Spirit (Heb. 12:11).

“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 2:8:3 & 4)

Today, we see this same mindset operating also in secular people, particularly those who adhere to the political left. These modern day people embrace Humanism (“man is the measure of all things”) as a means of righteousness to replace God and his moral code as they established their own. In the name of compassion and acceptance, their code includes acceptance and even promotion of any kind of lifestyle forbidden by Scripture (adultery, gay, worshipping the creation rather than the creator [Rom1], etc). regardless of their conflict with God’s standard as revealed in the Bible. This is endorsed and promulgated by the government through public education, government policies, and “political correctness”. They vehemently oppose all who disagree with them and call them intolerant and haters.

The gospel teaches us that we cannot earn favor with God through our own merit or “righteousness”.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast) (Eph. 2:8&9). "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5)

The substitutionary, sacrificial shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ for our sins is the only work that can make us to be in right standing with God, and assure us salvation and eternal life. Any notion of achieving righteousness before God based on one’s own merit must be confronted with the truth of God’s word. People need to hear that although our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6), "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 NLT)

The gospel of Christ cuts through all thoughts and imaginations that are not in agreement with itself. As we share the gospel with people, we must be ever aware that IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION and this power is of God Himself. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Go and share the gospel, with confidence, knowing that as you do, the power of God and Jesus Himself accompanies the message that you share and God always backs up His Word.

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mark 16:20)