"As Good as My Neighbors"

From: Echoes of Grace: 1967

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

Whenever I hear anyone say, "I am as good as my neighbors," I at once conclude that something is materially wrong. Those who think themselves to be "as good as their neighbors" have never really seen themselves as God does, else they would have discovered their own hearts to be "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked". Jer. 17:9⁹The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Never would a truly converted person say, "I am as good as my neighbors.”

Job said, "Behold, I am vile." Job 40:4⁴Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. (Job 40:4). Isaiah cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips." Isa. 6:5⁵Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5). Peter confessed, "I am a sinful man." Luke 5:8⁸When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (Luke 5:8). The Apostle Paul, far from thinking himself as good as his neighbors, called himself the "chief" of sinners. (1 Tim. 1:15¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). Where do you stand?

"IF THOU SHALT CONFESS
WITH THY MOUTH
THE LORD JESUS,
AND SHALT BELIEVE
IN THINE HEART THAT
GOD HATH RAISED HIM
FROM THE DEAD,
THOU SHALT BE SAVED."
"WHOSOEVER
BELIEVETH ON HIM
SHALL NOT
BE ASHAMED.”

Rom. 10:9, 11⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11)

SEPTEMBER

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