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1. Obedience is Commanded by God

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, obedience to God’s laws is regarded as necessary and good. Obeying God’s commandments shows our love for Him and submission to His authority.

• Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (KJV)
  “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”
• John 14:15 (KJV)
  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
• 1 John 5:3 (KJV)
  “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

Obedience is not an act of self-righteousness; it is a response to God’s love and His call to live a life pleasing to Him.

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2. What is Self-Righteousness?

Self-righteousness refers to a false sense of personal righteousness that comes from relying on one’s own efforts or pride in keeping the law, rather than depending on God’s grace. The Bible warns that trusting in our own works for justification leads to spiritual pride and failure.

• Luke 18:11-12 (KJV)
  “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”

In this parable, the Pharisee is rebuked for self-righteousness—trusting in his works rather than seeking God’s mercy. His attitude contrasts with the humility of the publican, who recognized his need for God’s grace.

• Romans 10:3 (KJV)
  “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Paul warns about those who try to establish their own righteousness apart from faith in God. This is self-righteousness, not obedience.

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3. Faith and Obedience Must Work Together

The Bible teaches that faith and obedience go hand in hand. True obedience flows from faith in God and a desire to honor Him, not from a desire to boast or rely on our works for salvation.

• James 2:17-18 (KJV)
  “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
• Romans 3:31 (KJV)
  “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Paul teaches that faith does not cancel the law but rather upholds it. Obedience is the fruit of genuine faith.

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4. Obedience vs. Legalism

The Bible draws a distinction between obedience and legalism. Legalism refers to the belief that keeping the law alone can earn salvation, while obedience is an act of love and submission to God.

• Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

While salvation is by grace through faith, obedience to God’s commandments is evidence of that faith, not the means of earning salvation.

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5. Conclusion: Obedience is Not Self-Righteousness

Obeying God’s commandments is not self-righteousness; rather, it is an expression of love, faith, and submission to God. The Bible calls us to avoid self-righteousness by recognizing that our righteousness ultimately comes from God, not from our own works (Isaiah 64:6).

Self-righteousness happens when people rely on their own works for justification, rather than trusting in God’s mercy and grace. True obedience, however, flows from faith in God and humility, seeking to please Him and live according to His will.

• Philippians 2:12-13 (KJV)
  “Wherefore, my beloved, 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

In summary, obedience to God’s commandments is not self-righteousness—it is the natural outflow of a heart transformed by faith. We must strive to obey God’s laws, not to boast, but to honor Him in gratitude for His grace.

Your statement reflects an important distinction between justification and sanctification in relation to God’s law. Let’s explore these two concepts more deeply to clarify the difference between self-righteousness (trusting in our works for salvation) and sanctification (a life of obedience in response to God’s grace).

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1. What is Justification?

Justification is the act by which a person is declared righteous before God. It is not something that can be earned by keeping the law; rather, it is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

• Romans 3:28 (KJV)
  “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
• Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

If someone believes that keeping the law makes them righteous before God, they are engaging in self-righteousness, which the Bible condemns.

• Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
  “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

The role of the law is to reveal sin and point us to our need for God’s grace through faith in Christ.

• Romans 3:20 (KJV)
  “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Thus, attempting to be justified by the law results in self-righteousness, because it relies on human effort instead of God’s mercy.

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2. What is Sanctification?

Sanctification refers to the process of being made holy, set apart for God’s purposes. While justification is a one-time event, sanctification is an ongoing process in the believer’s life, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Sanctification involves obedience to God’s commandments, but this obedience is the fruit of faith, not the means of earning righteousness.

• John 17:17 (KJV)
  “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• Romans 6:19 (KJV)
  “…so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

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Sanctification by Keeping God’s Laws

While the law cannot justify us before God, it plays a crucial role in sanctifying us. Obeying God’s commandments is a way of demonstrating our love for Him and aligning our lives with His holiness.

• 1 John 2:3-4 (KJV)
  “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Sanctification through obedience to God’s laws is not about self-righteousness—it’s about becoming more like Christ and living according to God’s will.

• Philippians 2:12-13 (KJV)
  “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

This obedience is not legalism but the fruit of a transformed heart. It is not about earning salvation, but about walking in holiness as a response to the salvation we have already received through faith.

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3. Self-Righteousness vs. Sanctification

• Self-righteousness:
• Relying on personal efforts and law-keeping to earn justification before God.
• This attitude rejects God’s grace and elevates human effort over faith (Romans 10:3).
• Sanctification through obedience:
• Obedience to God’s laws flows from faith and love for God.
• It is the result of the Holy Spirit working in the believer, producing righteous living (Galatians 5:22-23).

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4. Conclusion: The Role of the Law in Sanctification without Self-Righteousness

While justification is by faith alone and not by works of the law, sanctification involves keeping God’s commandments. This obedience is not self-righteousness because it is not about earning favor or salvation; rather, it is the result of God’s Spirit working within us, transforming us into the likeness of Christ.

• Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
  “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

In summary:

• If we rely on keeping the law for justification, we fall into self-righteousness.
• If we keep the law as part of sanctification, it reflects our faith and love for God and aligns us with His will. This cannot be called self-righteousness, because it is done through God’s Spirit and in response to His grace.

We are not justified by the law, but we are sanctified through obedience, which reflects our relationship with God and our desire to live according to His commandments.