ONE need not go outside Christendom to prove that this generation has not died out. There is superabundant evidence on all hands that it is a very numerous one. Do you belong to it, dear reader?
Scripture furnishes us with striking examples. Here is one, “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.” There is no question about that man’s character, according to the testimony of his own lips; but he had evidently never learned the scripture precept, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”
Now we doubt not that this man was a bright ornament to the sect of the Pharisees at Jerusalem. But what did God think about him? He was pure in his own eyes, but not washed. And no unwashed sinner, not even the strictest religionist, can stand before Him. He seems to have been a good specimen of the generation above described, but evidently too good for Jesus. “I” reigned supreme, as is shown by his prayer. The old Adam in this proud sectary was quite good enough in his own eyes. With what he did not do and what he did do (giving him credit for speaking the truth) one would think he would stand a very good chance of acceptance with God, if it was a question of comparison with those around.
But what said the Lord? He tells of another, a poor tax-gatherer, who had not a word to say for himself, except to take the sinner’s place before God, and adds, “I tell you, this man went down to his house JUSTIFIED rather than the other,” &c. The man who justifies himself is judged already (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)); the man who judges himself and believes God is justified. Therein lies the difference. The sinner-despising Pharisee was clothed from head to foot with the gaudy mantle of his own self-righteousness; a beautiful garment to the human eye, but filthy and unwashed before God. The tax gatherer, owning his unwashed condition, returned home washed from his filthiness, for he was justified rather than the other.
Dear reader, where are you found today? Still amongst the ranks of the Pharisees, a poor Christ-less professor, not washed; or a sinner confessed, guilty and lost, cast upon the mercy of God, and met by Him as a just God, and justified before Him by the precious blood of Christ? Which is it?
Another striking example may be seen in the prodigal’s elder brother, in Luke 15 He seems to have graduated in a very similar school to the last. His moral bill of health was perfect, himself being witness. He could boast of long service, “these many years,” and spotless character, “neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment.” One would think, to hear him, that he did not come of the same stock as the rest of Adam’s race. According to his own account, he had certainly behaved far better in the fallen state outside paradise, than Adam did in the unfallen state in paradise. Alas! he had never seen himself as God saw him. “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”
There stand the imperishable records on scripture’s page, the word of God, solemn warnings to all who trust in their own righteousness. Tens of thousands today, “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Rom. 10:3, 43For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:3‑4)). They have never learned that God has given man and his righteousness up. Each one must be washed, and clothed with the righteousness of God to stand before Him. It is the blood of Christ that cleanses our filthiness away. And Christ is our only robe, suited to the eye of God. As long as you are pure in your own eyes, so long are you still traveling the broad road. You may have chosen the cleanest part, so to speak, but that’s where you are. God says, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” We are covered with the filthiness of sin before Him, and must be washed. No unwashed sinner can enter the Father’s house, not even so strict a moralist as Saul of Tarsus. Jesus died for sinners, not Pharisees, and His blood cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Now is the time to trust therein. Will you, then, cast away this moment the mantle of your own righteousness to be clothed with Christ before God?
E. H. C.