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What does the Bible say about self-righteousness?

Answered in 121 sources

The Bible warns against self-righteousness, stating that both the wicked believe themselves to be righteous, while the truly righteous recognize their dependence on Christ alone.

In scripture, self-righteousness is condemned as a form of hypocrisy. It is a common belief among the wicked that they are righteous, whereas true believers understand that they are wholly dependent on the righteousness of Christ. For example, in Mark 3:1-7, Jesus encounters self-righteous Pharisees who act as if their adherence to the law makes them righteous. However, true righteousness comes from recognizing one's own sinfulness and relying on the grace of God through Christ, as described in Romans 1:18-32 and Luke 18:9-14.
Scripture References: Mark 3:1-7, Romans 1:18-32, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 7:36-50, Isaiah 64:6, John 8:1-11, Romans 7:9, Revelation 3:17, Luke 18:9, Romans 10:3, Romans 3:9-10, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10, Romans 10:17-21, Romans 9:30-31, Luke 11:37-54, Isaiah 65:2-5, Romans 9:30-10:4, Luke 14:25-35, Romans 11:6, Galatians 6:3-4, Galatians 3:1-3, Romans 2:1-3, Luke 15:29-30, Luke 18:11-12, Job 14:4, Luke 5:17, 2 Corinthians 10:12, Luke 15:25-32, Luke 6:1-5, Isaiah 65:5, Matthew 19:16-26, Romans 10:1-3, Galatians 3:1-5, Romans 3:10-23, Romans 9:31-32, Mark 10:17-18, Psalm 14:3, Luke 11:39-40, John 4:24, Jeremiah 23:6, Luke 16:15, Matthew 21:31, Luke 15:29, Job 40:6-8, Job 19:25, Isaiah 29:13-24, Romans 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 65, John 9:39, Isaiah 58:2, Acts 4:12, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5, Ephesians 1:6-7, Philippians 3:7-9, Hebrews 12:2, Romans 2:17-29, Galatians 2:21, Romans 3:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, James 5; Matthew 23, Matthew 15:8, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Matthew 19:16-17, James 2:10, Philippians 3:9, Proverbs 4:25-27, Mark 10:17-27, Romans 2:1, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 19:17, Luke 18:11-14, Matthew 23:27-28, Mark 12:38-40, Matthew 23:4-5, Luke 15, Luke 5:30-32, Matthew 23:25-28, 2 Corinthians 10:18, Romans 4, Romans 3:20-24, Genesis 3:6-13, Proverbs 30:12, Luke 18:10-14, Romans 9:33, Galatians 6:14, Matthew 6:1-4, Titus 3:5, Matthew 7:21-23, Philippians 3:3-9, Matthew 7:22-23, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Romans 7:7-13, Mark 11:12-14, Matthew 23:27, Luke 5:31-32; Romans 5:6-10, Psalm 51:1-17, Romans 7:24-25, Matthew 23:13-33, Romans 10:3-4, Luke 11:40, John 9, Romans 1:21

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