Pride or Shame: Both Keep Us From Christ

Yes—the two conditions look opposite, but both keep a person from coming to Christ: one says, “I need no Saviour,” while the other says, “Satan will come to you saying, You are a sinner. But do not let him fill your mind with the thought that because you are sinful, God has cast you off. Say to him, Yes; I am a sinner, and for that reason I need a Saviour.”Lt 4, 1889, par. 55–57+1

📖 Two ways of staying away

The first is self-righteousness by comparison: like the Pharisee, a person looks at others and concludes that he is good enough, so he feels no need for Christ’s forgiveness, wisdom, or strength.LS 212.1+1 The Pharisee’s confidence left him without God’s blessing, while the publican—who asked for mercy—went home justified Luke 18:9–14.ST Jan 18, 1910

Whoever trusts in himself that he is righteous, will despise others. As the Pharisee judges himself by other men, so he judges other men by himself. His righteousness is estimated by theirs; and the worse they are, the more righteous by contrast he appears. His self-righteousness leads to accusing. "Other men" he condemns as transgressors of God's law. Thus he is making manifest the very spirit of Satan, the accuser of the brethren. With this spirit it is impossible for him to enter into communion with God. — Unknown author, ST Jan 18, 1910

The second can feel like humility, but it becomes another trap when a person treats sin and unworthiness as reasons to hide from Jesus rather than reasons to seek Him.Lt 98b, 1896, par. 13+1 The publican’s awareness of guilt did not drive him away from God; he brought his need to God and pleaded for mercy.ST Jan 18, 1910

Satan will come to you saying, You are a sinner. But do not let him fill your mind with the thought that because you are sinful, God has cast you off. Say to him, Yes; I am a sinner, and for that reason I need a Saviour. I need forgiveness and pardon, and Christ says that if I come to Him I shall not perish. In His letter to me I read, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9.] I will believe the word He has left for me. I will obey His commands. When Satan tell you that you are lost, answer, Yes; but Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. The greater my sin, the greater my need of a Saviour. — Ellen G. White, Lt 98b, 1896, par. 13

The difference is not whether you feel worthy; neither person has merit to offer. The difference is whether you make yourself—or your sinfulness—the barrier, or bring your need to Christ.Lt 4, 1889, par. 55–57+1

✝️ The way through both

Ellen White says that seeing our weakness and defects in the light of Christ is not a reason to despair: it shows our need of His righteousness, and that righteousness is offered even to the lowliest who trusts Him as personal Saviour.Ms 62, 1899, par. 7–8 As Jesus says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37.

If your eyes were fixed upon Jesus, if you were contemplating his unsurpassed purity and excellence, you would see your own weakness and poverty and defects as they are. You would not regard yourself as holy. You would see yourself lost and hopeless, clad in garments of self-righteousness, like every other sinner. If we are saved, it will not be because of our superior intellect, our refinement of ideas, but through the grace of God. We have no garment of our own that will give us a position of honor at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ’s robe alone, the garment woven in the loom of heaven, will give to the guests a worthiness to sit down at the marriage feast. Each must accept this robe, and it is offered to the lowliest who will believe in Him as his personal Saviour. The imputed righteousness of Christ alone can make the sons and daughters of Adam members of the family in heaven. — Ellen G. White, Ms 62, 1899, par. 7–8

So the answer to both forms of self-righteousness is to stop relying on ourselves and come to Christ—whether we feel impressive or ashamed, strong or helpless.Lt 4, 1889, par. 55–57+1 Our need does not disqualify us; it is why we need a Saviour.Lt 98b, 1896, par. 13