WRONG WAY RIGHTEOUSNESS

January 6

Bible Reading: Matthew 5

Matthew 5:20, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

According to an August 2020 survey, roughly half of Americans believe they will go to heaven if they are “generally good” or “do enough good things,” while only one-third believe salvation is obtained only by accepting Jesus Christ as savior.  What do I say to the one who does not know Jesus, but thinks that they will be saved because of their own doings?  It’s a good question of great relevance in our day.

In His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew chapters 5-7) Jesus spoke to folks who had been taught such things.  The Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day espoused a religious of works.  They supposed they could win heaven by the careful observance of countless man-made rules.  Theirs was a religion of proud self-reliance.  It underestimated both the extent of God’s holiness and depth of man’s depravity.

Henry Ironside’s comments on these chapters are helpful:

“For the natural man this sermon (i.e., Matthew chapters 5-7) is not the way of life, but rather a source of condemnation; for it sets a standard so high and holy that no unsaved person can by any possibility attain to it. He who attempts it will soon realize his utter helplessness, if he be honest and conscientious. He must look elsewhere in Scripture for the gospel, which is the dynamic of God unto salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16)… So far as the unsaved are concerned, therefore, the teaching given here becomes indeed, as C. I. Scofield has well said, ‘Law raised to its Nth power’.”

Henry Ironside

In his quest for salvation, apart from God showing a person otherwise, it is man’s natural (sinful) tendency to diminish the extent of what the Law demands in order that he might somehow keep it.  The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had worked hard to make the Law more “manageable.”  They taught: “’You shall not commit murder’ and ‘whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court’ (Matthew 5:21).” They supposed that in not actually “murdering” anyone, they had kept the Law.  A self-righteous person might even say, “I’m going to heaven, I’m a good person, I haven’t killed anybody.”  But Jesus reaffirmed the true intent of the Law: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca’ (‘empty-head’), shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:22).  Indeed, not only are we commanded not to murder (or even to harbor murderous intentions within our hearts), but to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44).  Who hasn’t been angry with someone and thus failed to uphold these commands?

The people of Jesus’ day supposed the scribes and Pharisees to be the epitome of righteousness, but Jesus demands something far greater, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).  Fortunately for us, God has graciously provided a way through which a true righteousness can be obtained, even as 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  Before his salvation, the Apostle Paul possessed a most impressive religious resume.  As a self-righteous Pharisee, he had been extremely zealous in his law keeping.  But he did not find true righteousness until he found Christ (Philippians 3:8-9).  No one can be made righteous via their own good works. Instead, a sinner receives the righteousness of Christ only through faith in Him.  Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The problem with the Law is that no one, except Christ, has been able to keep it.  But God has availed to us a salvation by faith in Christ who was made to be sin in order to save us from ours.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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