What Hinders the New Covenant: Self-Righteousness

We have to get rid of all pretentions of self-righteous, which will come out of us as long as we see the law, the Ten Commandments or any other rudiments, or weak and beggarly elements as necessary for us to live the life which only Christ Himself lives in us.

 

Consider the parables outlined in Mark 11:

 

"20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." (Mark 11: 20-21)

 

The fig tree is a picture of man's righteousness, of self-righteousness, of works-righteousness, since the first man and woman dressed themselves in fig leaves to cover up their shame and nakedness after eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

 

When the tree of self-righteousness is completely removed in our lives, then watch what happens:

 

"22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11: 22-24)

 

While Kenneth Hagin and other preachers focus on what we say, the focus needs to be on Jesus and the new heart, the new spirit which we receive from Him, and with it the assurance of His faith, not ours, working in us:

 

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2; 20)

 

We live by His faith, not ours!

 

Then Paul writes:

 

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21)

 

Righteousness cannot come from the law, from the "thou shalt nots" which no one can keep. When we accept the truth that the law is not the grace/truth which sets us free, when we see ourselves dead and hopeless in our trespasses, and that we need the Savior to save and redeem us, that we receive His life, passing from death to life, and His new power carries us through every day.

 

Then, we can have what we say, because what we say is a reflection of what is in our hearts, and we have a new heart, one with desires which He has set within us by His Holy Spirit!

 

What hinders the New Covenant in our lives is not that we do not speak forth what we want, or that we are not repeating our needs enough at length. Oftentimes men and women still themselves having to achieve something for God rather than receive all things from God.

 

When we understand the fullness of the Old Covenant, then receive the fullness of the New, we can walk in His grace and reign in this life because of His eternal life within us.