If you’re not doing anything wrong, then you’re doing right, right? Wrong!

Of course, this does not mean that if you’re doing wrong you’re doing right, or that it’s all right to do wrong.

What it does mean is that you can be doing right on the outside, but wrong on the inside. And that’s not right! The only one who really does what’s right is the one who is right on the inside as well as on the outside.

Have you ever heard of the Pharisees? Were they right or wrong? Jesus spoke some strong words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27, 28.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. - Matthew 23:27, 28

Which brings us to an important question. While we can agree that the goal for the Christian is to be good both on the inside and on the outside, suppose you’re not good on the inside yet?

Aren’t you better off at least being good on the outside, if that’s the best you can do? Isn’t being a Pharisee better than being a publican? Be careful how you answer!

Jesus said that the religion of the Pharisee was not sufficient for eternal life.

Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:20.

So whatever external goodness is good for, it’s no good for salvation. We might look at Steps to Christ page 44.

There are those who profess to serve God, while they rely upon their own efforts to obey His law, to form a right character, and secure salvation. Their hearts are not moved by any deep sense of the love of Christ, but they seek to perform the duties of the Christian life as that which God requires of them in order to gain heaven. Such religion is worth nothing.” - Steps to Christ, page 44

So whatever external goodness is good for, it’s no good for religion. It’s worth nothing there.

In Revelation 3 is a special message to the church for the time just before Jesus comes again.

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. - Revelation 3: 15, 16.

So whatever external goodness is good for, it’s worse in God’s estimation than no goodness at all! He prefers even cold to lukewarm!

Goodness that is only external is repulsive to God. He knows that the open sinner is more easily reached with the good news of salvation than the one who feels no need. Those who succeed in being good on the outside in their own strength are isolated from needing a Saviour. And since they feel no need, they don’t come to Christ to receive the salvation He’s waiting to give.

It is possible to fill the church with strong people who are able to produce the behavior that the church requires. And the behavior of which they are so proud becomes a barrier against any personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If we really believed this, if we really accepted the thesis that outward righteousness is not only worthless in the eyes of God, but actually distasteful to Him, we would stop trying to do what is right! Instead, we would put our time and energy and effort toward seeking Him, that He might come and live His life in us.

Does it scare you? Are you afraid to give up trying to do what’s right? Are you willing to put your effort toward accepting His righteousness day by day in an ongoing relationship with Him? If you’re feeling nervous here, wondering where behavior comes in, hurry up and read the next chapter. It begins, “Righteousness will make you moral.” Quickly now, go to the next page!