Away With It!
The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility in recognizing the inadequacy of one's own righteousness and relying solely on the righteousness of Christ.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the necessity of humility in recognizing that our own righteousness is inadequate and worthless compared to the righteousness of Christ. He cites the Apostle Paul, who declares his desire to be found in Christ, devoid of personal righteousness. Brooks argues that true humility is demonstrated by discarding our own righteousness and fully relying on Christ's perfect righteousness. He warns against the pride that can accompany religious activities, urging believers to see their own efforts as insufficient. Ultimately, a humble soul acknowledges that all righteousness comes from Christ alone, symbolized by the twenty-four elders casting their crowns before Him.
Text
A humble person overlooks his own righteousness, and
lives upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus.
The apostle Paul overlooks his own righteousness, and lives
wholly upon the righteousness of Christ: "I desire to be found
in him," says he, "not having a righteousness of my own."
Away with it! It is dross, it is dung, it is dog's meat! It is . .
a rotten righteousness,
an imperfect righteousness,
a weak righteousness, which is of the law.
But that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by faith--that is . . .
a spotless righteousness,
a pure righteousness,
a complete righteousness,
an incomparable righteousness!
And, therefore, a humble soul overlooks his own
righteousness, and lives upon Christ's righteousness.
Remember this--all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and
complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence
a man to be humble, as his overlooking his own righteousness,
and living really and purely upon the righteousness of Christ.
Men may do much, hear much, pray much, fast much, and
give much, etc., and yet be as proud as Lucifer--as you may
see in the Scribes and Pharisees.
Oh! but for a man now to trample upon his own righteousness,
and to live wholly upon the righteousness of Christ, this speaks
out a man to be humble indeed. There is nothing that the heart
of man stands more averse to than this--of discarding his own
righteousness. Man is a creature apt to warm himself with the
sparks of his own fire, though he does lie down for it in eternal
sorrow! Man is naturally prone to go about to establish his own
righteousness, and to make a savior of it.
But a humble soul disclaims his own righteousness: "All our
righteousness is as filthy rags." In Revelation 4, the twenty-four
elders throw down their crowns at the feet of Christ. By their
crowns you may understand their gifts, their excellencies, their
righteousness; they throw down these before Christ's throne,
to note to us, that they did not put confidence in them, and
that Christ was the crown of crowns and the top of all their
royalty and glory. A humble soul looks upon Christ's
righteousness as his only crown.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to Humility - The Nature of True Righteousness - The Contrast Between Human and Divine Righteousness
- II points: - The Example of the Apostle Paul - Overlooking One's Own Righteousness - Living by Christ's Righteousness
- III points: - The Evidence of True Humility - The Danger of Self-Righteousness - The Role of Faith in Righteousness
- IV points: - The Symbolism of the Twenty-Four Elders - Throwing Down Crowns Before Christ - Recognizing Christ as the Source of Righteousness
Key Quotes
“Away with it! It is dross, it is dung, it is dog's meat!” — Thomas Brooks
“All our righteousness is as filthy rags.” — Thomas Brooks
“A humble soul looks upon Christ's righteousness as his only crown.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Reflect on areas where you may be relying on your own righteousness rather than Christ's.
- Practice humility by acknowledging your limitations and seeking strength in Christ alone.
- Embrace the truth that all achievements are secondary to the grace offered through faith in Jesus.