The following is Lesson I in RIGHTEOUSNESS VERSUS SIN,
compiled by Hugh Lynn Cayce, Gladys Davis, and Esther Wynne
at the ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INC.,
Virginia Beach, Virginia:
RIGHTEOUSNESS VERSUS SIN
Outlines.
1. Introduction.
2. What is Righteousness?
What is Sin?
3. There is a Way.
4. God's Purpose for Us.
5. Our Purpose in Life.
6. Conclusion.
[GD's note: HLC, Esther Wynne and I were the compilers.]
RIGHTEOUSNESS versus SIN
Introduction
In the lives of many individuals, there is quite a
controversy as to what constitutes righteousness and what
constitutes sin. When we were able to consider this matter
as it relates to the individual, considering first the Ideal
and that which constitutes a deviation from this Ideal and
second what Ideals are in relation to spiritual and mental
standards, then we will have a better understanding.
Righteousness and sin are extremes of awareness in the
consciousnesses of many men and women, or they become
personal conditions with which they must reckon.
There is no other way to look upon good and evil if we would
be as fair to others as we desire them to be be with us. Yet
few people have learned to be so tolerant. Shall we continue
to use our own measuring rod or be more universal in
recognizing that mankind is in a state of development? Truth
is a growth, and God understands the efforts of His children
and accepts them whether they meet the approval or
disapproval of the world.
WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
WHAT IS SIN?
In the commonly accepted term righteousness is referred to as
light and sin as darkness. Those who walk in the light are
those who are righteous, those who are in opposition to God,
(Good), are in sin or error.
Who is to judge? What is righteousness to some is sin to
others and visa versa. For example, in the days of slavery
in these United States many saintly people regarded their
slaves as their wards, as a sacred responsibility thrust upon
them by God and felt that it was their solemn duty to keep,
feed, and clothe them, to supply those things of which they
had been deprived as barbarians in their jungle home. To
others, it was the worst of all crimes to keep mankind in
bondage. So heinous was the sin in their sight that the
masters of the slaves merited death and humiliation. The
same views were held by some of the early Christians in the
days of the Inquisition. It was a sin that merited death,
even torture, not to worship as was prescribed by their
particular church. Others believed that they were
accountable only to God and it was to them sin to conform
to doctrines and laws that were man made. Then who is to
judge what is righteousness, and what is sin? Rather, should
not each of us study to show HIMSELF approved unto God, a
workman that needs not be ashamed?
The Master called to the attention of the disciples, that
unless their righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the
Pharisees they would all likewise sin. He called the efforts
of the Pharisees righteousness, although it was expressed
in long payers and calling God's attention to their own self
righteousness. Then obviously the Master recognized degrees
of righteousness for He referred to theirs as a type. How
were the disciples to discern between the righteousness of
the Pharisees and that represented by the Master? He had
been a living example of selflessness as He lived with His
disciples. They had been with Him and had seen that He
practiced what He taught. If with such light they were still
selfish and self centered, for them it was sin. What about
our righteousness with the light that is ours?
Jesus never condemned an attempt of anyone to express that
which was his concept of god. He never condemns anyone's
concept of worship, even though self gets into it. "A
bruised reed shall He not break and the smoking flax He
shall not quench."
We should look within and see if our words, our activities
even our prayers are prompted by the desire for self glory.
Are we seeking for the welfare of others and forgetting self
in so doing?
Shall we not say it is the purpose behind the act? God alone
knows and understands the intents and purposes of the heart
of man.
THERE IS A WAY
Do we as seekers, as children of God, have first hand
knowledge, or do we accept only what others have told us?
Know in whom you believe, know He is able to keep that you
have committed unto Him against that day. This is most
important, for God is God to all, but HE is God, the Father,
only to those who know Him. When we really know Him we are
God-like. Do we know Him, or is it self righteousness that
speaks? Do we condemn? Did Christ? He is the pattern. He
is the Way. Do we know the Way? Are we following the Way?
Are we living that life that exceeded the life of the
Pharisees, who gave their tithes, who attended to their
officies in the temple, who met regularly to teach, guide
and direct others. Yet what lacked they? Did they not
teach the letter of the law and forget the Spirit? Are we
too forgetting the Spirit?
Let us ask ourselves are we manifesting thought, word and
action and that which we sincerely believe? Do we give
credit to the Spirit where credit is due? Do we adhere to
the spirit of brotherly love and sow the seeds of kindly
feeling because we wish to or do it from a sense of duty?
Are we long suffering because we just can't help it or are
we willing that God through His Son, through the Master of
masters show us the Way, His Way?
In seeking to help others we frequently come to an impasse.
Advice, counsel and prayer seem ineffective. It is so easy,
at such times to say, "I have done everything I can. There
is just nothing else I can do."
This is a selfrighteous attitude, an insult to the power of
the spirit within.
It is true that we of ourselves can do very little. At such
times are we thinking in terms of how much we can do for
others? When the "I" speaks or acts the results will so
frequently prove ineffectual and futile.
Through the power of the Spirit within we can do more, for
before that power there is no obstacle that cannot be
overcome.
In truth there can never be in our experience a time when
we can say, "I have done all I can." This is in itself an
admission that the Spirit is being forgotten. We are self-
righteously standing in the place of the Pharisees; for that
is just another way of saying, I am not like other men who
have not tried.
It is to the spirit within that credit must be given for the
power to serve - in God's way.
The Master said, "Be ye therefore, perfect even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect." Would we modify that?
Would we say that such is only to be sought, to be tried for
and is not attainable in this life under our present
environments, hates and fears? Was He unreasonable? Did He
not manifest the Spirit of the Father? Did He not bless
those who dispitefully used Him and condemned Him?
"There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end
thereof is the way of death." It seems inconsistent to say
that when we go a way that to us seems right that way leads
to destruction. Have we ever stopped to reason whether we
made our standard and measured our acts by our own sense of
right and wrong without consideration of others, or did we
use the Christ way as a standard and act in regard to others
as we would have them act toward us? Does thinking only
make our actions right?
According to God's standard it has never been right to
kill yet men, in the name of religion, freedom and self
preservation, have killed and to them it seemed right. The
end justified the means, they reasoned.
History both sacred and profane is full of man's standards
of righteousness, but in every case self was in the picture.
Wars may have been fought in the name of religion or for
freedom, but in every instance economics have played a part.
We need no wars for the power of God to be manifested.
There is only one way and it is not man made, but Christ
made. It is the way of selflessness, love, mercy,
forgiveness, patience and long suffering.
Will we be led by the Spirit of Truth or will self, the ego,
our own material desires, so outweigh the purposes, the
missions for which our souls are given opportunities in
material expressions, that it may be said of us, except
your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the self-
righteousness you shall all likewise sin.
GOD'S PURPOSES FOR US
The purpose of God in creating souls in the beginning was
that they might be His companions. This the souls through
self aggrandizement failed to manifest, so God in His mercy
made man, that the souls in mankind in a material world might
learn through experiences through physical awareness, "to be
able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath
and length and depth and height to be filled with the
fullness of GOD." God has not changed in His purpose, but
is the same yesterday, today and forever. "He is not willing
that any soul should perish," but with every temptation has
made a way of escape. His purpose is that all should come
to a knowledge and understanding of Him through the One, the
Perfect One, Jesus, the Christ, that man made perfect through
suffering. "He learned obedience by the things He suffered."
This purpose of God to bear with man until he comes to an
understanding has been manifested in the many messengers,
teachers and prophets he has sent again and again into the
earth to warm, comfort and guide his people. Some of them
were Moses, Joshua, Jesus, many who have seemingly fought for
lost causes, but their purposes, being one with God, have
born fruit. God said in the beginning of man's experience
in the earth, "Let there be light," though that light at
times dimmed, has never gone out. Each messenger whom God
has sent to warn people has rekindled a flame in the hearts
of many of whom the world has had little knowledge.
Galileo, Socrates, Luther and Huss, each had their own
message to give, each took with it his hemlock whether it
were persecution or death. What was the reason for these
persecutions of men with profound truth to give to the world?
The people failed to place true values on new ideas. If they
were not according to their standard of righteousness, then
of course, it was sin. They made themselves both judge and
executioner. Are we doing the same to-day?
Then is our purpose one with the Father, or are we still
seeking self gratification, self indulgence? If so, we will
have it all to learn over again, for every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall confess. Then what must be out purpose
if our efforts are to be counted to us for righteousness.
In as much as God so loved the world, even so should we love
one another. For love is fulfillment of the law. Love
works no ill to our neighbors, but begets mercy, peace and
gentleness. It is only through these that we may manifest
God's purposes for us.
OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE
All righteousness is included in the attempt of individuals
to make application of that which in the material is to them
termed good. What is good appears in varied forms in man's
consciousness. But good that is free from selfishness is
from the all Good and never varies. It is always the same.
It is only when self and self interpretations come in that
there is a manifestation of degrees of goodness. All mankind
is not awakened, all do not know the God of love. God in His
mercy, His longsuffering, His love counts every attempt of
righteousness to the credit of His children. "As a man
thinketh in his heart, so is he." If spiritually asleep he
thinks himself good and acts in accordance with his belief,
then His God meets him where he is and according to his faith
blesses him. To many Abrams offering of Isaac would appear
foolish, yet, as stated, "It was counted unto him for
righteousness." It then is a personal application of the
awareness that is the consciousness of the seeker after God.
How great is the sin of those who are awaken to the goodness
of God, who know Him to be the Father, who know they should
do good and yet do it not. It is well to think on these
things.
Are our purposes in accord with the purposes of the Father?
Or are we still asleep spiritually? Joshua said: "Choose
ye this day whom ye will serve." Jesus said, "First cast
out the beam that is in thine own eye."
We are now witnessing a horrible war, the most destructive
in history. Prayers now are being offered. Are we praying
for self, self's home, country, kin and allies? Are we
praying that all may be brought to light and understanding?
We believe sin to be selfishness, then if we are just
thinking of self we may be sure that sin lies at our door.
Jesus said love your enemies.
Righteousness, the opposite of sin, is selfishness. Jesus
said, "Blessed are the merciful." Are we showing mercy?
Are we seeking the good in our brother whether he be friend
or foe? If not, what are our purposes?
The spiritual awakening brings conviction within the heart,
though the experiences of the physical are often tormenting
to the individual.
It will bring understanding to us who have the courage to
dare to do the right in the face of all oppositions.
Unkindnesses, slights, slurs, broken promises become as
naught in the praise of Him who gave His life that we might
have life more abundantly.
If we would be at one with Him it must be through helping
others who are disturbed in minds, bodies, and desires.
If we would be at one with Him, it must be through bringing
to others the knowledge of the Christ and how He through
suffering fulfilled the purposes of the Father.
CONCLUSION
Then let us remember that righteousness and sin are to many
the extremes of awareness in consciousness. Thus it becomes
a personal condition to be reckoned with by each individual.
Not that there are not laws, that there are not metes and
bounds about either of the terms, still the way maybe
righteousness to one, to another may be sin and what might
be sin to one to another might not be considered at all a
deviation from the righteous path.
Finally, what then is righteousness in the life of an
individual? To be at-one in purpose, in will, in desire with
his Ideal is to an individual a righteous state. Then to
deviate from his Ideal, whether consciously or unconsciously
is sin to that one.
Each soul is the combination or the composite of all that he
has thought or done in consciousness in every sphere or phase
of activity. Paul was sincere in his persecution of the
church. He had the Mosaic law to seemingly sustain his acts.
It took an awakening of the Spirit to cause him to judge his
activity as an error. It is indeed better to be in error
and be consciously active than to do nothing; for when we are
called into service and there is sincerity toward the ideal,
we will be shown, will be awakened, will be aware of God's
purpose with us even as Paul was.
We should consider and meditate upon these things and apply
them in our daily lives. We should be sincere, direct in
our calling, as we choose to serve Him in a definite way.
Let us not be slothful, but up and doing now, today. He
will count our try as righteousness.
In the beginning the perfect man was given all the attributes
of the Father, and placed in an ideal environment for
physical manifestation. Even with that we find him listening
to those influences which were at variance with God. Of his
own accord he became willfully disobedient. Then in the
fullness of time in the temple (body?) we find the Man made
perfect through suffering saying, "Know ye not I must be
about my Father's business." The result is worth every
effort. The trials and humiliations that we have should be
only stepping stones that help us to realize that we are one
with the Father, one with the Ideal, heirs and joint heirs
with the Perfect One, who has showed the Way made plain.
Righteousness is Right use of OPPORTUNITIES.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation