35 Bible Verses about Self Justification

How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

They said: No other God is like Jehovah! Who can go near him and still live? We must send the chest away from here. But where can we send it?

Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? He is like a refiner's fire and like laundry soap (the lye of laundrymen).

For the great day of his wrath has come; and who will be able to stand?

We are justified (acquitted) (made righteous) by faith. And we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have access to grace (God's favor) by faith through him. This is where we stand. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Where is the boasting? It is excluded. Is it by law? Is it by works? No, it is by a principle of faith. We reason therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also.read more.
If God is one he will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.

I have been impaled with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I now live in the flesh (physical body) I live by faith. This is the faith that is in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself up for me. I do not reject the grace (totally undeserved gift) of God: for if righteousness is [gained] through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

But they and our fathers, in their pride, made their necks stiff, and paid no attention to your orders.

Hearing this the Pharisees made fun of Jesus, because they loved money. Jesus said: You make yourselves look righteous to other people. God knows your hearts. The things considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God's sight.

He then spoke this illustration to some who trusted in themselves. They were very self-righteous. They looked down on others: Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.read more.
I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector stood far away and would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you the tax collector and not the Pharisee was right with God when he went home. He who exalts himself will be humbled! He who humbles himself will be exalted!

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, he said. Obey everything they teach you, but do not follow their example. They say one thing and do something else.read more.
They chain heavy burdens on your shoulders. Yet they are unwilling to lift even a finger to carry these same burdens. They do everything to be seen by men. For example: they enlarge their scripture cases for their foreheads and lengthen the tassels on their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the prominent seats in the synagogues. They require recognition in public places and insist on being called Rabbi by men.

He said: Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have greetings in the marketplaces. They demand the front seats in the synagogues and prominent places at feasts.

He spoke to the disciples while all the people listened: Beware of the scribes for they walk around in long robes. They love greetings in the marketplaces. They sit in the chief seats in the synagogues and the head tables at feasts.

If you are a Jew in name and are resting on the law and taking glory in God, you know his will. You approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law. And you have confidence that you are a leader of the blind, a light to those in darkness.read more.
You are an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law. You then who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal? You who say man should not commit adultery do you commit adultery? You who abhors idols do you rob temples? You who boast in the law do you by transgression of the law dishonor God? The name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, just as it is written. (Ezekiel 36:20, 21) Circumcision is a benefit if you obey the law. But if you are a transgressor of the law your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. If therefore someone not circumcised obeys the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be considered circumcision? The uncircumcised person is by nature, fulfilling the law. He will judge you because you transgress the law with your written code and circumcision.

A lawyer stood up to test him. He asked: Teacher what shall I do to inherit everlasting life? He said: What is written in the law? How do you read it? He answered: Love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your life, with all your strength and with all your mind. (Feelings and total existence) (Might and total thinking capacity) And you should love your neighbor as yourself. (Deuteronomy 6:5) (Leviticus 19:18)read more.
He told him: You answered correctly, do this and you will live. Desiring to justify himself, he said to Jesus: Who is my neighbor?

O foolish Galatians, who fascinated (cast a spell over) (beguiled) (influenced) you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was openly presented impaled. I want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law, or by having faith in what you heard? Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now made perfect (mature) in the flesh?read more.
Did you suffer so many things in vain? Does it have no purpose? He that provides the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

You who seek to be righteous by Law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from grace.

Peter came to him and said: Lord, How many times may my brother do wrong against me, and I forgive him? Seven times? Jesus said to him: Not seven times; but seventy times seven. The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants.read more.
First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

The man and his wife heard the sound (voice) of Jehovah God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. They hid from Jehovah, among the trees of the garden. But Jehovah God called to the man: Where are you? He (Adam) answered: I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.read more.
And he said: Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? Adam said: The woman you put here with me gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.

Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them. He took the bull-calf that they had made, melted it, ground it into fine powder, and mixed it with water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it. Moses asked Aaron: What did these people do to harm you? Why did you make them sin in this terrible way?read more.
Aaron said, Do not be angry with me. You know the people as well as I do. They are determined to do evil. They said to me: 'That man Moses led us out of Egypt, but now we do not know what has happened to him. Make us a god to lead us.' Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings. They took them off and gave them to me. I threw the gold into a fire, and out came this bull.

Some of them went to Gad and Gilead on the other side of the Jordan River. Saul stayed at Gilgal. His soldiers trembled with fear. They were starting to run off and leave him. Saul waited there seven days, just as Samuel had ordered him to do. But Samuel did not come. Saul commanded: Bring me some animals so we can offer sacrifices to please Jehovah. Then we can ask for his help. Saul slaughtered one of the animals,read more.
and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to welcome him. Samuel asked: What have you done? Saul replied: I saw the troops were scattering. You did not come when you said you would and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash. So I thought the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal. I have not sought Jehovah's favor. I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering. You did a foolish thing, Samuel told Saul. You did not follow the command of Jehovah your God. If you had, Jehovah would have established your kingdom over Israel from generation to generation (for a very long time). Your kingdom will not last. Jehovah searched for a man after his own heart. Jehovah appointed him as ruler of his people. This is because you did not follow the command of Jehovah.

One man said: Master, what good thing must I do, so that I may have eternal life? Jesus answered him: Why are you questioning me about what is good? There is one who is good. If you desire life, obey the Law. The man replied: Which law? And Jesus said: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false witness,read more.
Honor your father and your mother, and Love your neighbor as yourself. The man said to him: I have done all these things; what more is there? Jesus then replied: If you wish to be complete, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. You will have wealth in heaven. Then follow me! But hearing these words, the young man went away grieving, for he was very wealthy.

As he traveled someone ran to him, kneeled and asked him: Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit everlasting life? Jesus asked him: Why do you call me good? None is good except God. You know the commandments, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.read more.
Teacher, he said: I have observed all of these from my youth. Jesus lovingly looked at him and said: You lack one thing. Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. He was very sad when he heard this for he had many possessions. Then he went away.

A Jewish leader asked: Good Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus asked: Why do you call me good? None is good except one, God. You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, and do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.read more.
The man replied: I have observed all these things from my youth. When Jesus heard it he said to him, You lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. But when he heard these things he became very sad for he was very rich.

I might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks to have confidence in the flesh, I have more! I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.read more.
Things that offered gain to me I count a loss for Christ. I count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I suffered the loss of all things. Yet I count them as refuse (garbage) (dung) that I may gain Christ. I want to be united with him. I no longer want a righteousness of my own that is gained by obeying the law. The righteousness from God is by faith in Christ.

You who judge have no excuse. For when you judge another you condemn yourself. After all you do the same things. We are sure that the judgment of God, according to truth, is against those who commit such things. What do you reason O man? When you judge these things, and you also do them, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?read more.
Do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering? Do you not know that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Thanks to your stubborn and unrepentant heart, you store up wrath for yourself, in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. He will render to each according to his works. [He offers] everlasting life for those who search for incorruptible glory and honor by enduring in good works. Those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will receive wrath and indignation. [There will be] tribulation and distress on every person who works evil, for the Jew first and for the Greek. [There will be] glory, honor and peace to every one who does good works, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. God is not partial! (God does not play favorites!)

He who is often reprimanded and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

The man and his wife heard the sound (voice) of Jehovah God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. They hid from Jehovah, among the trees of the garden. But Jehovah God called to the man: Where are you? He (Adam) answered: I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.read more.
And he said: Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? Adam said: The woman you put here with me gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. Then Jehovah God said to the Eve: What is this you have done? The woman answered: The serpent deceived me, and I ate. So Jehovah God said to the serpent: Because you have done this you are cursed above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity (hostility) (hatred) between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers. He will bruise (overwhelm) (crush) you in the head, and you will bruise (overwhelm) (crush) him in the heel. (Romans 16:20) He said to the woman: I will greatly increase your pains in childbirth; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. He said to Adam: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you. You will eat the plants of the field. You will eat your food by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground. You came from the ground. For dust you are and to dust you will return.

Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people as the fruit of their plans. This is because they have not listened to my words, and have rejected my law. What purpose does frankincense come to me from Sheba and the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable and your sacrifices are not pleasing to me. Therefore, Jehovah says: I am laying stumbling blocks before this people. They will stumble against them, Fathers and sons together; Neighbors and friends will perish.read more.
Jehovah says: Behold, a people is coming from the northland! A great nation will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth. They seize bow and spear. They are cruel and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses. They are arrayed as a man for the battle against you, O daughter of Zion!

By grace (Greek: charis, divine favor, loving-kindness) you have been saved through faith. It is not from you. It is the gift from God! It is not the result of works. So no man should boast.

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. God makes people righteous through their active faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of Godread more.
being justified freely by his grace (as a gift) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

For the grace (divine influence) of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all men,

When the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (restoration) (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Spirit. He poured Spirit out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior.read more.
Being justified by his grace (loving kindness), we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

If You, Jehovah, should record our sins, O Jehovah, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be reverenced.

Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.