Job 11:4 - Even those focused on sound doctrine need be aware...

Sometimes we risk self righteousness in either true doctrine "teaching" or in "good" works as earning our salvation. Not all the wisdom of Job's friends can be taken directly, but often they do seem to say true things which we should not ignore. They may misapply to Job's situation but in a wider sense they may teach us biblical truths.

We all fail under this task.

Job 11:4  For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

Job 11:5  But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

Job 11:11  For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

Job 11:12  For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

Job 11:13  If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

Job 11:14  If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

Since we are all guilty under sin, how do we put it away....through Christ alone!

Isa 41:26  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He isrighteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there isnone that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The righteousness of the saints is not their's but Christ's, imputed to them by God's grace, it is the white linen garment we the church are given.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Gill comments

for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints, or "righteousnesses"; not good works, or their own righteousness; for though these are evidences of faith, by which the saints are justified, and are what God has prepared for them, that they should walk in them; yet these are not comparable to fine linen, clean and white, but are like filthy rags, and cannot justify in the sight of God; but the righteousness of Christ is meant, and justification by that; for that is the only justifying righteousness of the saints: and though it is but one, yet it may be called "righteousnesses", or "justifications", in the plural number; partly because of the several seasons in which the act of justification passes, first in God's mind from eternity, next on Christ as the surety, when he rose from the dead, and on all the elect in him, and then in the consciences of the saints when they believe, and the sentence of it will be notified and declared to men and angels at the last judgment; and partly because of the many persons that are justified by it, as also because of the excellency of it; so the Jews use the word in the plural number: the Targumist on Zec 3:4 paraphrases the text, "I will clothe thee" זכוך, "with righteousnesses" (r); upon which words Jarchi has this note,

"change of beautiful garments is all one as if it had been said זכיות "righteousnesses": and because sin is like to filthy garments, righteousness is like to garments beautiful and white.''

Christ's righteousness may be compared to fine linen, clean and white, because of its spotless purity; those that are arrayed with it being unblamable and irreprovable, and without spot and blemish, and without fault before the throne; with this the Jewish church will be clothed; all the Lord's people will be righteous, they will have on the best robe, and wedding garment, which was despised by the Jews in Christ's time, who refused to come to the marriage feast; and their being arrayed with it will be owing to the grace of Christ, who grants it; and so Christ's righteousness is called the gift of righteousness, the free gift, and gift by grace, and abundance of grace; and faith, which receives it, and puts it on, is the gift of God, Rom 5:15. Not only the garment is a gift of grace, but the putting of it on is a grant from Christ, and what he himself does, Isa 61:10.e