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Throughout our lives, we encounter unbiblical teachings that, from a soulish perspective, appear harmless and even helpful. One such teaching is that we should believe or have confidence in ourselves. However, Paul teaches in Philippians 3 that when we do this, we place our confidence in our flesh, our carnal and soulish nature that completely opposes Christ's works of salvation and sanctification in us. Christ Himself reveals in Luke 18:9-14 that this occurs because fleshly self-confidence unavoidably produces self-righteous sins.
One of these is an arrogant contempt for others. This was demonstrated by a Pharisee in the passage's parable, who expressed a deep trust in his good works and abstinence of outward sins. This confidence, however, gave way to a self-righteous attitude that made him prideful and view others as being morally inferior to him. Such conceited self-confidence is warned against in Romans 12:3, which calls us not to think too highly of ourselves. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 10:12 warns against comparing ourselves against others. Thus, because any measure of self-confidence can make us see ourselves as superior to others, we should continually humble ourselves to Christ and, as Philippians 2:3 commands, see others as more significant than ourselves.
Another destructive sin caused by self-confidence is self-worship. The Pharisee in Christ's parable also demonstrated this when entering the temple to pray. Rather than praising God, however, the Pharisee instead used his prayer to praise himself. Furthermore, his prideful prayer exposed the self-centered motives behind his religious activities and abstinence from sin. As Romans 8:8 warns, such service cannot please God, for He cannot bless anything we do in selfish ambition or conceit. Also, John 4:24 states that true worship to God cannot be done from the soul, but solely in spirit and truth. The only way we can truly worship Christ is not through self-confidence, but solely through presenting ourselves to Him as living sacrifices in total humility and devotion, as Romans 12:1 commands.
One other devastating sin that self-confidence produces is an attitude of self-justification. In the parable, the Pharisee never confessed his sins to God because he believed his works and abstinence from sin made him righteous. However, Christ explained that because he sought exaltation over humility, he remained self-righteous and therefore unjustified. This contrasts the parable's other character: a sinful tax collector who was so ashamed before God that he refused to lift his eyes to heaven. Rather, because he was deeply grieved by his sins and placed his full confidence in the Lord for forgiveness, he, unlike the Pharisee, went home justified. Thus, we, like Paul in Philippians 3:8-11, should count all our self-righteous works as rubbish and place full trust in Christ for His perfect righteousness that alone can deliver us from sin and death.
No matter how much the world glorifies it, there is no room for self-confidence in the new life in Christ we are called to live. As Christ's parable in Luke 18:9-14 clearly demonstrates, such fleshly confidence in ourselves only serves to produce conceit, self-worship, and self-righteousness that severely disrupt our relationship with Him. If even the Apostle Paul, being among the most zealous Pharisees, could place no confidence in his flesh, how much more must we cast aside all dependence on self and fully trust in Christ for all things. As Christ's parable concludes, it is only when we humble ourselves before Him that He will exalt us for His glory.
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