It’s the basic argument of evangelical Protestantism. If I believe what I read, I claim I am righteous and holy, even IF I don’t do what is right. And that man over there who DOES do what is right? Doesn’t matter, he will burn.
It’s very dangerous to claim righteousness is just What you think and not what you do. It takes away what little humility and fear a man may have had.
Well as you know, even though it does not make a hill of beans, I'm not a denominationalist or a so-called 'evangelical Protestant.'
If you are really saying you/one read(s) scripture in a non-spiritually inspired or led fashion, as reading any human-devised book subject then yes, I agree with you. Reading scripture this way does not make one spiritually in-tune with it and be possessed by its symbols and words. Scripture does sometimes inspire to action and sometimes just information to literally take to heart of spirit of course. Now how we act on it is important. That's why it so vital to be truly inspired by it and allow the Spirit to lead you/one to action not YOU/ONE doing the action for what you believe is right for the Spirit. A lot of people and I used to do this is sometimes get ahead and 'do' self-work' to please God through his word. We of course must guard against doing works out of a selfish carnal mind.
Now just claiming righteousness/set apart/holy purpose is not the way I have ever approached it or thought of it. I just know that I have been set apart because I just know within me, in my heart, in my walk and in my mostly Spirit-filled experience. WHY do you keep assuming what YOU think about folks, including me is actually true. There must have been a bump in your road that has caused you to be pessimistic and assume the worse in especially your fellow-believers.
Look it would be really foolish as a new believer who reads for the first time I'm righteous now. And so I got the righteous ticket and now I must keep it hidden in vault and be holy. That person does not know what it means to be righteous yet, let alone say I'm done now and sits on their rear. That's not reality in my books SBG.
How do you really know folks read it, claim it and do NOTHING, say concerning righteousness. They have the Spirit within them right? Do you think the Spirit of God would influence them to believe they are done now or not DO the right thing and works OF the SPIRIT. I ask you this because a genuine believer cannot just sit still being trained in righteousness of scripture. They just cannot, not me anyway. We and I do the right thing as the Spirit allow and directed. It becomes a habit over time as we do God's work, with God's love extended to others in and from our hearts. This is really being righteous and holy. I'm trying to convey this to you in the same manner.