It is possible both to examine oneself and not become a Pharisee. The Apostle Paul says, "a man ought to examine himself..."
John says:
"1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. "
"If we confess our sins..." assumes that we have reflected and realized our sin.
Of Course we must examine ourselves. It is part of the Christian Walk.
But we must be very careful, in going through a “Checklist” that we do not succumb to legalism.
Funny Story:
I was in the 4th grade, and the rather inept public school teacher was explaining about the Puritans. Of COURSE, I asked: “What’s a Puritan?”
Teacher: They were Calvinists.
Me: What’s a Calvinist?
Teacher: Someone who believes in predestination.
Me: What’s predestination?
Teacher; That’s the belief that God has already decided who’s going to heaven and who’s going to hell.
Me: Then why be good? if you’re going to hell anyway, why not just do whatever you want to?
The teacher then just sputtered “I’m SURE that’s NOT what Calvin had in mind!’ and changed the subject. I was always a troublemaker, I guess, and now I’m a FReeper. (and a CHRISTIAN!)LOL!
Happy New Year, FRiend, and thank you for your service!
:-)