On Judging others and Ourselves

If we are content with the present state of our moral condition, believing ourselves to have already obtained to an accceptable degree of righteousness, and see no further need for mortification of sin, or no need to strive after righteousness at all, we have too high of a view of ourselves. Even if sudden or constant awareness of our own ever present sin stuns us, we have too high a view of ourselves. If we are overly conscious of, and shocked by, sin in the lives of others (whether they are believers or not) to the point of unlawfully judging them, and finding ourselves to the contrary of and not taking pity on them, earnestly and lovingly desiring their restoration, we have too high of a view of ourselves. We ought to be shocked by sin, but not surprised as to the extent and effects of depravity that still remains in the fleshly bodies of those of us who are the children of Abraham, and indeed which is present in all of the sons of Adam.

Calvin Quote

"Because nothing appears in us or around us that has not been contaminated by great immorality, what is a little less vile pleases us as a thing most pure--so long as we continue our minds within the limits of human corruption....So it happens in estimating our spiritual goods. As long as we do not look beyond the earth, being quite content with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue, we flatter ourselves most sweetly, and fancy ourselves all but demigods...Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty" (Calvin, Institutes Bk. I Pg. 38-39).