As God lives, who has taken away my right,
And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,
For as long as life is in me,
And the breath of God is in my nostrils,
My lips certainly will not speak unjustly,
Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.
Far be it from me that I should declare you right;
Until I die, I will not give up my integrity.
I have kept hold of my righteousness and will not let it go.
My heart does not rebuke any of my days. (vv. 2-6)

In this chapter, we witness Job steadfast in his self-righteousness, accusing God of misjudgment. Job speaks from his limited understanding of God, acknowledging God’s judgment upon the wicked but struggling to comprehend why human righteousness through works alone falls short. Job even invokes God’s curse upon his adversaries, seemingly viewing his friends as enemies for accusing him of deserving divine punishment.

May my enemy be as the wicked,
And my opponent as the criminal.
For what is the hope of the godless when he makes an end of life,
When God requires his life? (vv. 7-8)

I will instruct you in the power of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
Behold, all of you have seen it;
Why then do you talk of nothing? (vv. 11-12)

Some people are praised by others for their good deeds. They help the poor and dedicate their time and money to helping others. However, those deeds are not considered righteous before God if they are not from the Holy Spirit. I am not saying their deeds are evil. The word “righteous” belongs only to God.

Churches have enjoyed prosperity and peace for hundreds of years. Christians are not persecuted as in the time of the Apostles. But it appears the church era is ending soon. God sent many prophets to warn, but the Northern Israel and Judah went down. Their most noble people did the most outrageous things when they were under siege.

The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and tenderness, will be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter, and toward her afterbirth that comes from between her legs, and toward her children to whom she gives birth, because she will eat them secretly for lack of anything else, during the siege and the hardship with which your enemy will oppress you in your towns. (Deuteronomy 28:56)

Even though someone like Job holds onto his own integrity and innocence, his love is towards only himself. There is no self-sacrificing love in our genes. Only God has and shows self-sacrificing love. And this love is the essence of the law.

You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering;
You have opened my ears;
You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
It is written of me in the scroll of the book.
I delight to do Your will, my God;
Your Law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:6-8)

Can anyone become Jesus Christ by works? Could Adam give us eternal life and make us God’s children? The answer is no. However, this is what churches teach. They say they follow the TULIP doctrine and believe in predestination. The Covenant of Works and the Active Obedience of Christ show that they believe in Adam’s integrity and works. God is showing Job that this isn’t right.

I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:2-4)