"Looking Inward, You Go Blind!"

"When we look inward, we go blind."

This phrase never appears in the Bible, nor in the "Big Book", but the idea that we must run our lives by other  people in order to stay "spiritually fit" runs throughout the Twelve Step program

All of that finger-pointing, whether at ourselves or other people, causes more problem that it solves, and in fact exacerbates the very sins which we are trying to extinguish.

When we are looking at ourselves, we are not blind to our faults, for they are there, in flagrante delicto.

Yet we are no longer called to look at ourselves, always taking our inventory.

First of all, in Christ Jesus -- Hallelujah -- the law hass been forever fulfilled:

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 4)

This fulfillment Jesus spoke of during His earthly ministry:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5: 17)

Because He is ever-fulfilling the law, justifying us at the right hand of the Father:

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." (Romans 8: 33)

God "justifies" us, even now, through His Son:

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 34)

In effect, the Law is no longer necessary for us:

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 24-25)

By dying on the Cross, Jesus completed the law once and for, thus freeing us from the bondage of trying to keep it in our own efforts:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:13-15)

So that every word may be confirmed out of the mouth of two witnesses (2 Corinthians 13: 1):

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" (Ephesians 2: 15)

Then how are we supposed to live? By grace through faith:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15: 10)


The Spirit of God gives us this grace:

"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10: 29)

This grace enables us to walk in the Spirit:

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"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)

The grace of God is far greater than any law:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

We are no longer called to look at ourselves, then, but rather to put our eyes on Him who lives in us (Colossians 1: 27):

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 1-3)

Stop looking inward, because the Holy Spirit within you convicts you of righteousness (John 16: 10).