What is the heart motive of one who would call someone else self-righteousness? Heart motives must be looked at.  We are not supposed to criticize anyone. If everybody is getting with God, spending time with God, and referring to God’s Word, and the examples which have been set for us; then there is no reason for anybody to point out anybody’s sins!

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (NIV) Romans 2:1-4

Self-righteousness has nothing to do with one thinking themselves to be right.  It has nothing to do with that at all.  Look at Jesus for example, did He not walk around on this earth thinking Himself to be right?  Of course, He did, He was right!  He was right all the time!  So, was He self-righteous?  No!  He was righteous!  The people who accused Him of being self-righteous were the self-righteous ones.  

As far as self-righteousness goes, the one who is having the nerve to point out someone else’s sin is the one who is being self-righteous!

God’s own word sets the standard for holiness, and we should be trying to push toward the level of holiness, that has been exemplified in the written Word (Bible) through the life of Jesus!  That should be our focus!  Anything less than that would be double-minded. The Jewish New Testament Commentary states the following: “Believers commit sins. They are not to be confronted by self-righteous fellow sinners passing judgement (Mt. 7:1-5, Ro. 2:1-4) but by God’s own Word, which sets the standard for holiness.  Then they will not make the mistake of the rich young ruler who asserted that he had kept the Ten Commandments from his youth (Mt. 19:20).  Instead of deceiving ourselves with excuses we should be walking in the light trying to do what pleases God.  And we should acknowledge our sins as we commit them, even though we do not intend to commit them.”  

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way, you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” (NIV) Matthew 7:1-5

There is nothing wrong with thinking you are right. If God tells you, you are, are you going to doubt God and say, “Oh God, I know you are telling me I’m right, but it can’t be I’m right.” Of course, you are not going to be right all the time, only Jesus was right all the time.  But!  You better be on course, and you better know it, and the following is why:  How can you walk around doubting whether you are right or not, and walk in the power and authority of Jesus?  How can you walk around doubting whether you are on course with God and whether you are generally correct about what God has told you to be living in your life, and at the same time living out your salvation?  If you don’t believe you are on the right course, how can you walk around in power and authority?  You can’t!  There is no way!  

We are not talking about walking around in pride that is NOT at all what we are talking about.  We are not talking about self-promotion, or self-power, or thinking we have all the answers.  This is what we are talking about.  We must walk listening to God and believing and knowing we are on course, and this will be the way we walk in the authority and power we have been given.  We must walk in the confidence God gives us, or we will not be able to stand!  This is the only way to live our lives, and then we will be right.