EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SUBJECT : THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD FOR US!
Memory verse:
"
For I say to you, that except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5 vs 20.)
READ: Romans 3 vs 21 - 26:
3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;
3:22: even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
3:23: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,
3:24: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
3:25: whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
3:22: even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
3:23: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,
3:24: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
3:25: whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
3:26: to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
INTIMATION:
Righteousness is the character or quality of being right or just. It is formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness’ which clearly expresses the meaning. It is used to denote an attribute of God. The righteousness of God means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, and it is consistent with His own nature and promises. The righteousness of God as manifested, is the justification of God that is revealed in order to save men regardless of their inability to keep law. It is the righteousness (justification) that is accredited to those who seek God by faith.
The righteousness of God is the justification of those who obediently respond to the grace of God that was revealed on the cross. It was through Jesus’ faithfulness to go to the cross that the righteousness of God was accomplished because of the faith of those who believed in the cross. The righteousness of God that leads to the justification of man, therefore, was not accomplished through the keeping of the law.
Our righteousness must (1) come from what God does in us, not what we can do by ourselves, (2) be God-centered, not self-centered, (3) be based on reverence for God, not approval from people, and (4) go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law. We should be just as concerned about our attitudes that people don’t see as about our actions that are seen by all.
The righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ is the righteous dealing of God with sin and with sinners on the ground of the Death of Christ. God’s righteousness is exhibited in the Death of Christ, which is sufficient to show men that God is neither indifferent to sin nor regards it lightly. On the contrary, it demonstrates that quality of holiness in Him which must find expression in His condemnation of sin. Righteousness is not said to be imputed to the believer save in the sense that faith is reckoned for righteousness. The faith thus exercised brings the soul into vital union with God in Christ, and inevitably produces righteousness of life, that is, conformity to the will of God.
The man who trusts in Christ becomes the righteousness of God in Him. (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21), that is, becomes in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself. When we trust in Christ, we make an exchange: He takes our sin and makes us right with God. Our sin was laid on Christ at His crucifixion. His righteousness is given to us at our conversion. This is what Christians mean by ‘Christ’s atonement for sin. God offers to trade His righteousness for our sin—something of immeasurable worth for something completely worthless. How grateful we should be for His kindness to us.
Since we cannot establish our own righteousness on the basis of perfect keeping of law or meritorious good works, then all men must be drawn to the cross in order to be justified from sin. It is at the cross we are justified by the grace of God (Ephesians 2 vs 8). This is the only way to be declared not guilty, that is, by trusting Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Trusting means putting our confidence in Christ to forgive our sins, to make us right with God, and to empower us to live the way He taught us. God’s solution is available to all of us regardless of our background or past behavior.
Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for all did for us in redemption, imputing Your righteousness to us through the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ on the cross. Endue me with the spirit of obedience to Your will that I may lead a life acceptable to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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