Category: Righteousness

Righteousness by Law-keeping Does Not Compare to Righteousness Which is of God

On By In RighteousnessLeave a comment

For we are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, and boast in Christ Jesus, and place no trust in the flesh, though I also have confidence in the flesh.

If any other man thinks that he has reason to trust in the flesh, I have more: I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and a Hebrew of Hebrews; as concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; and concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Philippians 3:3–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Of course, the law doesn’t justify. Paul is making a proclamation of himself to be blameless according to the law. He is not making a proclamation of how he was saved, nor about his salvation. Salvation comes by way of faith, noting keeping the rudiments of the law.

Paul followed the law. He knew that keeping it meant a certain blamelessness that was available in its precepts. The law’s purpose serves as a schoolmaster. It teaches us of our need for a Redeemer. It points directly to Jesus Christ Himself, Who is the end of the law.

But what things were gain to me, I have counted these things to be loss for the sake of Christ. Yes, certainly, I count everything as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have forfeited the loss of all things and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God on the basis of faith, to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if somehow I might make it to the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:7–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Paul even forsook the keeping of the law and the blamelessness that comes with that for what is better in Jesus in having the righteousness from God Himself. There is no better.

Sow to Yourselves Righteousness

On By TimIn Hosea 10, Righteousness, SanctificationLeave a comment

Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Hidden gems abound in the writings of the prophets. This is one of my favorites. In an agrarian way, God succinctly explains how things work. It is sowing and reaping.

In our own lives, we are responsible for the viability of the ground seed is planted in. That is if your own heart is willing to hear the words of God… No matter how hard they are to hear… That is breaking up the fallow ground.

The next step is to apply and do what you hear. That is, sow to yourself righteousness. The crop reaped is mercy. And it comes in bounties!

The time is now. Yea it is! It is time to seek the Lord. You cannot do it half-heartedly. It is a life-long loyalty.

Until He comes and rains righteousness upon you. In other words, you will be immersed in righteousness.

It is not doing good things that saves anyone. You cannot do enough. But it is hearing, heeding, and doing God’s will. And that is easy.

Acknowledge Who He is and what He says. That He did indeed come in the flesh, He died on the cross and rose again to give life to all.

Believe it is for you right now. Jesus did die for you; He did that for the pardon of your sins. He rose again, too. In that, He gives you new life.

Confess those things out loud. Tel Him your sins, too. He will faithfully remove those and cleanse you from al unrighteousness and give you the gift of eternal life.

He is Just

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Jesus, Justification, Love, Righteousness, Romans 03, Salvation, Sanctification, The Cross1 Comment

This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed, to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:22–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I am certain all of us are familiar with this passage. In a bit of insomniac tossing and turning last night, I had a half-hearted discussion with God and He brought this to my mind.

It was after a challenging evening where past lies were dredged up and that the one doing it reported those as my legacy. Of course, the other person was a bit short on facts. Nevertheless, those old scars can hurt.

The person who brought the stuff up is rather lonely, abusive, and very embittered. That one is certainly not a believer, but an avowed atheist. The bitterness has cost lots of people time, aggravation, and real money. Some have had to endure abusive (really demonic) behavior.

I would ask God why someone like that gets to breathe His air for so long.

He gently reminded me of how longsuffering He is with me. He also gently asked why He ought not be as longsuffering with that person. And as He always does, there was that verse gently impressed into my mind… He might be Just and justifier.

You see, when we stand before God to give account, us believers have already been judged for our sins, those list of ordinances against us are nailed to the cross.

But there are those unbelievers and God-haters who will stand before Him at the Great White Throne. Those will be gently reminded of all they’ve done to rail against God. Why will be painstakingly obvious to all who watch, will be the longsuffering of God.

It’s a simple fact that His mercies are new, and He suffers long that makes Him just.

How often do we seek immediate justice for wrongs done to us?

Seriously, really give that some long consideration. Swift justice is indeed just. Yet something else comes to mind.

He has told you, O man, what is good—and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is so much talk around about justice. It is hard to find where the Bible instructs is to seek justice. I don’t think it does because God does. We are told to do justice, in other words, to act justly. It is our behavior we ought to control. And by the example given to us by Paul about God.

He says in another place that mercy triumphs over judgment. It is this mercy for all of us, that is supposed to gently lead us to repentance.

Think about that the next time someone disrespects you for something, I don’t care why it is or if it is for the ten-thousandth time. Your God suffers long for you, why would He not suffer just as long for your adversaries?

Freedom from Confinement

On By TimIn 1 Timothy 01, Freedom, Righteousness, SalvationLeave a comment

And we know that the law is not given for a righteous person, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and the profane

1 Timothy 1:9a — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It follows a righteous person has no need for the law. Such has not run afoul of its requirements, as righteousness is the fulfillment of the law. A believer is gifted righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work.

However, an unbeliever has no such righteousness. Such may think themselves to be right in their own estimation. That measurement would be fleeting and unsure, differing for each individual. That is why the law is given. It is a sure standard. It is to reveal depravity, not that any ought to judge or condemn.

When a person confronts that righteous standard and compares themselves to it, they will find they’ve fallen short of the mark. That itself condemns.

We don’t use it to Bible thump someone into the right behavior. It is to lead someone to Jesus. Look how Paul explains it elsewhere.

But before faith came, we were imprisoned under the law, kept for the faith which was later to be revealed. So the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Galatians 3:23–25 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Before Jesus, the law kept folks imprisoned. This is a nod to the remedies built into the law to atone for sin. The end of those ordinances is Jesus Christ. It is faith in Him that truly justifies.

Us believers no longer need the tutelage of the law. Praise God for that!

But those who do not believe still need a tutor. One that will lead them to the mercy of God sent in His Son.

It doesn’t matter how far off someone is. You can have true freedom from the imprisonment of condemnation. It’s easily obtained.

Acknowledge your own imprisonment under the law, that is your failure to keep the ordinances. It doesn’t matter how slight or severe. Missing one makes one guilty of missing all.

Believe… Put your faith in Jesus. He is the God Who came from heaven to live and die as o e of us. He did die. He rose again to give anyone who would believe, remission of sins and eternal life.

Confess that aloud, to Him. He is listening and able to hear you, wherever you may be right now.