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What comes into your mind when you hear the word ‘righteousness’?
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New Testament righteousness is a joy-filled thing, rather than a heavy burden.
www.rhythmsofgrace/kingdom-living/gift-of-righteousness
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www.rhythmsofgrace/kingdom-living/gift-of-righteousness
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NEW TESTAMENT RIGHTEOUSNESS
The good news is that New Testament righteousness is a joy-filled thing, rather than a heavy burden. We see it perfectly demonstrated in Jesus, who was not a bit boring or sanctimonious. He displayed righteousness in all situations, whether He was attending a party, cooking breakfast on a campfire, cuddling children, healing the sick, teaching the crowds or attending the synagogue.
Biblical righteousness is about living right in relationship to God, and other people, and comes through faith, rather than effort. And rather than being a set of rules to keep, Jesus made a way for righteous living to flow naturally from inside-out.
The Old Testament tells the story of the Covenant made with the ancient people of Israel, which was all about rule-keeping. The deal was clear—keep all the laws (all 613 of them) and you would be right with God, and He would bless you. The only problem was that it was impossible. A person could keep some of the laws some of the time, but never all of the laws all of the time!
There had to be another way…
Biblical righteousness is about living right in relationship to God, and other people, and comes through faith, rather than effort. And rather than being a set of rules to keep, Jesus made a way for righteous living to flow naturally from inside-out.
The Old Testament tells the story of the Covenant made with the ancient people of Israel, which was all about rule-keeping. The deal was clear—keep all the laws (all 613 of them) and you would be right with God, and He would bless you. The only problem was that it was impossible. A person could keep some of the laws some of the time, but never all of the laws all of the time!
There had to be another way…
JESUS IS THE ANSWERIn the first part of this website we have read how our just and holy God dealt with these failures through Jesus’ death and resurrection (BUILDING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD). He provided a way for people to have
A BRAND NEW LIFE, by forgiving their shortfall and by taking away their inner inclination to do wrong. We also saw that His master-plan was to cause right-living (or righteousness) to flow naturally from inside-out, instead of through adherence to a set of rules (THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU). |
CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
The gift of righteousness is given freely to those who believe. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favour. The Bible teaches that Jesus took all our failures on Himself, on the cross, and in so doing, received the punishment we deserved. In exchange, we are given His righteousness—a clean sheet—and the favour and blessing He deserved. He then sent the Holy Spirit to take up residence in us to cause us to live right before God.
Psychologists tell us that what we believe about ourselves influences our behaviour and expectations. And teachers will bear witness that a child who has been repeatedly told they are ‘no good’, will start to exhibit corresponding behaviour.
I have heard it said that, ‘if we believe we are sinners, we will sin by faith!’ Conversely, if we believe we have already received Christ’s righteousness, and that He is working in us to ‘will and to do’ [Philippians 2:13], we will live righteously, by faith!
It is imperative that we know the truth, in order that the truth will set us free.
And it is a process, not an overnight-job; after all we have spent a lifetime building habits of failure; but if we persist in believing, we will see Christ’s own righteousness manifested in us.
Psychologists tell us that what we believe about ourselves influences our behaviour and expectations. And teachers will bear witness that a child who has been repeatedly told they are ‘no good’, will start to exhibit corresponding behaviour.
I have heard it said that, ‘if we believe we are sinners, we will sin by faith!’ Conversely, if we believe we have already received Christ’s righteousness, and that He is working in us to ‘will and to do’ [Philippians 2:13], we will live righteously, by faith!
It is imperative that we know the truth, in order that the truth will set us free.
And it is a process, not an overnight-job; after all we have spent a lifetime building habits of failure; but if we persist in believing, we will see Christ’s own righteousness manifested in us.
RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
Check out these scriptures using the arrows:
If we know we have received the gift of righteousness, not only can we expect to live better, we are then positioned to receive the many promises made to ‘the righteous’.
*RHYTHMS OF GRACE
RECEIVE His wonderful provision:
Click on the picture below for 30 Days’ Meditations on THE BLESSING OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
RECEIVE His wonderful provision:
Click on the picture below for 30 Days’ Meditations on THE BLESSING OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
*For more information on how the term ‘rhythms of grace’ is used on this website, please see the INTRODUCTION TO RHYTHMS OF GRACE: A JOURNEY INTO REST AND PEACE.
RHYTHMS OF GRACE: A JOURNEY INTO REST
[Photo credits: Quino Al (flower); Christopher Sardegna (man on a rock at sunset); Frank McKenna (tide); Matt Scarlandis (hooded figure);
Simon Berger (tree); Wynand van Poortvliet (man on icy peak) @ Unsplash, with thanks]
Simon Berger (tree); Wynand van Poortvliet (man on icy peak) @ Unsplash, with thanks]