Righteousness by Faith

There is no life as sweet and peaceful as living in His righteousness. Sin is murderous and demeaning. It takes you captive and slowly destroys the life within. Every law and commandment is an expression of the nature of God. The Godly standards of the Bible are not there to cripple you or to take away your joy. They are there to protect you. Not only do they protect you, but they protect the image of God in you. You were created in His image and sin is the single attack on that image.

The redemptive story in the Bible deals with two things concerning the human family. It deals with our fallen nature-because of sin-and His Divine nature to deliver us from sin. All a person needs to do to be lost is to reject the redemption offered in Jesus Christ. Each man or women is born with the nature of sin and that nature always tends to draw us deeper and deeper into our state of being loss. All you need to do to see how lost you are is to look at your self-will lifestyle. Self-will is the first and primary expression of our sin nature. If you live as you please instead of being devoted to Christ and the church, you are lost.

Multitudes of people are religious and have added their religion to their many pursuits of life. The Bible, church life, singing religious songs, and talking about Jesus Christ are just some of their many interests. Their devotion to ChristÂ’s Kingdom is based according to their own will and desire and is marginal at best. Push them to be total for Christ and they will disappear or call you a fanatic. These dear souls need a Divine invasion of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

When the Son of God in all His Divine life is welcomed by faith and we surrender our will to Him, Divine life floods our soul. This will immediately becomes the central focus of all your interests. Apostle Paul said it as beautiful as can be stated, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” (II Corinthians 5:17-18). Jesus Christ refuses to occupy a corner. Often, He spoke of the very foundation of faith as a total surrender to Himself. He wants all of you so He can give you all of Himself.

He stated emphatically, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26). This righteousness in Christ is all consuming and it is glorious.

Sin looses its power over you when Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. This righteousness is not a work of flesh. You have no power to produce sainthood or to break free of sin. Sin is bondage that only grows as we run after our own will and interests. You may be moral and full of love for others – a really wonderful person – and still pursue these interests in your own strength. The Bible calls that self righteousness and it is rejected by Christ.

Our Savior and GodÂ’s only begotten Son died to pay your debt of sin. In His sacrifice is the authority and power to impute His righteousness into your life and fill you with Divine life from above. ItÂ’s a miracle of grace and itÂ’s the only ticket to eternal life. It is sad to think of the millions of basically good people that are eternally lost. The righteousness that will fill the New Heaven and Earth is His righteousness.

It’s very simple to receive. It’s all by faith. The moment that you receive all He is will be the happiest moment of your life. Paul said, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). Give your life to Him right now. It must include your will because that is the central expression of you. He is prepared to receive you and make you all of His. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). A breathtaking life awaits your surrender of all to Him.