Are you RIGHTEOUS?

[joaniemarie]

Not so long ago I was first introduced to what that means even though I've been a believer since 1982. It's being IN Christ having Jesus be "our Person" standing in "for us". After that, it's a daily journey about seeing just how much Jesus actually stands in for us. Many Christians are like I was and still proceeded a head in life in and about "self"

When we were not saved., Adam was our stand-in guy. We went before God in Adam and were not even in God's beloved family. So all our righteousness's were as filthy rags. We didn't even do anything but be born and live and become aware of God. We didn't do any good things or bad things we were just in Adam and outside of Christ. So when we heard the Gospel of our salvation that Jesus went on the cross on our behalf and died shedding His blood we learned He paid for all our sins making us totally worthy to go before the Father and to be recipients of His grace and truth forever after.

I was reading yet again of how majorly important the knowledge of being righteous IN Christ is. Actually I read it daily and because it is so shockingly unearthly I often forget it in my human self if I don't read it daily and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to my spirit that I am a son of God. But the Bible says to be aware of Christ's obedience at the cross. Most of us are living lives of being aware of our own obedience.

We have been taught to look at 'our' obedience and it has become a religious past time. Actually it is fought about among people who are Christians every day. I see it on these forums on CC all the time and actually whenever I come here the forums are slathered with believers who fight to look at their own righteousness and want others to look at their own righteousness. And even believe it's unholy to look to Christ's obedience and not our own as our pass port to God's hand in everything we are and do in our lives here while on earth.

In reading yesterdays devotional it reminded me yet again and I neeed to be reminded again and again because in my humaness I am distorted and negative. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:5

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

That verse does not mean as most of us have been taught from day one in our Christian lives to cast down arguments and evil things by learning to think like Jesus. No., that comes later. What that verse does mean is when we fail., when life is fearful and when things in this world become and are overwhelming bigger than our ability to fix in all areas of our lives personally., corporately and universally., the answer is to bring our thoughts into captivity and think instead about the obedience of Christ. Romans 5:19 says;

For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Many of us continue to be mislead into thinking it's by our obedience we have been made righteous. I see the devil do this all the time with people of faith. he wants us to look at ourselves and then he can freely condemn us because who knows better than us how loathsome we really are? Yet., because we are not IN Christ and 100% righteous and 100% IN the family now we are no longer our standard. Adam is no longer our standard bearer. Jesus is. There is no condemnation to those who are IN Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2 Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

This truth will free the persons who take it to live a life of faith. And in that we will bear a lot of fruit because it's the fruit of the Spirit not the fruit of the flesh. In living by the Spirit we will be walking testimonies of what Jesus has done in our lives and the good works come as an effect of our right standing IN Christ. Not our right standing in ourselves.

I hope to challenge many here in the Bible forum to consider this and see how different your Christian life will be when you are actually looking to Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

 

[joaniemarie]

I'd also like to add that this is not a "one time" thought. This remembrance that we are IN Christ and that it is His righteousness given as a gift must be applied to all aspects of our Christian life. When we look in the mirror and are shot down by the reality that life marches on and we are on this earth we go along with it. But although we are in this world., we are no longer of this world. All us good churched believers have heard this saying. But do we apply it? Yes., our bodies are but dust and although we are God's sons we are still made of earth in our earth suits.

I've seen that by the grace of God because of Jesus, He has kept me from falling but I will still age. I will still be challenged to deal with whatever comes my way. But the total game changer is I have Jesus and the Holy Spirit is constantly pointing me to Jesus and His ability. He constantly says My grace is sufficient in your weakness. This is for today while here on this planet while in this brick and mortar body that not only ages but has a brain that is easily effected by my surroundings. This is what I've come to see is the good fight of faith. We are daily engaged in it. It never ends as long as we are here on earth.

It is the Holy Spirit who daily beckons me to look to Jesus and by faith accept all He has died to give me. And I've staggered and done this one step at a time fought the good fight of faith and He has been true to His promises. The world of faith is real and will seep into our brick and mortar life as we allow the Spirit to move.

 

[UnderGrace]

Amen!!

I partake of His obedience and I am obedient in Him.

the answer is to bring our thoughts into captivity and think instead about the obedience of Christ. Romans 5:19 says;

For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Not so long ago I was first introduced to what that means even though I've been a believer since 1982. It's being IN Christ having Jesus be "our Person" standing in "for us". After that, it's a daily journey about seeing just how much Jesus actually stands in for us. Many Christians are like I was and still proceeded a head in life in and about "self"

When we were not saved., Adam was our stand-in guy. We went before God in Adam and were not even in God's beloved family. So all our righteousness's were as filthy rags. We didn't even do anything but be born and live and become aware of God. We didn't do any good things or bad things we were just in Adam and outside of Christ. So when we heard the Gospel of our salvation that Jesus went on the cross on our behalf and died shedding His blood we learned He paid for all our sins making us totally worthy to go before the Father and to be recipients of His grace and truth forever after.

I was reading yet again of how majorly important the knowledge of being righteous IN Christ is. Actually I read it daily and because it is so shockingly unearthly I often forget it in my human self if I don't read it daily and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to my spirit that I am a son of God. But the Bible says to be aware of Christ's obedience at the cross. Most of us are living lives of being aware of our own obedience.

We have been taught to look at 'our' obedience and it has become a religious past time. Actually it is fought about among people who are Christians every day. I see it on these forums on CC all the time and actually whenever I come here the forums are slathered with believers who fight to look at their own righteousness and want others to look at their own righteousness. And even believe it's unholy to look to Christ's obedience and not our own as our pass port to God's hand in everything we are and do in our lives here while on earth.

In reading yesterdays devotional it reminded me yet again and I neeed to be reminded again and again because in my humaness I am distorted and negative. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:5

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

That verse does not mean as most of us have been taught from day one in our Christian lives to cast down arguments and evil things by learning to think like Jesus. No., that comes later. What that verse does mean is when we fail., when life is fearful and when things in this world become and are overwhelming bigger than our ability to fix in all areas of our lives personally., corporately and universally., the answer is to bring our thoughts into captivity and think instead about the obedience of Christ. Romans 5:19 says;

For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Many of us continue to be mislead into thinking it's by our obedience we have been made righteous. I see the devil do this all the time with people of faith. he wants us to look at ourselves and then he can freely condemn us because who knows better than us how loathsome we really are? Yet., because we are not IN Christ and 100% righteous and 100% IN the family now we are no longer our standard. Adam is no longer our standard bearer. Jesus is. There is no condemnation to those who are IN Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2 Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

This truth will free the persons who take it to live a life of faith. And in that we will bear a lot of fruit because it's the fruit of the Spirit not the fruit of the flesh. In living by the Spirit we will be walking testimonies of what Jesus has done in our lives and the good works come as an effect of our right standing IN Christ. Not our right standing in ourselves.

I hope to challenge many here in the Bible forum to consider this and see how different your Christian life will be when you are actually looking to Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

 

[joaniemarie]

It has occurred to me while I've observed other believers that many a Christian can't allow the walk of the spirit to lead. Many Christians in their zeal to spur others on in their walk as Christians have actually hindered people by pointing them to their own worthless works and minds that have yet to be renewed in the righteousness they have yet to learn about that Jesus gave them.

When faith is discussed and leaned on., the religious of us always point to behavior and not transformation. The behavior can't come first and then the transformation. It's the Spirit's work in us that teaches us how to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. And that is done by the grace and truth Jesus brought. The Bible says that it is grace that teaches us how to live godly in this present world.

It's grace and truth that teaches us how to be what we have been changed into at the time of our salvation. We can only change as we observe Jesus and not ourselves and our failings. It goes along with the truth about how we learn to love. We don't do it by our own impulses. Our learned impulses show us that we only love those who are good and kind to us. But the Bible says we love God because He first loved us.

Until a person finds out about the free love (grace) of God in Christ for their lives., they cannot possibly love God or others or themselves. This also is a process in finding out all that Jesus has put in us at the time of our salvation. And it is a daily learning of how to access and remember these truths of faith and of spirit when life looks to be hopeless by our brains that are really just a hunk of meat. Our brains need a bypass into the spiritual realm of faith. And then He comes in like a flood and makes all right and well and better. His grace is sufficient for the day.

 

[joaniemarie]

Have any of you noticed that when we speak about Jesus and what He did and about gaining all things through Him it's called a cop out? It's called laziness and easy believism? Just tooooo easy they say. This is because of our human brains that have yet to be transformed. That kind of talk is coming from the mass of brain meat that is in need of renewal and transforming.

Those who call our attention to our obedience while sounding totally logical., it's actually not Holy Spiritual. We have to get to the point where we by pass our 'fear' of His grace and truth being our standard and not our good or bad behavior. This is not a cop out but a step of faith. And one needed in order to really begin this mind transformation that does not look to human logic but to Holy Spirit teaching using the Bible and rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

How many Christians do you know who can point to verses that by-pass the truth that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us? Did you know that we are our own worse enemy? That our own confusion is compounded by the devil and world? That those 3 the world, the flesh and the devil combined will stop us from proceeding into the world of walking by faith and not by sight? Those 3 will stop us from proceeding to believe that Jesus holds us in His hand and that is the ONLY thing that holds us.



This is the good fight of faith to actually dare to believe His grace is sufficient in all matters of our life. It begins with the step of not looking to our flesh and it's good works.. or bad works.

 

[Grace777x70]

Here is a great devotional from June 8th speaking about the righteousness of God in Christ and the "believer".

Meditate On
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Philippians 3:9[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD]

God’s Favor Comes Through Faith Righteousness ​

[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I believe that the more righteousness-conscious you are, the more you will experience God’s unmerited favor. When the voice of disqualification comes to remind you of all the areas that you have fallen short in, that’s the time to turn to Jesus who qualifies you and hear His voice.

This is the true fight of faith! The fight of faith is to fight to believe that you are made righteous by faith and not by works. What do you want to depend on when push comes to shove—your wavering righteousness based on works, or the perfect, rock-solid righteousness of Jesus based on faith? It is your faith in the righteousness of Jesus that gives you the right to God’s unmerited favor.

Today, because of what Jesus did on the cross, you can expect good things to happen to you. You can ask God for big things and reach out to the blessed destiny that He has for you and your family. His righteousness is your right to God’s unmerited favor. Don’t let any voice of accusation tell you otherwise!

Joseph Prince Ministries Devotional

 

[joaniemarie]

Here is a great devotional from June 8th speaking about the righteousness of God in Christ and the "believer".

Meditate On
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Philippians 3:9[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD]

God’s Favor Comes Through Faith Righteousness ​

[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I believe that the more righteousness-conscious you are, the more you will experience God’s unmerited favor. When the voice of disqualification comes to remind you of all the areas that you have fallen short in, that’s the time to turn to Jesus who qualifies you and hear His voice.

This is the true fight of faith! The fight of faith is to fight to believe that you are made righteous by faith and not by works. What do you want to depend on when push comes to shove—your wavering righteousness based on works, or the perfect, rock-solid righteousness of Jesus based on faith? It is your faith in the righteousness of Jesus that gives you the right to God’s unmerited favor.

Today, because of what Jesus did on the cross, you can expect good things to happen to you. You can ask God for big things and reach out to the blessed destiny that He has for you and your family. His righteousness is your right to God’s unmerited favor. Don’t let any voice of accusation tell you otherwise!

Joseph Prince Ministries Devotional

Actually I was spurred on as well by reading some of your posts in another thread the other day. You also discussed the need for grace to teach us and you used Titus 2:11-13. We are so ignorant of the spiritual realities because we are so used to being taught through our hunk of meat minds that can only see the natural. I must admit., my brain has failed me for so many years I have no faith in it whatsoever!!

It's lead me down paths of darkness and confusion because no one ever taught me that the Holy Spirit does a work of supernatural proportions. He validated the truth and then works in our minds in such a way that we are daily changed by grace through faith. Not by works of the flesh. Beautiful lives that reflect Jesus comes as a natural response to the good things the Holy Spirit is doing in our minds. Our works follow out of the now spiritual awareness of who we are in Christ and what we are called to do and we are eager to be called to do what we were made to do.

The gift of no condemnation always comes into play because in Christ we are not condemned any longer. We are called to look to Jesus and the Holy Spirit shows us exactly how that is done. He never points to us and our sin (as I was taught as a Baptist) but to our righteous standing in Christ which then reminds us of who we really are and how we can now by grace through faith walk accordingly in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the power of the flesh.

 

[UnderGrace]

I taught myself condemnation over the years, did not need a church for that ...LOL

This one scripture played in my head until I began to realize I was not seeing it from Gods perspective and I as well started down a better path, our life is now hidden with Christ in God. He is our source, our living waters, we are partakers of His victory.

Colossians 3:3

2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.…

Actually I was spurred on as well by reading some of your posts in another thread the other day. You also discussed the need for grace to teach us and you used Titus 2:11-13. We are so ignorant of the spiritual realities because we are so used to being taught through our hunk of meat minds that can only see the natural. I must admit., my brain has failed me for so many years I have no faith in it whatsoever!!

It's lead me down paths of darkness and confusion because no one ever taught me that the Holy Spirit does a work of supernatural proportions. He validated the truth and then works in our minds in such a way that we are daily changed by grace through faith. Not by works of the flesh. Beautiful lives that reflect Jesus comes as a natural response to the good things the Holy Spirit is doing in our minds. Our works follow out of the now spiritual awareness of who we are in Christ and what we are called to do and we are eager to be called to do what we were made to do.

The gift of no condemnation always comes into play because in Christ we are not condemned any longer. We are called to look to Jesus and the Holy Spirit shows us exactly how that is done. He never points to us and our sin (as I was taught as a Baptist) but to our righteous standing in Christ which then reminds us of who we really are and how we can now by grace through faith walk accordingly in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the power of the flesh.

 

[PeterJens]

I am not sure I understand you.

When you love and pray for others, you just do it. When you desire the best and want healing
you open your heart to God and bring it to Him.

The faith of this relationship is reclined as righteousness, purity, holiness in the Spirit.
When condemnation comes then one feels defiled, defeated, a sinner.

But you work it through, repent, humble yourself, confess the sin, and bring it to the
cross knowing the forgiveness that is there.

So maybe we are talking not walking in open love with an open heart before the
Lord. I do not know but I know through the cross I am made pure, holy and clean.

 

[Galatians2-20]

JoanieMarie, I agree with you 100% that a person can only become righteous IN CHRIST.


"For He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)


Scripture teaches us, in the book of Isaiah, that man's righteousness apart from God (self righteousness) is as filthy as rags in the eyes of God (64:6) and a stench in the nostrils of God (65:5).


The only way to for man to become righteous is to receive the righteousness of Christ, which he bestows freely as a gift to those who place their trust in Him.


"For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)


Because of Adam’s fall, every person afterward was born into a state of godlessness. Apart from the presence of God, it impossible for man to become righteous. Which is why Christ bore the cross, so that man may be made righteous through fellowship with Christ. Righteousness is not something that we do, it is something that we recieve which is why it is called a gift throughout the word of God.


"The righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans 3:22)


Every Christian who understands the Bible should agree with me up to this point. This is where many stop when presenting the Gospel message. However, the Bible does not stop there. Scripture also teaches that it is through fellowship with Christ that believers remain righteous. Why? Because righteousness is a divine quality, one that a person can not possess apart from the presence of God, IN CHRIST.


“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)


“Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.” (Job 29:14)


“...put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24)


“...put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self...” (Colossians 3:10)


“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...” (Ephesians 6:13-14)


"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10)


While righteousness is indeed a free gift, it is a gift that is to be recieved not once, but daily. Righteousness is both attained and maintained through life in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit. Righteousness is every bit as relational in nature as it is positional.


“The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” (Proverbs 5:19)


“ The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.” (1 John 2:6)


The problem that most people have with the biblical perspective that I am presenting is that many today have been to taught to equate obedience, to Christ and his word, as “works” (self effort). However, often times, throughout scripture, when the word righteousness is used, it is also accompanied by an instruction not to engage in unrighteousness. While righteousness may be free gift, one must choose to receive it.


I asked this question in another thread and I will ask it again here:


Since when is it considered work not to do something?

 

[Stephen63]

Here is a great devotional from June 8th speaking about the righteousness of God in Christ and the "believer".

Meditate On
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Philippians 3:9[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD]

God’s Favor Comes Through Faith Righteousness ​

[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I believe that the more righteousness-conscious you are, the more you will experience God’s unmerited favor. When the voice of disqualification comes to remind you of all the areas that you have fallen short in, that’s the time to turn to Jesus who qualifies you and hear His voice.

This is the true fight of faith! The fight of faith is to fight to believe that you are made righteous by faith and not by works. What do you want to depend on when push comes to shove—your wavering righteousness based on works, or the perfect, rock-solid righteousness of Jesus based on faith? It is your faith in the righteousness of Jesus that gives you the right to God’s unmerited favor.

Today, because of what Jesus did on the cross, you can expect good things to happen to you. You can ask God for big things and reach out to the blessed destiny that He has for you and your family. His righteousness is your right to God’s unmerited favor. Don’t let any voice of accusation tell you otherwise!

Joseph Prince Ministries Devotional

 

[Galatians2-20]

Here is a great devotional from June 8th speaking about the righteousness of God in Christ and the "believer".

Meditate On
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Philippians 3:9[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD]

God’s Favor Comes Through Faith Righteousness ​

[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I believe that the more righteousness-conscious you are, the more you will experience God’s unmerited favor. When the voice of disqualification comes to remind you of all the areas that you have fallen short in, that’s the time to turn to Jesus who qualifies you and hear His voice.

This is the true fight of faith! The fight of faith is to fight to believe that you are made righteous by faith and not by works. What do you want to depend on when push comes to shove—your wavering righteousness based on works, or the perfect, rock-solid righteousness of Jesus based on faith? It is your faith in the righteousness of Jesus that gives you the right to God’s unmerited favor.

Today, because of what Jesus did on the cross, you can expect good things to happen to you. You can ask God for big things and reach out to the blessed destiny that He has for you and your family. His righteousness is your right to God’s unmerited favor. Don’t let any voice of accusation tell you otherwise!

Joseph Prince Ministries Devotional

Joseph Prince is a prosperity teacher and also attempts to merge the controversial doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" with the works of Watchman Nee. The "hyper-grace" message that Prince presents is very similar to the views held by the Gnostics of the 2nd & 3rd centuries A.D. according to the works of Origen.

 

[Stephen63]

Joseph Prince is a prosperity teacher and also attempts to merge the controversial doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" with the works of Watchman Nee. The "hyper-grace" message that Prince presents is very similar to the views held by the Gnostics of the 2nd & 3rd centuries A.D. according to the works of Origen.

I hear the same thing all the time: "yeah, I don't agree with his teaching, but he make some good points."

Yet they'll pick the worst of the worst to read & listen to.

Even if they "eat the meat & spit out the bones", they'll either starve or choke to death on this guy.

 

[UnderGrace]

All I can say is I could not disagree more!

Being justified is a singular event and when we have been justified, we are credited with the righteousness of Jesus.

Righteousness being we are in "right standing." We are born again only once this begins our eternal life and a person cannot be unborn. Why do you think Jesus used this analogy.

Our fellowship is not salvation, fellowship is restored but this is not what saves us and gives us eternal life.

JoanieMarie, I agree with you 100% that a person can only become righteous IN CHRIST.


"For He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)


Scripture teaches us, in the book of Isaiah, that man's righteousness apart from God (self righteousness) is as filthy as rags in the eyes of God (64:6) and a stench in the nostrils of God (65:5).


The only way to for man to become righteous is to receive the righteousness of Christ, which he bestows freely as a gift to those who place their trust in Him.


"For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)


Because of Adam’s fall, every person afterward was born into a state of godlessness. Apart from the presence of God, it impossible for man to become righteous. Which is why Christ bore the cross, so that man may be made righteous through fellowship with Christ. Righteousness is not something that we do, it is something that we recieve which is why it is called a gift throughout the word of God.


"The righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans 3:22)


Every Christian who understands the Bible should agree with me up to this point. This is where many stop when presenting the Gospel message. However, the Bible does not stop there. Scripture also teaches that it is through fellowship with Christ that believers remain righteous. Why? Because righteousness is a divine quality, one that a person can not possess apart from the presence of God, IN CHRIST.


“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)


“Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.” (Job 29:14)


“...put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24)


“...put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self...” (Colossians 3:10)


“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...” (Ephesians 6:13-14)


"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10)


While righteousness is indeed a free gift, it is a gift that is to be recieved not once, but daily. Righteousness is both attained and maintained through life in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit. Righteousness is every bit as relational in nature as it is positional.


“The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” (Proverbs 5:19)


“ The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.” (1 John 2:6)


The problem that most people have with the biblical perspective that I am presenting is that many today have been to taught to equate obedience, to Christ and his word, as “works” (self effort). However, often times, throughout scripture, when the word righteousness is used, it is also accompanied by an instruction not to engage in unrighteousness. While righteousness may be free gift, one must choose to receive it.


I asked this question in another thread and I will ask it again here:


Since when is it considered work not to do something?

 

[Galatians2-20]

All I can say is I could not disagree more!

Being justified is a singular event and when we have been justified, we are credited with the righteousness of Jesus.

Righteousness being we are in "right standing." We are born again only once this begins our eternal life and a person cannot be unborn. Why do you think Jesus used this analogy.

Our fellowship is not salvation, fellowship is restored but this is not what saves us and gives us eternal life.

What is the Biblical Gospel? That Jesus Christ lived and died so God would ignore the sins of those who profess to believe in Christ? Not even close. While forgiveness of sins is but one means to the end that is the finished work of Christ on the cross, it is not the sum total, the end to the means, of the Cross of Calvary.

The authentic Biblical gospel of Jesus Christ is 100% about right relationship restored between God and man!

The first man, Adam, once walked with God but that relationship was severed when he chose his relationship with Eve over his relationship with God by partaking of the forbidden fruit. Every generation born there-after was born into godlessness until Christ came to do what the law could not.

Now keep in mind that forgiveness of sins could be achieved through the Old Testament law through animal sacrifice. If forgiveness of sins was Christ's motivation for coming to earth, then the cross was not necessary. However, Jesus humbled himself by becoming a man, spent his entire ministry illustrating how to walk in right fellowship with God then bore the cross and rose again to accomplish the one thing that the law could not...

The restoration of the relationship between God and man through the indwelling (Holy) Spirit of Christ. The gift of righteousness that every believer receives at the moment of salvation is that same Holy Spirit that both indwelled and empowered Christ. Man can not possess righteousness apart from walking in the Spirit.


“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:18)


The idea that man can be righteous while walking in unrighteousness is written no where in the scriptures. In fact there are numerous passages that speak otherwise. A person can not walk in the Spirit of righteousness while indulging in the lusts of the flesh & unrighteousness because to partake of one is to forsake (abandon) the other.

"Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will].You know that He appeared [in visible form as a man] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is [absolutely] no sin [for He has neither the sin nature nor has He committed sin or acts worthy of blame]. No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him." (1st John 3:4-6)

"No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] love his [believing] brother." (1st John 3:9-10)

 

[joaniemarie]

JoanieMarie, I agree with you 100% that a person can only become righteous IN CHRIST.


"For He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)


Scripture teaches us, in the book of Isaiah, that man's righteousness apart from God (self righteousness) is as filthy as rags in the eyes of God (64:6) and a stench in the nostrils of God (65:5).


The only way to for man to become righteous is to receive the righteousness of Christ, which he bestows freely as a gift to those who place their trust in Him.


"For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)


Because of Adam’s fall, every person afterward was born into a state of godlessness. Apart from the presence of God, it impossible for man to become righteous. Which is why Christ bore the cross, so that man may be made righteous through fellowship with Christ. Righteousness is not something that we do, it is something that we recieve which is why it is called a gift throughout the word of God.


"The righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans 3:22)


Every Christian who understands the Bible should agree with me up to this point. This is where many stop when presenting the Gospel message. However, the Bible does not stop there. Scripture also teaches that it is through fellowship with Christ that believers remain righteous. Why? Because righteousness is a divine quality, one that a person can not possess apart from the presence of God, IN CHRIST.


“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)


“Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.” (Job 29:14)


“...put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24)


“...put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self...” (Colossians 3:10)


“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...” (Ephesians 6:13-14)


"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10)


While righteousness is indeed a free gift, it is a gift that is to be recieved not once, but daily. Righteousness is both attained and maintained through life in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit. Righteousness is every bit as relational in nature as it is positional.


“The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” (Proverbs 5:19)


“ The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.” (1 John 2:6)


The problem that most people have with the biblical perspective that I am presenting is that many today have been to taught to equate obedience, to Christ and his word, as “works” (self effort). However, often times, throughout scripture, when the word righteousness is used, it is also accompanied by an instruction not to engage in unrighteousness. While righteousness may be free gift, one must choose to receive it.


I asked this question in another thread and I will ask it again here:


Since when is it considered work not to do something?

Hi Galatians, I'll try to answer your last question first. It takes a lot of work to adjust our "minds" to the truth when we are afraid of something happening OR not happening for that matter. We need to know the truth first and then we have to believe it. When we believe it we will walk in it. The Bible says for you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. But we have to 'believe' the truth or it cannot set us free. We are told in the Bible not to fear. Actually "the fearful" are the first people who get thrown into the lake of fire. (just a side thought for you to consider) So important is it for us not to fear that it's not a suggestion but something the Lord tells us time and time again in the Bible.

Here is a story about a man and a bear that hopefully can explain a little.

The Ferocious Bear story. This is only a story for illustration purposes. A researcher knows he and his company built a powerful set of metal and steel doors with thick bars to a cave out in the forest. These bars are able to withstand 100,000 pounds of power and have been tested by all the professionals in the field of metal making and door making and hinge making. This man knows all the tests., has read all the research and is totally assured the door will be there to protect him when he needs it as a place of refuge while out in the forest all alone doing his research.

So this man is out in the woods doing his research when the largest most ugly and deadly man eating bear comes upon him. Even though this man has heard and read about this type of man eating bear he never experienced one and thought he had taken all precautions so as not to be surprised so he is really shocked his beeper didn't go off when danger approaced. He is able to see this bear now close up and personal. The long sharp teeth., the deadly look in the eyes., the long nails that can shred a man to bits. The height of the bear over 10ft. The ugly hair and toe nails etc... The man NEVER reeeallly thought he would ever be in this sort of situation.

The man is grabbed by his foot as he attempts to run and part of his pants were ripped off and his foot was slashed and injured. But just as he figured he was going to be a mass of blood and bones and the bears next meal., the bear falls into a huge pit giving the man an opportunity for escape but only for a moment. He limps with his bloodied foot to the cave with the bear only a seconds away. The man just manages to slam the metal door before the bear pounced. The bear is furious and slams its body against the door time after time but can't get through. This enrages the bear even more and he is determined to get the man.

The man can see the bear through the bars. He sees the bears seething anger and teeth with his own blood on the bears mouth and in between its teeth. The man's heart is beating so fast he can't stop shaking. The man is "thinking" how he could have been tortuously eaten alive body part by body part as he feels his foot bleeding from the first attack. This is not a test run he thinks., this is real life!!. Those bars were tested in the lab but now is a different story!!! The man is realizing he is bleeding and just escaped with his life and no one tested for THIS!!!!! He is thinking and thinking and thinking he almost died.

Now., this man can either believe those bars will hold after all the research done and all the scientific facts and tests completed. or., he can be go through the doubting and wondering period of deciding if in fact those bars will hold., as he sees this bear try to get in night after night. The man can continue to be petrified in fear remembering his close call., and live out his time there in total fear waiting for his fellow researchers to find him. Or he can rest assured that he has nothing more to fear and can go about tending to his wounds and his research findings and thankful for the bars that keep out the man eating bear.

We can use many other examples like fear of sickness., fear of the bills not being paid. Fear of being homeless or alone. Fear of losing our loved ones or being mangled in a car accident. After all., look around in the world.... people are dying all the time and the innocent get mangled daily. Why not me? How do we "fear not" ? Can we live our lives in that kind of "faith" place?
Can we not look at the things all around us? How do we do this? Can we make a choice and actually live a life of peace instead of a life of fear? Are we supposed to "rest" in Him and believe that in all things He WILL do as His Word promises even when we look around at alllll the bears in our lives? And in other people's lives?

What will we give weight to?

 

[Galatians2-20]

Just as the Israelites in the desert had to collect the manna that God had provided them every morning (except on the Sabbath), so, too, are New Testaments saints instructed to walk in the Spirit of Christ in order to receive our daily spiritual sustenance.

[SUP]"[/SUP]The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[SUP] [/SUP]his mercies never come to an end;[SUP] [/SUP]they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." (John 15:9)

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

"For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (2nd Peter 1:3)

 

[Galatians2-20]

Hi Galatians, I'll try to answer your last question first. It takes a lot of work to adjust our "minds" to the truth when we are afraid of something happening OR not happening for that matter. We need to know the truth first and then we have to believe it. When we believe it we will walk in it. The Bible says for you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. But we have to 'believe' the truth or it cannot set us free. We are told in the Bible not to fear. Actually "the fearful" are the first people who get thrown into the lake of fire. (just a side thought for you to consider) So important is it for us not to fear that it's not a suggestion but something the Lord tells us time and time again in the Bible.

Here is a story about a man and a bear that hopefully can explain a little.

The Ferocious Bear story. This is only a story for illustration purposes. A researcher knows he and his company built a powerful set of metal and steel doors with thick bars to a cave out in the forest. These bars are able to withstand 100,000 pounds of power and have been tested by all the professionals in the field of metal making and door making and hinge making. This man knows all the tests., has read all the research and is totally assured the door will be there to protect him when he needs it as a place of refuge while out in the forest all alone doing his research.

So this man is out in the woods doing his research when the largest most ugly and deadly man eating bear comes upon him. Even though this man has heard and read about this type of man eating bear he never experienced one and thought he had taken all precautions so as not to be surprised so he is really shocked his beeper didn't go off when danger approaced. He is able to see this bear now close up and personal. The long sharp teeth., the deadly look in the eyes., the long nails that can shred a man to bits. The height of the bear over 10ft. The ugly hair and toe nails etc... The man NEVER reeeallly thought he would ever be in this sort of situation.

The man is grabbed by his foot as he attempts to run and part of his pants were ripped off and his foot was slashed and injured. But just as he figured he was going to be a mass of blood and bones and the bears next meal., the bear falls into a huge pit giving the man an opportunity for escape but only for a moment. He limps with his bloodied foot to the cave with the bear only a seconds away. The man just manages to slam the metal door before the bear pounced. The bear is furious and slams its body against the door time after time but can't get through. This enrages the bear even more and he is determined to get the man.

The man can see the bear through the bars. He sees the bears seething anger and teeth with his own blood on the bears mouth and in between its teeth. The man's heart is beating so fast he can't stop shaking. The man is "thinking" how he could have been tortuously eaten alive body part by body part as he feels his foot bleeding from the first attack. This is not a test run he thinks., this is real life!!. Those bars were tested in the lab but now is a different story!!! The man is realizing he is bleeding and just escaped with his life and no one tested for THIS!!!!! He is thinking and thinking and thinking he almost died.

Now., this man can either believe those bars will hold after all the research done and all the scientific facts and tests completed. or., he can be go through the doubting and wondering period of deciding if in fact those bars will hold., as he sees this bear try to get in night after night. The man can continue to be petrified in fear remembering his close call., and live out his time there in total fear waiting for his fellow researchers to find him. Or he can rest assured that he has nothing more to fear and can go about tending to his wounds and his research findings and thankful for the bars that keep out the man eating bear.

We can use many other examples like fear of sickness., fear of the bills not being paid. Fear of being homeless or alone. Fear of losing our loved ones or being mangled in a car accident. After all., look around in the world.... people are dying all the time and the innocent get mangled daily. Why not me? How do we "fear not" ? Can we live our lives in that kind of "faith" place?
Can we not look at the things all around us? How do we do this? Can we make a choice and actually live a life of peace instead of a life of fear? Are we supposed to "rest" in Him and believe that in all things He WILL do as His Word promises even when we look around at alllll the bears in our lives? And in other people's lives?

What will we give weight to?

Hello JoanieMarie. Thank you for taking the time to address me personally and for the kind and respectful manner in which you did so. It is refreshing to meet someone who is willing to discuss doctrinal differences in a respectful manner. I don't encounter many people like you online so I'd would like to thank you.

Unlike many that I have encountered in the past, I choose not engage in name calling, or deny the salvation of those that I may disagree with, or make accusations based on false assumptions. I do my best not to make or take disagreements personal.

I have read your posts and agree with much of what you have stated. However, there is one area in which we disagree and that is whether or not righteousness is relational in nature as it is positional.

You and I both agree that it is Christ who makes us righteous and that it is faith which places IN CHRIST. It also appears that we would both agree that righteousness is a person, the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Where we disagree is on how righteousness is maintained.

From what I can gather, you appear to be a believer in the doctrine of "once saved, always saved" which teaches that righteousness is a one time gift that can not be revoked, even if a person chooses to engage in unrighteousness. However, I am of the mindset that righteousness is but one aspect of the gift that we receive at the moment of salvation, which is the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is my belief that, in the same manner in which we receive righteousness, which is through restored relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, righteousness is also kept (maintained).

In other words, just as we are made righteous through the inhabitation of Spirit of Christ, we remain righteous through daily relationship with the Spirit of Christ.

I, too, have a story that I like to use to illustrate this principle:

Let's say you were drowning in rough seas. A captain of a nearby boat sees you struggling, rushes over, and pulls you out of the water. He then gives you a change of clothes and allows you stay in his personal quarters, eating from his own table, for the remainder of the voyage. He tells you to stay off the deck because it is very possible that the waves could pull you back into the water where you could drown.

You are now faced with three options:

#1. Trust the Captain and stay inside the boat, no self effort involved.
#2. Ignore the Captain, and jump back into dangerous waters where you will probably die.
#3. Flirt with disaster by going on deck on assuming that, if you do fall in, the captain will be there to rescue you time and time again.

Now, common sense tells you that the easiest and safest option is to stay inside the boat. Biblical faith works similarly. Jesus saves us and accepts us into His Presence, which is life in the (Holy) Spirit. He then warns us to avoid temptation because to indulge in sin is to venture outside of His Presence:

"But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin." ~ 1 John 3:5

However, in regards to salvation, most believers choose the equivalent of option #3. They go about living their lives with little regard to what the Bible says about the dangers of sin, assuming that God will be there to bail them out of trouble again & again. Christ's primary role in daily their lives is that of a life preserver, needed only in emergencies.

True, biblical faith not only saves us but it also empowers us to live righteously. Yet, to remain righteous, today and each day onward, we must walk in the Spirit.

"He who walks in the Spirit need not indulge the lusts of the flesh." ~ Galatians 5:16

It is a matter of choice to walk daily in the presence He who makes us righteous. A person need not do anything to remain righteous other than rest in Christ, placing all trust in Him and His word. It's when we take our fate into our own hands and follow the desires of our flesh that we make the same mistake as Adam, resulting in separation from God.

 

[Grace777x70]

Joseph Prince is a prosperity teacher and also attempts to merge the controversial doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved" with the works of Watchman Nee. The "hyper-grace" message that Prince presents is very similar to the views held by the Gnostics of the 2nd & 3rd centuries A.D. according to the works of Origen.

That is just a big pile of this...

All works-based belief systems are against the truth that through faith by grace we are the righteousness of God in Christ and it is not a gift to receive every day. Do we receive the Lord every day and get saved? What nonsense.

 

[UnderGrace]

So so frustrating there just seems to be a never ending attack on the simple gospel.

Your picture is most fitting!!!

That is just a big pile of this...

All works-based belief systems are against the truth that through faith by grace we are the righteousness of God in Christ and it is not a gift to receive every day. Do we receive the Lord every day and get saved? What nonsense.