Mysticism & righteousness

[Grace777x70]

As we have told you hundreds of times, you do not understand this stumbling block, that sin causes judgement, and you cannot compromise with actual sin in a believers life. We will continue to give our the scriptures

“Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8:11

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:7

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Heb 10:26-27

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.
2 John 1:6

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3

It appears your version of faith is hyper-legalism where no=one is ever free from sin except
by adopted righteousness so they are let off free. Even repentance has been removed.

So a gospel that is no longer a gospel but a mystical acceptance into heaven of a perfect
eternal spirit that came from heaven. A different faith altogether.

Peter, it completely baffles me where you come up with these thoughts. Where is there talk about people wanting to sin out of the post I put up? Where do you get this straw-man idea that no one repents? Here it is again so that you get another chance to see what was being said in real life.....

There is a difference between our own works of righteousness in the flesh and God working through us as we have said over 30x times. I understand that this is a stumbling block for you but we will continue to give out the scriptures.

Titus 3:5 (KJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Paul said that he puts no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3-4 (NASB)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

[SUP]4 [/SUP] although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

God doesn't recognize what we do in the flesh - our self-effort. Abraham tried to fulfill the word of God to him by creating Ishmael. God doesn't recognize what we do in the flesh no matter how good it is and even trying to fulfill the word of God to us.

 

[jaybird88]

Hi Jaybird88

The whole bible as the perfect law of God is written by the finger of God. This is the Old testament as well as the new.

Scripture is to sole source of faith by which we can hear the living voice of God.

is this why today there are 100 plus versions of the bible?

 

[PeterJens]

Two stages of salvation
1. Washed, purified and cleansed
2. Our response, our walk, our faith, our hope.

So much of scripture says you are called, but your response needs to be real, and consistent.
It is not so much you earn salvation that you prove the work Christ has done in you.

As believers we cannot improve upon it but we can waste it, ignore it, throw it away.
The whole point of salvation is that we learn to walk as independent children of God freely loving
and caring. If we cannot do this, like a chick when it leaves the nest it flys, then we are still
born. You could say God is brutal, but that is the privilege and the risk. No safe place here.

A phrase like "You must carry your cross daily or you are not worthy of me"
or "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."Matt 10:39

This is tough stuff, not believe in me, praise and prayer and it will just roll to you, no effort involved.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:5

Doing the mystic route you become a friend of the world, learn how to shop for relaxation, not
reject greed and the easy life but live for truth and love.

 

[Grace777x70]

It looks like it is time to see what the scriptures say again about this "mystical" new heart because of being in Christ.

It looks like Ezekiel, Paul, and Peter were "mystics" because they all talked about the new heart that would come from being "in Christ".

The understanding of what happened to us when we received Christ should be known by every believer. We are a new creations in Christ.

Without the understanding of the new heart in Christ I can understand why the gospel is a mystery to some and their need to humanize the gospel and turn it into a flesh trip becomes evident.

This philosophy of man is what we end up with when we don't understand the new birth in Christ and what the scriptures actually say about the believer in Christ.

The believers new heart in Christ is created in righteousness and holiness: First it was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB)
[SUP]26 [/SUP] "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone ( old man ) from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ( new man in Christ )


Romans 2:29 (NASB)
[SUP]29 [/SUP] But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
By grace we have been given a new heart that is obedient.

Romans 6:17 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,

God cleaned house and moved in. God will not dwell in unrighteousness. God through the Holy Spirit is in our inner man now.

Ephesians 3:16-17 (NASB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

[SUP]17 [/SUP] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

God sealed us and gave us the Holy Spirit in our new hearts.

2 Corinthians 1:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

We have the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts now.

Galatians 4:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

God has cleansed our hearts by faith.

Acts 15:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
[SUP]9 [/SUP] and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

We love from our hearts now as it is pure.

1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (this is a believer in Christ..hang around them )

1 Peter 3:4 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

There are more but this should work to show that the believer has a new heart in Christ.

We still have the flesh to deal with in our bodies and if we are admonished to not to yield to that...but all that is a different subject.

 

[BeyondET]

Let me break this down a bit. By saying mysticism is not of God, in the sense of a mystical new heart is sent from heaven into a believer, not the actual thing happening but the idea, because I do not believe this is what happens, I am blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Now in context Jesus was talking about calling a miracle ie a healing a work of satan. I am not doing this, I am actually saying mysticism is a theology of union with God which is not part of the gospel.

It is dangerous to talk theology and then say questioning one model over another is the unforgivable sin. That is like saying an open minded enquirer risks screwing it up on day one.

Jesus was talking about people who were hard hearted, without love or desire to follow God, and were happy to rebel and call anything of satan to further their own ambitions. I fall into none of these camps. I would suggest you consider what the difference is between mysticism and righteousness and you might get the point I am making.

there is no clear choice in how a person uses the words mysticism and righteousness. Example is it right to obey the speed limit on the highway that can be a rightious thing to do it can saves lives and you won't get a ticket either this can be called a righteousness behavior or a person who thinks they can see the future in a crystal ball can be called mysticism. It just so happens you picked two words for your thread title that can't be defined one way or the other thus a endless debate on its meaning and use.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I am stunned to see what began as accusations of hyper grace, after all the stages of metamophose, became hyper grace mystical born again and now have ended with the accusation of hyper legalism.

How is it possible that you begin by saying someone preaches too much grace and end by saying they preach too much law...?

I feel how Alice must have felt at the Mad Hatters tea party...

 

[PeterJens]

Peter, it completely baffles me where you come up with these thoughts. Where is there talk about people wanting to sin out of the post I put up? Where do you get this straw-man idea that no one repents? Here it is again so that you get another chance to see what was being said in real life.....

There is a difference between our own works of righteousness in the flesh and God working through us as we have said over 30x times. I understand that this is a stumbling block for you but we will continue to give out the scriptures.

Titus 3:5 (KJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Paul said that he puts no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3-4 (NASB)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

[SUP]4 [/SUP] although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

God doesn't recognize what we do in the flesh - our self-effort. Abraham tried to fulfill the word of God to him by creating Ishmael. God doesn't recognize what we do in the flesh no matter how good it is and even trying to fulfill the word of God to us.

Bruce, why is it you redefine repentance, believe you have a perfect mystical spirit born within you and the rest is just realising it. It is like I am talking to a schizophrenic. Sin is hyper-legalism where getting scared is a sin, and any fleeting reaction is sin, worthy of hell, but we are free just because all future sin is forgiven.

As soon as you say all future sin is forgiven, sin no longer matters. This is no straw man, it is what you believe.
No sin consciousness, yet as so many have testified, in their own words they sin every day, or every minute. This is no straw man as you claim but the testimony of you fellow believers. If this would not be so, you would be walking in righteousness. Maybe that is you claim, that you are actually different from these guys.

So Bruce which is it? Are you sinning every day or actually walking in righteousness? This is a yes or no question.
If you are walking in habitual known sin why are you not repenting, confessing and getting yourself right with God?

When sin comes into my life this is what I do. But then many in your camp scoff. You liar and hypocrite. I know sins you do everyday. And so I will respond, please tell me what you are referring of so I might repent and get myself right with God.

I counsel you if you accuse me of sin, it had better be sin as God defines it and secondly you better know I am breaking it or you are behaving like the enemy.

Now I know many confess they sin over things that are not sin, because they have described what they are doing.
This is my simple challenge. Will you deliver an answer? If you can I will come over to your side( assuming you can show me why your claimed sins are sin) , if not, I am standing with the Lord.

The whole reason for the law is behaviour matters. The whole light and darkness are His people walk in righteousness and freedom. But it seems by making this hyper-legalism you make a farce of Gods word and message. Not a good place to be.

 

[Grace777x70]

I am stunned to see what began as accusations of hyper grace, after all the stages of metamophose, became hyper grace mystical born again and now have ended with the accusation of hyper legalism.

How is it possible that you begin by saying someone preaches too much grace and end by saying they preach too much law...?

I feel how Alice must have felt at the Mad Hatters tea party...

I agree....it is so hard to have a discussion with this kind of a mindset. It just goes from one extreme to another extreme and it is all a construct of their own imaginations of their mind . The best one can hope for is to give out scriptures becasue we know that there is power in God's word to set us free.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I'm beginning to think something else is going on here than what I first believed...

 

[PeterJens]

I am stunned to see what began as accusations of hyper grace, after all the stages of metamophose, became hyper grace mystical born again and now have ended with the accusation of hyper legalism.

How is it possible that you begin by saying someone preaches too much grace and end by saying they preach too much law...?

I feel how Alice must have felt at the Mad Hatters tea party...

In all religious models there are reasons why arguments shift. It is usually because a problem in one set of ideas is no longer a problem, but something else is.

If believers can walk in actual righteousness purity and holiness because of who they have become, then the idea of imputed righteousness is a temporary covering while work is in progress. If on the other hand man is forever doomed and this goal is impossible, imputed righteousness is the only answer.

This is why total inability doctrine matters. Add to this the idea of what a relationship to God is, mystical union or shared approach to life, reflected by a transformed heart and righteous behaviour, the final goals are different.

What I am also doing is testing out how firmly seated these ideas are in peoples minds. And the answer appears to be solid.
That suggests more is going on than on the surface and spiritual realities are involved. This is why I conclude these are incompatible positions, like being a mormon, or a JW. You can though be a baptist or congregationalist or reformed and still have fellowship in a meaningful way. I do not feel like that with grace simply because we relate to righteousness and salvation very differently.

 

[Grace777x70]

Bruce, why is it you redefine repentance, believe you have a perfect mystical spirit born within you and the rest is just realising it. It is like I am talking to a schizophrenic. Sin is hyper-legalism where getting scared is a sin, and any fleeting reaction is sin, worthy of hell, but we are free just because all future sin is forgiven.

As soon as you say all future sin is forgiven, sin no longer matters. This is no straw man, it is what you believe.
No sin consciousness, yet as so many have testified, in their own words they sin every day, or every minute. This is no straw man as you claim but the testimony of you fellow believers. If this would not be so, you would be walking in righteousness. Maybe that is you claim, that you are actually different from these guys.

So Bruce which is it? Are you sinning every day or actually walking in righteousness? This is a yes or no question.
If you are walking in habitual known sin why are you not repenting, confessing and getting yourself right with God?

When sin comes into my life this is what I do. But then many in your camp scoff. You liar and hypocrite. I know sins you do everyday. And so I will respond, please tell me what you are referring of so I might repent and get myself right with God.

I counsel you if you accuse me of sin, it had better be sin as God defines it and secondly you better know I am breaking it or you are behaving like the enemy.

Now I know many confess they sin over things that are not sin, because they have described what they are doing.
This is my simple challenge. Will you deliver an answer? If you can I will come over to your side( assuming you can show me why your claimed sins are sin) , if not, I am standing with the Lord.

The whole reason for the law is behaviour matters. The whole light and darkness are His people walk in righteousness and freedom. But it seems by making this hyper-legalism you make a farce of Gods word and message. Not a good place to be.

I and many others have you told you these things over 100x times in the past. I believe in what the biblical use of the word repentance is. I believe in what the scriptures say about being born-again in Christ and receiving a new heart in Christ.

I am righteousness conscious every day - not sin conscious. If I do sin - I confess it to the Lord not in order to get forgiven as He has forgiven me. That we have shown to you at least 100x times in the past too.

Now, if you don't agree with these beliefs - that's ok...we can agree to disagree as I have told you that over 20x times in the past...All is well!..

I endeavor to obey this scripture.

Colossians 3:1-3 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

[SUP]2 [/SUP] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

[SUP]3 [/SUP] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

I would say that we all have sin every day because "whatsoever is not of faith is sin"....I look unto Jesus - He is the author and finisher of faith. I look to what He has done and 1 John 1:7 says that Jesus blood continually cleanses me of all sin. I'm one of those "believing " believers in what Christ has done for us.

Peter I am not accusing you of sin - that is a construct in your own mind. If I say in a general statement that God doesn't recognize our own self-effort in the flesh - and you "identify" with that. Well, that's not me telling you that.

 

[Grace777x70]

I'm beginning to think something else is going on here than what I first believed...

There must be something else going on as this is just endless confusion going from one thing to another without any reference to anything.

Anyway, I'll let you try to get into his mind to see what is going on. I think it is wise for me just to stay clear of him and just post scriptures and let them do the talking.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

Who is defeated in sin, peter?
Have I gone out and shot anyone? no.
I've keptt hat commandment.
Ah, but God is holy through and through.
so He demands an even more exacting holiness than just my outside.
I must now also not murder in my heart (anger).
What man can perform heart surgery on himself?
He needs a surgeon to do it.
Who can be that holy to never have anger in their heart? NEVER have anger and resentment in their heart?
NO ONE can be that pure and holy by just making sure that he doesn't shoot anyone.

Jesus spoke of this when He taught on the outside of the cup (not shooting anyone) versus the inside of the cup (not having anger in your heart). He said the outside can be clean but the inside still be filthy. THIS is the perfection God demands. You can try to not ever have anger or resentment toward another but you will eventually fail in it. You have to look to Him to do the inside work unless you find yourself to already be perfect to that exacting degree of perfection.
His holiness requires BOTH.

One more time, since you have decided again that you are talking to me.

 

[gb9]

Bruce, why is it you redefine repentance, believe you have a perfect mystical spirit born within you and the rest is just realising it. It is like I am talking to a schizophrenic. Sin is hyper-legalism where getting scared is a sin, and any fleeting reaction is sin, worthy of hell, but we are free just because all future sin is forgiven.

As soon as you say all future sin is forgiven, sin no longer matters. This is no straw man, it is what you believe.
No sin consciousness, yet as so many have testified, in their own words they sin every day, or every minute. This is no straw man as you claim but the testimony of you fellow believers. If this would not be so, you would be walking in righteousness. Maybe that is you claim, that you are actually different from these guys.

So Bruce which is it? Are you sinning every day or actually walking in righteousness? This is a yes or no question.
If you are walking in habitual known sin why are you not repenting, confessing and getting yourself right with God?

When sin comes into my life this is what I do. But then many in your camp scoff. You liar and hypocrite. I know sins you do everyday. And so I will respond, please tell me what you are referring of so I might repent and get myself right with God.

I counsel you if you accuse me of sin, it had better be sin as God defines it and secondly you better know I am breaking it or you are behaving like the enemy.

Now I know many confess they sin over things that are not sin, because they have described what they are doing.
This is my simple challenge. Will you deliver an answer? If you can I will come over to your side( assuming you can show me why your claimed sins are sin) , if not, I am standing with the Lord.

The whole reason for the law is behaviour matters. The whole light and darkness are His people walk in righteousness and freedom. But it seems by making this hyper-legalism you make a farce of Gods word and message. Not a good place to be.

the 3rd paragraph you ask bruce those questions. they are not the right questions when it comes to salvation. God does not grade on a curve. their is no " sin comparison". you either stand on your ability to do all the works that the law calls for, or you accept the righteousness of God in Christ. perfect or not or your own, that is the question.

 

[oyster67]

I haven't taken the time to read through this entire thread, but my thought is this; "God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform..."

I have learned to never, never put God in any sort of box. His ways are infinitely higher than mine. We can only comprehend as He chooses to reveal things to us, and it's a good thing for us that He doesn't reveal too much at once. It would blow all our circuits instantly.

 

[PeterJens]

A trick of changing reference points.

If you change the basic reference points within any culture you can change what appears normal and what is wrong.

So if people are impossible to save, total forgiveness is the only solution.
If people can never walk in righteousness, those who say they are righteous are hypocrites.

This is a neat trick. So I ask you now, do you think you can walk in love and righteousness as the Lord walked or is this an impossible dream? If your answer is an impossible dream you will tend to follow hyper-grace because in this you have hope.

If the answer is no, Jesus can empower me to overcome actual sin and walk in love, the gospel is likely the road you will walk. I know where I am, I am just shinning a light on these paths and why they are their. Those who hear will hear.

 

[Grace777x70]

Here is what the scriptures say about righteousness and believers that are "in Christ" now. Everyone can believe what they want too but I'd rather stick to the Holy Spirit then to my own humanistic thinking.

The understanding of the new creation in Christ and the new identity of the believer is paramount to living the true Christian life.

We don't become righteousness because we do "righteous deeds" - we have become righteous because of what Jesus already did for us. This should be fundamental Christianity and not human philosophy that we live by.


Here it says our spirit ( the inner person that is a new creation in Christ ) is alive because of righteousness that it is it.

Romans 8:10 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin,yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Here righteousness is a gift - you don't earn it.

Romans 5:17 (KJV)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

We have grace reigning in our lives because of righteousness in us.

Romans 5:21 (KJV)
[SUP]21[/SUP] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here righteousness comes by faith.

Romans 9:30 (KJV)
[SUP]30 [/SUP] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Here when we believe - we are righteousness.

Romans 10:10 (KJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We are in the kingdom of God which is righteousness.

Romans 14:17 (KJV)
[SUP]17[/SUP] For the kingdom of God ( Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you..He might know a thing or two ) is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Here it says that God made us righteousness in Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV)
[SUP]30 [/SUP] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

This says we have become the righteousness of Christ ( this is called a dependent clause in the greek - it is determined as fulfilled because Christ became sin )

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Believers are called righteousness.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?


Here it is saying that "righteousness comes by Christ".

Galatians 2:21 (NASB)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

Here we have the breastplate of righteousness - which is the armor of God that we are to be strong in.

Ephesians 6:14 (KJV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, andhaving on the breastplate of righteousness;

This talks about the new man in Christ - the new creation.

Ephesians 4:24 (NASB)
[SUP]24 [/SUP] and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Ok..that's enough..there are tons more.... It looks like the scriptures are just filled with all this "mystic stuff".

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

There must be something else going on as this is just endless confusion going from one thing to another without any reference to anything.

Anyway, I'll let you try to get into his mind to see what is going on. I think it is wise for me just to stay clear of him and just post scriptures and let them do the talking.

Well then, we pray. Correct?

 

[gb9]

A trick of changing reference points.

If you change the basic reference points within any culture you can change what appears normal and what is wrong.

So if people are impossible to save, total forgiveness is the only solution.
If people can never walk in righteousness, those who say they are righteous are hypocrites.

This is a neat trick. So I ask you now, do you think you can walk in love and righteousness as the Lord walked or is this an impossible dream? If your answer is an impossible dream you will tend to follow hyper-grace because in this you have hope.

If the answer is no, Jesus can empower me to overcome actual sin and walk in love, the gospel is likely the road you will walk. I know where I am, I am just shinning a light on these paths and why they are their. Those who hear will hear.

yes peter, total forgiveness IS the only way. me, you , and no one else can be perfectly righteous all the time without fail.

if YOU think you can be sinless, your sir could not be more wrong.

 

[Grace777x70]

A trick of changing reference points.

If you change the basic reference points within any culture you can change what appears normal and what is wrong.

So if people are impossible to save, total forgiveness is the only solution.
If people can never walk in righteousness, those who say they are righteous are hypocrites.

This is a neat trick. So I ask you now, do you think you can walk in love and righteousness as the Lord walked or is this an impossible dream? If your answer is an impossible dream you will tend to follow hyper-grace because in this you have hope.

If the answer is no, Jesus can empower me to overcome actual sin and walk in love, the gospel is likely the road you will walk. I know where I am, I am just shinning a light on these paths and why they are their. Those who hear will hear.

I will try one more time with you and then I'm going to have to pass the baton to someone else. I am making statements on scripture. If you "identify" with these then that is between you and the Lord...please remember that important fact.

And this below is the difference between "works righteousness" and faith righteousness for salvation. ( as in going to be with the Lord when we die )

In the Old - you "did in order to get" In the New Covenant " you believe in order to receive" what Christ has already done. It's called the "word of faith" and it's enacted by speaking.

This is where works-based salvationists have a hard time with the gospel of the grace of Christ alone for salvation. They are mixing the covenants up and trying to do things in order to get and maintain salvation.

The pure gospel of the grace of Christ is offensive to this mindset and thus they need to do things in order to establish and maintain their own righteousness for salvation just like it was commanded in the Old Covenant.

In the New Covenant we receive Christ's righteousness because we believe NOT because "we do".


Doing righteous deeds by themselves does not make one righteous. This is having the cart before the horse.

I know there have been "good" people doing "righteous deeds " but they were not belonging to God. Many religions have moral living people in them - all doing "righteous deeds".

Here is how righteousness is manifested to a believer....we need to be righteousness conscious...not sin-conscious...we have a new creation in Christ now!

This "righteousness " that we already have now in our new creation ( the inner man ) is because we are in Christ - will manifest outwardly in doing righteous deeds - but we need the "horse" in front first.

The "horse" being Christ's righteousness in us because of our being in Christ in our inner man..our new creation in Christ.

Awake to who you are in Christ!..Awake to righteousness and sin not..when you see who you are in Him in your new man..you become like Him outwardly.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Baby Christians do not understand the word of righteousness and thus try to establish their own.

Hebrews 5:13 (NASB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

Romans 5:17 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 54:14 (NASB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] "In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
[SUP]21[/SUP] He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When you see who you are in Christ because of His finished work...you become outwardly in behavior what you are truly like in your new inner man where Christ dwells.