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RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH (Series 1)

Hello friends.

 For some time now I’ve wanted to share some scriptural realities but I’ve not been permitted until now. Thank God for light through the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Christ.

Now I will say that this series is not for those that do not believe in the authenticity of the word of God – The Bible yet. So I will advise that the knowing Jesus series previously posted should be read before reading this article. Also, to clear any doubt on your mind as you read this, you may want to get your bible and follow through. We will be using the New International Version (NIV) basically and making special reference to the Amplified Bible (The Amplified bible combines more versions in it and makes references to some concordances, like the Strong Concordance with translations of Greek/Hebrew bibles from lexicons like the Joseph Thayer’s Greek-English lexicon).

Along the line of this study, some may feel uncomfortable, but I implore everyone to follow this series to the end.

Now let’s get started!

Talking about Easter

Some months ago, I’d hear Jesus speak to me about his suffering, his death on the cross and resurrection. He’d say to me, ‘For you, for you’. I’d wonder at that statement and remember whenever I made mistake as a Christian, and cry bitterly, thinking it was out of condemnation. I knew then that it was time for me to follow more closely and intimately in my relationship with him to know him better. Well, I am not done knowing all about him, but few months later, I understood that it was out of deep love and tender care he told me these things. It is with great joy I write these articles in series, sharing my little discovery yet (out of his abundant gracious generosity) on the real essence of his suffering, his death on the cross and resurrection.

 Now in the book of Luke chapter 18, Jesus Christ telling some parables to teach prayer, in the same context talking about faith- how childlike it sounds and then righteousness and later moved on to show his disciples an example of healing by faith in the same chapter will serve as a solid start-up for our discussion on this series. How we let guilt of sin stand between us and our heavenly father. How we think he hates us and punish us for the sins we’d committed because of how grievous we think they are.

You know late last year after I came into a deeper understanding in this light, the last two concerts I ministered in as a music minister, I couldn’t help but saying to the audience briefly a little of what I’m about to share. I started introducing the songs by telling the crowd, ‘The Lord is good’, and they’d reply, ‘All the time’ then I got to know that many activities in church are followed religiously rather than getting into the core of the reasons why we do some things in the church through establishing doctrine (Interconnectivity of the scriptures to establish) in the Bible. After all, we believe in the word of God. Many claims God is good yet they believe God punishes them for their sins by not answering their prayers, which is even for the few that struggle to run to God with guilty conscience.

‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ - Heb 4:16

We are to come boldly – with confidence to the throne of grace. Not looking at our good works or evil works. Jesus brought us grace so we need to go through Jesus (the giver of grace) to our heavenly father – God. Looking at any sin committed makes our approach void of confidence. Moreover Romans 4:4-5 says:

‘Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.’

In that text, we see ‘the wicked’ no matter how wicked you think the things you have committed are, GOD JUSTIFIES THE WICKED. I didn’t write these texts, these are texts from the word of God!

Remember to follow this write-up to the end and not conclude anything just yet. God’s grace was never a free license to sin and it will never be. There as been misconception about grace so much more that so many Christians despise the real meaning of GRACE. Nevertheless, grace still remains Gods utmost plan for the salvation of man.

In Luke 18:17. Jesus said

 “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Rom. 14:17

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”

So can we be childlike enough to receive God’s own righteousness and quit trying to figure it out by our strength? Like many Christians, I use to think the Bible contradicts himself. But he really doesn’t. In Matt. 6:1, every ‘act of righteousness’, Jesus instructed they should be done secretly. No good deed by man that is self seeking receives a single reward. Jesus taught to make reliance in the Holy Spirit easy when God sends the Holy Spirit. Every teaching and parable was an insight to trusting in the spirit. In this same passage of the bible, he taught about how to pray, the approach was OUR FATHER and followed by the first personal request Thy Kingdom come then Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Isn’t it amazing that Christ talks about righteousness by faith and prayer simultaneously? God’s will for every man is to come to him, being made righteous by faith through total trust in the Holy spirit- That is the kingdom of GOD. It is not location based. In John 14:6 Jesus said “I am the way ... no one comes to the father except through me” There is no other basis of righteousness than in Christ’s work of righteousness and all we need to do is believe in it.

2 Cor 5:21

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [ endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].     

Gal 1:3-4

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father

Righteousness does not come by conscious work of mans effort in trying to keep the law - Ten Commandments. Being conscious of your mistakes in the flesh brings guilt and trying to work it out by your effort and determination not to do them again brings frustration. You know you really have tried and cried yet you fill tied to this addiction and you later conclude that you are a sinner? Come on child of God, you are born again! So you are no more a sinner. God calls you his righteousness 2 Cor. 5:21

That guilt is an instrument of the devil that makes you want to stay bound to sin and settle for it. You are not a sinner because you made that mistake you are still as saint as Christ is. Christ took away your sins. Every punishment you think you will receive, Christ received it on your behalf. God doesn’t see that sin in you anymore. God sees you as a saint – sinless and blameless.

You think you have sinned because you broke the law – the Ten Commandments. But we don’t operate that way again because if we do then you need a blood of bull or goat to wash away your sin pending the time you commit the sin again, because those are the Old Testament ordinances before Christ. If righteousness was based on dos and don’ts, then really no one can be righteous because you not doing anything at all can be sin too.  But thank God for the gift of a helper, the long awaited promise – The Holy Spirit.