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Post by beloved on Aug 9, 2006 16:55:38 GMT -5
II. Corinthians 5: 21
For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We are the righteousness of God now. He has made us that in our spirits where we are new creature. Our spirit man now never sins. Our spirit man is indwelled by God himself in the form of the Holy Spirit; whom we've been sealed with until the day of redemption. Now we must get our minds to line up with who we are inside. We still have that unrenewed fleshly mind that needs to be filled with the truth of who we are in Christ so we will begin to act like who we are. "As a man believes in his heart (mind) so is he." (mind added by me since that is the translation in Strongs Con.)
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Post by gardener on Aug 9, 2006 20:02:19 GMT -5
This is true, but you might need to talk about the problem a little more. The problem is the devil, we do need to be on the same page as our heavenly father, i could say easier said than done, but that sounds like a failure already. I don't know, i just know the devil is strong, not stronger than God, but for many people stronger than they are. You know. Most of the time, at least lately i been strong, but when i'm weak he's always there. Its a vicious cycle that i would love to break, but again easier said than done. But i guess with all the right tools it shouldn't be easy, or maybe the right life would be a better statement. Lets say i never looked at porn from the beginning i would be struggling now. Thats probally why i struggle matter fact. Some people just dirty, i never thought i say it, but i'm a dirty guy. I hate it too, but i have to admit it. It bothers me that i hide it so well that i catch myself pointing the finger at everybody. That reminds of something Jesus you to say, get your own spec out your eye then you can tell your brother what to do. So if you got your spec out please tell me what to do. Lol
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Post by setfree on Aug 9, 2006 21:29:09 GMT -5
gardener,
I can't get the speck out of your eye but Jesus can. I can point you in the right direction toward Him and His Word but that is all I can do. It is true that the devil comes to try to devour the weak but you don't have to remain weak. It all depends on what you believe really. Just hang in there and dig into the Word. As you change what you believe with God's Word, you will change how you will behave. Glad to have you here.
setfree
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Post by gardener on Aug 12, 2006 20:28:19 GMT -5
Its more than what u really believe, just look at pastors who struggle with sin. It could happen to anyone even the pope. A pastor can dig into the word everynight and still struggle. Its just hard as heck sometimes to keep my focus on the Lord and not on this evil world. Its easy to mess up, but harder to do what's right, do you agree. Think about it. It may be due to my own thinking, that i think this way. But i know its true. No one said it was gonna be easy, that's what makes the righteous, righteous!! Lately i've noticed myself being very negative, about three people told me this just this last week. I can't seem to shift my focus to being totally for God, and my younger brother hanging around me everyday, isn't helping. See setfree you may have been good for so long that you forget what its like to screw everything up. Not saying your perfect or anything, but is that all you do to say on the right path. I agree totally with how Jesus can get the speck out of my eye, the rest is up to me. I'm struggling with demons everyday, i'm sick of fighting. I'm just very depressed, i don't know why, i just am. But this will only last so long, i'm gonna keep fighting just for today.
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Post by gardener on Aug 12, 2006 20:32:32 GMT -5
I think i know why i'm depressed, its because i can just give in to every temptation that comes my way. Well I could but that wouldn't be the right thing. Its like i fought so long but i'm right back in that hole, you know what i mean.
I forgot to mention i'm bored as hell right now, also. Now what can i do since i'm bored. Tv, no!, i sick of tv and on demand. Play a game, no!, i'm sick of that too. See if i wasn't trying right now, i could do some sinful things that's different from what i normally do, but i don't want to really. I'm just mad as heck, its saturday night and i can think of nothing wholesome and fun to do. What you do when you bored? Please tell me, i'm all ears.
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Post by setfree on Aug 12, 2006 23:51:54 GMT -5
When I get bored, I play a game, toy around with my knives, or one of my guns. I like to watch sports, knife auctions, visit ebay, and look at real estate for sale. Sure I am tempted at times, but I am always looking for the ways out. I don't think temptations ever go away, I do believe that when we understand who God says we are, that we are able to cast those thoughts down. I find myself thinking more of what God wants me to do in my life, that always brings me peace and sometimes stress as well. lol
I was sort of excited about football starting, but over the last few years it has gotten to the point that I really don't care anymore. They have really sexuallized everything to the point that we record everything, so we can fast forward through commercials and half-time shows. Plus I enjoy taking walks(been too HOT), fishing(too hot), go- carts, and putt- putt golf.
setfree
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Post by setfree on Aug 13, 2006 9:36:25 GMT -5
Its more than what u really believe, just look at pastors who struggle with sin. I understand what you are saying gardener, but Pastors struggle with sin for the same reasons everyone else does- we believe a lie instead of the truth. The lie I think most Christians believe is that they are missing out on something, that God is witholding all the fun from them. The truth is that the consequences of sin NEVER makes it worth it in the end. The consequeces by far outweigh the TEMPORARY fun. I certainly see this example right now with my teenage daughter. She sees my wife and I as controling, domineering, bullies who want to ruin all her fun. But the truth is that we are trying to instill wisdom and truth in her for her safety, betterment, wellbeing. We are trying to point her toward a way of life that will make her life good, but she just thinks (or did until lately) that we want to withold all the goodies of life from her, but what the devil was convincing her was the "goodies" is really death and destruction to her and everyone around her. First of all, yes, the pope himself could fall into sin. Second, most pastors do not spend enough time in the Word to renew their own minds or get much revelation or understanding of the Word at all. Pastors on average spend only 8 minutes a day in the Word studying- ONLY 8 MINUTES A DAY! No wonder they struggle too. What can get out of 8 minutes of basically looking up scriptures for your next sermon and writing them down with notes? Again, and not to sound redundant, but you have asked me to tell you what I've learned that has set me free, it is what you believe. Isn't it the truth that although you know you should quit watching p*rn and being sexually active, part of you still wants to be? Why do you want to be? Because you believe that this sin(s) will give you something it can never give you in truth. All p*rn will ultimately give you is destruction and death, but for you to continue using it, you must be believing otherwise. Do you see what I'm trying to say? No, I haven't forgotten at all. I remind myself all the time how I did and became what I was so that I can guard my mind against those lies and keep them replaced with the truth of God's Word. I don't do what I do because I'm afraid of hell or not pleasing God. I don't do what I don't do because I'm afraid of hell or not pleasing God. I do what I do, and obstain from what I obstain from because I've learned the truth- it brings destruction to me and everyone around me. God will still love me. God will still be there for me to lift me up and point back down the right path, but I refuse to destroy myself, my family or my wife any longer. If I fall into any addictive sin, that is exactly what I will be doing is destroying everything. I also must say that Jesus did say that it can be easy. He said his yoke is easy and his burden is light. If you don't get that scripture because its not what you are experiencing in your life, ask yourself why? No one knows your own mind better than you! Nope, I'm not even close to being perfect. No one is. But I do press forward to move toward perfection. To be conformed into Christs image. I have just learned that I cannot do that through will power, out of terror of hell, because someone tells me what is right and wrong. I've learned that I conform into His image the more I learn of His love, character, goodness, kindness, intensions toward me. I've realized that every law God ever made was not to keep me from having fun, but to show me what produces death, what is life and peace and love, what is death, destruction, depression. All of the law, Jesus said, can be summed up in love. If you break the law, you are being unloving to yourself, others and to God. Gardener, What is your purpose in life? Is it just to try through your own strength to obstain from all the "fun"? Do you know your purpose, your destiny, your calling in life? If so, do you really believe you can fulfill it? If not, why? Why do you think that giving up sin would be so horrible? Why do you believe from your own words that anything wholesome is boring? What lies at the bottom of your beliefs? Are those beliefs correct, do they line up with God's Word? I am not free because I decided I would not do what I wanted to do. I am free because I saw the truth and once that was plain to me, I no longer wanted to do the vile things I was doing. It was not because of my strength, my wisdom, my love for God even. It was because I learned who God was, that there was a purpose behind everything He does and says and that it is for my betterment, safety, etc. He is not a bullying Father that wants to withold all the fun from me. He is a loving Father that knows if I go this way or that it CAN ONLY BRING HURT TO ME, MY WIFE, MY FAMILY! I learned that God loves me unconditionally and I don't have to win brownie points with Him or my salvation. I learned that sin is nothing but a lie of the enemy sent to capture and conquer and devide. I want no part of that. I want love, joy, peace, etc and that only comes from following that laws of love. setfree |
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Post by beloved on Aug 14, 2006 15:20:47 GMT -5
There are two kinds of righteousness the bible teaches us:
1. our righteousness
2. God's righteousness
Our righteousness is as filthy rags before God according to Isaiah 64: 6
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away."
God's righteousness has now become our righteousness through the blood of Jesus that we have believed on for our salvation. See Romans 3: 19- 24 above and Isaiah 54: 14- 17 below:
"In righteousness will you be established: you will be far from opression; for you will not fear: and from terror; for it will not come near you. Behold, they will surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever will gather together against you will fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that will rise against you in judgement you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servents of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord."
Our righteousness is of the Lord and it comes to us by faith in Jesus:
Romans 4: 5- 6
But to him that works not, but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also decribes the blessedness of the man, without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
Our righteousness is counted to us because of our trust in Jesus' finished work- death, burial and ressurection. Our own good works of trying to keep the law cannot and will not save us. Jesus blood saves us and His righteousness is counted to us:
Romans 4: 13
For the promise, that He should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Righteousness is a gift:
Romans 5: 17-18
For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans 8: 3-4
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likenes of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Not even the Israelites could/can keep the law and if you break just one law, you are not righteous before God without your faith in the blood of Jesus:
Romans 9: 30- 31
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore: Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense: and whosoeer believes on him will not be ashamed.
Oh, but we've been taught that we are saved through grace but now we must work to keep our salvation. This is wrong doctrine because our righteousness is completely by faith in the finished work of Christ. Christ put an end to the law for righteousness before God; not that anyone ever kept the law besides Jesus:
Romans 10: 3- 4; 10
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish thier own righteousness, have not sumitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes..... For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Because of our faith we are now as righteous as we will ever be before God:
II. Corinthians 5: 21
For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We are the righteousness of God now. He has made us that in our spirits where we are new creature. Our spirit man now never sins. Our spirit man is indwelled by God himself in the form of the Holy Spirit; whom we've been sealed with until the day of redemption. Now we must get our minds to line up with who we are inside. We still have that unrenewed fleshly mind that needs to be filled with the truth of who we are in Christ so we will begin to act like who we are. "As a man believes in his heart (mind) so is he." (mind added by me since that is the translation in Strongs Con.)
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Post by gardener on Aug 18, 2006 1:12:51 GMT -5
Its more than what u really believe, just look at pastors who struggle with sin. I understand what you are saying gardener, but Pastors struggle with sin for the same reasons everyone else does- we believe a lie instead of the truth. The lie I think most Christians believe is that they are missing out on something, that God is witholding all the fun from them. The truth is that the consequences of sin NEVER makes it worth it in the end. The consequeces by far outweigh the TEMPORARY fun. I certainly see this example right now with my teenage daughter. She sees my wife and I as controling, domineering, bullies who want to ruin all her fun. But the truth is that we are trying to instill wisdom and truth in her for her safety, betterment, wellbeing. Thats how i try to look at my little brother, but i've failed, i'm leading him on to thinking sin is okay, sometimes i riducule him, sometimes i completly forget
Again, and not to sound redundant, but you have asked me to tell you what I've learned that has set me free, it is what you believe. Isn't it the truth that although you know you should quit watching p*rn and being sexually active, part of you still wants to be? Why do you want to be? Because you believe that this sin(s) will give you something it can never give you in truth. All p*rn will ultimately give you is destruction and death I know this, thats what makes me try to stop.Nope, I'm not even close to being perfect. No one is. But I do press forward to move toward perfection. To be conformed into Christs image. I have just learned that I cannot do that through will power, out of terror of hell, because someone tells me what is right and wrong. I've learned that I conform into His image the more I learn of His love, character, goodness, kindness, intensions toward me. I've realized that every law God ever made was not to keep me from having fun, but to show me what produces death, what is life and peace and love, what is death, destruction, depression. All of the law, Jesus said, can be summed up in love. If you break the law, you are being unloving to yourself, others and to God. Gardener, What is your purpose in life? Is it just to try through your own strength to obstain from all the "fun"? Do you know your purpose, your destiny, your calling in life? If so, do you really believe you can fulfill it? If not, why? Why do you think that giving up sin would be so horrible? Why do you believe from your own words that anything wholesome is boring? What lies at the bottom of your beliefs? Are those beliefs correct, do they line up with God's Word? setfree I know i need God, see I've read the bible three times, I've been trying real hard to please God and be righteous for the last 9 years. I used to be a real bad ass,(lying,stealing,fighting,etc..) When I first accepted Jesus as my saviour it was after he saved my life about 9 years ago, since then i've been trying to do my best, and call people to his word. But every so often i get overwhelmed by my goodness, its like i see everyday people who aren't into his word like i try to be and i start to miss my sinful days. The same day i wrote this response i turned on EWTN, it was like God was talking to me, the same things i was saying to you Father Corpi was saying to mass. He was saying its gets hard being good, he's tried of being good, basically a lot of the same things i said to you. I'm not saying that you should believe everything he says but check him out sometime he has a strong faith in God. To better understand my situation you would have to be there. I'm no fool, I know what's important in life, this life is really nothing compared to whats after this. I know what God wants me to do and what he don't. Its just hard to do it sometimes. Especially now, thank God my brother is leaving this Saturday. I think i know my calling in life, i think its to bring people closer to God, I've done this for a few people, I'm not just making something up either. Some of my younger friends i try to set an example for them, I stand up and stay you need to stop lusting, you need to stop this and that, and they listen. I tell them if you want to be like me you have to really love God, some of them not ready but i can definitely see them trying. I tell them although they never see me praying everynight, that i do, and they should to build fellowship with the Lord. You don't want to hear get away from me I never knew you on judgment, and also he will take care of them everyway they need, if they are faithful, etc... I think i may have saved someones life by my words too, maybe thats why he saved my life 9 yrs ago. You just not getting it right now, its like I'm spiritually exhausted, like i'm on a break. Not that i'm just doing any and everything i want to, but i've been giving in a lot lately, a lot of it is just trying to fit in with my bro. I know thats very naive, but its like i'm not even thinking about God like i need to. Like yesterday we went to the strip bar, we just went, i wasn't thinking like i'm doing this to spite you God, i just would rather see some beautiful ladies nude than sit in this drunk looking at my brother all day. I know this might sound silly but maybe we have the lust thing all figured wrong. Think about it, lots of kings that God put in power had many women. But its very easy to find scripture that says otherwise, its also very easy to find scripture that says just that. I'm going to stay safe though, i don't want to be a nasty dirty dude. And its just that, although i don't do it in secret anymore, i hardly ever go just by myself. I don't know sometimes. I don't believe anything wholesome is boring but anything after so long gets boring, you know what i'm saying. Example say you played cards everynight for 9 yrs, you think you gonna want to play cards tonight too. You still probally love cards but take a break so it won't be so boring thats what people do. Its really not the same way with God, God is a lifestyle, and I love that lifestyle, i don't want to say i don't cause i'd be telling you a lie. Its just usually i don't have another person always in my face making suggestions about sinful things like i do now. And i've been behaving very spiritual weak these last few days. Its something though, something like that, thats be going on in my life, you getting it a little better now. You probally thought i was all me, but i say 75% percent is my brother, the rest is just plain ole evil garderner. I say that because i been evil lately, but honestly didn't want to, just too much for me. See you got your wife two heads are always better than one. Just think if you were on your own, fighting devils every single day, you think you might slip one of those times if you didn't have a God fearing woman by you side. I mean you ain't wrong for having that, but i don't, and that's something though. But i do have both of you here so that's something else i really haven't been using. My brother comes into that again, if he weren't' here i'd probally be spending more time doing wholesome stuff. In your quote i put some answers they're in italic, i don't know how to use the quotes that well. |
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Post by beloved on Aug 18, 2006 16:42:19 GMT -5
No problem, gardener, that was the KJV and it is easy for me to comprehend but I forget that not everyone likes the KJV.
God will help you find your way, just keep looking to him.
God Bless,
beloved
modified to say: we will be praying for you. Take good care.
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Post by setfree on Aug 18, 2006 18:14:44 GMT -5
Gardener,
In my journey, I have learnt the harder I try, the harder it is to be good. I look at it now as a belief. I read the Bible, and trust God to work in my life. Not trusting my flesh, but God's Word. I also read the NIV, because there is even some of the KJV that confuses me.
Yes I would take a break from playing cards after 9 years, I would read a while or play checkers or chess on- line. Even though I'm no wiz, it is challenging and I sometimes like a challenge.
It sounds like you are trying to do the right thing with your brother. I tried to help encourage my little brother several times, even tried to with my parents but now I am labeled as "Those People." I still don't understand that label, but whatever.... I am happy for you to have a relationship with your brother. Maybe mine will realize that maybe he was wrong, and call to chat sometime.
Setfree
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Post by setfree on Aug 26, 2006 13:33:59 GMT -5
*left as warning for debate in devotions; erased debate that prompted the warning*
We are not Catholic and do not believe or agree with most of Catholic doctrine.
We are not posting these things for a debate. This is not a debate board and if you do not subscribe to our beliefs then our beliefs cannot help you. That is what this board is for is to help and encouragemen and lead others on a path to freedom by helping them know who they are in Christ. That includes my wife's thread on what God really thinks of and intends for women's lives since many (but not all) in the church tell women that God considers them inferior, incapable beings who have no control over their own lives, when what God really desires is their service as fellow believers. God has a plan for every woman and man and it is impossible for us to fulfill our destinys if we are stuck in unbelief of who God says He is to us, and who we are to Him.
Our devotions are written to help others see themselves the way God sees them, see God the way He really is, and see others the way God desires us to see them. They also help us see through the devices of Satan to keep us in bondage to sin when Jesus already made us free. It is our hope and desire to help others become free, as we have become free, through God's Word from their addictions and strongholds so that they can all live the lives of victory and freedom that God intends for them to live as well.
Anyone who comes here is free to believe the Word we put forth for them to help them or not, but this is not a place to debate God's word because this goes against what we are trying to accomplish here. This is a place of mentorship but if you don't believe what we believe you can chew the hay and spit out the sticks (in your mind), or if you believe that all we have to offer you is sticks, then you are free to find somewhere else to seek your path to freedom from addictions.
We can only tell you how we interpret scripture ourselves in our own lives and heart by the Holy Spirit. We cannot, and do not desire to continually try to prove our points through debate. We are not asking you to believe everything we preach without checking it in the Word yourself through the studyof the Word and revelation from God. But the Bible tells us to try everything we are taught by someone who is preaching to us, that includes priests. The Bible says for us to check the Word for ourselves to see if what we are being taught is true, but that does not mean that we go around correcting everyone we disagree with docternally.
You don't have to agree with us, but you should check the Bible to see if what we are saying to help you is true before you throw it out in your own mind.
Setfree
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Post by beloved on Sept 14, 2006 10:10:30 GMT -5
Righteousness summed up means that we are acceptable to God. We are in right standing with Him. It means that we are able to stand in His presence without fear, guilt, or any sense of inferiority. However, as I said previously, there are two kinds of righteousness- ours (which is weak, insuficient, dirty rags) and God's (which is perfect). We have been MADE the righteousness of God in Christ. It has been given us, we cannot earn it. We are able to stand before God and enter His presence without fear because, Jesus, "became sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him". Jesus swapped with us at the cross. He took our sin, and gave us His righteousness. He accomplished this through His blood.
Romans 3: 24-25 "Being justified freely by his grace thrugh the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;" (note: some say because of this verse that God can only forgive our past sins, however they leave out "through His forbearance" which means that he looked to the end of time and provided forgiveness for every sin that would ever be committed through the blood of Jesus. Jesus died before you were ever born so if God can only forgive sin that was already in the past at the point of Jesus death on the cross, none of yours or my sins have been even paid for. God looks on all sins now as if they are in the past because in his forbearance He saw every sin that would ever be committed and placed it on Jesus on the cross; where his blood bought our freedom, salvation, and redemption.)
That does not mean that we don't sin, it is just no longer held to our account; it has been forgiven. Jesus became our substitute. Then he destroyed the power that the devil had over mankind (death through sin) and made His perfect righteousness available to us. A redemption that would not have made mankind righteous before God would have been a complete fallacy; it would have accomplished nothing.
Romans 6: 17-18
But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have believed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delievered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.
~E.W. Kenyon~
2 Corinthians 5:21
Him who knew no sin God made to become sin on our behalf; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Unfortunately the church as a whole has not even taught a limited righteousness. Instead they are forever begging forgiveness of a Savior who has already done so. Many in the church spend their whole life in guilt, regret, and fear because they don't know and/or believe what God has done for them through Christ.
Galatians 5: 4-5
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. For through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
And they spend their whole lives in bondage to sin because they believe they are hopeless "sinners" instead of "more than conquerors"; "freed from sin". This presents much trouble in our walk with the Lord because then we are always trying to accomplish through the flesh what we can only walk out by trust in our Savior and who he has made us to be. The Bible says we are what we believe. And if we compound our sense of condemnation with fear of judgement, etc. then we don't even run to God, but from the only ONE that can "deliver us from our bodies of sin".
Romans 7:24- 25
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Trying to change our sin nature by the efforts of our sin nature is like being a dog that is trying to be a cat. Our flesh cannot conquer sin. It may be able to subdue it for a while, but sin is our fleshes nature, so we must not rely on something so sure of failure to deliver us from the bondage of sin.
Our flesh (sin nature) produces sin, but our born again spirit has God's life and righteousness in it and that is what we must learn to walk in:
Galatians 5: 16-17
This I say to then, Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other; so that you cannot do the things that you would.
This is the exact reason why God sent Jesus to deliver us from the wages of sin to start with; we CANNOT be sinless in our fallen nature which has been passed down since Adam. It only takes breaking ONE law to condemn us, so its easy to see that our only hope is a Savior who purchased our righteousness for us by His blood, death and ressurection.
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Post by beloved on Oct 9, 2006 21:05:05 GMT -5
Jesus went to the cross by the determinate counsel of God, became sin, and took our place as a Substitute. Then He conquered the enemy and made righteousness available to mankind. Until you realize that you have been made righteous, satan "reigns" over you, and sin and disease are your master. Don't allow the devil to deceive you any longer. You have been made RIGHTeous in Christ Jesus. In order for you to act like it, you must believe it.
E.W. Kenyon
2. Corinthians 3: 7- 9
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
It is God who ministrates righteousness to us; both spiritually and in through the renewing of our minds. In our spirits we have been made completely righteous before God. Through God's Word our minds are renewed and thus outwardly we grow in God's righteousness.
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Post by beloved on Nov 13, 2006 22:16:05 GMT -5
This devotion about righteousness is a sermon by T.L. Bench:
An understanding of the righteousness that God has bestowed upon us through Jesus has been fought in the earth for 2,000 years now since his death. Our enemy, the devil, has fought the message of righteousness in the church because if you understand it, then you understand your identity; if you understand your identity faith comes easily.
If you were the enemy of righteousness, what would you do to keep people from experiencing and knowing truth? The devil has gone to many lengths but his most valuable weapon has been deception that began in the church through Judaizers, by legalism.
Throughout our whole Christian life, we should be moving from one level of faith to another.
There is only one Faith that Paul talks about in the New Testement and that is that we receive our promises, as well as our salvation, as a result of understanding what Jesus did for us and who we are in Him. "The Faith" is simply a belief in the gospel message. Jesus accomplished everything for us and bestowed "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" in us.
The Bible doesn't reveal what you need to DO to be right with God, but what you need to BELIEVE to be right with God; or righteous.
Our being made righteous, in the Word, really means that God has made and created us righteous; perfect in our spirit so that He can live in us forever; eternal life.
Romans 3:20-28
Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the deeds of the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare , I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Our own works righteousness can NEVER justify us, make us righteous, in the eyes of God. Our performance can never make us righteous. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, but through faith in Jesus blood we have received a righteousness that is of God; the righteousness of God the Bible says. It is God that has come to dwell inside of us; in our spirits after we got born again. In our spirits we are righteous all the time; whether we sin or not. It is in our spirits that we have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus. God has made us complete/perfect in our spirits. God will not live in something that is not perfect. It is our bodies and souls (mind, will, emotions) that remain impefect so long as we remain in this world. That is why we are to be renewed in the attitude of our minds (in our souls) to the fact that we have been recreated in righteousness and true holiness. When we believe we our righteous, that righteousness will actually draw us out of sin. God's love will draw us out of sin.
The church has believed that causing the fear of hell and wrath in the hearts of believers and sinners, will change them and cause them to flee from their sins, but the Bible says it is the love of God that leads us to repentance and constrains us from sin.
Hebrews 10: 1-14
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers therunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made for sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offereings for sin thou wouldest not, neithter hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first (covenant), that he may establish the second (covenant). By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offereing oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offereing he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
It is not the churches job to remind us of all the wrong we do all the time, but to remind us of who we are now in Christ because of His blood so that we will identify with that and change through that. Good works and love will be the result of knowing that we are righteous in Christ. We should no longer have a sin conscienceness.
Romans 10: 1-4
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Your performance can never make you perfec,t or righteous, or justified before God. Only faith in the blood of Jesus, shed for the remission of your sins, can make you righteous before God.
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