RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD?

2 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."

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in establishing and maintaining our relationship with God is the concept of righteousness. Furthermore, it also inhibits us from doing anything productive in His Kingdom!

I remember so often when I first started out in Ministry that as soon as I'd begin to preach, to pray for someone or minister in the gifts of The Spirit I would immediately hear " Who do you think you are? You are a miserable sinner and God will certainly be able to find someone more deserving to flow with His Spirit than you!" All of a sudden the sins I had committed recently would begin to rise up in my remembrance and they would commence to distract me from the Kingdom tasks at hand.

As "Able Ministers of the New Covenant" (2 Corinthinans 3:6) God has established a place where we can go and be filled with the answers to the needs of anyone we encounter in our circle of influence. Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Isn't it exciting and breathtaking to know that God has created a special place for us to go and receive "grace" (the Divine Ability of God) not only for ourselves but also for those we are to serve.

Here at the Throne of Grace we can obtain Mercy (The Divine desire of God that deeply desires to remove the source of distress in our lives) and the Divine ability of God to remove that distress. Now here's where the problem of righteousness comes in. Inately we know this simple truth contained in Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Everytime we begin to approach the Throne of Grace, this fact seems to pop in our heads and captures our thought processes. Somehow when these thoughts take over, our boldness to approach the Throne dissapears! And we stand in the outer courts hoping to catch some crumbs of God's Mercy.

If we investigate the verses that preceed Hebrews 4:16, we discover that the Bible says that "we have a great high priest, who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:14-15 This also confirms our Scripture for today in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that because He knew no sin and because we are "in Him" (Our position because we believe in Him) therefore we are the Righteousness of God!

Speak this fact out loud right now and everytime you are attacked with the lies of the devil to "Remember the sins you have committed and the bad things you have done!"

I am the Righteousness of God!

Now allow me to blow your mind with the facts concerning this statement! Here's what it means...

You have the ability, right now, to stand in the Presence of God as though sin has never touched your life!

This my Christian Brother or Sister is what the Righteousness of God means to you! Some are snorting right now..."Well, I don't know about that!" Let me back it up with Scripture! Psalm 103:12 states "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions(sins) from us." No matter how far east youn travel, you can nevere reach the west! Jeremiah 31:34 "...I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." When you stand at the Judgement Throne of God, He will not even remember one sin you have committed due to the Mercies of the Shed Blood of Jesus. Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 10:17 "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

So the very next time you are approaching the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, and that accusatory voice begins to whine, you begin to shout the truth of God's Word! "I am the Righteousness of God!" Right now I stand here as though sin has never touched my life. I don't care what you think you know or what I remember from my past; what matters is how God views my life. I am the righteousness of God in Christ! He does not remember my sins!

Maybe today you're not even thinking about ministering on behalf of God, and you're just struggling to even lift up your head or to hear from God because you believe that you're not worthy. If the truth were based on what we've done, you'd be correct. However the truth declares that its based soley on what He has done and accomplished!

Micah 7:19 "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

It's liberating to know that we have become the Righteousness of God. Now walk in that Freedom!

You are not a miserable sinner saved by grace! That is a lie! You are the Righteousness of God!

DOING WHAT IS RIGHT!

JOHN 3:13-15 “Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John didn’t want to baptize him. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It must be done, because we must do everything that is right.” So then John baptized him.”

Many people believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about avoiding the pitfalls of going to hell. As we mature in Christ that focus eventually begins to turn towards an eye on heaven. In the Scripture above, Jesus is talking about the real reason for our existence on this earth…WALKING HOLY…Doing that which pleases our Father in heaven, because then He can direct and orchestrate a lifestyle that will demonstrate what He can accomplish with a man or woman who becomes totally committed to His way of living.

Jesus was to be baptized in order to fully commit his entire life; spirit, soul and body, to the Will of God forever! He was making a bold proclamation for all to hear. He had purposed in His heart to manifest the Righteousness of God in His life. In other words, he was going to manifest, or model, in this world the very Character and Nature of His Father.

Listen carefully…this is also your purpose as a Born Again Christian…to live a Holy life and model the Character of God to a hopeless, lost and dying world. Heaven and all the rewards are simply a natural outgrowth of this loving and obedient relationship in which we walk with Him.
Ephesians 4: 13-14 “until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children…”

The Words that Jesus spoke had a way about them that uncovered the soul of men. It didn’t matter whether He was speaking to the hardest of sinners or those who already followed Him, His Words stirred the hearts of men!
Matthew 22:33 “You serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
John 15:13 “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

These Words spoken as a result of the Father’s command uncovered the Character and nature of Almighty God so that man could love Him. The more you know God the more you are able to love Him! His grace and peace are multiplied many times over as we grow in the knowledge of Him. 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord…”

His message was not simply a list of commands which demanded negative obedience or else. His Words were constructive and filled with positive righteousness. John 10:10 “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly..”

He came to reveal a new Name for God. In the Old Testament the various Prophets called Him Jehovah, Yahweh, Warrior, healer, Righteousness, and Ruler of the Universe, but Jesus introduced Him as our FATHER! MATTHEW 6:32 “…for your heavenly Father knows that you need of all these things.”

Our goal in life is to be “mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.” Let His Words stir your heart today. Life was never meant to be boring or mundane. Every day is to be an adventure. Every moment is to bring a Divine Opportunity. Every encounter is to have Eternal significance. What a life He has given us!

In today’s text Jesus issues us a resounding challenge “…we must do everything that is right.” When you accept His grace to walk righteous and do that which is right (holy), He will grab hold of your heart and your life and you will be a tool in the Master’s hand!

Purpose in your heart and life right now to do “everything that is right!”

CRAZY JOHN

Mark 1:6 “And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey...”

Crazy John…What kind of deacon Board would select John to be the preacher in their church today? His message was as rough as the clothing he wore. He preached a bold, uncompromised, simple message. “Repent, because God is arriving on the scene.” It didn’t matter to whom John was speaking, his message was always the same, “Repent!”

John never made a lot of friends but he did gain a lot of enemies and converts. Mark 1:5 “And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.” What was it about the crazy man, in the weird attire and the simple, but tough message, that pricked their hearts? Everything about him centered on his purpose and he lived right before their eyes. There was no preaching on message and living another in John’s life.

It has been said that you don’t have to live like the world to have an impact on the world. You don’t have to be like the crowd to change the crowd and you don’t have to lower yourself down to their level to lift them up to yours! I can tell you right now, that if you live like the world, they will have no respect for you or your message!

If you want to make a difference in the world, then live you life so that it lines up with Godliness. Let the world see a clear distinction in the way you live and they will listen to your message, just like they did to John. We call this living HOLY!

Be the person who doesn’t join in the gossip and the crude jokes.
Be faithful to your spouse.
Love your children enough to stand up for what is right and Godly. Exercise correction and punishment when necessary!
Be the employee who put’s in a full days work without complaining. Be the best you can be!
Be the neighbor who cares about the other neighbor. Listen to them. Love them and pray for them.
Be the Believer who refuses to take a drink in public necause it may confuse or offend those who view your life!
Respect the Sabbath and take time apart for the Lord and for your personal rest.
Be a Champion for the oppressed, bruised and crushed who live among us. Love always!
Refuse to compromise on Christ!
DO NOT SPEAK ONE MESSAGE AND LIVE ANOTHER!

What if John’s life had not lined up with the words he spoke? What if he had preached holiness and lived an immoral life? What if he preached repentance and away from the crowds he joined in with the worldly bunch and their questionable practices? If John’s life had not matched his message, they would never have listened to him!

Is there anything in your life that does not line of with God’s Word and Ways? If you live a Holy and Godly life, they will flock to you for help and meaning in life! Jesus said that we “… are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14

To call yourself a child of God is one thing. To be called a child of God by those who are watching our lives is another thing altogether! What are they secretly saying about you?

CALVARY'S INCREDIBLE EXCHANGE

Galatians 3:13 “…Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Just about any Christian can recount to you the story at Calvary’s Cross. Jesus, the Son of God crucified between two thieves. Both God and man view the scene as the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God surrounded by two men covered in the filth and horror of sin. But here is where the similarities end. Whereas man sees the horror of their bloodied bodies, God grieves over the darkness surrounding their hearts. The Father weeps over the conditions of their souls. These two thieves were headed towards hell because of unresolved sin in their lives.

They displayed hostility, resistance and defiance toward God even in their final moments. But hanging between them is a totally righteous man without sin. Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” One of the thieves reads the sign “King of the Jews”. He hears Jesus asking forgiveness for those who are killing Him. There is something about Jesus that persuades the thief that he hangs in the presence of a real King.

The other thief lashes out in his pain mockingly. “Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.” Luke 23:39 The hardness of his heart is disturbing.

In the midst of all the people who abandoned Jesus, (Peter and the Disciples) the accusations of the Jews, and the cruel treatment rendered by the Roman soldiers, someone at last speaks out to stand up for Jesus. Luke 23:40-41 “…the other criminal protested. “Don’t you even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done one thing wrong.” Jesus in His agony responded with these words. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.” All of heaven was frozen in a moment of time. This was not right. How could a miserable, dark hearted thief possibly go to Heaven?

Suddenly, in response to the voice of Jesus all of the darkness, misery and sin began to lift off of this thief and worked it’s way over until it came to rest on Jesus. Simultaneously, the Righteousness of God began to lift off of Jesus and covers the dying thief. His unclean garments are replaced by a robe of Righteousness and his soul commences to shine with the presence of the Holy Spirit. All of his sins are forgiven and wiped from God’s remembrance. Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

God’s plan began to unfold before all of heaven and earth. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:8 that no one knew, even the powers of darkness, His Master Plan. “…none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Being a Just God, His only choice when He sees sin is either to punish the sin or to pay the price on His own. Galatians 3:13 “…Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

God loves us so much that “…He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“It was our weakness He carried. It was our sorrows that weighed Him down. We thought His troubles were a punishment from God for His own sins. But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

Like the thief at Calvary; when no one is standing up for Jesus; when it’s not popular to proclaim His Lordship or even to speak His Name; when the world is doing all it can to stamp out the event at Calvary’s Cross; let’s commit this day to tell others of His goodness, His mercy and grace.

I will not be silent! I will live a Holy life by His ability within! I will allow His Holy Spirit to flow through my life! I will pray openly, boldly and unashamedly! I will testify of what He has done for me! The more they mock, the bolder I’ll become! The tougher it gets, the brighter I’ll shine! I will exert my God given authority over demonic influences! I will heal the sick! I will praise Him openly! I will respond in loving obedience! I will worship him with my life!

How about you?