We do not BECOME righteous in the spiritual man, we are MADE righteous the instant we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Therefore, we are MADE righteous in our spiritual man and we BECOME righteous in our soulish man.
The Lord will do some things for His sake and then do some things for our sake. But in the end we need to realize that it is all about God and Him receiving the glory. The degree of sacrifice determines the degree of benefit. In working out in the gym they always say, "NO PAIN, NO GAIN". We are made righteous spiritually the minute we receive Christ. However we are in the process of becoming righteous in our soulish man, (which is called the process of sanctification), daily as we pay the price of acceptable sacrifice. Because of a lack of understanding of the importance of the subject of righteousness we tend to not spend much time in thanking God for making His Son sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ. The things that we give thanks for are typically the things that we understand the value of. The same is true of worship. Worship can be defined as “counting God’s worth.” We will not worship God for the position of righteousness which we enjoy if we do not count it as worthy of worship or know the value of it.
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WE CAN REST IN GOD'S PEACE WHEN WE KNOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST ON AND IN US.  FOR GOD'S SAKE AND FOR OUR SAKE HE HAS CLOTHED US IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS:
All that The Father has done was not ultimately for His benefit alone. That which the Father has done has not only been for His sake but also to benefit us in our spiritual man, in our soulish man, and in our physical man. Read the following Scriptures and see the things that the Father for the sake of others and for His own sake. The word “SAKE” means “because, on account of, and it was in your heart to do.” Genesis 26:24 ESV And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake." Leviticus 26:45 ESV But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD." 2 Kings 19:34 ESV For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David." Psalms 23:1-3 ESV A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. (3) He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 25:6-7 ESV Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. (7) Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Psalms 31:3 ESV For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; Psalms 79:8-9 ESV Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. (9) Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!  THE CHURCH: THE CALLED OUT ONES If we are truly saved then we are a part of the Biblical church. The word church is best defines as "THE CALLED OUT ONES". We are called out from the world, love of the world and the sins of the world to walk a life honoring to our Lord Jesus Christ. To be successful in this committed Christian life we need to make some hard choices. The most important among those choices is deciding among those who we call "friends". Let's see what the WORD says and then may we make our decision based on following the word of God. MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS ABOUT WHOM WE CALL FRIENDS 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 ESV (17) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (18) and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 ESV (11) But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (12) For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (13) God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." 2 John 1:8-11 ESV Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. (9) Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (11) for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Ephesians 5:11-12 ESV Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (12) For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  KNOWING OUR POSITION RELEASES GOD'S PROVISIONS:
Our understanding of our position with the heavenly Father changes our ability to obtain the things we require. This is the reason that I so oppose teaching people who do not have knowledge of the heavenly Father. We cannot hope to change people through mental assent. We need to understand our position with the heavenly Father and how to use our faith to obtain the things we require. The kingdom of darkness mentality is a slave mentality. Many believers today have never had their minds renewed from the stinking thinking of the kingdom of darkness. THEY SEE THEMSELVES TODAY AS THEY SAW THEMSELVES WHEN THEY WERE LOST. They see themselves as worms, inferior, guilty, or servants not worthy of asking or receiving the promises of the Father. The consciousness of Christians today needs to be BLASTED and affected by the subject of righteousness. Although the doctrine of Biblical righteousness seems to be kindergarten stuff, true Biblical teaching of it has been neglected in the body of Christ. The basic teaching of Christ robing us with His righteousness is some of the milk of the Word. However, getting into the full meaning of being positioned in right standing with the Father and all that is available to the believer because of this positioning is the meat of the Word. Believers seem to be always talking about going out into the “deep” things and into “deep waters” with God yet many have not embraced the simple truths of the shallow waters of knowing the position of righteousness which they possess in our Lord Jesus Christ.  UNWORTHY:
Does anyone else feel a sense of unworthiness of God's love when coming to the Lord of creation? Jacob understood this sense of unworthiness when he played back his life-rewind-button and saw God's love and faithfulness over the years. Genesis 32:9-10 ESV And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,' (10) I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. As you travel down life's roadway today take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness and love and how He has enlarged your tent. Let this truth overwhelm you with a sense of humility and brokenness.  On Whom or on What will we place our trust when we find ourselves in a difficult situation?
When our backs are against the wall financially, physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, or spiritually, what will we lean on? Who will we call? What will be the source of our strength? Our family? Our church? Our doctors? Our resources? Our intellect and experience? Our physical strength? Or will we call upon the Name of our Lord? Psalms 20:7 ESV Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Israel still made themselves ready with an army: They were ready physically with a strong military. YET...they realized in all of their preparation...it is God who gives the victory. Proverbs 21:31 ESV The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. Moral of the story: It is right and responsible to prepare, but it shows wisdom and maturity to place your trust in the Lord to give victory in the battle. WHY? Because when the enemy comes in like a flood, God has RAISED UP A STANDARD against him. Isaiah 59:19 KJV So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.  WHAT DOES SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS LOOK LIKE?
Walking in our own righteousness is called “being self-righteous.” Walking in an attitude of self righteousness manifests many traits that are harmful to the testimony of Christ and causes the Christian to be puffed up in his own eyes. I want to list some of the characteristics of a self righteous life. I will not print out the Scriptures but list them as a reference for your future study. 1. Self righteousness hides from truth when exposed: (See Gen.3:7-11) 2. Self righteousness trust in themselves and looks down on others: (See Lk.18:9-14) 3. Self righteousness judges others concerning personal convictions: (See Rom. 14:1-13) 4. Self righteousness majors on the minors and minors on the majors, placing traditions over the truth: (See Matt.15:1-9; Mk.7:1-13) 5. Self righteousness thinks he can love God and hate his brother: (See 1 Jn.4:19-21) 6. Self righteousness decides what sacrifice that will be brought to the Lord: (See Gen.4:1-5) 7. Self righteousness majors on self works: (See Tit.3:5; Eph.2:8-9) 8. Self righteousness does not want to be instructed in righteousness: (See 2 Tim. 3:16-17) 9. Self righteousness is proud in speech: (See Ps.12:3-4) 10. Self righteousness will join forces with those whom they normally hate to attack true followers of God: (See Jn.18:2-13) 11. Self righteousness justifies their lack of compassion and love: (See Lk.10:29-37) 12. Self righteousness is the blind leading the blind placing heavy religious burdens on people: (See Matt.23:1-39) 13. Self righteousness does not see self righteousness as it truly is: (See Is.64:6-8) 14. Self righteousness tries to keep us bound to the law: (See Rom.7:1-7; Gal.5:1-7) 15. Self righteousness trusts in own resources: (See Ps.20:7-8) 16. Self righteousness believes there is no authority outside of himself: (See Rom.13:1-7) 17. Self righteousness does not do self denial: (See Matt.16:24-26) |
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