DEALING WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
Greetings in Jesus:
Righteousness is one of those religious words that are used that tend to scar people into running away when they hear them used. We find Abraham was counted righteous for his faith in God so we can say that faith does have something to do with being righteous. The idea of being righteous has to do with being right! Being right is not the same things these days as being correct. The definition for being correct these days has changed...it used to mean being free from error, but our society has changed the rules on that so much that we hardly recognize it as the same as it has always been.
Romans 3:21-31 gives us a description of righteousness, but I want to begin with the verse just above that ; verse 20 which says "No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin". That really becomes the first step in our working toward righteousness when we begin to realize our sin and work to change it. Paul goes on then in verse 21 to say " But now a righteousness from God; apart from the law has been made known to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe"
I have long held the view that most people do not really know what true faith in God is when they come to Him at first. Faith is tested along the way to be strengthened, and it is not an automatic gift that is given to everyone. Unless we test our faith and strengthen our belief in Christ through coming to Him with life problems we will remain very weak indeed. For a great many people who are struggling today the reason they do so is that they will not rely on God for answers for their real problems.
The truth is that unless we can test what God has told us in a real life problem so that we can begin to see how He works through these things for us our faith will remain very weak, and it is very likely we will never trust God completely, and that is the kind of position many Christians are in today. When we find ourselves beaten down, and without strength to stand on our own we still have one another to lean on, but it does not mean that we should just remain weak and beaten down as those around us are holding us up. We need to begin building up the strength of our faith and resolve by testing God's word for our lives. This week we will begin to look at the concepts of what righteousness means and how to become a part of the Kingdom as grown up children of God so that we can stand with Christ for the Father. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
Righteousness is one of those religious words that are used that tend to scar people into running away when they hear them used. We find Abraham was counted righteous for his faith in God so we can say that faith does have something to do with being righteous. The idea of being righteous has to do with being right! Being right is not the same things these days as being correct. The definition for being correct these days has changed...it used to mean being free from error, but our society has changed the rules on that so much that we hardly recognize it as the same as it has always been.
Romans 3:21-31 gives us a description of righteousness, but I want to begin with the verse just above that ; verse 20 which says "No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin". That really becomes the first step in our working toward righteousness when we begin to realize our sin and work to change it. Paul goes on then in verse 21 to say " But now a righteousness from God; apart from the law has been made known to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe"
I have long held the view that most people do not really know what true faith in God is when they come to Him at first. Faith is tested along the way to be strengthened, and it is not an automatic gift that is given to everyone. Unless we test our faith and strengthen our belief in Christ through coming to Him with life problems we will remain very weak indeed. For a great many people who are struggling today the reason they do so is that they will not rely on God for answers for their real problems.
The truth is that unless we can test what God has told us in a real life problem so that we can begin to see how He works through these things for us our faith will remain very weak, and it is very likely we will never trust God completely, and that is the kind of position many Christians are in today. When we find ourselves beaten down, and without strength to stand on our own we still have one another to lean on, but it does not mean that we should just remain weak and beaten down as those around us are holding us up. We need to begin building up the strength of our faith and resolve by testing God's word for our lives. This week we will begin to look at the concepts of what righteousness means and how to become a part of the Kingdom as grown up children of God so that we can stand with Christ for the Father. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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