Romans 5:12-21 Sin vs Righteousness

Read Romans 12-21.

Paul repeats several times in this passage in various ways this one phrase:

"For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" Romans 5:15

Through one man, Adam, sin and the consequence of death came to reign in man. We live with that reality daily. We see sin constantly on the news, in our workplace, in our homes, and in our own heart. You can't escape sin because all people are born with a sin nature.

HOWEVER, through one man, Jesus Christ, we have the gift of righteousness. All people have this gift. But as with any gift, you must choose to receive it -- incorporate it into your life. Righteousness is not a natural occurrence in mankind now since sin entered the world through Adam. It is lived out only through Jesus Christ. And it is a daily decision.

Are we living in the righteousness we have received or toying with the old sinful nature. Look to Jesus. I was reading Oswald Chambers last night, and he was talking about we don't need to seek salvation or sanctification. We need to seek Jesus. He is all we need.

Share Jesus with someone today. He has a gift for someone you know. His love, power, and righteousness will conquer all. We only need to receive Him.

Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ and the righteousness He brings to overcome sin and death. Give me opportunities today to share that gift of Jesus with others who need Him so desperately. So be it.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who do you live with or work with or see every day who still needs to know about Jesus?
2. To whom are you paying homage with your life - Adam in sin or Jesus in righteousness? 
3. How do we remain focused on the gift of Christ?

Romans 4 Fully Persuaded

Read Romans 4

3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." NIV

The power of God counting someone as righteous! As David is quoted as saying in verse 8, "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." That is righteousness. Our sin is gone as far as the east is from the west, and God remembers it against us no more. What amazing mercy and grace is demonstrated in counting someone as righteous. 

Because you understand, Abraham had done nothing but go where God had sent him when this statement was made about Abraham in Genesis 15:6. Abraham's righteousness even came before the act of circumcision. And this was way before he was willing to sacrifice his son on an altar. Abraham's "belief" was in God's promise that he would be the father of many nations even though he was old and childless. He simply trusted in the power of the Almighty to do as He said He would do. 

I love what it says about Abraham in verse 20:

20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. NIV

It begs the question, am I fully persuaded? And I don't mean in whether God has the power or not. I believe He does. Nor if He will keep His promises. I believe He will. To do otherwise would go against His nature, and He doesn't do that.

But to truly be fully persuaded would mean to live each day completely dedicated to Him and His mission. Am I doing that? Am I living in love for others each day? Am I devoted to study of the Word and prayer? Am I helping the poor, the widows, and the orphans? Do I truly care that people are going to hell? These are the thoughts that make me question if I am living FULLY PERSUADED. I suppose I don't waver in believing in who God is. I waver in believing in who I am in the full scheme of things. Do you?

I know the enemy works very hard to confuse us and to discourage us in our walk as believers in God. Doubt is one of his favorite tools of deception. So I suppose when I am feeling this way, I say:
1. I believe I am loved by God.
2. I believe I am made righteous by belief in His Son's sacrifice.
3. I am fully persuaded that He is able to do all He says He will do.
4. I am His child, a co-heir with Christ, and will walk in His love and by the power of His Holy Spirit.
5. I will do whatever He calls me to do.

This is my creed, and I choose to walk in it today.

Father, thank you for righteousness and that you loved us so much as to make that path even possible. Deliver me from the enemy's lies, and guide me to live out Your love each and every day - living fully persuaded. So be it.

Further Thoughts:

1. What do you do to combat the feelings of not be fully persuaded?
2. Read Hebrews 11 about all those who demonstrated faith in amazing ways. 
3. What is challenging your faith? Write your creed and speak it out loud.

Proverbs 14:19 "God is Good and Righteous"

Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ~Proverbs 14:19

Evil cannot remain in the presence of the goodness and righteousness of God. His holiness overpowers and overcomes any challenge evil can cause. He is perfect goodness. His ways are always right. His whole being embodies holiness like no other so that His goodness and righteous cannot even be understood by our mere human minds. The Creator creates what is good and righteous; evil distorts that creation but can never change it.

All the adjectives we use to describe someone that is good – superior, excellent, magnificent, marvelous – pale in comparison to the goodness of our Lord. And His righteousness will win out over all opposition.

This passage in Proverbs is not referring to God’s presence or His gates. It’s talking about those who receive Him. We are given the power of the greatest Being of goodness and righteousness to live within us. By the power of His presence in our lives, we can overcome evil with His goodness.

Further Thoughts:

1. In spite of the evil in the world, what examples of God’s goodness and righteousness do we see every day?
2. Why do some people have trouble viewing God as good?
3. How does knowing that God’s goodness and righteousness live within us change the way we face the challenges of each day?

Holy Father, Your presence empowers me to face any challenge the enemy may throw at me. Thank You for overcoming evil with Your goodness and righteousness. My life has hope. Amen.

Matthew 5:6 "Blessed" Part 4

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." NIV

Did you know there are about sixty references to the words, "please God" or "pleasing to God" in the Bible? I love the definition of the Greek word for "righteousness" in this verse. It says, "state of him who is as he ought to be, the condition acceptable to God...." Living a life of righteousness is living just as I should be -- pleasing God. When I am going my own path, following my own depraved sinful nature, I am not living a life pleasing to God. I am actually walking the exact opposite direction. But when I am living the life I was supposed to have lived before the Fall, walking blamelessly before God, then I am living a pleasing life to Him. And isn't that every child's desire, to please their father?

As I looked back through some of the verses in the Old Testament, all the "pleasing" statements were regarding a sacrifice being a "pleasing aroma to God." Animal sacrifices were how God had established for the people to atone for their sins before Jesus became the final sacrifice. Sin brings death, so someone had to die to atone for the sin or to make them right again before God. And when God's people truly sought forgiveness through sacrifice, a desire to put their life back into line with God's plan, that was pleasing to Him.

Because of Jesus, we don't have to offer animal sacrifices any more, so my life is my sacrifice. If I am living as I "ought to be," then my life is pleasing to my Father. I can't be living for myself anymore. I sacrificed that part of me on the altar of salvation. I must live a pleasing life for Him. Oh, the enemy often tempts me to resurrect that old self and follow my own path, but the Holy Spirit always reminds me of the way that is "acceptable to God." My true path, my true desire is to please my Lord. Earthly pleasures will fade, but the Lord's pleasure is eternal.

Lord, let my life be righteous in Your eyes; my walk a sweet aroma pleasing to You.

Further Thoughts:

1. David was one who pleased God. His life wasn't perfect; he made some dire mistakes. So what about His life pleased God? Study David and list some reasons.
2. Look up several verses with "please God" or "pleasing to God" in them. What is the behavior or attitude that each verse is referencing? How are you doing with those personally? What about your life needs to change to be "as it ought to be?"
3. Does the Christian life seem hard? Well, it is. We serve a God that sets high standards and battle an enemy that is very strong and persuasive. We live through spiritual warfare every day, but you don't have to do it alone. Seek out other believers that will fight alongside you. Let's "please" Him together.

Ephesians 6:14b "Guard Your Heart"

"...with the breastplate of righteousness in place...." NIV

After the belt of truth comes the breastplate of righteousness. The Greek word for righteousness is dikaiosune. It means the "state of him who is as he ought to be, ...the condition acceptable to God." So this is why righteousness is in our breastplate -- to cover our heart. It's the center of our desires and our values. It governs where we place our trust and loyalties. And we want to guard our heart to remain in a state that is pleasing to God. Interestingly, it's the state where we began - before the fall. A righteous person is living as God designed us to be. When He cleansed me from my sin at conversion, He made me again the person He planned for me to be. And if I will put on my armor, the breastplate will protect that purified condition. Again, however, I must choose daily to put on that breastplate. I must choose to stay away from the old self and protect the new.

Lord, thank You that you not only cleanse my heart from my sin and separation from You, but You provide the protection to guard my heart. I choose, today, to put on my breastplate and live in righteousness.

Further Thoughts:

1. God called Noah a righteous man. Reread his story and be reminded of what God can do with a person fully devoted to Him. Genesis 6:5-9:17.
2. Look at what Jesus had to say about righteousness in Matthew.
3. Are we a slave to sin or to righteousness? Read Romans 6, then Romans 8
4. Have you let the breastplate slip and tainted the righteousness that is yours through salvation? If so, confess it, stop doing it, and choose to guard your heart for God.