Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Established in Righteous, Certain To Prosper

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 37: 12)

Righteousness is the  gift that keeps on giving to those who receive it, and keep receiving it:

"For if by the offence of the one the death did reign through the one, much more those, who the abundance of the grace and of the free gift of the righteousness are receiving, in life shall reign through the one -- Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17, Youngs Literal Translation)

We are called to receive and keep receiving, for without this righteousness, we do not reign in life.

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16: 26)

We need Life, and that life is given to us through Christ Jesus (John 14: 6):

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)

As long as we still believe that we must do or say or think something in order to be OK with God, then we do not receive the gift of righteousness:

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2).

We prosper to the extent that we walk in truth (3 John 3-4), and the Truth is that in Christ, we have received His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

To continue to believe otherwise is to entertain nothing but error.

Here is the prophecy which Isaiah uttered to us, foreseeing the work of the Cross:

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)

We must be established in righteousness first and foremost, a transformation which we receive living from faith to faith (Romans 1:17) and by the Spirit of the Lord from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

Then we reap the following promises:

"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour." (Proverbs 21: 21)

and

"In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace [or "prosperity] so long as the moon endureth." (Psalm 72: 7)

And therefore, this is why Jesus taught while walking on this earth to "seek" or rather "desire" God's righteousness (Matthew 6: 33), and the rest will be added unto you -- prosperity!

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