Do Not Fall in With the Fallen Enemy

"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10: 18)

Satan, the Adversary, the Accuser of the Brethren, is a fallen enemy. He fell when he rebelled against God, and he is fallen ever more.

The only trick he has left is to deceive us from not believe and receiving who we are in Christ:
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11: 3)

Christ is simple, and He asked to do one simple thing:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

When we believe on Him, we receive two things from Him:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

His righteousness transforms us into a new creation:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

then

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

His grace also defines us as a new creation and lets Christ live His life through us:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

Satan has been judged (John 16: 11), and the weapons which he used against us have been fulfilled at the Cross (Colossians 2: 13-15).

Because we are now seated in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 6), we need not fall in with this fallen enemy.

Rest in Him, He Brings Forth Life From You

"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof." (Genesis 2: 21)

The Lord saw that Adam needed a "help meet" (Genesis 2: 18). He did not make Adam do something, but instead made him rest.

The Lord does that for his Beloved sheep:

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalms 23: 2)

This new "helper" was Eve, which in Hebrew means "Life".

Adam is a type of Jesus, our Lord and savior:

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." (Romans 5: 14)

Now Eve is a type and shadow of the Holy Spirit:

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6: 63)

and

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15: 26)

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our Helper, the one who comes to our side and reminds us of our righteousness in Him. (John 16: 11)

Just as Eve was drawn out of Adam as he rested, so God is able to draw out the Spirit of God in us as we rest in Him:

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24: 49)

To believe on God the Father is to rest in Him, and behold what happens to those who believe:

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7: 38)

Rest in Him, trusting Him for all things, and watch the Holy Spirit, your helper, flow in your life.

Prosper by Walking in Grace and Truth

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

I have written before on this wonderful verse, one which imputes the believer, the individual Beloved which we are all to God the Father, as in Christ we are all accepted (Ephesians 1: 6)

How do we prosper in our souls? By walking in the Truth:

"For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 3-4)

John testified of the Truth that was in his beloved Gauis, and this same Truth is in us:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

It is Christ in us that is the hope -- the certainty -- of glory. (Colossians 1: 27)

In another epistle, John charges to us:

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1 John 2: 6)

How did Jesus walk?:

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14)

then

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Jesus walked in truth and grace!

So, in order for us to prosper and be in health, let us therefore walk in the grace of God:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

and

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" (2 Corinthians 9: 8)

His grace supplies us all things, and this grace is in Christ, who is in us. Let this grace flow in you, and you will prosper and be in health.

Love is Nothing without Righteousness

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. " (Romans 14: 17)

I often wondered why "Love" is not mentioned in this list.

The Holy Spirit is ever supplying God's love to us:

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 5)

This love is ever-present in the believer, yet spiritual things must be discerned by faith:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11: 1)

This faith brings us righteousness:

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" (Romans 3: 23)

We need this right standing above all else:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

In order for us to receive God's love, in order for God's love to be perfected in us, we must know and believe that this love has transformed us from dead in our trespasses to alive in Christ:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

"As He is, so are we. . ." this is confirmed for us in Second Corinthians:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. " (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

If we do not receive this same standing before God, then we cannot receive all blessing with Him, so consumed will we be with our own sin. After Jesus blessed Peter with a catch of fish beyond his strength to take in:

"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5: 8)

God wants us to prosper as our soul prospers, yet our souls cannot prosper if we are still consumed with dead works, works to earn God's righteousness:

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)

The Eternal Spirit, the Holy Ghost, has purged our inner witness, our mind, from the excessive business of trying to please God. When we stop thinking that we "still have to do", then we can receive God's love without reserve. This rest is "righteousness".

Refuse Reproach and Reign in Righteousness

The number One enemy is not fear, but shame, and Jesus defeated even this in dying on the Cross for us:

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2)

What is the "cure" for the "shame" in our lives, specifically? Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, who is the Author and Finisher of Faith, not just yours and mine, but for all believers:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

This faith, then, moves within us by the Power of the Holy Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith" (Galatians 5: 22)

We receive by faith the Holy Spirit into our lives, and the Holy Spirit conveys the following message to us:

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: . . .

"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;" (John 16: 8, 10)

This righteousness is a gift which we are called to keep receiving, that we may reign in life through Jesus:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Reproach speaks of condemnation, the sense that we are not "good enough", but the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are not "good enough" in anything that we do, but in all that Jesus has done for us:

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15: 26)

and

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1, NIV)

Refuse the shame, reign in righteousness, because that's what Jesus paid for you to have!

Let Jesus' Name and Beauty Cover You

"And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness." (Genesis 9: 23)

Noah, a picture of God's rest, established a vineyard, drink wine of the grapes, and then fell asleep, drunk and naked in his tent (Genesis 9: 20-21).

One of his three sons, Ham (which speaks of darkness and chains) saw then shared this shame with his other brothers, Shem and Japheth.

In the Body of Christ, we are called to share our concerns and conflicts with the brother or sister with whom we differ (Matthew 18: 17; Galatians 6: 1), not to noise aloud the shame or sin that one is caught up in.

Yet whether our shame is kept secret or noised abroad, we can rest assured that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 7)

In the account of the two sons covering, we have Shem, which means "name" or "renown". Japheth means "fair, beautiful."

Because we believe on the name of Jesus, we are taken from dead in our trespasses to living in Christ, receiving His standing:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 12-13)

We are born again into Christ, no longer in sinful, fallen Adam. In Christ, we are not shameful or despicable, but beloved, just like Jesus. Solomon, a type and shadow of our Lord, was described:

"His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." (Song of Solomon 5: 16)

This beauty is now accorded to all who believe on Him, who are partakers of His nature (2 Peter 1: 4):

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Rest in  your righteousness, even when you sin, and let the name and beauty of Jesus keep removing your shame, reminding you that you are righteous!

Our Greatest Enemy -- Reproach

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2)

Jesus despised the shame of dying on the Cross for us.

He took all of our sin, our judgment, our hurts, pains, and difficulties once and for all.

The greatest enemy is condemnation, and in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)

Many people believe that "fear" is the greatest threat to mankind.

Yet why did Adam fear when he hid from God?

"And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. " (Genesis 3: 10)

Adam was "naked" because he sinned, and as a result he died spiritually, separated from God. This shame is a result of sin, and this is manifested in our lives in the guilt, shame, loneliness, and the sense of inadequacy that we fell in our lives.

Separated from God, not good enough, naked -- this is the greatest fear of man, so much so that a m an would rather die than be embarrassed. Even Comedian Jerry Seinfeld joked that a man would rather be in the  casket than give a eulogy at a funeral.

Reproach is the greatest enemy of man, therefore, and the solution is righteousness, perfect acceptance and justification before God:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

God Himself turned His back on His Son, which led Jesus to cry out:

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27: 46)

He was forsaken, that we may now be accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6).

We no longer need fear any reproach, for in Christ we are fully accepted, righteousness, and loved!

Established -- not Establishing -- in Righteousness

"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)

When you confess that you are "the righteousness of God in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5: 21), do you still entertain doubts, fears, or upset in your life?

"I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

"I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: " (Psalm 116: 9-10)

Belief is what we are called to (John 6: 29)

We are called to believe on Him whom God the Father has sent.

We receive everything through Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 31-32).

He is our life (Colossians 3: 4). He is the Kingdom in which we live (Colossians 1: 13)

When you confess your righteous standing in Christ, do you think that He has done everything for you, or do you still believe that you still have to do something more?

Since it is His life which flows through us, then we are not the ones who are trying in our own effort:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

We do not establish our own righteousness:

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" (Philippians 3: 9)

Stop trying to establish your righteousness, even in your confession. By faith rest in the truth that you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and watch His life flow through you!

Don't Fight -- Rest

The temptation is not to give in to any issues in our lives, but rather to fight-- for in Christ we are already more than conquerors! (Romans 8: 37), and He causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2: 14)

The battle is in our minds:

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)

The Battle is won (Colossians 2: 13-15), but we must bring all thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ, forcing them to submit to the truth that does not change -- Christ seated at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3: 1).

We are called to sit and let God make all our enemies into our footstool:

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)

and

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12: 19) -- he repays, He has the hands that save and protect us. We are called not to keep our lives in line, but rather to trust that He has everything taken care of for us.

Our job is  sit down, to rest in Him, for He is our rest (Matthew 11: 28).

Satan Roars -- Because He Has Lost

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5: 8-9)

When lions hunt, they do not roar, lest they scare away they prey they want to devour.

Our Enemy, the devil, has already been judged:

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8, 11)

He is judged, lost, cannot do anything to us. His one weapon, the law, has not further effect on us:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

We were dead in our trespasses, but by Christ's death and Resurrection, we have now received His life. Yet when Jesus died on the Cross, not only did He die for ours sins, but He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5: 17; Romans 8: 4), once and for all, and forever --"blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" -- and by doing so, Jesus  "spoiled" or "disarmed" the demon powers who are against us.

The devil uses the law against God's Beloved children, attempting to impress on us reproach and fear for failing to measure up to a standard which we could never fulfill, and which has been in fact and forever fulfilled in Christ!

Satan has lost, and forever. Stand stedfast in the faith of your righteous standing in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), resting in the conviction that no weapon will prosper against you!

You are a Priest -- No Need to Run to One!

When I was attending a local church, an institution which followed a more traditional liturgy and adhered to a set of views which many may consider out of date today, one of the older gentlemen who attended the same mass as I would come up to me every week, asking:

"So when are you going to join the seminary?"

He felt obliged, or obligated, to proffer to me the opportunity to become a priest, a minister in the church. I was in no way interested in that service, for at the time I was just content to get in, get some new insight, and then get out.

Every Sunday, though, this man would come up to me during the mass, asking the same questions: "When are you going to become a priest?"

Then I read in the Bible:

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (1 Peter 2: 9)

In Christ, every believer is both a king and a priest! We do not need to run to a priest in order to access God:

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4: 16)

The notion that certain people have more access to God than others is sheer folly, and unscriptural without hesitation:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

God the Father looks at every believer in the Body of Christ, and He sees each of us just like His Son:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17).

The next time that the older gentleman approached me in church, he asked me the same question, and this time I answered:

"Haven't you heard?" Surprised, he then asked me, "What's happening?"

Then I shared with him the same truth which is available to all who believe:

"We are all members of a royal priesthood!"

Don't let anyone tell you that you must do or say or think a certain way in order to be a priest for God. In Christ, we have all received the ministry of priesthood in the same order as our High Priest, Jesus Christ!

Spirit of Sonship is Conviction of Righteousness

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)

The Holy Spirit in us tells us that we are children of God, that we have been adopted into His family as sons:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8: 14)

How do we know that we have this Spirit in us? First, we believe that in Christ, we receive no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)

We believe on this then confess this out of our mouth:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10: 9-10)

And no one can say that Jesus Christ is Lord, except by the power of the Holy Spirit:

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12: 3)

Now, this same Spirit of Sonship lives with in us to convict us of three truths:

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16: 8).

Sadly, many believers all too quickly conclude that all three is destined for the believer -- yet that is not the case at all.

"Of sin, because they believe not on me;" (John 16: 9)

If you are now a believer, then you are no longer convicted of sin. You were convicted of sin, then you believed, and now the Holy Spirit convicts you of something much better:

"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more" (John 16: 10)

We, beloved, are convicted of righteousness, the same righteousness as Jesus Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 5: 21) Any thoughts of judgment, shame, regret, or fear are NOT from God, but from the enemy!

"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 11)

This enemy who would attack us with his fiery darts has been judged, and therefore he can do us no harm!

As a child of God (1 John 3: 1), you have within you the constant reminder that not only are you a child of God, but that conviction that you are fully, totally righteous in His eyes!

The Spirit of Sonship, in effect, is the Conviction of righteousness!

Righteousness Secures the Troubled Heart

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14: 1)

Faith is what calms the troubled heart. Faith in what?

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

What does believing on Jesus Christ afford to us, in that our hearts are no longer troubled? Paul gives a strong clue:

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; " (Ephesians 6: 14)

The righteousness, the full justification that we receive in Christ, we became sin for us that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21) -- this assurance guards our heart.

Isaiah confirms the same:

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32: 17)

If we seek peace, if we want a calm heart in the face of any adversity, we receive this peace by trusting in Christ Jesus our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30).

For this reason  Jesus said:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

Let not your heart be troubled, Beloved. He has everything else!

Focus on the Vine, not the Fruits

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)

The Bible is very clear: the FRUIT -- singular -- of the Spirit -- IS -- singular again!

The notion that we are to cultivate these different fruits in our lives is unscriptural.

Teaching each of these attributes of God's Spirit as if they are distinct and independent makes no sense, either.

Paul makes clear the composite whole of the results of the fruit of the Spirit:

"I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)

We are not called to focus on the fruit. Trees do not strive to bear fruit, but rather the branches rest in the trunk, in the main part of the tree, out of which flows the sap, which travels into the branches, and thus brings forth the fruit.

This illustration Jesus gave to His disciples just before He was sent to be crucified:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15: 1)

then

'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15: 4)

We do not focus on the fruit, we do not focus on ourselves, but we focus on the vine. We rest in the Same Power who framed the universe by speaking forth, the same God who became a man to live out the life that He now lives in every believer.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)

Do not focus about the FRUITS, for every aspect, from love to goodness to temperance, is brought forth in us by the Holy Spirit, who manifests Christ in us, our hope of glory. Focus on the Vine, for in Him is the fullness of life!

Righteousness -- Faith in His Love

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5: 8)

The breastplate of righteousness guards the heart of every believer. Here, it is faith and love which guard the heart.

Faith works through love (Galatians 5: 6): God's love, for this love is shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5: 5).

Yet Paul uses different elements when describing the breastplate of the believer in his Epistle to the Ephesians:

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” (Ephesians 6: 14)

Righteousness, the perfect standing of acceptance that we have before God in Christ, works in our lives because we have faith in God's love:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. " (1 John 4: 10)

Because Jesus came to be the mercy-seat for our sins, we receive His righteousness:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. " (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Have faith in God, whose love sent His Son to die for you, that you may receive His righteousness!

This faith, this love, manifests this righteousness in your life to protect your heart!

 

Do Not Fall in With this Fallen World

When Adam sinned against God, he fell from grace.

God told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil:

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2: 17)

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is a picture of the Law:

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3: 6)

The law killed Adam and Eve, causing the Spirit of God to leave them, and thus they were dead, self-conscious, and condemned:

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

"And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3: 6-7)

Adam fell, and with him the world fell as well:

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." (Romans 5: 14)

This is still a fallen world:

"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." (1 Corinthians 7: 31)

and

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 17)

Yet in Christ, we are no longer in fallen Adam:

"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)

Because of God's grace, we now reign in life, seated in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2: 6)

We are called therefore to be transformed to the new creation (2 Corinthians 5: 17) that we are in Christ:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2)

Do not fall in with this fallen world, for you are in Christ!

You Cannot Postpone Your Joy

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

Joy is the last element listed in Paul's outline of the Kingdom of Heaven, something which God our Father gives us out of His good pleasure (Luke 12: 32). Joy is not something that we have to fight, strive, or even wait for in this life, for it is a blessing included in the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2: 38)

and

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith" (Galatians 5: 22)

Indeed, we do not have to wait for joy to come. If we rest in our righteous standing which we have received from Christ Jesus, then His joy will flow in our lives!

Do not postpone your joy, for His joy, which is your strength (Nehemiah 8: 10), is already flowing in you!

Righteousness: The Basis of Quality of Life

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

Jesus declared that "righteousness" is the most important thing to pursue in this life. After His death on the Cross, the Kingdom of Heaven enters every believer through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14: 17)

What is the context of this verse? The Sermon on the Mount, in which our Heavenly Father feeds the birds and clothes the flowers.

The birds and the flowers are powered and provided by God the Father, and He does the same  for us:

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. " (Romans 5: 21)

This grace empowers to do all things:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

We are not called to strive in our own efforts, but rather to rest in His righteousness, and thus His grace guides us and supplies us and blesses us in all that we do.

Paul expounds to Titus further what God's grace does in our lives:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

'Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

Grace brings salvation into our lives, not just for heaven but for our walk on the earth, as well. The grace of God teaches to avoid sin and live righteously. Grace also opens our eyes, that we may see and receive the certainty of good in our lives.

This is the quality life that people are looking for. We know what to do, what not do, we receive all that we need, and more, and we do not have to strive or suffer to make it in this life.

This grace explodes in our life based on our standing, and our standing is the righteousness of God in Christ!

Peace You Already Have

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14: 27)

This peace now dwells in us:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

Literally, "Having been justified" -- it's already done!

You have His peace now, and the Holy Spirit in you keeps bearing forth this peace in your life:

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, " (Galatians 5: 22)

The same Holy Spirit brings forth in us love, joy, peace, all wrapped up together!

Our peace can be disturbed only to the extent that we have to "do something" to maintain this peace in our lives:

"My peace I give you."

This is an active giving, by the way. Jesus keeps giving us His peace! Receive His peace by faith, and let His peace rule in your heart (Colossians 3: 15).

Walk in the Spirit -- His Faith and His Grace

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  (Romans 8: 3-4)

The law has been fulfilled in Jesus' death on the Cross (Colossians 2: 13-15)

We are not called to live by the dead, oldness of the letter, but to live in the Spirit of life:

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 6)

We walk in the Spirit as we rest in the faith that we have received from God:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

At first glance, "walk in the Spirit" seems vague, ethereal, or just plain impractical. When we receive the truth that it is Jesus' own faith which moves us, which prompts us to live out the life which He is living in us (Philippians 2: 12-13).

By His faith, then, we receive the grace to live the life that He wants us to live : to "walk in the Spirit":

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5: 1-2)

We access God's grace by faith. We were saved by grace, which we received by faith:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 8)

Even this verse signals that the faith we live by is also a gift!

Convicted of Righteousness -- Convinced of God's Grace

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

"Of sin, because they believe not on me;

"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."  (John 16: 8-11)

I have shared many times on the misconstruction which some teachers have given on these verses. The conviction which applies specifically to believers is the conviction of full justification, or "righteousness". This righteousness is a gift which we are called to keep receiving  (Romans 5: 17).

The more that we are convicted of our righteousness, that in no way to do we have to fight, or deflate, or smack down any charges in our lives, then do we realize the victory which Christ Jesus has given and keeps giving to us.

Paul first wrote:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

'He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

Then Paul writes:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)

The manifest protection that we have in God's love, signaled to us through Jesus' death on the Cross (1 John 4: 10). This love even now is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit in us (Romans 5: 5)

It is important to note that Paul establishes for us our righteousness  before God, because they he can declared that "I am persuaded" -- and persuasion is a matter of renewal of the mind (Romans 12: 2) that God the Father has, does, and ever will come through for us in all things Verses 37 through 39 are all manifest examples of God's grace working in our lives.

You Are a New Creation -- Forget the Old Man

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

It is disheartening to read and hear how many believers carry themselves, still convinced that they have to try and improve themselves.

The flesh -- our fallen bodies and mind -- are beyond repair:

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." (Romans 7:5)

and

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8: 3)

Purifying the flesh is a dead-on-arrival mission:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)

and

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2: 16)

The only tool that the devil has used for so long is to convince believers that they must do more to fix, repair, or enhance their flesh, their dead-in-trespasses Adam old man. Jesus gives us life, and that more abundantly (John 10:10):

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." (Romans 5: 14)

This "figure" is Jesus!

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

and

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15: 22)

Beloved, you are a new Creation in Christ! Forget about your "old man"!

Rejoice Because You See Him

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

"The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)

Are you face a crushing defeat, losses incalculable?

Notice how the prophet Habakkuk, the same who declared "the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) chose to see the Lord and trust in what He will do.

For what is faith, but to see with the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1: 17) what is unseen to the human eye (Hebrews 11: 1)?

I used to quote this verse at length, not exactly what to hope for. I was not seeing the work that He had already done. That is not faith. Paul tell us what we need to be looking at:

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 1-3)

We have to know who we are in Christ, fully justified (2 Corinthians 5: 21), seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2: 6)

The more that we know and believe that Christ lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), the more then we can rely on His strength in us:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

Then we can realize that, unlike the prophet who foresaw the glory, we can partake of it now:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)

When we know how much God loves us, then our faith works (Galatians 5: 6), and indeed we receive His glory, walking on every high place.

Righteousness then Grace -- The Red Sea

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." (Exodus 14: 13)

After the Israelites had partaken of the Passover Lamb, covered by the Blood which protected them from the Angel of Death (Exodus 12: 29-32).

The blood on the door posts is a type of the final sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf at Calvary:

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)

Moses then told the Israelites to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord".

When we know and believe the love that God has for us (1 John 4: 16), that God has sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the world (1 John 4: 10), then we can stand and see Him take care of all our needs:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17).

The Red Sea was also a picture of this redemption which brought the Israelites out of slavery:

"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Hebrews 11: 29)

and

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

"And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10: 1-2)

Crossing the Red Sea was indeed a type of baptism, the same which make us righteous in Christ:

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 3-4)

His grace then saves us from all our enemies, just as the same water that baptized the Israelites then drowned the pursuing Egyptians. Stand fast in your righteousness, and see Jesus your salvation defeat all your enemies.

Righteousness then Grace -- Established then Victorious

"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)

If we want to be free from oppression in our lives, if we want the fear taken away in our lives, we must be established in righteousness.

Righteousness is the victory ground in our lives. Righteousness is not a matter of doing, but believing and receiving:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Why do we receive this righteousness and this grace?

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5: 6)

Christ's death, the righteous for the unrighteous, gives us this life or righteousness and grace (1 Peter 3: 18)

In Christ, we are made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

In Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:  37)

Then can we declare:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)

"No weapon prospers" -- people will attack, but they will not prevail. "Every tongue that rises in judgment you condemn". We stand up to shame because Jesus took our condemnation at the Cross.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

The grace to withstand and overcome comes over us when we stand established in our righteousness in Christ.

Righteousness then Grace -- Barren No More

"Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 1)

A barren woman sings because she is about to have children? Really? Well, the Israelites already had an example to believe on:

"And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him." (Genesis 18: 10)

and

"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

"For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." (Genesis 21: 1-2)

In fact, every Israelite was a walking and talking witness of God's faithfulness, descendants of the same child of promise which came from a barren woman, even Sarah!

But even if that were not reason enough for the Israelites, or even the barren woman, to sing aloud for the work which the Lord was going to do in their lives, the Lord gives another reason:

"Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." (Isaiah 54: 4-5)

The Lord speaks of redemption and the righteousness that accompanies this great work. The reproach will be taken away, the shame will be no more. And the same is true for every believer in the Body of Christ:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 7-9)

We can know and believe that God will move in our lives because He has taken away all our shame and sin for ever!

Righteousness then Grace -- Abram to Abraham

The parallel of righteousness before grace occurs in the Old Testament, types and shadows to confirm the substance of the New Covenant.

Abram heeded the call of the Lord to leave his family and his country into a land that He would show him (Genesis 12: 1).

When Abram  heard that his nephew Lot was in trouble, Abram came to his rescue:

"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan." (Genesis 14: 14)

Abram was already so well-off, he commanded 318 hired servants who were born in his own house!

After he rescued Lot and all of his substance, then came Melchizedek, which means "King of Righteousness":

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

"And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

"And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14: 18-20)

The King of Righteousness, who is Jesus our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30), established Abram with blessings. It is the goodness of God which brings us to repentance (Romans 2: 4), the same goodness which empowered Abram to believe the Lord:

"And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 5-6)

First, Abram received the gift of righteousness. Even though he acted in unbelief to father a child with his bondmaid Hagar (Genesis 16), the Lord did not give up on Abram, a reminder to all believers that our righteousness is based on faith, not on works.

The grace of God then manifested in Abram's life when the Lord changed his name:

"As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17: 4-5)

In order to change his name, the Lord added  a "Heh" or a "הָ֔ which is the letter for "grace".

Because Abraham was ninety-nine years old, without a doubt it would be God's grace, and His grace alone which would empowered Abraham and  Sarah to receive a child of promise.

Get established in righteousness before God, then get ready for God's grace to flow into your life.

Established in Righteousness to Receive His Grace

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 21)

God's grace reigns in righteousness.

Both grace and righteousness are gifts that we are called to receive:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Yet in order for God's grace to work in our lives, we must be established in His righteousness:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

"All these things added" -- unmerited favor, but we are called to receive His righteousness, not our own:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

We are made righteousness, we are called to keep receiving His righteousness, His perfect standing, and indeed everything else is taken care of:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

The Holy Spirit within us brings righteousness, peace, and joy. Since the Holy Spirit is a gift, what gives us the impression that we can work for anything else in our lives on our own?:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

"Freely give" -- that's grace, again, Beloved. Rest in His righteousness, and receive everything else with Him!