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.