This is one of the most frustrating stumbling blocks that I am hearing in the churches today.
They keep talking about righteousness as if it means "God's Way of Doing Things."
That is patently untrue. I am so tried of hearing that. I am so tired of people not paying attention to what God's Word says.
Consider this passage:
"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)
Could it not be any clearer? Righteousness is something that we are established in. It is not something that we do, but rather somenthing that is done to us.
Let's go back to the Father of Faith, our beloved Abraham:
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)
What more do modern-day preachers need? How more clearly can God make it?
Going back to Isaiah 54, we find this verse:
"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)
Our righteousness comes from Him! We do not create it, we do not manufacture it.
And why stop there?
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Christ IS our righteousness. What else do you need to understand that righteousness is not "His way of doing things"?
How about this?!
"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)
That's all you need to know.
When Jesus said to the Israelites of His day during His earthly ministry "See ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness," He was talking about the perfect standing before God, in which we are no longer condemned for our sins, but justified from all things (Acts 13:38)
Consider this passage, too:
"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)
It's a gift! IT'S A GIFT! How much more plainly can Paul make it?!
I am done. I will not settle for any pastor or preacher who continues to push this canard that righteousness is something that we do. No! It is something that Jesus has done, that He has bestowed as a gift to all who will receive it, who will receive Him!
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