Righteousness is a Gift, Not God's Right Way of Doing Things

 

I just left a church that I had been attending for two years. It was really tough for me, but I had to do it. I am not a big fan of breaking up with a church that I have been attending for a considerable length of time. I was even privileged enough to share a testimony in the church and preach a sermon.

However, I finally had to leave. The pastor was really set in his ways on the matter of righteousness, i.e. that righteousness has to do with doing things God's Way, living God's Way.

That kind of thinking just brings us back under law.

Under the Old Covenant, yes indeed righteousness was something that we had to do, something that we had to attain in our efforts:

"That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Deuteronomy 16:20)

Literally, "Righteousness, Righteousness you will pursue" or "Absolute righteousness you pursue."

Under the Old Covenant, you have to pursue it. You need to capture it. You need to attain it.

And yet, how was Abraham made righteous?

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

God's original plan has always been that we would just believe on Him, and receive from Him!

In fact, consider some of the key prophesies about the New Covenant in Isaiah:

"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)

and then

"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)

Notice in the first verse "In righteousness you shall be established." The verse is in the passive construction, implying that righteousness is done to us. We do not "do righteousness."

Four verse later, Isaiah prophesies: "There righteousness is of me, says the Lord." Our righteousness comes from Him, not from us! It's not our righteousness through our efforts, but we receive it as something from Him!

Consider also the promises declared in the Psalms:

"To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness." (Psalm 31:1)

We are saved, set free through His righteousness, not our own!

Now, many people will counter: "But Jesus said 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness'!"

Yes, indeed Jesus declared that we should seek God's righteousness, not our own. However, that was not the first time that Jesus mentioned righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

Again, we see "be filled," a passive construction which shows that we receive the action instead of achieving the action.

Righteousness is given to us, not achieved by us.

And there's more throughout the New Testament to affirm this New Covenant revelation. Paul preached in Antioch:

"38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

We are granted forgiveness of sins, we are justified from all things through Jesus! Not through Moses, not through keeping Moses' law, not through our self-effort, but through what Jesus did at the Cross.

Paul affirms this revelation to the Corinthians, as well:

"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 don't do righteousness: we BECOME righteousness, and we become the righteousness of God in Christ!

The New Covenant is all about how we are justified by what Jesus did, not by what we do.

If pastors are still preaching righteousness as "His right way of doing things," they are bringing people back under law, under self-effort, under the Old Covenant. And I do not want to frustrate the grace of God!

"4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4)

Just in case there lingers any further confusion on the matter, Paul writes to the Romans:

"17For 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)

By one person, Jesus Christ, we:

1. receive

2. gift of righteousness

We do not achieve the works or the salary of righteousness. It is a gift, one which we receive and keep receiving, in fact! Paul could not make it more clear.

And yet ... and yet ...

I hear one outspoken preacher after another continue to say, as a matter of forced habit: "Righteousness, or His right way of doing things."

That is wrong! That is error! We need to stand up to this error big time!

And why does this matter? Why does this hit home for me, specifically?

When I meditated on His righteousness as my righteousness, a gift that I receive and keep receiving from Him, I rest in the knowledge that no matter what is happening around me, I will never be condemned. I can rest assured that no matter how many times I fail, or if I fall, my righteousness, my right standing before God does not change!

"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." (Proverbs 24:16)

A just man is not defined or changed or loses his rightousness because he falls. It's as simple as that.

We need that revelation so that we can keep receiving His grace, His favor in our lives. I cannot tell you how many trials I have faced in my life, and how easily I would have been overcome and overwhelmed by those challenges, if I had been reduced to believing the lie that I am righteous based on what I do.

Because of the GIFT of righteousness, I know that I will never be condemned, I will never be rejected, I will never be separated from my Loving Father. That kind of assurance turns wastrels and failures into winners and warriors, men and women who have nothing to fear, but everything to gain when they come boldly before the throne of grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Righteousness: A Gift, Not a Work (So Stop Telling Me It's "His Way of Doing Things"!)

  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!

Righteousness Has Nothing to Do With Feelings

 Wow! Just plain wow!

I cannot believe this revelation has taken me this long to understand.

But hey, it just goes to show how important it is for us to believe the truth, and to be set free.

I have been the righteousness of God in Christ since the moment that I believed on Him. That was in 1994.

It was not until 2008 that I started to learn that I was made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). This revelation came to me through Joyce Meyer and her ministry. At that time, I was facing so many dark conflicts and problems in my life. I was trying to find full-time employment as a teacher, but I had walked off of two different jobs. It seemed that all was lost, and I had no idea how I was going to pay the rent, to get through the month, etc.

Then I started to learn that I am the righteousness of God in Christ.

With righteousness came all these other blessings. Wow!

I started claiming these blessings fully in my life. "You know what my needs are, Lord," I would often say when I was facing difficulties, or when I was worried about how I was going to get through the day.

It was really something that year, that I saw the LORD taking care of every need in my life. I had a new job, I was gainfully employed. I was well-received and favored by my coworkers, colleagues, etc.

But then a sense of strain, of condemnation overtook me. I felt that I had to take care of life on my own afterwards. The question began to nag me: "What happens after this? What is next?"

There was the growing sense about me that life was all about me, and that everything was all up to me. I did not understand that Christ Jesus is my life, and that He is providing all things for me.

It's the abundance of grace with the gift of righteousness that we reign in life (Romans 5:17). God wants us to receive and keep receiving. God was not present in my life if my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors were properly aligned. It's hard to reconcile this, but I had no idea that God was actively alive in my life. It;s crazy, but it seemed to me that I was rolling the dice every day, wondering whether God was for me or not.

This bondage brought me into such despair and fatigue. I was so tired, so empty, and I ended up walking off the job. That was the third full-time teaching job that I had been working ... and I quit. I had no idea what the future held for me. I had no idea where God was taking me, or what I would have to do or say or think to be in the right place at the right time.

It was really hard for me to trust the Lord at the time. I had had no training in the grace of God, in His unmerited favor workin in my life, and more importantly that He is my life (Colossians 3:4).

Because I did not have a strong enough knowledge of God's Word, and because I did not understand how alive, vibrant, and real God is, I ended up trusting in my feelings. I ended up falling into this notion that I had to think and feel a certain way to ensure that God's presence was ... present.

This, of course, created unprecendented problems. The fiery darts of the Enemy were firing away at me, and I would get caught up in these arguments all the time. Yet what does Paul counsel to the Corinthians?

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

"5 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)

"Imaginations" can also be rendered "arguments." God's Word answers every argument, Yet for years, I would argue with my head constantly, convinced that I had to get all the negative thoughts and feelings out of my head so that I could hear God clearly. What madness, but it was true.

That was the life that I was living.

TODAY, I am learning that this precious gift of righteousness is a rugged, rigid, right and ready standing that is not going away.

Now I understand what the prophet Isaiah shared:

"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)

TODAY, I am established in His righteousness. I know that nothing I am thinking, feeling, wondering, or worrying about is going to change that. I understand that I am not living this life in my own efforts anymore. Because of this perfect gift of righteousness, Christ is able to live in me and guide me. I do not have to wonder or guess whether He will be there for me or not. This life is no longer about second-guessing God, but knowing and believing in His love for me. 

This is just wonderful. This is peace. This righteousness, from Christ, to me, and it has nothing to do with my feelings.

Every Weapon Against You Will Fail

"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)

The King James translation is great, but like any translation it is not perfect.

In the original Hebrew, the first part of the verse above reads as follows:

"Every weapon that is formed against thee shall not prosper."

There is something total, something complete, something very comforting and gratifying about this revelation.

There will be weapons that form, and there will be many in our lives that come after us.

But we have rock solid, rocksteady assurance, that every single one of those weapons will not prosper. Whatever aims, whatever the enemies, or the Enemy, may design against us, they will not succeed.

Consider these promises in God's Word:

"Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him." (Proverbs 26:27)

and

"And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head." (1 Samuel 25:39)

Consider what Joseph said to his brothers when they begged for his forgiveness a second time:

"20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

God is on our side, and who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

We are more than conquerors through Him, as well (Romans 8:37).

Babies Work for Righteousness. Adults Receive Righteousness

We cannot earn righteousness, but rather we must receive it as a gift. If we are still trying to earn or work for it, then we are still little babies in Christ:

"13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:13-14)

Righteousness is all about faith, faith in God's promises specifically, and faith in Christ Jesus essentially:

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

Righteousness is something God declares that He will establish us in:

"14In 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)

and then

"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)

So, God's gift of righteousness is granted to us as a gift.

Righteousness is Where We Are, Regardless of The Attacks

I was meditating on this revelation today.

For the longest time, I would work so hard to ignore or undo bad thoughts, bad feelings, bad memories.

If I remembered something that made me mad, angry, or I felt upset that some event or circumstances transpired a way that I wish had not happened, I would feel so bad that I was remembering that sentiment again.

Then I learned about what it means to be established in righteousness. This status we have in Christ Jesus cannot be asailed, no matter what happens to us, what happens around us.

"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 are established in His righteousness (Isaiah 54:17)

In fact, we are made the righteousness of God in Christ!

IN HIM!

That's where we are today, and all the blessings that come upon the righteous, come upon us because of Jesus.

I started to realize more and more that it didn't matter what I was feeling, what I was thinking, where I was going, or what was happening to me.

I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).

That's where I am, and that's where I shall rest and remain blessed, no matter what happens to me.

With that, I both know and believe that I am defended, protected, prepared to be overcome, no matter what attacks may come my way!

Do You Prize His Righteousness Above All Else?

This is a challenge for me.

I look at my circumstances, and I look at other people's circumstances.  I want to make the best of every situation, and I want to believe that all things are working for my good.

And yet it is so easy for us to look to one side or the other, to think that things are not going our way.

I had written about last year, how I had faced such hardships at one point. I didn't have a stable income, and I didn't have a car. One night, I just shouted at the sky, and I said "God, what good is it that your Son died on the Cross and I can't even pay the rent?!"

That was an honest moment for me. I didn't make nice or play with God. I told Him exactly how I felt.

Then a new revelation rushed into my heart, and yet a reminder of how important it is to rest in the eternal truths we have heard since we believed on Jesus.

What's the point of having all the wealth and opportunities in the world, yet I cannot wipe away a sense of guilt and shame? I remembered the times in the past when I had the job, when I had the car, and there was such misery in my life.

I felt so guilty about things that I had done, that I had said.

Indeed, I realized how good I have it today because I believe that because of Jesus' death on the Cross, I am forgiven of all my sins forever--past, present, and future! My sins are paid for! Jesus' bore my sins on that Tree, and I will never have to feel the punishment, the pain, the reproach of sin ever again!

WOW!

I still remember when I was sitting in church, at Calvary Chapel South Bay. It was the second Sunday of July, and I remember just crying with such joy. "I will never be punished for the sins that I have committed or that I will commit in the future. Jesus bore ALL my sins on the Cross.

This revelation of the Gospel could not be clearer when you read 1 Peter:

"24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

He bore our sins in His body. He did it Himself, so that we did not have to.

That is something to celebrate, and what happened because Jesus did that for us?

"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:11)

He bears our sins, and we receive His righteousness!

When I recognized that, I stopped fearing for the future, and I recognized that I have so much going for me just because of Jesus' sacrifice.

The next day--I had the job and the car! I had both needs met in one day!

Thank you Jesus!

Now, I face a new challenge. I see bad people who get away with stuff. I see people breaking the law, and there is no enforcement--or at least, so it seems.

Injustice is prevalent in our world. Should we be surprised? Perhaps it's time for us to stop being outraged because the world does not play fair, even in the criminal justice system.

I don't like it when people get away with wrongdoing against me. Who does like it?

There is an outcome which has occured which I find particularly unfair right now.

This is the second test when it comes to faith.

Do I really believe that God's gift of righteousness makes the difference? Do I really believe that His grace superabounds when sin increases?

Even when I fail, do I have faith that God is love, and loves me. and will bless me.

Then there's this comfort, once again from 1 Peter Chapter 2:

"But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:" (1 Peter 2:20-23)

Today, I prize His righteousness yet again.

To be unjust accused, arrested, incarcerated, convicted, berated, demeaned, defamed cannot hurt us.

We have His righteousness! We reign in His life!

So, the question returns ... Do you prize His righteousness above all else?

My answer is YES!

Do We Really Believe that All Things Work for Good?

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Paul was definite and unwavering about this.

"We know that all things work together for good ..."

Do you really believe that?

The trial of faith is all about taking God at His Word. Do we really believe that He cares for us, in the face of everything

Or don't we?

It all starts with what His Son Jesus did for us.

That is how we know that He is on our side:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He 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? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:31-34)

How do we know that God is on our side? It's all about His Son Jesus and what He did for us at the Cross.

It's not about whether we find that great parking spot or not.

It's not about whether we are justly or unjustly freed from a criminal or civil penalty in court.

It has nothing to do with what may happen tomorrow.

It has everything to do with what Jesus did for us at the Cross.

This was the touchstone for growth for me. I learned that He is taking care of me not because my cirucumstances are going well. We have to appraise, esteem the sacrifice that Jesus became for us:

"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)

There is no value in everything else getting taken care of in our lives if we are still under condemnation. There is no value to wealth and riches if we live in hatred and bitterness.

It's the gift of righteousness which enables us to receive all other gifts.

With this promise in mind, with this affirmation in place, we can know and believe that all things work together for good.

But wait ...

Isn't there a caveat in place? All things work together for those who love God.

We need to work on loving God more, right?

OK, but the source for loving God more comes from our knowing how much He loved us!

"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)

Jesus--the same yesterday, today, and forever--is our mercy seat forever. Our sins are put away forever.

When we understand this, how can we NOT love Him?

In fact ...

"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

There.

It all goes back to the Gift of Righteousness and the abundance of grace which comes with it (Romans 5:17)

When we see that, then everything else falls into place, and all things indeed work for our good:

"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)

It's all about His gift of righteousness!