Righteousness By Faith

I'll begin with 2 simple things.

What is righteousness and what is faith? And how are they obtained?

1. Righteousness: The quality or state of being morally justified before God. It is not earned through human effort, but as a moral standing or gift THROUGH FAITH in Jesus Christ.

2. Faith: Complete trust, assurance, belief, and reliance in Jesus Christ, His character and His promises. BUT HOW DO YOU OBTAIN FAITH IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE? There's only one way. Paul tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (the Bible) Romans 10:17. To grow your faith, hearing the truth of God's Word is the spark that produces faith in the listener's heart! You have to at least hear it but better still .. READ IT. Lay your eyes on it. Absorb it. Think on it. 

Why is reading the Word so important? Observe these verses closely, this is key! --  (I'll be emphasizing in capital letters to press what you need to grasp)--

John 1:1, 14 "In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD, and THE WORD BECAME FLESH and lived among us." Did you catch that? The WORD WAS GOD!! Again, the Word was God. He, (GOD) became flesh (JESUS AS MAN) and lived among the disciples and apostles. So, today we have Jesus still among us in written form. And when we read, absorb, get knowledge from the Good Book, we build faith because it begins to open up and become understandable. The more we read, the clearer it becomes if we are serious and truly seeking truth because God opens our eyes slowly to reveal Himself. Then, understanding comes, ah-ha moments hit, things click, clarity emerges, realization strikes!!! THE WORD IS JESUS REVEALING HIMSELF! It's a lifelong journey of growing closer to Him, learning His teachings, and relying on the help of the Holy Spirit which He bestows on His followers.

You can become completely righteous before God, without sin, through Jesus! How? Let's look:

Psalm 119: 1-3 Describes the experience of "righteousness by faith."  It talks about how blessed a person is who stays on course (taught through The Word), walking steadily on the road revealed by God. It ensures that we are blessed when we follow His direction, when we do our best to seek HIM, find HIM (through hearing and reading). How wise and blessed we are when we don't seek or go our own way led by the flesh, but walk the road He set before us, "Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). This comes  after conversion not prior to conversion. Quickly looking at and understanding "conversion."  Conversion is a radical turning point where a person stops living for just themselves, completely ignoring God, and surrenders their path, their direction, their will, heart, and life to Jesus Christ. Basically turning away from sin and self-rule and turning toward GOD for forgiveness and guidance. You simply acknowledge past mistakes, moral failures, and an old lifestyle driven by selfish desires (sin). And instead of trying to control your own destiny or justify your own actions, you look to Jesus as your Savior and authority. You accept His death and resurrection as facts for the forgiveness and absolution for ALL of your sins and wrongdoings big or small.

We have to have a new heart, a new mind, a new way of thinking to be able to "overcome" our old selves, beliefs, and sinful way of living. When we submit our will and decide to take the path Jesus points us to through His WORD, He promises amazing things.

Ezekiel 36:26,"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit that I will put within you, and I will take away the stoney heart out of your flesh and give you new heart." God is saying, after conversion HE will do a work inside you (us) that will change a person's core desires from rebellion to to righteousness. He'll change and renew your spirit enabling you to follow Him! He'll change your stoney heart .. your stubborn, insensitive heart that's been rejecting Him for so long, to one that's responsive and gladly obeys Him. THAT IS THE "NEW BIRTH" experience. Or perhaps the expression you've always heard is, 'born again." Paul described it in 2 Corinthians 5:17. He said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away (notice: not "will pass" away, not "should pass" away, not "might pass" away in time) ARE PASSED AWAY; and behold, all things are become new." Not will become. ARE BECOME! IT IS SPIRITUALLY DONE. At the moment of surrender and conversion.

Being "in Christ" refers to a spiritual union with Jesus through faith (remember, faith comes in hearing the Word of God). It's a transformation that happens in your inner spirit, rather than a behavior adjustment. The "new birth" is instantaneous, inside, miraculously becoming His. Your old behavior changes too but slower as your flesh learns how Jesus wants you to walk. Think of it like this. The moment your child is born, he or she becomes yours. As the child grows, it learns right from wrong but isn't instantly in complete harmony with the concept of obedience. The child will disobey, the parent will correct, over and over until that small child learns what is right, what is wrong and what is eventually expected of them that pleases the parent. We don't expect a 2 year old to be 100% flawless. Neither does our Father in heaven when we first come to Him to be absolved from our sin and saved for all eternity. But He does expect, growth, change, and maturity since He gives us the instructions and power to follow His way.

We have the experience of being able to overcome sin in our life after conversion. When people preach from the pulpit and suggest that you can't overcome sin, that you can't stop bad habits or immoral decisions, the question has to be asked, WHAT SIN can we not overcome?? If a preacher, pastor, or teacher names a particular transgression, one they personally believe is impossible to change, most likely they are struggling with that same sin themselves. One sin most difficult according to men I've talked to is a pornography addiction. But I guarantee if someone lists a sin that they believe can't be overcome, someone else has a testimony where they have overcome that same sin! Every sin can be controlled, overcome, and defeated BECAUSE the power of sin was already broken at the cross!! THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS.. changing a believer's status from slave to sin to an over comer!! Sin will no longer be a master you have to obey. JESUS ALREADY BROKE ITS POWER, and through His Spirit, you not only have the authority to say no, you now have a power that comes from within to resist and walk away without longing, without regret, without looking back, free from sins pull or temptation. THIS IS OVERCOMING and this IS POSSIBLE for those who follow Jesus faithfully because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's a journey. We do not try harder to be good using our own willpower, we can't. Instead, a supernatural shift happens within us. We begin to love what is good and despise and avoid that which is sinful. Day by day you'll wake up surrendering your own will by asking Jesus to guide your steps. The closer you walk with Him, the less power sin has to pull you back..

God gives to those who come to Him a new heart. The unconverted heart doesn't want to follow God's directions. Meaning they do not repent of their sins, have no desire to change, will not turn to Jesus even though His words have been heard for more than 2,000 years now, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." The WORD describes several things or consequences to those who ignore His invitation:

a. Spiritual blindness: The mind and understanding remain darkened, making spiritual truths seem like "foolishness" (Ephesians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 2:14).

b. Alienation from God: You are estranged from the life and presence of God, and the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in you (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:18)

c. Inability to ever enter heaven: Jesus explicitly states in The Word, "You must be born again" or converted as I talked about to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3; Matthew 18:3)

d. Separation and judgment: Scripture teaches that unrepentant sin leads to spiritual death, judgment, and ultimate separation from God's goodness and presence (Acts 3:19-20)

The world is looking more grim day by day. It is not my wish that anyone miss the foundational truth of this message. Jesus' return is imminent. Don't get left out because you put off too long. I PLEAD TO ANYONE THAT IS IGNORING THEIR SOUL. SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE STILL MAY BE FOUND.

Until He Comes, 

-Pat-