2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him(."
The religious understanding of righteousness has held the Church in unbelief for the Super-natural works of the Holy Spirit, for too long. If we feel like we have "no right" to come into God's Throne Room of Grace to obtain grace and favor in our time of need, then how can we have faith to receive what the Father wants to do through us? Ironically, the classic scripture we use to lead people to the Lord, is one of the most important Verses in God's Word, concerning righteousness.
Romans 10:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the Truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusting and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God) and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms (his) salvation."
Many have been led to Christ with the above scripture, and later were taught that "None are righteous, no not one. This is a contradiction of our faith and a double-standard in our hearts. Faith and unbelief cannot simultaneously function in our hearts. Paul continues in Romans 10:14 (Amplified) saying, "But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed (in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance?) And how are they to believe in Him (adhere to trust in, and rely upon Him) of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?"
This Message of righteousness hasn't been preached to many of the new creation people. It's difficult for them to have faith in righteousness, if it isn't "heard" and it cannot be heard if it isn't "preached." Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes in 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified), "But it is from Him that you have your Life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, (revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as) our Righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God) and our Consecration (making us pure and holy) and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty from sin)."
It's one of the most vital things for the new creation, to learn and understand righteousness from God's Word and His Holy Spirit. Christ Jesus has restored God's children back into the family and given us the right to stand in God's Presence again, without guilt and shame. We've never really seen ourselves the way the Father has created us to be. We were created for fellowship and family in the Father's House. As new creations, we're to see ourselves the way the Father created us to be. We've been taught over the last two-thousand years, that we were really only "forgiven sinners." This left us holding onto our old nature, because we didn't understand the Truth about our truly being "new creations."
Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth in 1Corinthians 4:3-4 (Amplified) saying, "But (as for me personally) it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you (on this point) and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trail and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; But I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord (Himself) Who examines and judges me."
After all the things Paul did to the Church (as Saul), he didn't "judge himself any longer on these things." Paul was declared "righteous before the Lord," by the Lord, and was by faith, a new creation. The only way for us to see ourselves as being righteous before God, is by faith in Jesus. Righteousness isn't a feeling, but is a Truth in Jesus. We've tried to produce feelings of righteousness by good works, but this gives us the false self-righteous attitude that the Scribes and Pharisees walked in. They believed they "were righteous"because of their good works. Paul quoted Psalm 14:3 (Amplified) saying, "None were righteous, no, not one."
Many have stopped reading or even listening after this, and have missed what Paul went on to say in the very same discourse. Paul speaks about "true righteousness," in Romans 3:21-24 (Amplified) saying, "But now the Righteousness of God has been revealed independent and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the prophets Namely, the Righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Christ Jesus (the Messiah). (And it is meant) for all who believe, For there is no distinction. Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Grace, (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
This Righteousness isn't something we can obtain any other way, than through faith in Jesus Christ. The Father finds it offensive, when we try becoming righteous by our own works and when we deny His Righteousness, we are in through Christ Jesus. Trying to become righteous through our own works, says that we can become our own righteousness without Christ. Denying we are righteous is telling God that even His Own Son wasn't enough to get the job done.
This righteousness is simply trusting the Same Jesus Who took away our sins, made us righteous in Him. Because of Jesus, we are the righteousness of God and anything else is unacceptable to the Father. This righteousness isn't a source of pride or boasting, but a simple trust by faith in Jesus. We don't go around boasting about being righteous, but we should never deny His Gift, because of false humility and human pride and wanting to appear humble. Both attitudes are wrong for the believer. It's an act of faith and a gratitude towards God, when we believe in what God did for us through Jesus. We've been created new and should walk in this faith and right standing with the Father. We must come back into close fellowship with the Father and receive what He has so lavished upon us and walk in it.
We need to learn to receive this Gift of Righteousness, in a way that the Father can now use us to live through, to the world. Don't wait until you "feel righteous enough," for God to use you, but allow God to use you by faith in His Righteousness in Christ Jesus. Many have been held back by feeling unrighteous, because of the sinner that died with Jesus. The flesh (with its sin) died on the cross with Jesus. The new creation was raised brand new and righteous with this Same Sacrifice of Jesus. You were justified and declared righteous with God, when Jesus was justified and declared righteous in His resurrection. You are in Him.
Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, Since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) Through Him also we have (our) access (entrance by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we (firmly and safely) stand. And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoy the glory of God."
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