The enemy has blinded the minds of God's people, so that we no longer see ourselves through God's Word and through God's eyes. We've been taught to see ourselves as the world and religion portrays us, leaving us without faith to walk in what the Father has now created us to be. If you declare yourself to be "righteous," then it causes persecution and anger in the Church. Righteousness was never given to God's people for pride or to exalt oneself, but so we would be able to come into the Father's Presence again.
Most Christians recognize or can quote Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written, None is righteous (just and Truthful and upright and conscientious), no, not one." This scripture was True under the first covenant, but it's not True for those in the Last Covenant, according to Romans 3:21-22,26 (Amplified) which says, "But now the Righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually is attested by the Law and the prophets. Namely, the Righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and it is meant for all who believe, for there is no distinction." Paul goes on in Verse 26, saying, "It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the new season), that He Himself is Righteous and that He justifies and accepts as Righteous him who has true faith in Jesus."
In Romans 4:13 (Amplified) God speaks about Abraham's righteousness and calls Abraham, the "father of our faith." thus, it says, "For the Promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through observing the commandments of the Law, BUT THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH." The purpose of Righteousness, is so the Father could be with His children and His children could come back into His Presence again. Unrighteousness meant that mankind couldn't stand in the True Presence of a Holy God. Those under the first covenant, weren't righteous, even after offering up a sacrifice. They depended on the blood of bulls and goats, to cover their sins and so they could be heard by God. They had no right standing or righteousness on their own, but depended on animal sacrifices and the blood of animals to cover them.
Isaiah 54:13-14 (Amplified) says, "And all your Spiritual children shall be disciples taught by the Lord and obedient to His will, and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in Righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order). You shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you." This Righteousness that comes from the Father, by faith in Christ Jesus, will "establish" us in Jesus' Righteousness, so we will "have peace and undisturbed composure by His Righteousness." We are to be "far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for we will not fear."
Righteousness brings us back into a face-to-Face position with the Father, Who Loves us so very much. What would son-ship be worth, if we didn't have Righteousness? The Father wouldn't have pleasure in His children, because we would be shrinking, cowardly, and fearful beings, afraid and unable to come near Him. We must "establish" ourselves in this Righteousness and dismiss the condemnation of the carnal minds, which will continually remind us of our past. You can't have faith in God's Word, when you're under condemnation.
"Righteousness" is not a "Bible word," but a Bible position we've inherited through Jesus. No redemption would be complete, if it didn't include righteousness. The new creation and son-ship would be worthless, if it didn't include righteousness. God's heart brought about Redemption, right standing and even more, it brought the right to stand in His Very Presence again and the right for God to come into His family's presence again, through Jesus' Sacrifice.
The Righteousness God gave, isn't a matter of carnal pride, but a matter of understanding the Father's Great Love and Grace, which restored us, when there was no other way back to to Him. I keep this at the front of my mind, when praising God. I know that through Jesus, I'm no longer separated from God. Jesus' Sacrifice made me not just covenant, but family.
Through Jesus, we can now stand in God's Presence without fear, condemnation, guilt or shame and when God looks upon us, He sees sons and daughters. The Father's Love is ours again. We've patterned ourselves after the old covenant people, instead of after Christ Jesus. We keep expecting the Father to treat us like He did the old covenant people, when the Father wants to Love us as His Own children.
Most believers have focused on salvation, as having our sins forgiven and going to Heaven when we die. This would be more than enough to sing praises to God forever for, but He didn't stop there. God wouldn't be satisfied, until He could live among His children once again and until His children could flourish and grow under His Mighty hand of Grace again. This Righteousness is the bond that holds us in His Love for eternity. If we didn't believe in this Gift of Righteousness, then we would have a clouded understanding about God's Love for us. Only God's Love would do what He did to bring His children home to Him. Only God's Love would never leave us in the outer court, like the old covenant, with the veil separating us from Him. The veil has been torn down and the outer court is no longer there. The Love God has for us, is so transparent that we can see into His Heart. God can now live in us and we can boldly proclaim that we've become "the temple of the Holy Spirit." Can you actually conceive the Truth that we've become the living, breathing, walking, talking and breathing Ark of the Covenant? Can you actually conceive that God's Living Word and Spirit are housed in this temple of flesh, making us holy in God's eyes?
I'm overwhelmed with thanks, when I think of the privilege we've inherited through Jesus. I praise God that I'm welcomed to stand in the Presence of the One Who spoke everything into creation, as His son. I praise God that He walks and talks with me, like He did with Jesus, during His earthly ministry. I praise God that He can direct my very life, by His Presence. Just prior to going to the Cross, Jesus prayed in John 17:22-23 (Amplified), saying, "I have given to them the Glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know (without any doubt) that You sent Me, and [that You] have Loved them, just as You have Loved Me." Our mind couldn't conceive the Truth of Jesus' Words about God's Great Love for us, without having them renewed by God's Word and His Holy Spirit.
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