Righteousness

Ruth: “Do you think your are righteous?”

*Alice: “No?”

Ruth: “What makes you say that?”

Alice: “Because I have done this and that”

Ruth: “What does the Bible say about righteousness?”

Alice “Christ makes us righteous”

Ruth “Are you righteous?”

Alice “Yes because of Christ but I have done this and that…..”

*Alice not a real person but someone who represent all the people I am disciplining myself included. At one point in my life and as with many others belonging to the body of Christ we fail to recognize that righteousness is based not on our actions but sorely on the work of Christ on the Cross.

By Christ dying on the cross he became sin and we, in him became the righteousness of God 2 Corinthians 5:21, this was a trade our sins for his righteousness.

The issue therefore comes when a Christian fails to recognize this truth and live it; being in addiction was true evident that I was unrighteousness and relapses were the worst because for so long it was about a check list; check, check, check…. that meant I was good today therefore translating that to being righteous and if the next day was fail, fail, fail …..then I was unrighteous. Unconsciously, I kept heaping responsibility on myself- responsibility that only Christ had the power to accomplish.

In my book love unlimited journal entry 17th October 2014, I wrote “I think I finally get it. Righteousness is not to be without sin but is brought about by our belief in God, faith in God, He exists, He is true, He is righteous and by sending Christ to die on the cross, we take His righteousness because we believe in Him (Jesus), who is the truth, the light and the way”

I want to draw you to the book of Isaiah 61:1-3, 10

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor…………… verse 10. I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Emphasis mine)

Christ is the only person through whom the above scripture was fulfilled Luke 4:14-21

The truth is that becoming a Christian is likened to a newborn child meaning one has a lot to learn, one of the things one has to learn is that are now born the kingdom of God and what they knew before doesn’t work, John 17:14. This world says an eyes for an eye, God’s kingdom says forgive, vengeance is the Lords. As transitions takes place (transitions in this case means becoming like Christ) There definitely will be a lot of mistakes as one gain grounds…. imagine how it was like when you join a new school, it always one time to oriented and readjust.

That said, even when come to Christ you will sin but your status is that of righteousness- the beauty is recognizing your status and cooperating with the Spirit as he reveals areas in your life that need change.

Change might mean letting go, stopping or start doing something, saying no, fighting with your body when it wants one thing and God says another, just to mention but a few. The process of change is very uncomfortable for anyone but it is do-able. Most of all you need grace for yourself, grace for the process, grace to make mistakes and continue with sin some longer than other.

Grace is what the Lord most high has given us to learn even as we become like Christ. My prayer is that you will remember and believe that in Christ Jesus you are righteous and therefore can approach the throne of mercy in confidence.

Are you yet a Christian? Jesus love you as you are -come to Him who does not reject any of us.

Coming to Christ means recognizing your sin and that you need him as your savior, in Him your sins are forgiven and he robes you in his righteousness. “ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” John 3:36

Write to us we want to hear from you and disciple you whether you are a Christian or not, in addiction or not….for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory

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