Monday, October 27, 2008

I received a message from my disciple last night. Asking me how to define Righteousness. How to be one? He thought that righteousness comes by reading more of God's words, pray more, doing alot of 'holy stuffs'! But I said "You're declared righteous by the blood of Jesus already!"

I supposed many other believers may have the same thinking? You thought by doing alot of good and disciplined things like reading the bible daily, having a good prayer life, making sure that you do not sin, treating others well and good, for doing all these, you've attained or being credited as righteousness. Is this so? Let us look at what the Book of Romans 3 : 21-25 then :

"21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[h] who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ..."

Does God credit us with righteousness only when we fulfilled certain things? What if we can't fulfill because of our sinful nature? Oh! Sarks, I forgotten to read the bible,I've sinned. I'm not righteous. Oh! I've always not been praying for others,I've sinned. I'm not righteous. Oh! I cursed that man who irritated me then and all the more I've sinned! I'm not righteous. That's what you think!

"22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[h] who believe..."

Righteousness is to and on you through your Faith in Jesus Christ when you believed Him! Amen!

Many of us feels CONDEMED when we can't fulfill certain things. You thought our God is an angry God when we does wrong things. You thought our God will zap us with lightning or bad consequences/things will fall on us when we sinned. You thought "Perhaps I get illnesses, diseases is because I've sinned." Boy..YOU're not under the LAW of GOD but the GRACE of God!

"1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." [Romans 8: 1-2]

All the "Thou shall not..." have been fulfilled by Christ Jesus (Matt 5:17) when He died on the cross for our sin and resurrected! You see, do you really think you can fulfilled the Ten Commandments? No! Read Matt 5: 21-48. Jesus said, even the slightest thought of evil is sin! Once, I heard from a friend that scientists had done an experiment and find out that a normal human being have approximately 50,000 thoughts a day. Gosh! you and I would have long gone to meet satan in hell if you believed in the Laws! It's because we can not fulfill it! Thus Christ came and died on the cross for our Past, Present and Future sin!

Jesus came to give us life! An Abundant life!

"10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. " [ John 10:10]

Yes, the devil came to give us negative thoughts. Influence us by saying things like " Oh no, U've sinned again... God is displeased with sin...God is displeased with you..." The devil come to bind you with the laws. The devil come to make comdemnation. Wait wait wait! Remember that you're not condemed anymore!? (Romans 8:1) You're free from all these because of what Jesus had done for you!

Jesus came to fulfill the law so we will not feel condem any more. Jesus came so we can have an abundant life. Jesus came so we may receive the wonderful blessings He have for us! So open up your heart, for God is always there ready to embrace you!

One revelation I got when I read a book. He spoke something like
"We don't have to confess our sin inorder to be forgiven. We confess our sin because we are already been forgiven!"

Amen!

Jedidiah; 3:21 PM