January 27

RIGHTEOUSNESS

-What is righteousness? Is it … :

… what kind of clothes you wear …?

… how long a lady’s dress is …?

… what kind of haircut you have …?

… how long your hair is …?

… whether or not a lady wears jewelry or makeup …?

… fasting …?

… tithing …?

… praying …?

… reading the Bible …?

… going to church …?

… giving …?

… trying as hard as you can to be good …?

-The answer to all of these questions is … NO! It is none of these things. As a matter of fact, IT IS NOTHING EXTERNAL AT ALL. Here is the grand revelation of righteousness: RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT AN ACTIVITY, BUT IT IS A POSITION! It could also be said that it is a position of testimony. WHAT? Well … Let us take a look.

-Philippians 3:9 states, … and be found IN HIM ( CHRIST ), not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH: … So there are two kinds of righteousness:

1. YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS

2. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

( Read Luke 18:9-14 )

-The word "righteous" simply means that which is RIGHT. There is self-righteousness, which is one’s own effort and trusting in yourself, and there is God’s righteousness, which is faith in Christ, Who He is, and what He has accomplished. So righteousness is being IN CHRIST! IT IS A POSITION OF TESTIMONY IN CHRIST! It does not come from anything that you do. The things you do are a byproduct of your faith in Christ. Someone who is self-righteous is right in his own eyes. Someone who possesses the righteousness of God is righteous in the eyes of God, and to be right with God you must place your faith in the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus the Christ is the only truly righteous one. You must see yourself as being IN HIM, FOR THAT IS HOW YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER SEES YOU. PLACE YOUR FAITH IN HOW HE SEES YOU, FOR THAT IS YOUR TRUE IDENTITY. This is the only righteousness that God honors. Our righteousness ( self effort ) STINKS IN HIS NOSTRILS! Genesis 15:6 states, …Abraham BELIEVED in the Lord; and the Lord counted it to him for RIGHTEOUSNESS … Your righteousness is in Christ.

-BELIEVE!-