November 2010
This month's view finds
me rejoicing with you who have received
Christ as your righteousness, but sad for
those who trust in their own good works,
instead of Christ's finished work on the
cross for their salvation. "God, our
Savior, showed us His kindness and love.
He saved us, not because of the good things
we did, but because of His mercy. He washed
away our sins and gave us a new life through
the Holy Spirit."1
Awake, O Sleeper
Recently, a poll showed
that only a small percentage of Christians
read the Bible. Matter of fact, it showed
that atheists and agnostics knew the Bible
better than most. No wonder the apostle
Paul paraphrased the prophet Isaish, saying:
"Awake, O Sleeper, rise up from the
dead, and Christ will give you light."2
It is the light of God's word that is a
lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.3
A new convert, named Rick,
arrived three months ago where I am at Mule
Creek prison, having only read the Old Testament.
He was reading the Bible, but he had not
yet heard the word of righteousness that
comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
He believed in his good works for blessings
from God, instead of believing that God
declared him righteous by faith.4
He had walked away from God after a blessing
he expected did not happen. He became defeated,
depressed, diseased, and came to a point
near death, until finally he accepted that
righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ.
The glory of God is now all over his face.
Can you relate to Rick's
story? You have read the Bible, but not
yet realized the gift of being right in
God's sight. You are still trying to appear
right by your good works, and lack the peace
of God that only comes from what Jesus Christ
has done for you.5
The word says that spiritual babes are "unskilled
in the word of righteousness,"6
but as you deny yourself, the kingdom of
God prevails in righteousness, peace, and
joy in the Holy Spirit.7
Awake to Righteousness
My heart goes out to those
I hear from who are drowning in their sin
and addictions like my friend Rick was.
Unbelief is the main cause. Folks believe
in the Bible and even believe in Jesus,
but don't believe their righteousness is
only because of their faith in Him. I don't
have a list of rules to make a person right.
Jesus Christ made you right with God at
the cross 2000 years ago. We share in His
righteousness and the power of His resurrection.
It is up to each of us to build ourselves
up in faith.8 I suggest
you pray, saying, "God, help my unbelief"
and get a New Living Translation Bible (NLT)
for easy understanding before you advance
to other translations for study and meditation.
The New Covenant is all
about God's love and grace. We awake to
God's gift of righteousness by faith. Because
of our freedom in Christ from sin and death,
we experience the ability to stand with
Jesus in God's presence without the sense
of sin, fear, guilt, condemnation, and inferiority.
For the first time, we know true peace,
and what it is like to truly feel the love
of God. For Rick, it was like being born-again
all over. He doubted if he ever was saved
in the first place. Like the apostle Paul,
I beg you: "Awake to righteousness,
and sin not; for some have not the knowledge
of God: I speak this to your shame."9
The Lord has an amazing,
victorious life available for you. He awaits
to give you the gift of His righteousness
by faith in the finished work of the Cross.
He has done everything to make you complete
in Christ.10 He promises
that all "...who receive His wonderful,
gracious gift of righteousness will live
in triumph over sin and death...God's wonderful
kindness rules, giving us right standing
with God and resulting in eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord."11
The Power of Righteousness
Rick is a living testimony
of the power of righteousness. He has committed
the rest of his life to the ministry of
faith righteousness. He has already shared
his new-found revelation with those who
live around him in prison, including a psychiatrist
and officers. Those who know his past, can't
help but be amazed at his changed life.
I am proud to call him my brother in Christ.
"What this means is that those who
become Christians become new persons. They
are not the same anymore, for the old life
is gone. A new life has begun!12
There is power in the
righteousness of Christ. "Since Christ
lives within you, even though your body
will die because of sin, your spirit is
alive because you have been made right with
God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus
from the dead, lives in you."13
After His resurrection, Jesus promised "...when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will
receive power and will tell people about
Me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout
Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."14
I am privileged to be a part of this commission
to spread the message of God's righteousness
by faith around the word through this website.
I want the whole world
to know that "I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it [the gospel] is
the power of God to salavation for everyone
who believes. For in it [the gospel] the
righteousness of God is revealed from faith
to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall
live by faith.'"15
Only God's power is able to overcome our
sinful nature and give us new life. And
righteousness from God is completely on
the basis of faith from beginning to end.
Confession of Salvation
Rick's awakening didn't
take a sinner's prayer to receive Christ
as his righteousness. He prayed a sinner's
prayer two years previously, when he asked
Jesus to come into his heart (though we're
saved by faith, not by a prayer). Like most
of us, Rick didn't understand the revelation
of righteousness, which made such a major
difference in his life. Rather than being
a carnal Christian, he became a spiritual
man.16 Have you awakened
to Christ as your righteousness? [See my
Study
Chart Gallery, Natural, Carnal, and Spiritual
Man.] (D3).
As far as your confession
of salvation, listen to what the apostle
Paul said:
"Salvation that
comes from trusting in Christ--which is
the message we preach--is already within
easy reach. In fact, the Scripture says,
'The message is close at hand; it is on
your lips and in your heart.' For if you
confess with your mouth that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved. For it is by believing in your
heart that you are made right with God,
and it is by confessing with your mouth
that you are saved. As the Scripture tells
us, 'Anyone who believes in Him will not
be disappointed. Jew and Gentile are the
same in this respect. They all have the
same Lord who generously gives His riches
to all who ask for them. For 'Anyone who
calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved."17
This is what it comes down
to regarding your salvation. When most of
you prayed the sinner's prayer, you received
Christ as your Savior. Others received Christ
as their Savior and Lord of their life,
but few of you understood Christ as your
righteousness. Because of this, many of
you were left partially trusting in your
good works for your salvation.
Regardless, I trust you
were saved by faith, but possibly like Rick,
you lack the knowledge that 'God made Jesus
who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in
Him."18 If you do lack knowledge, I
pray that you will awaken to Christ as your
righteousness, and experience the peace
and joy that follows. At last, the pressure
will be off to appear to be right. You will
be the righteousness of God in Christ, sharing
in everything that He died and rose again
to give you as a free gift.
A Prayer For You ...
Heavenly Father, I pray
that You reveal the righteousness of Christ
in me through the finished work of the Cross.
I am a new creation in Christ.19 I believe
in the cleansing blood of Jesus for my righteousness,
and not my good works or obedience to the
law. I confess with my mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in my heart that You
raised Him from the dead. I believe I will
not be disappointed "...for the Kingdom
of God is righteousness, peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost."20 I will yield
to the righteousness of Christ that lives
in me. Lord, I ask that you increase my
faith so that I will be conscious continually
of the revelation of my righteousness in
Christ. Amen.
[For a life-changing book
on the righteousness of Christ, named "Breaking
the Cycle" by Dr. James B. Richards,
go to www.impactministries.com.
This book will help open your eyes to a
brand new life in righteousness.]
Scripture References:
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
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