We continue to magnify Jesus, and the good news that He came to bring! He came to this earth to make us RIGHTEOUS. It’s only because of Him, and what was accomplished on the cross that we can be RIGHTEOUS!
Matthew 6:33
Jesus said that we are to seek 1st His kingdom AND His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Scripture chorus:
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU
HALLELU, HALLELUJAH!
i AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST
Scripture chorus:
I am the righteousness of God in Christ,
A brand new creation in Him!
I can now approach the presence of God,
With no condemnation of sin!
I am the righteousness of God in Christ,
I am now complete in Him!
I’m a partaker of His divine nature,
On me He will not impute sin!
I CORINTHIANS 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus… who of God is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and sanctification, and redemption…
JESUS – OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
JESUS becomes our RIGHTEOUSNESS as we believe in Him, and receive Him by faith!
2 PETER 1:1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS
Psalm 145:17 – The Lord is RIGHTEOUS in all His ways, gracious in all His works.
Psalm 116:5 – Gracious is the Lord, and RIGHTEOUS; Yes, our God is merciful.
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Isaiah 64:6 – But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our RIGHTEOUSNESSES are as filthy rags…
In comparison to HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, all of our self-righteousness is as filthy rags, because we are dirty, rotten sinners – saved by grace alone!
THE DIVINE EXCHANGE
Our unrighteousness exchanged for his righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:17,21 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Him.
THE CROSS
I Peter 2:24 – Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto RIGHTEOUSNESS: by whose stripes you were healed.
Jesus provided RIGHTEOUSNESS, and cleansing from sin for us on the cross!
THE LORD IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNES
One of the name’s of God – “Jehovah-Tsidkenu”
Jeremiah 23:6 – …and this is his name whereby he shall be called, ”The Lord Our Righteousness”.
EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS
Psalm 119:142 – Your RIGHTEOUSNESS is an everlasting RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The Lord’s RIGHTEOUSNESS is not just a temporal, temporary RIGHTEOUSNESS! It is eternal and lasts for eternity!
NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE LORD
Psalm 92:15 – To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS in Him.
The Lord is totally RIGHTEOUS!
THE LORD DELIGHTS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
Jeremiah 9:24 – …I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
Proverbs 15:9 – The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He LOVES HIM who follows RIGHTEOUSNESS.
INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS:
The Word of God is given to us for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS – so that we can know the way of RIGHTEOUS living, and live pleasing to the Lord.
WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Right attitudes, right heart, right actions, a right way of living, a right standing with God…
GODLINESS
RIGHTEOUSNESS and GODLINESS are similar expressions. When we are RIGHTEOUS we are patterning our lifestyle after God, and becoming like Him. Building our lives with GODLINESS, and becoming more like JESUS needs to be one of our goals and and aspirations in life. To be created in HIs image means to be made like Him (godly).
God is holy and RIGHTEOUS.
It is not a worldly standard – it is a godly standard.
We were created in God’s image to be RIGHTEOUS.
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…
2 Peter 1:6-7 – (adding)… to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance GODLINESS, 7 to GODLINESS brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
God has wonderful rewards for the godly! It will be worthy it all! When godly characteristics are growing and abounding in our lives we will be fruitful, faithful, and blessed!
2 Peter 3:11 – Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and GODLINESS…
Realizing that we are living in the end times, it is very important that we purpose to live godly & holy lives in preparation for JESUS return!
Psalm 4:3 – But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is GODLY; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
THE UNGODLY WILL PERISH
Psalm 1:6 – For the Lord knows the way of the RIGHTEOUS, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS, for they shall be filled.
GODLY LIFESTYLE
I John 3:7 – Little children, let no man deceive you: he that DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS is RIGHTEOUS, even as He is RIGHTEOUS.
I John 2:29 – If you know that he is RIGHTEOUS, you know that every one that does RIGHTEOUSNESS is born of him.
DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AT ALL TIMES
Psalm 106:3 – Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does RIGHTEOUSNESS at all times.
ISAIAH’S VISION OF THE LORD
Isaiah 6:1-7 …I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up… 3 And one cried to another and said: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”… So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of UNCLEAN LIPS, and I dwell in the midst of a people of UNCLEAN LIPS; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.”
When Isaiah saw the Lord, he received a revelation of the holiness of God. He realized his uncleanness & sinfulness it. He confessed it, and was cleansed.
MERCIES
Where would any of us be right now apart from God’s mercies & lovingkindness?
Lamentations 3:22-24 – Through the Lord’s MERCIES we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Psalm 23:6 – …he leads me in the paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS for his name’s sake.
SPEAKING TRUTH DECLARES RIGHTEOUSNESS
We need to speak the truth. Truth declares RIGHTEOUSNESS
Proverbs 12:17 – He who speaks TRUTH declares RIGHTEOUSNESS, but a false witness, deceit.
GOD OF TRUTH
Psalm 32:4 – He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of TRUTH and without injustice; RIGHTEOUS and UPRIGHT is He.
I Timothy 3:15 – I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the h- ouse of God, which is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, the PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH.
John 8:31,32 – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free.”
John 4:23,24 – But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and TRUTH; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit and TRUTH.”
TRUTH VS. LIES
John 8:44 – The devil… is a liar and the father of it.
Colossians 3:9 – Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds…
Jeremiah 5:1-3 – “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know;
…if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the TRUTH, and I will pardon her. 2 Though they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ surely they swear falsely.” Lord, are not Your eyes on the TRUTH? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; you have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.
There are some who rebelliously refuse instruction, and do not seek and love the truth!
truth & honesty
The Lord is searching for honest, truthful people.
Christians should NOT still be telling lies. God is a God of truth. He wants us to know the truth and be set free from deception.
Luke 6:45 – A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Proverbs 4:23 – Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Philippians 4:8 – whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
Lying and dishonesty is the opposite of truth.
Don’t think you can get by with things that God is not pleased with.
The church is to be people of TRUTH. We need to resist the devil and everything that is from the devil! He is a liar and a deceiver and the source of lies. Those who give place to lies & are liars will burn in hell someday with the devil (Revelation 21:8; 19:20).
The Lord is seeking for people of truth, who are willing to live according to His ways.
There needs to be repentance in the church for sinful & dishonest ways. Jesus is coming for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, that has been cleansed from sin, deceit, & dishonesty.
sodom and gomorrah
Story found in Genesis 18:16-33; 19:1-29.
God values righteousness so much, that if he had found only 10 righteous there, he would have spared those cities from destruction!
The sins of Sodom & Gomorrah were not only immorality and Sodomy…
Ezekiel 16:49-50 – …this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
Matthew 11:23,24 – (Jesus said) “you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
WARNING
After all of the mighty things the Lord has done for us – saving us, answering prayers, bringing healings and doing miraculous works – let’s continue to show our loving appreciation by maintaining a righteous lifestyle.
EVIL – RIGHTEOUS
Isaiah 3:8-10 – (Jerusalem/Judah — God’s people)… they declare their sin as Sodom; the do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. Say to the RIGHTEOUS that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
RIGHTEOUSNESS BRINGS EXALTATION
It exalts the Lord our Savior.
It pleases and honors Him.
It fulfills purpose and destiny.
Jesus is worthy of exaltation.
Proverbs 14:34 – RIGHTEOUSNESS exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
SIN IS SHAMEFUL
Sin brings reproach!
Sin is destructive!
It brings hatred and strife!
It is ugly and disgraceful!
RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL PREVAIL
Ultimately RIGHTEOUSNESS triumphs!
It overcomes evil!
It brings joy, not sorrow!
It brings promotion and honor!
It is good!
It overcomes evil with good – it is powerful!
The Lord is with/for the RIGHTEOUS!
It causes nations to be successful, fruitful, and prosperous!
RICHES ARE NOT OUR SAFETY
Proverbs 11:4 – Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but RIGHTEOUSNESS delivers from death.
As God’s judgments & wrath are poured out upon the wicked, riches cannot save them.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Romans 14:17-19 – The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but RIGHTEOUSNESS and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
One of the descriptions of the kingdom of God is RIGHTEOUSNESS! RIGHTEOUSNESS brings the Lord’s approval & blessing in our lives!
JESUS IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Let’s pursue a lifestyle of RIGHTEOUSNESS!
It’s all about JESUS! We would all be doomed without Him! It’s only because of JESUS that we can be RIGHTEOUS!
Let’s rejoice and be thankful for the RIGHTEOUSNESS that He lovingly and freely gives & makes avaiable to us!
Praise the Lord for His mercy!
Jesus came to make us RIGHTEOUS!
Let’s be like Jesus!
RECEIVING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
For any who haven’t yet received Jesus as Savior and Lord, please do not wait any longer. Whoever call upon Him will be saved. (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13)
Romans 10:9,10 – …that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto RIGHTEOUSNESS, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
