"The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth."
...'nuff said.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
On Righteousness
Too many times I find myself in situations where I try to be "the good guy," or reversely, try hard not to be "the bad guy."
Is it because it's what I'm 'supposed to do?' If so, the what is completely useless. It is trash. In the book of Isaiah it reads "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." In order for our what, our good works, to be glorifying to God, we must have the right why. So if all of our righteous acts don't bring us closer to righteousness, and, rather, are like filthy rags, where, then, does our righteousness come from?
The Book of Romans reads: "Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Notice the blue text. Our righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Let's get caught up: Our righteous acts are like filthy rags, and bring us no closer to righteousness. Our righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
"I am a Christian, after all;" I subconsciously think to myself, "I ought to do the right thing and not do the wrong thing. I am supposed to be righteous."
The problem with this mindset is that too often I get caught up in what I'm doing, and I lose sight of the why I'm doing. What I am doing is attempting to abide by the laws and commandments of God.Why?
Is it because it's what I'm 'supposed to do?' If so, the what is completely useless. It is trash. In the book of Isaiah it reads "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." In order for our what, our good works, to be glorifying to God, we must have the right why. So if all of our righteous acts don't bring us closer to righteousness, and, rather, are like filthy rags, where, then, does our righteousness come from?
The Book of Romans reads: "Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Notice the blue text. Our righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Let's get caught up: Our righteous acts are like filthy rags, and bring us no closer to righteousness. Our righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
So where the heck do good deeds come in to play?
The Book of James tells us "FAITH by itself, if it is not accompanied by ACTION, is dead."
Therefore, our righteousness is not from the works we do, but it is from the faith we have, which is shown by the works we do. This FAITH and this ACTION are in a symbiotic relationship with each other called RIGHTEOUSNESS. Without one of the two components, the relationship dies.
Therefore, our righteousness is not from the works we do, but it is from the faith we have, which is shown by the works we do. This FAITH and this ACTION are in a symbiotic relationship with each other called RIGHTEOUSNESS. Without one of the two components, the relationship dies.
FAITH without ACTION is dead.
ACTION without FAITH is a filthy rag.
Is your faith dead? Are your actions just filthy rags? I am certain that at one point or another we have all been able to answer "yes" to these questions. It is my prayer that all those in Christ would be able to receive His righteousness and too keep our faith alive in action.
ACTION without FAITH is a filthy rag.
Is your faith dead? Are your actions just filthy rags? I am certain that at one point or another we have all been able to answer "yes" to these questions. It is my prayer that all those in Christ would be able to receive His righteousness and too keep our faith alive in action.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)