walking in righteousness

8/4/2019 Walking in Righteousness

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RoadmaptoSpiritualMaturityandService

JoshuaLoke July11,2011

WalkinginRighteousness

WhatisRighteousness?

InGenesis1:28,we are told thatGod createdMan inHis image.Bydefinition,imagereferstoathingthatisareproductionofanother(personorobject),one

thatcloselyresemblesanother.Hence,Manwasnotcreatedasagod,butrather

likeGodHimselfpossessingsomeofHisqualities.TwoGod-likequalitiesthatthefirst Man possessed were holiness and righteousness. Even then, Adams

holiness and righteousness were mere images of Gods holiness and

righteousnessrespectively.

Letusconsiderholinessfirst.GodisINHERENTLYholy,meaningthatHewasnotmadeholybutisHimselfthesourceofholinessHeisabletodeclarepeopleand

things as holy. Adams holiness, on the other hand, is not inherent butIMPARTED;onlyanimage,oralesserdegree.Beinginherentlyholy,Godsimplycannotsin.ButAdam,havingonlyimpartedholiness,hadthepropensitytosin

(andhedid).

Now, righteousness. Righteousness, by definition, denotes moral purity. A

righteousman isonewhomakesthe rightmoral choices.AlthoughAdamwascreatedrighteousness,hisrighteousnesswouldmeannothingifitwasnottested,

ifhedidnothavetheneedtomakeanymoralchoices.Hewouldbelikeaman

whoprideshimselftobe thegreatestwarriorbuthasneverfoughtandwonasinglebattleinhislife;oramanwhoclaimstobethegreatestfootballerinthe

worldbuthasyettokickaball.Forthisreason,Ibelieve,GodplantedtheTreeoftheKnowledgeofGoodandEvilintheGardenandcommandedtheManandtheWomannottoeatofit.YoucansaythattheyweregivenaTorahthatconsisted

ofonlyonelaw,andtheycouldnotwaittobreakit.

Asthestorygoes,AdamandEvemadeamoralchoice,butthewrongone.They

ate from the Tree of the Knowledge ofGoodand Evilanddied. In the Bible,deathastheconsequenceofsinisadouble-whammy;ithasatwo-foldeffect.It

cutsthesinnerofffromtheblessingofGod(inAdamscase,itwastheabundance

and rest they enjoyed in the Garden of Eden) and it cuts them off from God(whichhappenedtoAdamtoo).

Adams disobedience would have long-term effects on Mankind. Paul wrote

aboutitinhisepistletotheRomans.Hesaid,bytheoneman'sdisobediencethe

manyweremadesinners(Rom5:19);thatis,everypersonwasbornwiththepropensity to sin (Psa 51:5). And because everyone eventually did sin, they

becameunrighteous.Therefore,Paulwasrighttosaythatnoneisrighteous;no

notone(Rom3:10).

Asearthlyparents,wehavenoguarantee thatour childrenwouldgrowuptoloveuscontinuouslyand goalongthe rightpath.We canonlyhopeandpray.

Somehaveevengoneasfarastodecidenottohavechildren.Butitwasdifferent

withGod.HeknewfullwellthattheMankindHewasgoingtocreatewouldturnagainstHimandbreakHisheartdoingso.Nevertheless,Hecreatedthemanyway.


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Atthesametime,HemadeitpossibleforthemtobereconciledtoHim.TheBible

tells us that Jesuswas the Lamb (thatwas) slain from the foundation of theworld(Rev13:8).

GodalsodidgivemenHislaws;buttheyweretobringabouttheawarenessof

sinandtoshowthemthatnomancanbejustifiedbykeepingthelaw.Godwantsthemtocometotheconclusionthatamanisjustifiedbyfaithwithoutthedeedsofthelaw(Rom3:28).

Through Christ, God graciously IMPUTES (meaning to count or to account)righteousnesstobelievingsinnersthroughfaith.Thisimputingofrighteousness

tobelieversiscalledJUSTIFICATION.Now,whenGodlooksatsomeonewhohas

beenjustified,itisasifhehadneversinned.

If you have been justified, your sins become invisible to God becauseHe hascovered you with the robe of righteousness (Isa 61:10). This is the same

pictureconjuredupbytheparableoftheProdigalSon.Whentheyoungersonreturned afterwasting his inheritance on loose living, the father clothed himwiththebestrobe,placedaringonhisfingerandshoesonhisfeet(Luke15:22).

Inthesamemanner,therobethatourHeavenlyFatherhasplacedonusisthe

robeofrighteousness.

Comehomefirst

Beclear,however,thattherobeof righteousnessonlychangesyourSTANDING

before God and not your STATE in the eyes of God. When the father in the

parableoftheProdigalSonputthebestrobeonthesonwhohadjustreturnedasif from the dead,he (theson)was still inhis pathetic state: dirty, smelly, and

broke.Thefather,nevertheless,overlookedallthisandcoveredhissonwiththe

robe.Thefatherdidnotcareaboutthefilthystatethathissonwasin;hewasjustoverjoyed thathis sonhadcomehome.Andwhenheplaced the robeoverhis

son,allhisfilthinesswascoveredup.Nowthathissonhascomehome,thefathercouldhelphimbecleanagain.

Ifthatiswhatanearthlyfatherwoulddoforhisson,wouldourlovingheavenlyFathernotdothesameforHischildren?Heknowsthattheonlywaythatwewill

be truly transformed into His image (or the image of His Son as He has

predestined) is by standing in His presence and beholding His glory; not bystandingafaroff.

Butweall,withunveiledfacebeholdingasinamirrorthegloryoftheLord,

are transformedinto the same imagefromglorytoglory, evenas from the

LordtheSpirit.2Corinthians3:18

TheRobeofRighteousnessallows ustostandinGodspresencewhileweare

beingtransformed.


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Thatsright.Goddoesnotexpectustocleanourselvesupbeforeacceptingus.He

hasabetterway:Hemakesusacceptablefirstbycoveringuswiththerobeofrighteousness,thencleansusupwhilewestandinHispresence.

ButGodcommendethhislovetowardus,inthat,whilewewereyetsinners,

Christdiedforus.(Rom5:8).

GodhaddeliberatelymadethisprovisionforussothatwecouldCOMEHOME

FIRST. Whats more, Christ fully obeyed the Father by keeping all His

commandmentsforoursakes.AsPaulputsit,

Forasbytheoneman'sdisobediencethemanyweremadesinners,sobythe

oneman'sobediencethemanywillbemaderighteous.(Romans5:19ESV)

Now,havingbeenmaderighteousthroughfaithintheSonwenolongerneedtoearnrighteousnessbykeepingGodscommandments.

We,however,oughttoobeysincewearerighteous.

ObedienceisfittingofthesonsofGod.

NoonebornofGodmakesapracticeofsinning,forGod'sseedabidesinhim,

andhecannotkeeponsinningbecausehehasbeenbornofGod.(IJohn3:9

ESV)

Walkinginrighteousness

Now that God has made us righteousness by covering us with the robe ofrighteousness,theonusisonustowalkinthatrighteousness.Putanotherway:

wehavetokeeptherobeon,andnotletitslipoffortakeitoff.Onthissubject,wecanlearnafewlessonsfromJacob.

JacobandEsauweretwinsbutEsauwastheelder,thefirstborn.WhenthetimecamefortheirfatherIsaactopronounceablessingonthefirstborn,Jacob,with

thehelpofhismotherRebekah,throughdeceit,gottheblessinginstead.Theway

hediditwastoservehisfatherhisfavoritefoodwhiledressedinhisbrotherscoat.YoucanimaginethefearandtrepidationthatJacobfeltashehandedthe

foodtohis father.But,nomatterwhat, ifJacobwanted theblessing,hehadtoremainconsistentsoastoconvincehisfatherthathewasindeedEsau,theelder

son.

WhenJacobenteredhisfatherstent,Isaacasked,Whoareyou,myson?And

Jacobhadtoanswer,IamEsau,thefirstborn.IsaacthenaskedJacobtodraw

nearsothathecouldfeelhisarm.WhatIsaacfeltwasnotJacobsarm,whichwassmooth,butEsauscoat.Isaacaskedanothertime,AreyoumysonEsau?And

Jacobanswered,Iam.Basedonthisanswer,IsaacblessedJacob.

ThisstorycanbeenreadasaparablewithIsaacstandingintheplaceofGodthe

Father,andJacobasus.Esau,obviously,representsthefirstbornofGod,JesusChrist.InordertoreceivetheblessingofGod,wecannotcomeasourselvesbut


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havetobecoveredwithChrists robeofrighteousness.Whenweare covered

with the robe of righteousness, we appear as Christ before the Father. ThispleasestheFather,andwewillreceivetheblessing.

Jacob might have been able to disguise his smooth skin by putting on his

brotherscoat,buthecouldnotdisguisehisvoice.IsaacrecognizedthatitwasthevoiceofJacob.

Dontrememberpastsins

Thelessonhereisthis:weoughtnottalktoomuchwheninthepresenceofGod.Christianstendtotalktoomuch,andsaythewrongthings.Theyoftengoona

pityparty,tellingGodhowunworthytheyareandremindingGodabouttheirpastsins.

TheBiblesaysthatifyouconfessyoursins,GodisfaithfulandjustandHewillforgiveyouofyoursinsandcleanseyouofallunrighteousness(1John1:9).And

notonlythat,Godwillalsoblotoutyourtransgressions(Isa44:22).Andasfaras

theeastisfromthewest,sofarhasheremovedyoursinsfromyou(Psa103:12).

Themore you talk about your sins the quicker the robe will slip off of you,

revealingthesinfulnessbeneath.Oncethathappens,youbecomedispleasingtoGodandmustberemovedfromHisholypresence.

Dontforgetwhoyouare

WhileJacobwasinhisfatherstent,itwascrucialthatherememberedwhohe

wassupposedtobeEsau,notJacob.Likewise,wemustrememberwhoweare:saints,notsinners.

Jamestellsaboutamaninhisepistlewholookshimselfinthemirror,butforgetswhathelookslikethemomenthewalksaway(James1:23-24).Wearethatman

andthemirroristheWordofGod.EachdayaswelookintotheWordofGod,ittellsuswhoweare(havebecome)inChrist.Butafterfindingitout,wemustnot

belikethatmanwhowalksawayandalmostimmediatelyforgetswhathehas

justlearned.Ifwedo,ouridentitywillinevitablybeformedbytheworldthatwelivein.

Havingspentallhisinheritance,theyoungersonwasfilledwithguiltandshame.

[I] am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired

servants(Luke15:19).Yet,thefatherdidnotmakehimasoneoftheservants;hereinstatedhimasason,withtherightsofafirstborn.Inthedaysandmonths

to come, you can imagine the struggle that might have taken placewith this

youngman.Howmanytimeshemusthavebeenstrickenwithguiltandshameagainforthewronghehaddoneandthepainhehadcausedhisfather.Andhow

manytimeshemusthavewantedtodosomethingtomake ituptohis father.

ButthatsexactlywhatGoddoesnotwantustodo.JesustoldHisdisciplesthatHenolongercallsthemservantsbutfriends,becauseservantsdonotknowthe


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willoftheFather.TheFatherwantstorevealHiswilltoyousothatyoumaybe

abletofulfillit.ButfirstHehastochangeyourstatusfromoneofaservanttooneofason.HedidthisthroughthedeathandresurrectionofChrist.Nowthat

thishasbeenaccomplished,wehavetoacceptitandwalkinit.

Imaginethatyouareworkingforacompanyasasalesrepresentative.ThenonedayyouwerepromotedtoSalesManager.For the firstmonthor so, youwerefinding your way around, getting used to the new title and new role. Thats

perfectlyunderstandable.But ifafter sixmonthsandyouare stillacting likea

salesrepresentative,whatdoyouthinkthecompanywilldotoyou?Theywillsaytoyou,WewillreinstateyoutothepositionofaSalesRepresentativesince

youlovethatjobsomuchandexcelinit.

IknowIamusingaworldlyexamplehere,butdoyouthinkGodwouldnotdo

the same to you or any Christian if they, after having been redeemed andrenewedbytheSpirit,continuetoliveinsin?Thinkagain.

Foritisimpossibletorestoreagaintorepentancethosewhohaveoncebeenenlightened,whohavetastedtheheavenlygift,andhavesharedintheHoly

Spirit,andhavetastedthegoodnessofthewordofGodandthepowersofthe

agetocome,iftheythenfallaway,sincetheyarecrucifyingonceagaintheSonofGodtotheirownharmandholdinghimuptocontempt.(Hebrews6:4-6

ESV)

Dontsin

Committing sin is the surest way of stripping ourselves of the robe ofrighteousness.FromFirstJohn1:9,wecandeducethatsincausesustofallback

intothestateofunrighteousness,andhavetheneedtobecleansedofitagain.Ifonlywecouldhavecontinuousvictoryoversinandtemptation,thenwecould

alwayswalkinrighteousness.

Goodnews!Thereisaway:itiscalled

TheLawoftheSpiritofLifeinChrist.

PaulintroducesustothelawoftheSpiritofLifeinChristinRomans8.Butin

orderforyoutorealizeitsrelevanceandimportanceIneedtotakeyoubackto

Romans6wherePaulstatesthateverybelieverhavebeenbaptizedintoChristJesusandthereforewerebaptizedintohisdeath?(Rom6:3).Andhavingbeen

baptizedintoHisdeath,theywerealsoraisedwithHimbythegloryoftheFathertowalkinnewnessoflife(verse4).

Asaresultofallthis,thebelieversoldselfwascrucifiedwithChristsothatthebody of sin might be brought to nothing, so that they would no longer be

enslavedtosin.


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Foronewhohasdiedhasbeensetfreefromsin.(Romans6:7ESV)

So,insteadofstrugglingwithsin,wesimplyoughttoconsiderourselvesdeadto

sinandalivetoGodinChristJesus(verse11)andnotpresentourmembersto

sin asinstruments for unrighteousness, but presentourselves toGod asthose

who have been brought from death to life, and our members to God asinstrumentsforrighteousness(verse13).

AndnowthatwehavebeensetfreefromsinandhavebecomeslavesofGod,the

fruitwegetoughttoleadtosanctificationanditsend,eternallife(verse22).Butisthatreallyourexperience?Notallthetime.

ManyChristians feel comfortedwhen they readPauls testimony inRomans 7abouthisstrugglewithsin.TheyfeelcomfortedbecausePaulsstruggleistypical

oftheirownstruggle.

And apartfrom identifyingwithPaul inhis strugglewithsin,manyChristians

havemisinterpretedPaul tomean that the Law has become obsolete, thatweneednotpayanyattentiontotheLaw.ThisisnotwhatPaulmeant.Infact,Paul

said,inverse16,thatheagreeswiththelaw, thatitis good.TheLawsimply

bringsabouttheknowledgeofsinwhichinturncondemnsthosewhosinbynotkeepingthecommandmentsofGod.ButtheproblemliesnotwiththeLawofGod,

butwiththelawthatisatworkinourflesh.

SoIfindittobealawthatwhenIwanttodoright,evilliescloseathand.ForI

delightinthelawofGod,inmyinnerbeing,butIseeinmymembersanotherlawwagingwaragainstthelawofmymindandmakingmecaptivetothelaw

ofsinthatdwellsinmymembers.(Romans7:21-23ESV)

Thelawthatisatworkinallofusbeforewewereredeemedandregeneratedis

thelawofsinanddeath.Asthetermimplies,itisthislawthatcausesustosinand subsequentlysuffer its consequence: death. This lawwas atworkin Paul,

andthushisstrugglewithsin.ButinRomans8,Paultellsusthatthereisanother

lawatworkinbelievers.ItisthelawoftheSpiritoflifeinChrist.Amouthful,Iknow.Butwhatitsimplymeansisthatthislawwillproduceinuslifeaswewalk

inrighteousnessandholy.

Twolaws,twooppositeeffects,justliketheLawofGravitationandtheLawof

Areodynamics.TheLawofGravitationcausesallphysicalobjectstostayontheground.Nothingescapesthislaw.Evenunbelieversandskepticsaresubjectedto

thislaw,whethertheylikeitornot.Tryjumpingoffatallbuilding,andyouwill

bemadeabelieverinstantly.

TheLawofAerodynamics,however,iswhatenablesbirdsandairplanestoflyin

the sky. Does the Law of Gravitation cease to exists when the Law ofAerodynamics is at work? Certainly not. The Law of Aerodynamics simply

cancels out the effects of the Law of Gravitation, making the Law ofAerodynamicsthemorepowerfullawofthetwo.

What is theLawof Aerodynamics? It is really quite simple. This lawhas few

requirements.Whenapplied toanairplane, it requires that theWINGSof theairplanebeconstructedinacertainway.Italsorequiresasignificantamountof


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THRUST to enable the airplane to reach a certain speed. Once that speed is

reached,LIFTisexperienced.

Translated to the Christian, thewings represent his FAITH,whichmust beas

steady and immovable as the wings of the plane. The thrust represents the

Christiansaction, inparticular his obedience. Afterall, faithwithoutworks isdead, and what better way to demonstrate ones faith than through onesobedience?

MaryswordtotheservantsatCana,DowhateverHetellsyou(John2:5),isaprofoundexpressionoffaithinherson.Toputitinamoretheologicalway:faith

inJesusinvolvesobeyingHimaswellastrustingHimasSavior.Ifwereallytrust

someone,wewillnothesitatetodowhateverhetellsus.2

Paulalsoshowsusthe relationship betweenobedience and faith byusingthetermobedienceoffaithtwiceinhisepistletotheRomans(Rom1:5and16:26).

ThrustisproducedasaresultofaChristiansobediencetoGod.Heacceleratesashis obedience increases in frequency and speed. At a specific point, he will

experiencelift.

ManyChristians,however,havenottakenoffyet.Somehavebeguntorolldown

therunwaybuthavenotpickedupenoughspeedtotake-off.Thesearetheoneswho have not delighted in the law of God. They are selective with which

commands they will obey. Yet some are sitting on the tarmac revving their

engines like sports cars.They say theyhave faith, but ithas not been proventhroughworks.So,thefaiththeyhaveisdead,useless.Allthehypecomesto

nothing;onlyburntfuelandworn-outengines.

Anypilotwilltellyouthatthehardestandmostdangerouspartsoftheflightare

thetake-offsandlandings.Butsincewehavenointentionsoflanding,letusonlyfocusonthetaking-off.

As I have said earlier, thrust is developed through our obedience to Godscommandments.Wepickupspeedasweobeymorewillinglyandmorequickly

(delayedobedienceisdisobedience)thecommandsofGod.Restassuredthatthe

requiredspeedatwhichyouwillexperienceliftisntveryhigh.Anairplanefliesatamuchhigherspeedwhileintheair(about900km/h)thanwhentryingto

take-off(about250km/h).Inthesameway,theinitialeffortyouhavetoputintotake-offissmallcomparedtothefreedomyouwillexperienceonceyouhave

takenoff.

Youmightbetempted toabortthe take-off, assome inexperiencedpilots are.

They lack confidence. But their confidence should not have been only their

ability to fly the plane. Their ability should be on the Law of Aerodynamics.Likewise,intryingtowalkinrighteousness,yourtrustmustnotbeinyourself

butinthefinishedworkofJesusChristandintheSpiritofGodwholivesinyouandistheretohelpyouliveavictoriousChristianlife.

2DavidPawson.TheNormalChristianBirth.p.35


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Assuming you have takenoff. The Christian lifewill not bea straightforward

thing. Pilots ofreally airliners put theirplanes onauto-pilot once they havereached cruising altitudes. Having done that, they can relax, chat among

themselves,andeventakenaps.Justonepersonwillhavetokeepaneyeontheinstruments and listen for warning bells. Occasionally, they will encounter

turbulence.Buttheyareseldomlifethreatening.Theymakesurethatthespeedismaintainedandsimplysititout.

walking in righteousness

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