THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST
Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
[2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
[3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
[4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
We cannot nor do we have to earn God’s love by performance. Many Christians live with an incorrect view of themselves in the eyes of God. This spiritual blindness leads to a life of striving to become what they believe God wants them to become, but in their own flesh and strength. Failing to see themselves as God sees them they end up living in guilt and condemnation because they can never attain to their own standard they have built up and erected in their life. Guilt and condemnation brings with it a poor self-image, a low self-worth in one’s own eyes. Christian friend, this is a sad unprofitable life spiritually for any one especially for the child of God. Having a proper self-image is a struggle for most, enslaving them to a life of self-righteousness, a life of works and performance. This battle of achievement is the path that leads to a defeated life because we will fail every time; it becomes a vicious cycle that many never break free from.
There are so many today that have the mentality they have to clean up their act in order to come to the Lord and be saved. Sadly, there are some that get born again, saved from their sin but that mentality and way of thinking stays with them in their walk with Jesus. They are still trying to somehow work their way or pay God back for all that HE has done. They are still trying to earn their salvation and please God and be what they ALREADY ARE IN CHRIST! Friend, why would we want to try and establish our own righteousness, when we have received the FREE GIFT of salvation? Jesus Christ gave us HIMSELF, and gave us love and Grace on the Cross of Calvary! If we are not careful, we will start to wage war on our flesh and become consumed trying to please God instead of embracing the freedom we have in the blood of Jesus Christ. This is not a freedom or license to sin, but a freedom from guilt and shame, freedom from trying to reach a standard that Jesus has already attained for us. If we do not embrace the freedom we have in the righteousness we have in Jesus, we will fail miserably. We will end up in a defeated cycle of depression and inadequacy. We will look at other Christians or those in the church and say, “I’ll never attain to that.”
(Verse 3) of our text tells us to “submit ourselves to the righteousness of God”. What standard are you trying to reach or live up to? It’s my prayer for you today, if you are trying to reach a standard you or someone else has built in your life, that the Lord would open your eyes and reveal HIS righteousness in you. We should always strive to live Holy, separated lives, a life with Biblical standards that please the Lord with a heart fully aware and submitted to the righteousness of God in us. Christian, you have been MADE righteous by Jesus, you are child of God, your name has been written in heaven. Lift up your head, walk in victory today, not because of what you have done or will do but because of what Jesus has already done!
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
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