To continue in Christ Jesus is the right of our salvation and influence of divine grace. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Jesus Christ. Hence, to practise righteousness is to keep experiencing such treasures of heavenly radiance and realities in Christ. More below!
Reference: 1st John 2:28-29 English Standard Version (ESV)
"And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at his coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him."
In this article, I'm still teaching on practising righteousness. The Psalmist says, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants" (Psalm 89:14 NLT). This is to show you the depth of power and quality of substance embedded in righteousness such that the throne room rests on it.
Isaiah 32:17 reads, "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever" (ESV). There is no chaos in heaven due to the presence of righteousness. In addition, when I say in line with the Scripture, that every one who is born of the Spirit is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, it means that something was done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. And that is righteousness, our new nature, which is a solid foundation laid in the saints by God Himself. Got it?
Beloved, God shared many of His wonderful attributes with angelic beings, but not all of them; for this reason, He is more awesome than anyone in heaven. Zero wonder the Psalmist stated that the highest angelic powers stand in awe of God because He is far more awesome than all who surround His throne (see Psalm 89:7 NLT). So God has shared some of His glory with them, not all, and two of them are righteousness and holiness. His righteousness and holiness have been manifested through cherubim, and seraphim, archangels, principalities (four living creatures), and other angelic beings. That's the reason they can function in the throne room. Got it?
Now God had to exert the same attribute in mankind. Why did God make us His righteousness in Christ? Righteousness is a transformative nature, and because we shall spend eternity with God, it became needful for the saints to be made so. Admittedly, it gave us the right of boldness to the throne room (see Hebrews 4:16). Then holiness is a state [status] in which we will see the Lord (see Hebrews 12:14). In addition, Ephesians 1:4-5 (NKJV) reads, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."
So in order to live your new life in Christ effectively, you must put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24 ESV). Got it? Fundamentally, the practice of righteousness cannot be undermined because it represents our fine linen in heaven, which is so clean and bright. To instantiate this verity, Johannine literature in accordance with John's apocalypse reads, "Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." [Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.]Â - Revelation 19:8 (NIV).
So here's what to do: Choose to obey God's Word from time to time, because it leads to righteous living. Apostle Paul having considered this truth, asked the saints in Rome: "Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living" (Romans 6:16 NLT). Then he continued: "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart, the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness (verse 17-18). Stay tuned for part 7. Shalom!
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that from you came everything, and every good thing that is, that has been, and shall ever be, has its roots in you. Righteousness is your nature and I'm quite grateful that it is the foundation signature and substance of my faith in Christ Jesus. Thank you for the gift of the precious Holy Spirit, who duly governs my mind and spirit by the inspiration of heavenly wisdom, thereby making me entirely conformable to the mind and image of Christ. Blessed be your Holy name forever and ever, in Jesus' Name, Amen!
Comments