Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.”
Psalms 17:15 NLT David, the King of Israel, knew that he was innocent of the accusations of His enemies and that the attacks from his enemies were unjustified. David was speaking of his practical righteousness. He was, in his practice, doing what was right. David did not know the atoning work of the Messiah, Jesus. However, he did place His trust in God! By doing so, his faith was accounted for righteousness with God! Now I'm not talking about intellectual acknowledgement of God. I'm speaking of placing his complete trust in God. There is a very stark difference in the two. Believing in God intellectually is good, but not good enough. The definition of the word "belief" must be clarified. In the scripture, when we read of "believing" it refers to the idea of fidelity (to place one's life into the trust of). The devil knows there is a God but that doesn't make him a saved devil. “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” James 2:19 NLT Positional righteousness (our standing with God) can only be received by faith. It has always been about faith!! “And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Genesis 15:6 NLT The thought of being righteous is uncomfortable to a sinner. When we see ourselves, we see imperfection, inadequacy, insufficiency, and all the other descriptions of less than enough. The fact is, we are all less than. We have all sinned! “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT None of us can achieve the standard of God's holiness. It is impossible in, and of, ourselves. This leaves us hopeless if we have no hope of rescue. Without redemption, we are aimlessly lost. The only hope we have is God Himself. He became a man, in the person and body of Jesus Christ. “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 NLT “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” Colossians 2:9 NLT The reality of positional righteousness is true for those who believe in (trust their lives completely in) the Lord Jesus Christ! We cannot achieve it, but thank God we can receive it! Can I hear a Hallelujah!!! Jesus has made it absolutely possible for us to be made righteous. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT (Learn these verses and commit them to memory - John 3:16-18; Romans 3:23; 6:23; I John 1::9; Romans 10:8-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:13). I know I'm saved! Do you? Are you trusting in Jesus for your salvation? Have you truly repented of your sins and given your life to Him? This question demands an answer. The choice is yours. Why turn away from the One who offers redemption and righteousness? Prayer for today: Father, in Jesus name, I come to You repenting of all my sin! I receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Forgive my sins and fill me with Your Holy Spirit! May I truly know that I am a righteous child of God. I know that in myself I am undone. Through Jesus Christ I am made righteous! Thank You LORD! Thank you LORD! Thank You LORD!
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March 2020
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