I Jn. 3:7-10 - “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
In order to practice righteousness, we must know what righteousness is, how we become righteous, and how we maintain a righteous lifestyle.
Mention righteousness, and many people think of those who think more highly of themselves than they should (Rom. 12:3). This self-righteous behavior is anti-Christ--the exact opposite of the nature of Christ. It is based upon our own works and accomplishments, comparing our lives with others. Self righteousness is rooted in pride, arrogance, and hatred (satanic characteristics), which have no place in the body of Christ. Unfortunately, self-righteous attitudes keep hurting, desperate people from coming to Christ because of pretentiousness and pride. The Lord describes our self-righteousness as being like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).
Jesus was the most righteous man who ever lived, and He was known to be a friend to sinners. When challenged by the Pharisees for fellowshipping with sinners, Jesus replied that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:12-13). Jesus’ reply was an indictment against these religious leaders and their self-righteous attitudes since they could not see their own sinfulness.
What is righteousness? Righteousness is right-standing with God. It is the means by which we can stand in the Father’s presence without guilt, inferiority, or condemnation. Righteousness cannot be earned or measured through the works of men. Righteousness is a gift of God (Rom 5:17) and comes to us as an edict of God through our faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 5:18-21). Paul’s letter to the Romans describes the “law of faith” which causes the righteousness of God to miraculously be imparted to men who would then demonstrate the love and power of God in the earth (Rom 3:21-27).
Righteousness is ours in the new birth (Jn. 3:3-8). We become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). This is a legal event that occurred at the beginning of the New Covenant, sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our righteousness through faith in Christ is a past tense reality that every believer needs to understand. Legally, as the righteousness of God, we are sons of God (Rom 8:140-16), heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom 8:17), more than conquerors through Him (Rom. 8:37), masters over Satan and his demons (Lk. 10:19), partakers of the divine nature (2 Pt. 1:4), and made to always triumph in Christ (2 Cor. 2:14). We have clear-cut, legal grounds as new creations to come boldly to the throne room of grace at any time (Heb. 4:16). Righteous-consciousness eliminates sin conscious behavior and attitudes which keep a believer under guilt, feeling unworthy, and inactive (Heb. 10:1-2). We are complete in Christ (Col. 2:10) and can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). All this and more is legally provided the New Creation. Righteousness is our gift from Father (Rom. 5:17).
Just as a gift does the recipient no good if it is not opened and used, so also righteousness is not effective until it is put into effect. Just as knowing truth makes us free (Jn. 8:31-37); ignorance of truth keeps us bound. Fear, caused by ignorance of God’s word, is Satan’s greatest weapon. What we don’t know not only can harm us; it can kill us. Ignorance is no excuse when it comes to the knowledge of God (Lev. 5:17). Believers must understand their “legal” and “active” status “in Christ.” It is time to grow up into the full stature of Christ (Eph. 4:13). The church is full of spiritual babes, many of whom have been on milk of the Word for decades (Heb. 5:12-14).
The natural, physical realm often mirrors the spirit realm. Just as we are in a heightened state of natural war, we are and have been in intensive spiritual warfare for years. Spiritual battles cannot be waged with natural weapons; however, every natural battle and war is won or lost first in the spirit realm. Now is the time for spiritual soldiers to step up to the front lines and take up their spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-6). It is also time for the babes to grow up and volunteer for “basic training” for spiritual warfare. The first course is learning who we are “in Christ,” our New Covenant rights and responsibilities, and the weapons of our warfare. Training in righteousness is mandatory for effective spiritual warfare to be waged.
The practice of righteousness is faith in action through the anointing of the Holy Spirit enabling you to take Jesus’ place in partnership with Holy Spirit here on earth (Jn. 14:12). It is the Word becoming flesh in you and walking in the boldness and assurance of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jn. 1:14; Prov. 28:11; Rev. 5:5). The practice of righteousness is Christ in you living His life through you resulting in spiritual victory which manifests triumph in this natural realm. It is only through the practice of righteousness that the kingdom of God will be made manifest in this present world. Amen.
In order to practice righteousness, we must know what righteousness is, how we become righteous, and how we maintain a righteous lifestyle.
Mention righteousness, and many people think of those who think more highly of themselves than they should (Rom. 12:3). This self-righteous behavior is anti-Christ--the exact opposite of the nature of Christ. It is based upon our own works and accomplishments, comparing our lives with others. Self righteousness is rooted in pride, arrogance, and hatred (satanic characteristics), which have no place in the body of Christ. Unfortunately, self-righteous attitudes keep hurting, desperate people from coming to Christ because of pretentiousness and pride. The Lord describes our self-righteousness as being like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).
Jesus was the most righteous man who ever lived, and He was known to be a friend to sinners. When challenged by the Pharisees for fellowshipping with sinners, Jesus replied that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:12-13). Jesus’ reply was an indictment against these religious leaders and their self-righteous attitudes since they could not see their own sinfulness.
What is righteousness? Righteousness is right-standing with God. It is the means by which we can stand in the Father’s presence without guilt, inferiority, or condemnation. Righteousness cannot be earned or measured through the works of men. Righteousness is a gift of God (Rom 5:17) and comes to us as an edict of God through our faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 5:18-21). Paul’s letter to the Romans describes the “law of faith” which causes the righteousness of God to miraculously be imparted to men who would then demonstrate the love and power of God in the earth (Rom 3:21-27).
Righteousness is ours in the new birth (Jn. 3:3-8). We become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). This is a legal event that occurred at the beginning of the New Covenant, sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our righteousness through faith in Christ is a past tense reality that every believer needs to understand. Legally, as the righteousness of God, we are sons of God (Rom 8:140-16), heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom 8:17), more than conquerors through Him (Rom. 8:37), masters over Satan and his demons (Lk. 10:19), partakers of the divine nature (2 Pt. 1:4), and made to always triumph in Christ (2 Cor. 2:14). We have clear-cut, legal grounds as new creations to come boldly to the throne room of grace at any time (Heb. 4:16). Righteous-consciousness eliminates sin conscious behavior and attitudes which keep a believer under guilt, feeling unworthy, and inactive (Heb. 10:1-2). We are complete in Christ (Col. 2:10) and can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). All this and more is legally provided the New Creation. Righteousness is our gift from Father (Rom. 5:17).
Just as a gift does the recipient no good if it is not opened and used, so also righteousness is not effective until it is put into effect. Just as knowing truth makes us free (Jn. 8:31-37); ignorance of truth keeps us bound. Fear, caused by ignorance of God’s word, is Satan’s greatest weapon. What we don’t know not only can harm us; it can kill us. Ignorance is no excuse when it comes to the knowledge of God (Lev. 5:17). Believers must understand their “legal” and “active” status “in Christ.” It is time to grow up into the full stature of Christ (Eph. 4:13). The church is full of spiritual babes, many of whom have been on milk of the Word for decades (Heb. 5:12-14).
The natural, physical realm often mirrors the spirit realm. Just as we are in a heightened state of natural war, we are and have been in intensive spiritual warfare for years. Spiritual battles cannot be waged with natural weapons; however, every natural battle and war is won or lost first in the spirit realm. Now is the time for spiritual soldiers to step up to the front lines and take up their spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-6). It is also time for the babes to grow up and volunteer for “basic training” for spiritual warfare. The first course is learning who we are “in Christ,” our New Covenant rights and responsibilities, and the weapons of our warfare. Training in righteousness is mandatory for effective spiritual warfare to be waged.
The practice of righteousness is faith in action through the anointing of the Holy Spirit enabling you to take Jesus’ place in partnership with Holy Spirit here on earth (Jn. 14:12). It is the Word becoming flesh in you and walking in the boldness and assurance of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jn. 1:14; Prov. 28:11; Rev. 5:5). The practice of righteousness is Christ in you living His life through you resulting in spiritual victory which manifests triumph in this natural realm. It is only through the practice of righteousness that the kingdom of God will be made manifest in this present world. Amen.