Jesus Is…, 57

~ Jesus Christ Is Our Righteousness ~

Passage  ~  “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

Significance  ~  Those who are Christians are seen by God as covered with His Son’s righteousness.  When God the Father looks at a believer He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ totally enveloping His child.  The critical aspect of this to know, remember, and praise God for is that the Christian did nothing to earn his or her position in the family of God.  All other religions in the world have a significant aspect of earning salvation through doing some things.  In contrast Christianity tells the truth that man cannot earn anything with God, but the Good News is that Christ has paid all the penalty and salvation is done—accomplished!  The only requirement is to accept the free gift which God offers you!

Comment  ~  It may be helpful to compare two theological terms.

JUSTICE – The attribute of God that reveals His hatred of sin. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS – The attribute of God that reveals His love of holiness.

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Salvation, 14

~ Negatives Lost Through Salvation ~

Salvation is not a Reward for the Righteous.

It is an available Gift for those who understand their Guilt!

There are a number of negatives which we escape from through salvation.  “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Hebrews 2:2-3).

The Curse Of A Broken Law  ~  “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

The Consequences Of Sin  ~  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

The Wrath To Come  ~  “Wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).   

The Guilt Of Sin  ~  “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.  For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:19-26). 

The Dominion Of Sin  ~  “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.  For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans 6:16-19).  

The Love Of Sin  ~  Jesus said, “He who believes in Jesus is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:18-21).

The Power Of Darkness  ~  “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Learn From Gideon, 50

~ Gideon Left a Legacy ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we are discovering practical lessons for living the Christian life today.

Scripture  ~  “But there’ll be no darkness for those who were in trouble.  Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he’ll make that whole area glorious—the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—light!  Sunbursts of light!  You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy.  Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!  Festival joy!  The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.  The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—all their whips and cudgels and curses—is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.  The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days!  For a child has been born—for us!  The gift of a son—for us!  He’ll take over the running of the world.  His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.  His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.  He’ll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom.  He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going with fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always.  The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this (Isaiah 9:1-7, The Message).

Learn From Gideon  ~   Long after Gideon was gone from this life he was remembered, in fact he is remembered today such as in this series of 52 posts. 

1. As a teenager I heard a saying which I have never forgotten: “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” 
2. Many are familiar with the concept of not letting the urgent drive out the important.
3. The Christian martyr Jim Elliot is known for his many pearls of wisdom recorded in his personal journal.  The best known is: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.”  
4. Jesus spoke to this: “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works’” (Matthew 16:24-27).

Challenge For Us  ~  If you would die today, what lasting legacy would you leave behind?

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .