Truth and Righteousness

It's really strange how the traditions and doctrines of Christianity have trained those who are under them, including God's Spirit baptized children, to have a zeal for defending sin. I received a text from a brother in Christ last night telling me that I needed to read Romans 3:10, and that I should read the rest of the chapter as well. So I went to it, and lo and behold, there it was: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Okay, so here we have an old testament quote in a chapter where the apostle Paul is plainly expounding the truth that there was no true deliverance from sin under the old covenant, but that faith in Jesus does indeed deliver the souls of true believers from sin. And this reading assignment that was sent to me was an instruction to let me know that nobody can really get sin altogether out of their life. Huh. I responded to this text by letting this dear brother know that maybe HE should re-read it himself. If he does, he may run across this passage: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. BUT NOW the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Rom. 3:20-22). That "But now" part is what I like, because that means that there is something inherently DIFFERENT between the old and new covenants. That something was graphically stated by the same apostle elsewhere: "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins... For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: HOW MUCH MORE shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 10:4; Heb. 9:14). So the "How much more" part is what the "But now" part was about in Romans 3:21. The blood of Christ, which in fact is his Spirit, does what the old covenant sacrifices [works, deeds] could not do, and that is to TRULY DELIVER the heart and soul of man from the very condition of being in sin. Oh yeah, I know that the Christian defenders of sin will say, "It's HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS brother, not ours." Your kidding me? Really? My friend, OF COURSE it is his righteousness and not ours that we must trust in. But what these defenders of sin are REALLY SAYING is that WE stay in sin, but we're not accountable because we "believe" in Jesus. But the problem with that is, the "believing" that they are speaking of is nothing more than a mystical, empty, self defined "believing." In fact it is not believing at all, but rather it is disbelieving Jesus and disbelieving what he suffered, died, and rose again for.

I think a lot of folks have forgotten that the gospel that Jesus died and rose again for is the gospel of the kingdom of God, or at least that is what John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles preached (Mat. 3:2; Mat, 4:17; Mat. 10:7). And just what is this gospel of the kingdom of God? "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but RIGHTEOUSNESS, and peace, and joy IN THE HOLY GHOST" (Rom. 14:17). Now if there is righteousness in the holy Ghost, we know that it is God's righteousness, and not ours. But what I can't figure out is how are we still separate from this righteousness of God if we have received the holy Ghost? And if we have NOT received the baptism of the Spirit with the inseparable sign of speaking in tongues, then we haven't obeyed God and believed on Jesus according to the scriptures (Jn. 7:38,39; Acts 5:32). Friend, true faith in Jesus results in him baptizing our inner man with his Spirit, or his blood, or living waters; however you prefer to say it. And according to the scriptures this experience is THE experience of faith in Jesus that purifies and washes our hearts clean from sin (Acts 10:44-46; Acts 15:8; I Cor. 6:11). And it is certain that this blessed experience that Jesus came to this world to make a way for us to have, is the same experience that the "But now" part of Rom. 3:21 is talking about, meaning the righteousness of God which is imparted into our hearts by faith in Jesus. And it is this same experience that "justifies" us from our sins, as Romans 3:28 declares, and is also stated in I Corinthians 6:11 which I have referenced above. The Christian defenders of sin are bound and determined that everyone stays a sinner, simply because THEY are staying sinners. But the beloved apostle put a lethal hit on that wicked religious philosophy in one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him PURIFIETH himself, EVEN AS he is pure... Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, EVEN AS he is righteous" (I Jn. 3:2,3,6,7). Now I have to say, I really like the "Even as" part of this passage, that we see twice here. So if we hope to attain unto the resurrection of the dead, we will have to be pure, [even as] Jesus is pure, and we will have to be found in righteousness, [even as] Jesus is righteous. But if the Christian gospel is true, then Jesus has to be a sinner; OR ELSE the scriptures are true and we're going to have to make the grade of true holiness in order to be saved (Mat. 5:8; Mat. 24:12,13; Eph. 4:24; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 20:6). Friend, don't trust in the gospel of sin and allow it to make you a defender of sin, for it stands sure that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). But rather, be reminded of the commandment of God, who has said, "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (I Pet. 1:16). Amen.