Righteousness or Self-Righteousness?

The question today is, are you living in righteousness, or in self righteousness? When Jesus was approached by a man who called him “good master,” he replied, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mat. 19:17). So that clarifies that, I would have to say. The reason that Jesus could say this is because the goodness, or righteousness that he possessed, was not his own; but rather it was altogether of his father. He said it this way in a certain place: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (Jn. 14:10). And again he said it yet another way: “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself” (Jn. 5:26). The divine, holy LIFE that dwelt in Jesus was the same divine, holy life that dwells in the father; and THAT life can be nothing OTHER than good, or righteous. And that divine, holy life is exactly what Jesus came to make a way for us to have dwelling in us: “I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). The divine, holy, eternal life that dwells in the Father and the Son, is the only true righteousness that exists. That life is in fact the holy Spirit of God, and according to John the Baptist, who was sent to introduce Jesus and his mission; that is what Jesus came for, to make a way to impart that holy, divine, eternal life, or Spirit, to us: “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mk. 1:8). And before Jesus left this world, he made certain to confirm that reality to his followers: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:4,5). Yes friend, God’s holy Spirit is the life and the righteousness of God; and having that Spirit is the only way we can be partakers of the righteousness of God (Rom. 8:2,10; Rom. 14:17). Not only so, but being baptized with the Spirit of God, with the accompanying sign of speaking in tongues, is the only way TO have that Spirit (Jn. 16:7; Acts 2:4).

Receiving the Spirit is one thing, but learning how to follow after and walk in the Spirit is quite another. One can lose the capacity of dwelling in the righteousness of God after receiving it, if they are not taught the truth of God that keeps one on that narrow path (I Cor. 3:3; Gal. 5:4,7; Psm. 119:105; Rom. 8:14; I Jn. 2:27). And that is precisely what the “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” of modern Christianity have done to the body of Christ today (I Tim. 4:1). God’s dear people have been deceived by Satan into a perverted old covenant mindset, even as the afore noted Galatians were in Paul’s day. Natural ceremonies and traditions of men geared toward the carnal realm, along with doctrine that justifies the allowance of sin in the lives of believers; have God’s Spirit baptized souls believing a ‘Gospel’ that is more like the old covenant than the new (Gal. 1:6,7; Gal. 4:9,10; Col. 2:16,17,20,21; Rom. 6:1,2). The entire point of receiving the holy Ghost is to be literally washed from sin, and to have the power to STAY THAT WAY! (I Cor. 6:11; Tit. 2:11,12; I Pet. 1:4,5; Mat. 24:12,13) That can only be accomplished by first understanding that sin is NOT acceptable with God, and then honestly and literally purifying one’s heart and soul by the power of the holy Ghost daily, from everything that is unlike the love, and peace, and holiness of God (I Pet. 1:22; I Jn. 3:3). Then and only then can anyone truly live in the righteousness of God, because that simply is the ONLY way for God’s righteousness to dwell in us; and he alone is righteous. But so many feel that they are living righteously before God because of the things that they do NOT do, that are deemed to be unrighteous. Many feel that because they do not smoke or drink, or curse or party; or whatever else, that they are justified before God. Yet they are taught that “we’re all sinners, but we’re saved by grace.” What that kind of teaching does is promote spiritual apathy, and turns souls away from the far different instruction of Jesus and the apostles; who told us, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” And again: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” And once more: “Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot [sin], and blameless” (Lk. 13:24; Philip. 2:12; II Pet. 3:14). And why did they instruct us thusly? “And there shall in no wise enter into it [The Glory World] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). And that saying is true because of this one: “Blessed and HOLY is he that hath part in the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:6). And I think that about covers it. God bless.