RIGHTEOUS BY NATURE – Pastor Chris
Thursday, July 5, 2018
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19).
Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you….” This is because the man or woman who’s born again is born sin-free. On the other hand, the unregenerate man, the person who isn’t born again, is a sinner by nature, and enslaved to sin. He can’t but sin, even when he doesn’t want to, because he has the nature of sin.
However, this isn’t the case with you that are born again. Righteousness, which is the nature of God, was imparted to your spirit at the New Birth. You didn’t ask for it or do anything to become righteous; you’re righteous by nature. God made it so. Your righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, and has nothing to do with your “performance”; it’s a gift from God (Romans 5:17).
Just as there’s nothing you could have done on your own through your own human perfection to become righteous, in Christ, there’s also nothing you can do or not do that’ll take away your righteousness. You’re as righteous today as you could ever be. Better than that, you’re as righteous as Jesus is righteous, considering that He gave you His own righteousness. He substituted His righteousness for your sin-nature when you confessed His Lordship over your life.
You might be forced to ask, “How about when I do something wrong, does it affect my righteousness?” First, your righteousness wasn’t pre-conditioned on your good works. Ephesians 2:9 says, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Think about it this way: A baby doesn’t get more human as he grows. He’s hundred per cent human already. Then, he starts learning how to use all he’s got; his human faculties: his legs, his hands, his eyes, his brain, his mind, etc.
Now, during the process of training and educating that child, if he makes a mistake or does something wrong, that doesn’t mean he’s no longer human. He’s human by nature, not by actions. It’s the same thing with our righteousness. We’re righteous by nature; thus, it’s our “default setting” to produce fruits and works of righteousness. Therefore, learn to live the God-life. Glory to God.
CONFESSION
I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, I can please God every time and in every way, because I live by the faith of the Son of God who gave Himself for me. I’m sin-free, because Christ has given me a new life. I’m alive to God, and live unto righteousness, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 6:11-14; Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 17:16-34 & Job 6-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 2 Corinthians 13:7-14 & Isaiah 25
Leave comments on today’s devotional at www.rhapsodyofrealities.org
