1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Good morning dear readers; today I want to focus for a few minutes on the word righteousness. Now I know that most would roll their eyes and say here comes the self-righteous. Well friends let me begin by giving the definition of righteousness as I want to discuss the application I hope to convince you of today:
RIGHTEOUSNESS, n. ri'chusness.-- The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled. Websters 1828 Dictionary.
Now friends the Pastor and I have been talking about today's view of Christendom, and how there is a lack of reverence and fear unto God. We see people in the church house acting like the world, we see people not leaving the cares of this world when they enter in and worship God. There are those that complain how rough life is, and how they get nothing out of church anymore. Well friends let me encourage you to awake to righteousness as it is defined above, we know that in and of ourselves we are not righteous, that we are no more than filthy rags, sinners saved by Grace. Now I believe that if it weren't possible for us to live in righteousness then God would never allowed it to be put into His Holy Word for our edification! You see the preacher and I have tried to make a statement about how we as Christians act today, in Christendom we see people trying to bring God down to our level, instead of us trying to live a Holy consecrated life and bring ourselves to Him! Now this has nothing to do with salvation, what I am trying to explain here is the truthful fact that after you are saved you are to try to honor God by all that you do, spiritually, mentally, and physically. We are to awake to righteousness, that is simply put, obedience to Christ! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins, and if He died for them and buried them in the depths of the sea then why should we continue to live in them, turn to righteousness and live a separated life consecrated to Christ for His honor and His glory as an example of what He has done for you in your life to others. I have had people try and tell me that there is no way for us to be righteous, well that just depends on how we look at righteousness. As I stated earlier without Christ there is no righteousness, however with Christ as my righteousness, then when I do the things that He has commanded and I obey the leading of the Holy Spirit then I am trying to live righteously, not for myself that I am better than anyone, but for the honor and glory of God! Too many people today have forgot the command of God "Be ye Holy, for I am Holy!" they instead have lessened themselves to some type of creature that cannot do anything right until they are physically present with God in heaven. They just go on living their lives without ever trying to separate themselves from the things of this world, and then complain about why God is not active in their lives. Now I would like to think again that if God gave us the command to be Holy that then through Christ, that is Christlike thoughts, Christlike actions we can attempt to live righteously in the sight of God. Friends will we always make the right decision, will we always have those righteous thoughts and actions, unfortunately no, however we have Christ the author and finisher of our faith that can and will lead us and guide us as we are submitted to His will to accomplish these things. Again dear friends the cry goes out to awake to righteousness, and make a decision today to live a life acceptable unto God not trying to be menpleasers, but attempting to live a life for God that would encourage others to do the same. The last part of the verse says "for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." That is because we don't take the time to read our Bibles and separate ourselves from the things of this world, therefore we are failing to let others know about righteous living and a Holy God, and that my friends is a shame for you and I. I hope and pray that this will encourage you today to understand what righteous living is about, and then decide to live for God more wholly.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Awake to righteousness, and sin not
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