JOURNAL=2-27-15=RIGHTEOUSNESS

JOURNAL=2-27-15=RIGHTEOUSNESS




“I TELL YOU-unless your RIGHTEOUSNESS SURPASSES that of the scribes and Pharisees-you will NOT enter into the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:20


ARE YOU RIGHTEOUS? Or are you self-righteous-the TRUTH is-IF we are truly GOOD people-we are probably a little bit of BOTH-for there is ONLY ONE that is 100 per cent RIGHTEOUS and that is God-in the person of Jesus Christ


The best synonym for the word righteous is PROBABLY VIRTUOUS-so how virtuous of a person are you?-Jesus calls us to be MORE VIRTUOUS than the scribes and Pharisees who base their reputation on a legal observance of religious rules and laws


IF we are really righteous-IF we are really virtuous-IF we are really moral people-we are measuring ourselves by the amount of LOVE we have for all people-for we know IF we obey religious laws-but FAIL TO LOVE-we have failed miserably


For as Jesus taught-and PROVED through his life-that the ONLY true measuring stick IS:
HOW MUCH WE LOVE


Dear Lord-we PRAY-that you HELP US to cultivate a TRULY authentic and VIRTUOUS LIFE through LOVE


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day for living a truly authentic and righteous life through LOVE






RIGHTEOUSNESS








RIGHTEOUSNESS is defined
As the state of being perfect
Of being without sin


Which makes self-righteousness
The exact opposite
Of righteousness
For NONE of us are perfect


And if
We think we are
We are deluding ourselves


For righteousness
Is an attribute of God
And as far as I know
There is only one person
To have lived
WITH GOD-like qualities-Jesus Christ


“Oh righteous God
Who searches minds and hearts


Bring to an end
The violence of the wicked
And make the RIGHTEOUS secure” Psalm 7:9


Lord we defer to you
HELP us to be
As righteous
As a human being
Can be
But NEVER self-righteous


RIGHTEOUS in your word
Righteous only in
The Word of God


And we know
That we can never attain righteousness
From God by our actions
ONLY BY OUR FAITH


Abraham was JUSTIFIED
By his faith


“If in fact
Abraham was justified by his works
He had something
To boast about-but NOT before God


What does the Scripture say?


Abraham believed God
And it was credited to him
As RIGHTEOUSNESS” Romans 4:2 &3


RIGHTEOUSNESS from GOD
NOT from himself
ONLY by faith
Not by keeping laws


“So we too
Have put our faith in Christ Jesus
That we may be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
In Christ
And not by observing the law
Because by observing the law
NO ONE will be justified” Galatians 2:16


RIGHTEOUSNESS-justification
ONLY by FAITH in God
NOT by actions or keeping laws


And we KNOW
That the GOAL of Christian life
IS RIGHTEOUSNESS


“But seek first
HIS kingdom and his righteousness
And ALL these things
Will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33


So WHEN we are
In discussions or arguments
With others
DON’T be overly concerned
In proving yourself right


Even
IF the whole world says
You are wrong


If your heart
Is in the RIGHT place
God will take your side
And prove you right


“He himself
Bore our sins
In his body on the tree
So that we might die to sins
And LIVE for righteousness
By his wounds-you have been HEALED” 1 Peter 2:24


Robert P. Wallman
4-30-13






Ps misc. WITNESS 3-19-14
2-27-15