In this sermon, we are going to answer the FAQ, what does the bible say about our righteousness.
And without much ado, let’s get into.
What the Bible says about our righteousness.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:30, the bible says that our righteousness is in Christ Jesus.
But for Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
(1 Corinthians 1:30).
Now let’s look at how we have Christ as our righteousness.
How we have Christ as our righteousness.
Now since Christ, Who died to pay the ultimate price that redeemed us from our sins; is not here with us physically, the only way we can have Him as our righteousness is through the Holy Spirit; who is the helper, comforter or paraclete He promised us:
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, “even the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, for He dwells in you and will be in you.
(John 14:15-16)
How the Holy Spirit dwells in a believer.
And to understand how this Holy Spirit will dwell in and be in the believer; let us be reminded of the work or duty of our conscience or mind; which helps us to either be convicted or justified about our respective actions.
Thus, the Holy Spirit will dwell in the conscience or minds of the believers and therein keeps them in constant reminder of Gods law and commandments.
And in so doing helps them to obey as well as obstruct them from breaking those laws and commandments.
All these happen according to God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:27:
“I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them.
How the Holy Spirit helps us to obey God’s commandments
For instance, if someone wants to fall into an occasion of sin, it is the conscience within that individual, where the Holy Spirit he receives from Christ dwells; that will start to tell him or her the implications of what he or she is about to do. And that way enable that individual refrain from disobeying God.
At this point, it is worthy to note that, anybody that doesn’t have the Holy Spirit will not consider whatever sinful action he or she embarks upon. And also feel no remorse whenever he or she transgresses.
Such individual will always have a reason to give for doing what he or she does, and when it backfires, will blame it on his father: the devil.
But a true child of God that has the Spirit of God; (as explained earlier) is always conscientious, and so avoids any occasion of disobeying God.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence towards God.
1 John 3:19-2
Secondly, since we are bound to forget, i.e. there are times we will unconsciously, unknowingly, and not on purpose; fall into the occasion of sin.
But when we do, it is the same conscience – where the Holy Spirit dwells – that will afterwards point out the wrongs we have done. And that way help us go back to God and ask for forgiveness.
This example can be seen in the case of Peter, (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62); whom Jesus foretold about his denial of Him.
But when Peter was about to err, he forgot what Jesus said; until he was reminded by the cock that crew. And this symbolizes the same way the Holy Spirit will later remind us of the sins we commit; because we forgot.
This then will help us go back to God and be reconciled as Peter did.
In Acts 21:17-29, we see how Paul was instructed by the disciples to go to the temple and perform the sacrifice of purification. Something he used to preach against because, Jesus had already done the proper sacrifice.
But Paul forgot and the scripture helps us to understand in chapter 27 that just when the seven days were about to come to an end, some Jews form the province of Asia saw Paul n the temple and steered up the crowd to arrest him. And that way he was prevented by the Holy Spirit from sinning.
Conclusion.
So therefore, anyone that claims to have Christ, as his or her righteousness; must always examine his or her actions to truly confirm that.
And if such a person finds out that he is constantly, and purposely breaking the laws of Christ; he must there and then know that he is disqualified:
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified.
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
