righteousness

The Conflict Between the Old and New Natures

In Romans 7 the Apostle Paul writes of the frustration he had as a Christian. He found that this frustration was due to the ongoing conflict between the “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” and its righteous nature within the believer’s spirit (cf. Romans 6-8), and the still ever-present Sin (nature) in the flesh” (Rom 8:3b), which seems to overwhelm the believer’s good and righteous intentions.

God’s Grace Cannot Be Earned

Have you ever noticed that God does not hold the great men of Scripture up to us because of their personal goodness?

 Almost invariably their records are marred by failure and sin, but God would have us to look at their faith, to see… what their faith did for them.

Even those who lived relatively good lives are not held up to us for their personal worth, because God knows their imperfections and failings. Thus Paul has us consider Abraham’s rote to righteousness.

The Rightness Of God

Paul’s great Epistle to the Romans has much to say about “the righteousness of God”; in fact, this is the theme of the Book of Romans. Sad to say, however, the Bible is so little read and studied of late that many people do not even know what the word “righteousness” means.

Actually, every man, woman and child should know about the righteousness of God — or, to simplify the word — the rightness of God. It is most important to understand that God does always and only that which is right. He can do nothing and will do nothing that is not right.

Faith

Faith is one of the most precious treasures any person can possibly possess. It is a shame that so few understand what the Bible teaches about faith.

Faith is often confused with presumption, optimism, determination, superstition and imagination. Actually it is simply believing. This is why we read in Rom. 4:5:

“But to him that worketh not, but (rather) believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

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