Righteousness can come from God or from our own soul. The
difference is that self-righteousness is birthed from pride and Godly
righteousness comes from humility and surrender to God. If we attempt to gain
God’s favor by performing holy actions, we fail. All of our human righteousness
is like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). We can do nothing to earn God’s
favor or to work our way into heaven. Nothing less than complete surrender to
God will do.
We receive God’s righteousness in exchange for our
sinfulness, at the moment we repent of our sins and look to Jesus as the author
and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:3). It is a gift, not something we
earn (Romans 3:23). The righteous works of a Believer are simply the
evidence of our faith (James 2:14-26), not an attempt to earn God’s
acceptance. We only perform the works, which God intended for us to do before
we were even born (Ephesians 2:10).
When the Holy Spirit governs our behavior, our works endure
and we receive rewards for them on judgment day. When our human flesh directs
our works, they are wasted energy and simply burned up on the day of judgment (1
Corinthians 3:15). Although we are still saved, we do not receive rewards for
these works, because they are not done in obedience, but by the flesh, which is
enmity against God (Romans 8:7).
God created each of us for a purpose, and only these works
will survive the test of God’s consuming fire (Ephesians 2:10). When we
abide in Christ, we dwell continually in His presence. The Holy Spirit gives us
the character, nature and perspective of Jesus, which replaces our carnal
persona (2 Corinthians 3:18). God does not give us a list of
rules to adhere to, which is the law. But He gives us a whole new way of life
in Christ as co-heirs and children of the King.
Prayer:
Father God, You call us to live IN Christ, not FOR Christ.
You want Christ to live through us, so that we will accomplish Your will in the
earth and bring forth the fulfillment of Your Kingdom. Create a new heart and
renew a right spirit in us (Psalm 51:10). We acknowledge Your holiness and
stand in awe of You in Your presence (Isaiah 29:23). You
formed and made us from the dust of the earth, and we are created for Your
glory, not our own (Isaiah 43:7).
Thought for the Day:
God chose us in Christ, holy and blameless in His sight,
before the earth was ever formed. – Ephesians 1:4