The Righteousness of God

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Episkopos

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When Jesus cried out "it is finished"...

Righteousness was perfected
Holiness was incarnated
Redemption was paid
Sins were forgiven
Sins were overcome
Reconciliation was achieved
Death was conquered and
Salvation was secured

Now all we have to do is strive to enter into Christ that we might be partakers of all these things IN Him.
 
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charity

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Hello @Episkopos,

You have put me on 'ignore' so you won't receive this, but I praise God that His work is indeed 'Finished'.

There is no 'striving' on our part required, only the necessity to believe what God has said, and rejoice in it.

In Christ Jesus
our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris
 

Episkopos

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Hello @Episkopos,

You have put me on 'ignore' so you won't receive this, but I praise God that His work is indeed 'Finished'.

There is no 'striving' on our part required, only the necessity to believe what God has said, and rejoice in it.

In Christ Jesus
our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris
Phil. 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
 
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charity

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{hil. 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Hello @Episkopos,

Thank you for responding to me.

You have quoted from Philippians 1:27, and Luke 13:24 to prove the necessity for striving on our part, and I have no problem with either, for in Philippians 1:27 we are told to 'strive together' (though what for?) - 'for the faith of the gospel'. In Luke 13:24, the word is given to, 'enter in at the strait gate': but surely, having come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord we have already entered in?

Forgive me if I have mistaken your meaning in reply #161: but if God has placed us, 'in Christ', as we are told in 1 Corinthians 1:30, then all that is required is that we believe that; and appropriate all that is ours in Christ by faith. That does require that we actively believe God and walk by faith and not by sight though I agree: and that requires a striving, like Paul, in seeking to apprehend that for which he have been apprehended by Christ Jesus, as you have yourself said.

Within the love of Christ our Saviour,
Chris
 

Episkopos

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Hello @Episkopos,

Thank you for responding to me.

You have quoted from Philippians 1:27, and Luke 13:24 to prove the necessity for striving on our part, and I have no problem with either, for in Philippians 1:27 we are told to 'strive together' (though what for?) - 'for the faith of the gospel'. In Luke 13:24, the word is given to, 'enter in at the strait gate': but surely, having come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord we have already entered in?

Forgive me if I have mistaken your meaning in #161: but if God has placed us, 'in Christ', as we are told in 1 Corinthians 1:30, then all that is required is that we believe that; and appropriate all that is ours in Christ by faith. That does require that we actively believe God and walk by faith and not by sight though I agree: and that requires a striving, like Paul, in seeking to apprehend that for which he have been apprehended by Christ Jesus, as you have yourself said.

In Christ Jesus
Chris


Since there is no unity in the body...we are not yet striving together for the same level of faith that we read about in the bible. We have settled for much less....a religious facsimile of the church.

And to enter into Zion in Christ is a revival. It means walking as Jesus walked with signs and wonders. Is that what you are seeing?
 

Hidden In Him

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There is no 'striving' on our part required, only the necessity to believe what God has said, and rejoice in it.

In Christ Jesus
our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris

Hey Charity! Hope you are having a blessed day : )

I gotta log off here in a sec, but just to chime in here: I think the message of there not needing to be any striving on our part can be helpful to those who have been deeply rejected in their lives, knowing that they are accepted by God even if they are inadequate or fall short. But ultimately I fully agree with Episkopos here. We are to strive to enter in through the straight gate, and that requires walking a straight and narrow path. It takes effort on our part, especially when so many are leading people down the broad paths that do not lead to life.
 
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charity

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Since there is no unity in the body...we are not yet striving together for the same level of faith that we read about in the bible. We have settled for much less....a religious facsimile of the church.

And to enter into Zion in Christ is a revival. It means walking as Jesus walked with signs and wonders. Is that what you are seeing?

Hello @Episkopos,

Thankfully we have what is written in Ephesians 4:13-16 to comfort us in that regard, don't we?

'Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
.. and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
.... unto a perfect man,
...... unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children,
.. tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
.... by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love,
.. may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
.... From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
...... according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
........ maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

(Ephesians 4:13-16)

* The Church which is the Body of Christ, as a corporate entity, is a work in progress, isn't it? That is why we are told, in this same chapter, to - 'forebear one another in love':-

'I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'

(Ephesians 4:1)

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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charity

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Since there is no unity in the body...we are not yet striving together for the same level of faith that we read about in the bible. We have settled for much less....a religious facsimile of the church.

And to enter into Zion in Christ is a revival. It means walking as Jesus walked with signs and wonders. Is that what you are seeing?

Hi @Episkopos,

In regard to your last sentence (highlighted). Would you please explain what you mean by the words, 'and to enter into Zion in Christ'. What Scriptures are you basing these words on, for me to read and understand your reasoning?

Also, why do you believe that 'walking as Jesus walked' will be evidenced by the presence of 'signs and wonders'?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

stunnedbygrace

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In regard to your last sentence (highlighted). Would you please explain what you mean by the words, 'and to enter into Zion in Christ'. What Scriptures are you basing these words on, for me to read and understand your reasoning?

Ah, I can think of some passages in Hebrews! It says we have not come to a physical mountain as Israel did, with darkness and fire and gloom, where the command to not touch it made the people shrink back in fear. Instead we have come to mount zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly jerusalem, the temple not made with human hands and we can boldly enter the most holy place because Jesus gave us a life giving way through the curtain and we can go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts, completely trusting Him.
 
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charity

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Hey Charity! Hope you are having a blessed day : )

I gotta log off here in a sec, but just to chime in here: I think the message of there not needing to be any striving on our part can be helpful to those who have been deeply rejected in their lives, knowing that they are accepted by God even if they are inadequate or fall short. But ultimately I fully agree with Episkopos here. We are to strive to enter in through the straight gate, and that requires walking a straight and narrow path. It takes effort on our part, especially when so many are leading people down the broad paths that do not lead to life.

Thank you @Hidden In Him,

I am having a blessed day, for I am thinking on God's Word, and that always brings blessing, doesn't it? :)

I agree that we are to 'walk in newness of life', as those who have been saved by God's grace, 'walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit'; 'by faith and not by sight' and, 'walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called'. 'In love', and 'as children of light.' However, I do not believe we are seeking to enter in to 'the strait gate' of Matthew 7:13-14, for we have already entered in by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

charity

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Ah, I can think of some passages in Hebrews! It says we have not come to a physical mountain as Israel did, with darkness and fire and gloom, where the command to not touch it made the people shrink back in fear. Instead we have come to mount zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly jerusalem, the temple not made with human hands and we can boldly enter the most holy place because Jesus gave us a life giving way through the curtain and we can go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts, completely trusting Him.
'But ye are come unto mount Sion,
.. and unto the city of the living God,
.... the heavenly Jerusalem,
...... and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
.. which are written in heaven,
.... and to God the Judge of all,
...... and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant,
.. and to the blood of sprinkling,
.... that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

(Hebrews 12:22-24)

Hello @stunnedbygrace

Thank you for that passage of Scripture. :)

That is the hope that you share with Episkopos, yes? That is not my hope, @stunnedbygrace, for I am a member of the Church which is the Body of Christ.

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

stunnedbygrace

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Also, why do you believe that 'walking as Jesus walked' will be evidenced by the presence of 'signs and wonders'?

How is one to even understand what you are asking...? There is overwhelming precedence and a great cloud of witnesses that show us what happens when a man walks by faith in God. The question would be: why would you assume there wouldn't be signs and wonders...?
 

charity

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Chris:
Also, why do you believe that 'walking as Jesus walked' will be evidenced by the presence of 'signs and wonders'?
@Stunned by grace
How is one to even understand what you are asking...? There is overwhelming precedence and a great cloud of witnesses that show us what happens when a man walks by faith in God. The question would be: why would you assume there wouldn't be signs and wonders...?
----------------------------------

Hello @stunned by grace,

I simply want to know the Scriptures that led @Episkopos to believe that our 'walk' would be accompanied by 'signs and wonders', as spoken of by Episkopos in reply #165.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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stunnedbygrace

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Hello @stunned by grace,

I simply want to know the Scriptures that led @Episkopos to believe that our 'walk' would be accompanied by 'signs and wonders', as spoken of by Episkopos in reply #165.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

Well, for one, and He couldn't do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
 

Hidden In Him

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However, I do not believe we are seeking to enter in to 'the strait gate' of Matthew 7:13-14, for we have already entered in by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, He is the Way (the Truth, and the Life). But that way is straight and narrow. For some that means that they should only believe on Him alone. To me, it is a reference to entering into Him who is the way, and to walk as He walked. Not that we must walk in perfection hence forth without fail, but that our lives should become characterized by walking in Him, and to do so is to walk the straight and narrow path.

Anyway, I don't want intrude too far into a conversation you were already having with someone else, however, so I'll just leave it at that.

Glad to hear you are having a good day/evening : )
Blessings in Christ!
 
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VictoryinJesus

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This is a very misunderstood topic. The righteousness of God has been lowered into something far less than miraculous and divine in our time. But let's give ourselves a chance to get things right.

I would like to begin by listing a few examples of the righteousness of God in action...from the bible.(I hope others will contribute as well)

The righteousness of God is a higher form of righteousness to the righteousness of men. They are related...but one is weak and the other is strong. One is temporal and the other is eternal.

the righteousness of man and the righteousness of God are clearly shown in:
Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The righteousness of man “loves them which love you” ...as the publicans do the same. The righteousness of man “salutes your brethren only” ...doing no more than others. As the publicans do also.

But then there is the righteousness of God: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

The righteousness of man is that sown in stony ground ...written on tables of stone which “loves them which love you” and “salutes your brethren only” and when persecution and affliction arises(the time of temptation) for the Sake of God’s Righteousness ”Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” ...immediately man’s righteousness of loving those who love you and saluting the brethren only ... is immediately offended at love your enemies and those who curse you.

Mark 4:16-17 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; [17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

The great falling away being the revealing of man’s righteousness “so endures for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended” ...
Luke 8:13-14 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. [14] And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

”...bring forth no fruit to perfection.” (Be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.) Mark 4:8-9 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. [9] And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
 

charity

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Well, for one, and He couldn't do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
'And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.'
(Matthew 13:58)

Hello @stunnedbygrace,

Thank you, yes, even one who has the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and is saved by grace, can give lip service to the Word of God and yet fail to enter into it's teaching because of a basic unbelief. When told so, the one so described is horrified to think that this could be so, but their very actions betray them.

I remember going to visit a sister in Christ in her 90's with my sister, and my sister confessed to having difficulty with a certain portion of Scripture, and was horrified to hear her say, 'the problem is, you don't believe God'. Greatly disturbed by this, my sister answered, 'Oh, but I do!': and all the way home in the car sought to justify herself on this matter.

Yet a little while later she told me that the Lord had revealed to her that the lady was right, that where that portion of Scripture was concerned she did not believe Him, and she was brought into the truth of it with joy. Godly sorrow worked in her and brought her to the truth. Which reminds me of 2 Corinthiians 7:9-10.

'Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance:
.. for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
.. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,
.... what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation,
...... yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!
........In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.'

(2 Corinthians 7:9-10)

* Yet this does not tell me that 'signs and wonders' should accompany the 'walk' of the believer (reply #615), only growth in grace and truth and in the knowledge of Him.

Thank you.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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charity

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When Jesus cried out "it is finished"...

Righteousness was perfected
Holiness was incarnated
Redemption was paid
Sins were forgiven
Sins were overcome
Reconciliation was achieved
Death was conquered and
Salvation was secured

Now all we have to do is strive to enter into Christ that we might be partakers of all these things IN Him.
'And straightway the father of the child cried out,
and said with tears,
"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

(Mark 9:24)

Hello just one more time, @Episkopos, o_O

The believer has all of these wonderful blessings already, for as you have said, the work of God in Christ is 'Finished'. The believer has them all, though he may not be living in the joy of them because of ignorance perhaps, or maybe through a lack of understanding or unbelief (though saved). They do not have to be striven for, because they are already ours, 'in Christ', they simply have to be believed in and rejoiced in.

Praise God!

Thank you.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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