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The Lord is your RIGHTEOUSNESS
Adam and Eve's sin created a "hide and seek" relationship with God. That was not the origin plan.
The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch, a King who will reign wisely...This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
The Hebrew word tsedeq is usually translated as "righteousness". But it can also mean "righteous", "honest", "right", "justice", "accurate", "just", "truth", or "integrity". So righteousness is more than being good, is living by God's standard. It is being in right standing with God and living right before God.
According to Romans 5:17-18 righteousness is an incredible gift God has given us. That gift allows us the ability to rule over sin. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
But, the biggest barrier to our living that righteous life is our unrenewed mind. We renew our mind daily by what we put into it. But what do we put into it? Are we renewing our mind positively or negatively? There is substantial evidence that the information we take in to our brains affects the way we live, think, react, and believe. Does the music we listen to encourage us to think, live, react, and believe right things? Do the TV programs we watch promote Godly values.? How about the movies we attend (and pay good money to see)? Does the click of the mouse bring us closer to God, or farther away?
Under the old covenant between God and man, expressed in the Old Testament, we could receive covering of our sin. But under the new covenant, expressed in the life and teaching of Jesus outlined in the New Testament, we are able to be cleansed from our sin. Big difference, don't you think?
Let's close this with 4 things that righteousness restores.
First, it restores our CONFIDENCE with God. I John 4:17 tells us we may have boldness because as God is, we are.
It also restores our FAITH in God. Jesus told us to have faith in God. Look closely at that last sentence. Faith in God. Not, faith for things. Our faith must be in God, who can provide things. Our faith should be in the things God can provide.
Righteousness restores our DOMINION OVER THE EARTH. In the account of creation in Genesis 1 mankind is told to "fill the earth and subdue it". To "have dominion over every living thing". Pastor Dennis Rouse made a tremendous point when he delivered the message this article is based on. He asked how many people have addiction problems. What, commonly, are people addicted to? Alcohol, which is a plant-based liquid. Tobacco, which is a plant. Drugs, many of which are plants or derivatives of plants. But we are supposed to have dominion over these things.
Righteousness also restores our RELATIONSHIP with God. Look at it this way. In the Old Testament system we serve God. Servants receive an income. In the New Testament system we can become children of God. Children receive an inheritance.
Do you have that right relationship with God. If not, or if you have a question about that, click on Free Stuff.
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