Living a Righteous life by Faith

Living a Righteous life by Faith

Our fullness comes from God’s righteousness

We were made to know God and live a life of faith. The Christian life, with God, is the true life that God created for us. We do not need to work for it, be circumcised, or follow the law to live a life of faith.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” Abundant life is not possible without faith in God and His Son, Christ Jesus.

Faith is weak without knowledge of the Holy, and such knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of truth.

We’ve learned something real: Sin leaves our souls wasted and withered, and life with God makes our souls bloom. The Holy Spirit is illuminated with the love of God, and in turn, He strengthens our faith.

 Individual’s righteousness rests fundamentally by the mercy of God.  

 Not on the Law of Moses. It’s not a matter of keeping the law at all, since we are able to keep it by our own power. We cannot fully line up with God’s holiness.

 We are solely justified by Christ out of the profound goodness of his heart.

         Our standing IS NOT based on what we have done.

         IT IS based on God’s grace given to us.

Positional righteousness – We are Claimed righteousness by Christ

 Practical righteousness – What we become

 Righteousness is moral rightness and acceptability, especially before God. It points to a person's holiness and purity in heart and action.

 Self-righteousness, then, is a righteousness that comes from someone's own goodness and work.

 As Christians, we completely rely on Jesus' righteousness, not our own

 Book of Romans

 HE SPOKE FROM EXPERIENCE FACING HARDSHIPS, AND HAVING A FULL LIFE

 Paul was writing from a Roman prison to the churches of God in Asia.

 He spoke on how mankind had a need for God to be in first place in their heart.

 He also explained the danger we place ourselves in by being alienated from God.

 He explains being Self Righteous VS Appointed Righteous 

 In the Bible, righteousness is fundamentally about being in right standing with God, both in terms of character and conduct.

 It encompasses both God's own perfect righteousness and the righteousness that believers are called to pursue.

Righteousness is not just a legal declaration, but also involves a transformed life empowered by God's grace.

  The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

 Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He was empowered by the gospel.

 Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for the salvation of everyone who believes, of the Jew first and of the Greek as well. 

 Rom 1:17  For in the gospel God's righteousness is being revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The righteous will live by faith." 

 God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

 Rom 1:18 – 32  

 We are all flawed, we Need Christ

God's Righteousness is Required

No one Is Righteous through our own efforts

 The Righteousness of God Comes Through Faith

 THE CHRISTIAN IS LIKE A DIAMOND

The difference between a lump of coal and a perfect diamond is simply that although they are both carbon, and although they are both crystal-like in structure, the lump of coal is dark and dirty, while the perfect diamond lets the light shine through. The diamond is carbon that has been crushed and heated under tremendous temperature and pressure to remove any impurities.

The Christian is called to be diamond like. Unlike rocks and stones, we are living stones, called out of the coal black darkness into a wonderful light.

 We are being processed from lumps of coal into diamonds, and the living of the Christian life means we leave the old life. And that is pressure as we are called to live as strangers to the world.

 Abraham Justified by Faith

 Rom 4:3  For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 

  The Promise Realized Through Faith

 Rom 4:13  For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. 

 Rom 4:19  His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, 

 Rom 4:20  nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, 

 Rom 4:21  being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised. 

 Rom 4:22  This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 

 Peace with God Through Faith

 Rom 5:1  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 

 Rom 5:2  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we have been established, and we boast because of our hope in God's glory. 

 Death in Adam, Life in Christ Through Faith

Rom 5:12  Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death resulted from sin, therefore everyone dies, because everyone has sinned. 

 Rom 5:15  But God's free gift is not like Adam's offense. For if many people died as the result of one man's offense, how much more have God's grace and the free gift given through the kindness of one man, Jesus the Messiah, been showered on many people! 

 Dead to Sin, Alive to God By Faith

Rom 6:1  What should we say, then? Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 

 Rom 6:2  Of course not! How can we who died as far as sin is concerned go on living in it? 

 Rom 6:12  Therefore, do not let sin rule your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. 

 Rom 6:14  For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under Law but under grace. 

 Once Slaves to Sin But now Slaves to Righteousness by Faith

 Rom 6:17  But thank God that, though you were once slaves of sin, you became obedient from your hearts to that form of teaching with which you were entrusted! 

 Rom 6:18  And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. 

 Released from the Law By Faith and a new life in the Spirit

 Rom 7:5  For while we were living according to our human nature, sinful passions were at work in our bodies by means of the Law, to bear fruit resulting in death. 

 Rom 7:6  But now we have been released from the Law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the

Spirit, not under the old writings. 

Life in the Spirit

 Rom 8:6  To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. 

   Heirs with Christ

 Rom 8:14  For all who are led by God's Spirit are God's children. 

Rom 8:15  For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 

Rom 8:17  Now if we are children, we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with the Messiah—if, in fact, we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 God’s Care and comfort  for us in Action

 Rom 8:26  In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, since we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words, 

 Rom 8:27  and the one who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God's will. 

 Rom 8:28  And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good. 

 God’s Plan for us in Action

 Rom 8:29  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

 Rom 8:30  And those whom he predestined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 

Righteousness enables to live triumphantly victorious

 Rom 8:35  Who will separate us from the Messiah's love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this? 

 Rom 8:37  In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. 

 Rom 8:38  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 

 Rom 8:39  nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in union with the Messiah Jesus, our Lord. 

 Israel's Unbelief

 Rom 9:31  But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law. 

 Rom 9:32  Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble. 

 Rom 9:33  As it is written, "Look! I am placing a stone in Zion over which people will stumble—a large rock that will make them fall—and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed." 

 Application : Live Righteous

 Righteousness results in a transformed life

 A righteous person is characterized by moral uprightness, ethical behavior, and a commitment to what is considered right or just.

 This often involves living according to religious or moral principles, demonstrating virtues like honesty, integrity, and compassion, and actively working towards the well-being of others

 A Living Sacrifice

 Rom 12:1  I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship. 

 Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. 

 Marks of the True Christian

 Rom 12:9  Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 

Rom 12:10  Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other. 

Rom 12:11  Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord. 

Rom 12:12  Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer. 

Rom 12:13  Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers. 

Rom 12:14  Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them. 

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying. 

Rom 12:16  Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are. 

Rom 12:17  Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people. 

Rom 12:18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people. 

Rom 12:19  Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord." 

Rom 12:20  But "if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head." 

Rom 12:21  Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. 

 A Chinese proverb emphasizes the interconnectedness of individual morality and inner righteousness can ripple outwards to create a more harmonious and peaceful life

 "If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.”