TEXT:For he hath made him to be sin for us, who
knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (Second
Corinthians 5:21)
TOPIC: Your righteousness
INTRODUCTION:The
wicked worketh a deceitful work:
but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. (Proverbs 11:18) There are two kinds of righteousness. There is
your righteousness, and there is God’s righteousness. The term in general means
having the attributes or characteristics of right living.
One person’s concept of right living or living the right way may be entirely different from
another person’s belief of right living or righteousness. Believe it or not
some people or individuals may believe
that it is right to speak their minds regardless how other people may feel.
Some people may feel they it’s okay to use what means necessary to get ahead in
life regardless who may get hurt in the process.
Perhaps some may believe that they may choose or pick whatever
law they want to obey or disobey without regard to consequences. There are
plenty examples of man’s idea of righteousness or more accurately
self-righteousness. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the
end thereof the ways of death.
(Proverbs 14:12)
POINT
ONE: What is God’s righteousness?
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be
any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these thing. (Philippians 4:8)
What is God’s right way of
living? According to God’s right way of living you should think, do and be those things that are from
above, that are imparted from the very nature of God—truth, honor, justice, purity, love, and
goodness. The attributes of our God should also be reflected in us as children
of God. He is always right in all His ways. He is the epitome of righteousness.
His name, His banner
over us is, “the Lord is our righteousness,” which brings great power and
safety: “In those days Judah will be saved and
Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be
called: the LORD is our righteousness.'” (Jeremiah 33:16)
If we are in Him and if He is in us we are living out His
very righteousness because we were created in His image to be holy and
righteous. We too, as His people, will be called “the Lord is our
righteousness.
POINT
TWO: Who needs righteousness? Jesus gives us a clear picture of what righteousness looks
like in Matthew 5:1-12 and one may examine him or herself to see if they are a
living example of godly righteousness.
This
passage of scripture reads: 1 Now
when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His
disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
4 Blessed are those
who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the
earth. 6 Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled. 7 Blessed
are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
God. 9 Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Do you
possess the righteousness of God? Now there is no condemnation to those who are
in Christ.
POINT
THREE: Where does righteousness come
from?
John 1:1-12
says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. He
was with God in the beginning.
Through
him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the
light of all mankind. The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There
was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to
testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only
as a witness to the light.
The
true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world
was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
He
came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those
who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world. (Titus 2:11-12)
But Jesus took our sin and unrighteousness on Himself, so
that in Him we can be made clean: “For our sake he (God) made him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (Second Corinthians 5:21)
POINT FOUR: How
do we receive righteousness?
With my whole heart have I sought thee:
O let me not wander from thy commandments. (Psalm 119:10) There is
great reward in pursuing His righteousness: “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life,
prosperity and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)
First John 1:5-8 says,This is the
message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in
him there is no darkness at all. If
we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie
and do not live out the truth.
But if
we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If
we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in
us. If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. If
we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his
word is not in us.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, Now, “Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is
the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
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Pastor R. McPherson
