"Just and Righteous" Part 7 Righteousness - A Biblical Illustration

"Just and Righteous"

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Righteousness - A Biblical Illustration

     The Apostle Paul's letter to Philemon provides ones of the most profound New Testament illuminations regarding the dynamic process whereby God's righteousness resident in the heart of believers becomes His righteousness revealed in our hands and feet.

    "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philemon 1:1-3).

    Philemon was a friend of Paul, and a convert won to Christ through the Apostle's ministry (Philemon 1:19).  Paul writes the epistle to his brother on behalf of Onesimus, an escaped slave owned by Philemon.  Onesimus was captured and met the Apostle in prison.  The fugitive came to faith in the Lord Jesus, and would upon release return to his owner Philemon.  Paul thus writes to plead for Philemon to bestow a gracious welcome upon Onesimus - "Receive him as myself" - and to ask that the escaped slave might be viewed by his owner as an esteemed saint - "Thou shouldest receive him forever; not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (Philemon 1:15-16).  Paul seeks grace for Onesimus.  Strikingly, he makes his request based on the grace that resides in Philemon:

    "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:4-6).

    Carefully note the dynamic enabling whereby Paul encourages and challenges Philemon to act in the righteous love of Christ - "the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus."  First, the Apostle affirms the Lord's presence in Philemon.  Then he reminds his friend of the Savior's "every good thing", namely, His nature and character traits.  Finally, Paul calls Philemon to consider himself as the dwellingplace of Christ and His traits - "in you in Christ Jesus" (Romans 9:23).  Thereby, Philemon's faith will become effectual in the outworking of God's will regarding Onesimus.  The reality of Christ's righteousness in Philemon will be realized as he reckons the Truth to be true not only about Christ, but about himself in Christ.  This correlates with the oft-stated New Testament call to think rightly about the Lord Jesus, and rightly about ourselves.  "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11).

    We must think Biblically about the Lord Jesus, and about ourselves as united with Him.  True faith involves what He does in us, and what we do through Him.  Had Paul merely counseled Philemon regarding the good things in Christ, our brother of old would have been left helpless and hapless regarding obedience to God and love for Onesimus.  Philemon had to see himself as the repository of Christ's good things, in this case, of the merciful love that enabled him to receive Onesimus as an esteemed brother rather than escaped slave.  It was not enough to know that God loved Onesimus.  Philemon had to know that through Christ, he could love Onesimus.  He had to know righteousness resident in himself - "Christ in you, the hope of glory" - in order to know righteousness revealed by himself - "we shall live with Him by the power of God" (Colossians 1:27; II Corinthians 13:4).  This is true and living Christianity, involving both a righteous Redeemer and a righteous receptacle.  The former supplies the presence, the life, and and the enabling.  The latter responds in faith and expectant submission, again, accounting and affirming "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

"Without Me, ye can do nothing."

(John 15:5)

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

(Philippians 4:13)

Next - Righteousness in Christ - a personal illustration

Weekly Memory Verse    

   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

(Romans 12:19)

    

   

    

   

"Just and Righteous" Part 6 Realize. Reckon. Respond To Reality!

"Just and Righteous"

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Realize.  Reckon. Respond To Reality!

     The Christian life involves not only the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is just and righteous, but that those who believe are justified and made righteous through Him.  We discover such blessed truth frequently affirmed in the New Testament epistles, particularly in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans.

    "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

    "It was imputed to him (Abraham) for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:22-25).

    "For in that He died, He died unto sin once.  But in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:10-11).

    When we trusted in the Lord Jesus, God reconstituted us as just and righteous by uniting us with the Spirit of His Son to the degree that we are alive unto Him.  This is fact.  It is fact we must "reckon" or account as true, however, if our experience and practice is to result.  That is, we must accept, believe, and affirm the truth of who we are in Christ, and who He is in us.  Some Christians believe that little more occurred in our new birth than forgiveness of sins and the assurance of eternal life.  They fail to decisively grasp the ongoing New Testament proclamation of newness in the innermost sanctum of our being.

    "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.  Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17).

    "Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).

    "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).

    "Ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:11).

    The list could go on regarding the inner transformation that occurs when the justifying Spirit of Christ enters our spirits.  We receive far more than fire insurance when we believe.  We receive newness of life, being, and identity.   However, we also retain the humanity inherited from Adam, referred to Biblically as "the flesh".  This earthly aspect of our being remains susceptible to devilish and worldly temptations - "the flesh lusteth against the spirit" (Galatians 5:17).  Thus, we can still live as if we are the same person we were before the Lord Jesus justified and enlivened us.  Through ignorance and unbelief, we may forget or even choose to disbelieve that we "delight in the law of God after the inward man" (Romans 7:22).  We may seem much more alive to the world than to God, and thus walk after the flesh despite the truth that we "live in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).  Thus, we must realize, reckon, and respond to reality, or as the Lord Jesus commanded, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

    Are we who our Heavenly Father declares us to be in His Son?  Do we believe?  Again, do we realize, reckon, and respond to reality?  Too much was sacrificed for the sons and daughters of God in Christ to ignore or disbelieve the glorious life that sprang forth from the death of Calvary and the newness of the empty tomb.  If we have trusted in Christ, we are not who we used to be in the most important part of our being.  Therein, we are just and righteous through the living presence of the just and righteous One - "as He is, so are we in the world" (I John 4:17).  This we must believe, first because it is true, and then because we will only think, speak, act, and relate accordingly if we choose to live in the reality of Christ's freely given righteousness.  Indeed, do we realize?  Do we reckon?  Do we respond?  How we answer these questions in the light of God's Word will go far in determining whether we consistently fulfill the Apostle's mandate…

"Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light." 

(Ephesians 5:8)

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

(Philippians 1:9-11)

Next - Righteousness in Christ, a New Testament illustration

Weekly Memory Verse    

   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

(Romans 12:19)

    

   

    

“Just and Righteous” Part 5 Being and Bearing Righteousness

"Just and Righteous"

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Being and Bearing Righteousness

     The fact of Christ's justifying work in born again believers makes possible the bearing of corresponding spiritual fruit.  Being in Christ, however, does not inevitably lead to the consistent fruit bearing we would expect in those indwelt by the Spirit of the righteous Lord Jesus.  

    The Apostle Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians vividly illustrates the truth that potential does not always lead to fruition.  As the letter begins, Paul unequivocally affirms the Corinthians' faith and salvation.  As it continues, however, the Apostle just as unequivocally indicts the Corinthians for failure to live in accordance with the Spirit and truth of the Lord Jesus.

    "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Corinthians 1:4-9).

    "Ye are yet carnal… and walk as men" (I Corinthians 3:3).

    Paul's introductory affirmation of the Corinthians might cause us to think that the Apostle's audience flourished as a fruitful bough of the Tree of righteousness.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The Corinthian church was so steeped in carnal division, distraction, and deception that after the passage above, we becomes witnesses to a spiritual train wreck.  The very ones who were "in everything enriched by Him" were enraged by each other.  Those who were said to "come behind in no gift" so lacked spiritual maturity that they came far behind in reflecting the character of the Giver.  Believers who would be "confirmed to the end" were nevertheless a consternation to Paul and to their Lord.  The Corinthians tolerated unnecessary division, perverse immorality, open greed, legalism, licentiousness, Scriptural ignorance, and the distortion of the Lord's supper into a debauched feasting rather than loving and grateful remembrance of Christ's death (I Corinthians 1:10-15).  Their righteous being in Christ did not lead to their bearing of righteous fruit.

   In order to overcome such tragic failure to bear the fruits of justification in Christ, Paul both challenges and teaches the Corinthians.  He plainly rebukes his brethren for their carnality, and then  illuminates them regarding the Christ who provides the righteousness of our being, and then works in us to empower the corresponding bearing of godly fruits.

    "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30).

    "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).

    Bearing the fruits of righteousness requires growing knowledge of the Lord Jesus who is our righteousness.  We must become increasingly aware of His involved presence whereby He empowers just and righteous living.  Truth supplies the light and nutrients whereby we become healthy branches that bear the fruit of the Spirit.  As the Lord Jesus declared, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).  Free to do what?  Free to bear the fruits of righteousness even as we live in grace-provided righteousness of being in Christ.  Indeed, the more we know "the Root of the righteous",  the more our branches will be "filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ" (Proverbs 12:12; Philippians 1:11).  Little wonder that Solomon commanded, "With all thy getting, get understanding!" (Proverbs 4:7).  Or even more, that the Apostle Peter called us to…

"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

(II Peter 3:18).

Next -  More on fruit bearing

Weekly Memory Verse    

   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

(Romans 12:19)