Satan's Cunning Temptation to Seek to Be Justified

2008-02-23 21:27

Cunning Satan who tempted the wife of the first man Adam is trying to tempt the wife of the last Adam to make her a lawbreaker again. If we already believe in the gospel and are in Christ, Christ himself is the righteousness of God. Nevertheless, Satan tries to tempt us to seek to be justified again.

The word of faith says, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17). But Satan tries to deceitfully tempt us to seek to be justified and to draw us back to perdition.

Satan tries to tempt those, who are in Christ, to seek to be justified again, and tries to make them turn from the faith in the gospel and to lead them into an eternal sin of not submitting to the righteousness of God. The righteousness of man, that is, the righteousness by law does not submit to the righteousness of God, and leads to destruction. It is written, "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." (Galatians 5:4). And also, "Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." (Romans 10:3).

The Bible says about the deceitful scheming of Satan who tells us to seek to be justified, "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker." (Galatians 2:17-18).

Anyone who is in Christ has clothed himself with Christ, and the clothes of Christ are the clothes of the righteousness of God. Seeking to be justified again in Christ is opposing the righteousness of faith, which leads us from faith to faith. Only the shield of faith can resist the temptation of Satan who opposes and attacks the righteousness of faith.

Therefore, the Bible says, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:16-17).

Many people have been drawn back to perdition by the temptation to seek to be justified in Christ. For the dearly loved children, however, he who has been born of God keeps them, and the wicked one does not touch them. Therefore, it is written, "But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39).

The Bible says about the righteousness of God, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The righteousness of God is accomplished only in Christ. Anyone who does not become the righteousness of God cannot remain in a new heaven and a new earth. It is written, "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13).

Therefore, the Bible says, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

As it is testified, Jesus has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, there are no other wisdom, other righteousness, other holiness and other redemption.

If there is a different righteousness in Christ, it means a different Jesus, a different spirit and a different gospel. Satan can masquerade as a Jesus. It is written, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

There is no other righteousness but Christ. Therefore, we should always pray, "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:13). Thank you, Lord.