If the Righteousness That is by Faith is Empty
2007-10-20 23:09
If the righteousness that is by faith is empty, Christ who has become for us wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption is empty, and also God who sent Christ in the flesh into the world is empty.
Many people believe in Jesus who was delivered over to death for our sins but don't believe in Christ who was raised to life for our justification. Perfect salvation means not only death of Jesus but also resurrection of Christ.
If a servant knows that his sins, ten thousand talents of debt, are canceled but does not know the righteousness that he should cancel his fellow servant's a hundred denarii of debt, the forgiveness of his sins will be nullified in the end. It is written, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25). Jesus was delivered to death for our sins and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore, it is written, "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).
The righteousness that is by faith is revealed from faith in Jesus, who was delivered to death for our sins, to faith in Jesus, who was raised to life for our justification. God canceled every sinner's sins by the blood of the Lamb so that every sinner may be made righteous by forgiving his debtors. The Bible calls this the will of God.
It is written, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Matthew 18:33). If wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption don't come out by faith in Jesus, that faith is all futile. The faith that God gave us through Christ Jesus by his grace is not false but real. It is written, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).
Therefore, faith by itself, if the righteousness is not accomplished by it, is dead. If our righteousness is not accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus, Jesus died in vain and God raised Jesus for nothing.
The kingdom of God is the home of righteousness. If the righteousness is not accomplished by faith, no one can remain in the kingdom of God. 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). The kingdom of God is like that.
If there is only the forgiveness of sins without the righteousness accomplished, there should be only the death of Jesus without his resurrection. Therefore, the Bible says, "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile; we are still in our sins. It is written, "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4). The end of the law means not only his death but also his resurrection.
The Bible says about salvation, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10).
"If we believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead," we will be saved. Therefore, the righteousness that is by faith that is in Christ Jesus is not futility but substance. It is because Christ lives in those who believe.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:14). "Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:21). Amen. Thank you, Lord.
Many people believe in Jesus who was delivered over to death for our sins but don't believe in Christ who was raised to life for our justification. Perfect salvation means not only death of Jesus but also resurrection of Christ.
If a servant knows that his sins, ten thousand talents of debt, are canceled but does not know the righteousness that he should cancel his fellow servant's a hundred denarii of debt, the forgiveness of his sins will be nullified in the end. It is written, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25). Jesus was delivered to death for our sins and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore, it is written, "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).
The righteousness that is by faith is revealed from faith in Jesus, who was delivered to death for our sins, to faith in Jesus, who was raised to life for our justification. God canceled every sinner's sins by the blood of the Lamb so that every sinner may be made righteous by forgiving his debtors. The Bible calls this the will of God.
It is written, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Matthew 18:33). If wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption don't come out by faith in Jesus, that faith is all futile. The faith that God gave us through Christ Jesus by his grace is not false but real. It is written, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).
Therefore, faith by itself, if the righteousness is not accomplished by it, is dead. If our righteousness is not accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus, Jesus died in vain and God raised Jesus for nothing.
The kingdom of God is the home of righteousness. If the righteousness is not accomplished by faith, no one can remain in the kingdom of God. 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). The kingdom of God is like that.
If there is only the forgiveness of sins without the righteousness accomplished, there should be only the death of Jesus without his resurrection. Therefore, the Bible says, "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile; we are still in our sins. It is written, "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4). The end of the law means not only his death but also his resurrection.
The Bible says about salvation, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10).
"If we believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead," we will be saved. Therefore, the righteousness that is by faith that is in Christ Jesus is not futility but substance. It is because Christ lives in those who believe.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:14). "Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:21). Amen. Thank you, Lord.
