04/02/2022
How Can I Be Sure I am in Right Standing with God?
2 Cor. 5:21(NIV)- 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God-----------2 Cor. 5:21(NLT)- 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.------------“I am righteous, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus did for me.” ------------Righteousness is not predicated by man’s works-remember righteousness is not something you do, it is something God does for us. ------------What is righteousness? ------------The word “righteousness” literally means, “rightwiseness; right standing.” -------------The words righteous, just, justified means acquitted, (to pay off, discharge, to set free from the charge.” -------------Eph 2:1-5(NLT)- Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) -------------How does a person get in right standing with God? -------------Work hard, earn promotion. ------------- “When I get my life cleaned up, I’ll go to church…” ------------- People trying to earn God’s blessings and favor by their good works. ------------- Rom. 3:20(NIV)- Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. --------------The Holy Spirit says that no person can get in right standing with God by their works or deeds. -------------- Rom. 3:20(NIV)- Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; --------------I lived with an unattainable requirement to get to a level spiritually in which I was pleasing to God. But no matter how hard I tried, I never seemed to arrive. I was always trying to gain God’s favor by my works! --------------Eph. 2:10(NIV)- For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. --------------We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. Our good works are a result of our relationship with Jesus, not a pathway to get into relationship with Jesus! --------------How do we get in right standing with God? How do we become righteous? ---------------Rom. 3:20-22(NIV)- Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile. ---------------Rom. 3:21(NIV)- 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known ---------------The Holy Spirit tells us now is “made known, revealed, manifested…” how righteousness is received without the law, rules, regulations and works of the flesh… ---------------Rom. 3:22(NIV)- This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. ----------------Rom. 10:1-4(NIV)- Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes ---------------How to receive right standing with God apart from the law is now revealed; how do you become righteous without doing the works of the law? ---------------Rom. 3:22(NIV)- This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. ---------------Believing in Jesus is too simple to attain right standing with God. ---------------We are talking about frail, sinful, dirty, unclean, separated humans-coming to a place which they are discharged from their frailty, their failures and are in right standing and loving favor with a holy, pure and eternal God. Surely it takes a lot of effort, a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice which is reserved for only a few who can achieve it. --------------- Why is getting in right standing with God, becoming righteous in his sight so easily attainable? -------------- 2 Cor. 5:21(NIV)- 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God --------------Becoming righteous is attainable on our end because it’s not something we do, it’s something God does for us. --------------“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…” --------------1 Peter 2:24(NIV)- “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ---------------Understand it wasn’t even our good works that motivated Jesus to die for us. ---------------Rom. 5:7-8(NIV)- Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. --------------- The Divine Exchange ---------------2 Cor. 5:21(NIV)- 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God ----------------Jesus took our sin nature upon himself and in exchange gave us His right standing with God. ----------------“I am righteous, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus did for me.”---------------2 Cor.5:21(KJV)- 21 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. ----------------We don’t earn righteousness, we are made righteous by believing. -------------- Rom. 5:1(NKJV)- Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ---------------When God looks at the born-again believer, God sees righteousness ---------------The word “justified/righteous” in this verse is in the Greek “aorist” tense-indicating a definite time at which each person upon exercise of faith in Christ was justified or made righteous. ---------------Rom. 5:1(NKJV)- Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ---------------- We can never grow in the Lord from a position of condemnation-we can only grow in Christ from a righteous position. ---------------Rom. 3:23-24(NKJV)- for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ---------------Whereas Rom. 5:1 the word “justified” is in the aorist tense meaning a definite appointed time; the word, “justified” in Rom is in the present continuous tense, indicating the constant process of justification. ---------------In Christ Jesus, daily we are being made righteous! ----------------1 Cor. 15:34(NKJV)- Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
