Jesus is coming back to earth.
“Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.” My emphasis
Ephesians 4:16 GNB
The church or the body of Christ builds itself up through love.
Why through love?…. because LOVE is the nature of God.
Whatever God does He does in LOVE, everything God does is driven or motivated by LOVE,
*GOD’S LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED!!!*
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
John 3:16 states clearly that “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, (the demonstration of His love) so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
Jn 3:16 GNB. My emphasis
The death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary, is the demonstration of the Love of God! The message of the Cross, is the Message of the demonstration of God’s love.
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
Rom. 1:17 NIV
THE PURPOSE OF GOD’s LOVE
The end result of all God did through Jesus Christ on the Cross, was so that whosoever believe in Him, shall not perish , but have eternal life instead.
Adam lost his righteousness in the Garden of Eden, because of his sin,
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
Rom. 5:19 NIV
What was Lost in Adam, is restored in Christ. Righteousness was lost in Adam, but is now restored in Christ.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE RIGHTEOUSNESS
For man to enter the Kingdom or have Eternal Life, he had to be righteous OR have righteousness. Righteousness is the passport and visa for entrance into the Kingdom. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Mt. 6:33 NIV
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Rom. 14:17 NIV
Once man’s righteousness is restored, he has his passport and visa to enter the Kingdom. What the “immigration officer”will look for to allow you access to the Kingdom, is your passport and visa: RIGHTEOUSNESS.
HOW DOES THE BELIEVER RECEIVE THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
“The scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.”
That is why Abraham, through faith, “was accepted as righteous by God”. The words “he was accepted as righteous” were not written for him alone. They were written also for us who are to be accepted as righteous, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from death. Because of our sins he was handed over to die, and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God.”
Rom. 4: 3, 22-25 GNB
As such the believer’s righteousness is restored by faith in the death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary!
A believer’s righteousness is not restored by his works or efforts.
“But those who depend on faith, not on deeds, and who believe in the God who declares the guilty to be innocent, it is this faith that God takes into account in order to put them right with himself.”
Rom. 4: 5 GNB
“….a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
Rom. 1:17 NIV
If a believer can earn his righteousness by
his efforts or works, then Christ died for nothing!
“I do not ignore or nullify the [gracious gift of the] grace of God [His amazing, unmerited favor], for if righteousness comes through [observing] the Law, then Christ died needlessly. [His suffering and death would have had no purpose whatsoever.]””
GAL. 2: 21 AMP
As such a believers entrance into the Kingdom or Eternal Life is not conditional to his efforts or lifestyle.
Eternal Life or Life in the Kingdom is a Love Gift of God, to those who BELIEVE.
Your giving or lack thereof does not qualify or disqualify you from God’s gift of Eternal Life.
CONCLUSION
Christ paid the asking price for your righteousness. Perfect Blood on the altar, was the payment or the Asking Price for our citizenship of the Kingdom.
Christ on the Cross paid the asking price and now that payment was made, God cannot refuse what was paid for by Jesus on the Cross! God cannot refuse you your citizenship to the Kingdom, because Christ made payment to God for the Citizenship with his Blood on the Cross of Calvary!
God is not unjust that he would receive payment for something, and then refuse to give what was already paid for!
“By no means! If God is not just, how can he judge the world?”
Rom. 3:6 GNB
Your righteousness was paid for by blood of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary, your guarantee of life in the Kingdom, was paid for by Blood of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary!
Jesus is coming back to earth as a demonstration of God’s love for you, because that is who He is, not because of your effort!
Believe it, and receive it!
Written by J. E. F. RSA
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