Comments: Your Thoughts?

Jesus Christ Is Their Righteousness

Tags: Daily Devotional, Difficult Bible Text

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

More than 14 hundred years before Jesus came, the children of Israel gathered in the valley of Shechem, and from the mountains on either side the voices of the priests were heard proclaiming the blessings and the curses. These blessings were based upon their obedience to the law, which was their righteousness. Deuteronomy 6:24-25.

Since they never attained to that righteousness, no matter how hard they tried, Christ this time, chose an unnamed mountain besides the lake of Gennesaret to pronounce blessings and not curses; and with no requirements on their part, because He was their righteousness. John 1:29

He there saw a people boasting of righteousness through the works of the law, yet void of love for one another and for God. Jesus also knew that in Him was all righteousness and anyone who accepts Him will be made righteous.

At Jordan, when John questioned whether he should baptize Him, Jesus’ reply to him was “suffer it to be so to fulfill all righteousness.” Matthew 3:15. Before sin entered this world, righteousness was the only way of life. After sin came, righteousness became an impossibility. That’s why scripture says, “there is none righteous no, not one.” Romans 3:10.

In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus said, “if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.” John 4:10. He further explains in verse 14 that “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give Him shall never thirst.”

If water symbolizes life, cleansing, etc., and Christ is that life in John 14:6 then He that is cleansed is made righteous. Upon this understanding, the Samaritan woman quickly requested that living water and she received it. And she left much evidences of that in the remaining verses of the same chapter.

The purpose of the new covenant was to destroy the works of the law through Christ’s righteousness. He is made righteousness for all.1Corinthians 1:30. And this righteousness is by faith in Him. Romans 3:22

While it was ok for Isaiah to state that our righteousness is “as filthy rags,” Isaiah 64:6, it is not ok for a new covenant believer to claim the same. For “in Christ fullness, we receive grace for grace” John 1:16. He became sin that we might become His righteousness 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Through the ages, even in modern times, there’ve been movements after movements claiming righteousness by faith. But in actuality, it’s all based on the works of the law. Righteousness is not a movement. It is the Christian’s only way of life.

While Jesus’ blessings in Matthew 5:6 points to the future, however all righteousness was fulfilled at His death and resurrection. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, and you are a Christian, you should be filled.

In your spirit, you are righteous. If not, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart the Lord Jesus today and receive His righteousness. Romans 10:9.

Surf back or forward...
‹‹ The Faith of God
Effectual Faith ››

Bible Study      Daily Devotional      Verse Of The Day      Difficult Bible Text      Testimonies      Question & Answer      Our Website      Healthy Living      Christian Education      Recipes      Depression