Romans 3:10 (NKJV) 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
We serve a mighty God who loves us more than we will ever know or understand.
And because He loves us, He made a way for us to be righteous in His sight, despite our shortcomings and failures; the sin that perpetually separates us from Him.
Many people believe that righteous acts, good behavior, will make us righteous in the eyes of God.
Still others see religious traditions and rituals as their way of pleasing God and making themselves acceptable in His sight.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ time believed this.
They held themselves above the “common people” due to their piety, their eloquent speech, and their religious garb. They were forever looking down their noses at those around them.
Jesus knew this. He addressed them directly for it, and they became furious with Him for it.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the prophet Isaiah spoke centuries before the birth of Christ, declaring that our own righteous acts were worthless before God; like filthy rags.
Bible historians agree that the rags Isaiah was alluding to were women’s menstrual cloths, indicating a state of being ritually unclean according to The Law.
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
With all of that said, it is important for us to understand that our righteousness is found solely in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Being a good person will not make us righteous before God. Kindness will not make us righteous before God. Abstaining from sin will not make us righteous before God.
In short, changing our behavior does not make us righteous. But righteousness in Christ should change our behavior.
Let us put away the rituals and traditions that define us and our walk with God. And let us understand that it is only the blood of Christ applied to us that make us righteous in His eyes.
Amen
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443
401-439-3780
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