God demands righteousness in order for anyone to be saved. Without it there can be no salvation no matter how much someone desires it or tries to achieve it. That people don’t understand the need for righteousness, which is the opposite of the condition of sinfulness of unrighteousness, can be seen in a line from a letter to an Indiana newspaper. It is as follows: May God hurry the day when our society is willing to applaud and embrace those in committed same-sex relationships instead of ostracizing them and making them feel like second-class citizens. The writer of those lines not only doesn’t understand God and his righteousness, but is asking God to recognize sin so people won’t feel bad about themselves and wants Christians who do understand to deny the truth of homosexuality and accept it. (This lesson isn’t about homosexuality but unrighteousness of all deeds of mankind that are sinful.)

Many Christians will fall for the call to accept people and their deeds because God loves everyone and so will save them. Many people will attempt to save themselves by their good deeds. Jesus said in Matthew: [Mat 7:21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [Mat 7:22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [Mat 7:23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Jesus called those who used his name workers of iniquity which means lawlessness, a transgression of God’s law. The writer of those lines in the letter wants God’s word nullified and his followers to commit iniquity, refusing to understand it isn’t good and it isn’t righteousness.

When anyone tries to let works supplant those that are done from the heart through initial obedience to the gospel by faith in the Risen Lord, it is sinful. Paul said in Ephesians: [Eph 2:8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [Eph 2:9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

   [Eph 2:10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Paul clearly indicated that works were done through faith, a trust in the work of Christ on the cross that freed us from sin and enables us to work to bring the gospel to others without the need to try to save ourselves with some list of works designed to promote self rather than Christ. In Christ there is no room for boasting about works as Paul wrote. In other words, we can’t save ourselves by our own devised works. Such works are works of unrighteousness.

Paul wrote in Philippians: [Phil 3:9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [Phil 3:10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death [Phil 3:11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Paul was a man who wanted to please God and followed the law, but he said he didn’t have any righteousness and that the only righteousness was that which God gave in Christ and it comes by faith in the risen Savior.

The words in Colossians is: [Col 3:17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Do all that is done in the name of Christ while giving thanks to God for the great salvation that came through His death on the cross with the power of his resurrection showing his conquering sin and death. That is the righteousness that saves and only works done through faith in his work are the only ones that will bring the words: [Mat 25:21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  No one need hear depart from me, ye that work iniquity when the righteousness of Christ is there for all who will obey.

© 03-01-2006 DEC

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