WORD NUGGETS

    
In the letters of the Apostle Paul to the church, we see the term “IN CHRIST”. It’s not used as a technical term or figure of speech by Paul but as a relationship that Christians have with Christ. We are In Christ. We have been grafted into, put in union with, made one with Christ Himself. In John 15:5 Jesus called Christians His branches in union with Him the vine. This is a true saying. An actual vital union exists between us and the Lord that began when we became a Christian. This union is a result of a shared substance called Life (Christ’s). The same sap that flows through a vine flows through its branches also. When you are born again, that same Life substance inside of Christ flows into your spirit making you one with Him. Therefore, you are now united to Christ through His imparted life.

It is a spiritual union. I Corinthians 6:17 says, But he that is JOINED UNTO the Lord is ONE SPIRIT. (20th Century Revised) A man who is united to the Lord is ONE with Him in spirit. (Authentic) But he who unites himself with the Master forms a SINGLE spirit. This union was formed at the same moment you were born again receiving Eternal Life. John 3:6 and Romans 8:10 say that you were put into Christ or in other words, you were “IN-CHRISTED”.
You’re “In Christ”. See it as a reality. Our union is based on a common Life shared.

THE STATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Righteousness is the state of being righteous. In the English word, it literally means "right-wise-ness." All Christians have become the righteousness of God in their union with Christ. According to God's own standard of what right-ness is, we have been judged right with God and meet with His approval. Because of His standard, He now sees us in a perfectly righteous state of being. He now sees us as being as righteous as He Himself is. That's because He made us that way in our spirits.

It all happens when we are born again. Our spirits receive the Divine nature. We actually partake of  God's righteous nature. This Nature includes Divine righteousness or righteousness as God has it. So we have not only been pronounced righteous by God but we are also new creations having God's righteous nature within our spirits.

Righteousness is more than deeds and behaviors. The bible does mention the word this way but the primary use of the word, righteousness, is as a state, condition or nature. Christians are made righteous in Christ by faith when they are born again and thus receive a new spirit from their new Father, God. Christians must now allow that new righteous nature to dominate their actions in every day life. Right actions will follow rightness of being and not vice-versa. Romans 10:4 says, "Christ is the end of the law (doing good deeds out of our own natural efforts) for righteousness to everyone that believeth." (KJV)

Righteousness is the main subject of the gospel and the most major theme in the book of Romans written by the Apostle Paul. For example, Romans 1:16,17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith."

(Johnson) I am confident that the good news will release God's dynamic energy which makes all persons whole.

(Way)...it is from the soil of faith that the righteous shall grow up into real life.

(Pilcher) ...for in this Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed in a system connected from first to last with faith...

(Good News) ...for the gospel reveals how God puts people right with Himself...

(Noli) ...it reveals that Divine righteousnesss comes from faith and faith only.

(Lovett) As the scripture says, "He who receives His Life by faith is made right with God."

(Stevens) The gospel, I say, can save men, for in it a way is revealed in which sinful men may be accepted before God and may stand in His presence approved and forgiven.

(Weymouth) ...a righteousness which comes from God is being revealed...

The righteousness Christians received is not their own but God's. He gave them His own righteousness. Christians have only to rejoice with a thankful heart and walk in it now as new Christians, yielded to His way of doing things right. Christians can do right because they are right. It's an inside job. Christians are already righteous on the inside, in their newly born again spirits.

Feed on scriptures concerning righteousness. Having a righteousness consciousness will free you from a sense of guilt, inadequacy and unworthiness, Romans 8:1. It will free you from the struggle of acceptance by God in Ephesians 1:6. It will free you from opression and fear, Isaiah 54:14; Genesis 3:9,19. You will receive boldness before the enemy, Ephesians 6:14. Righteousness inhibits sin as you yield to it causing your actions to be right, Romans 6:13,17,18.

TO ORDER THE BOOKLET MEDITATION ON RIGHTEOUSNESS; E-MAIL US AT:

icmiv@cfl.rr.com 

and

SEND US A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $7.00 TO:

IN CHRIST Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 181026

Casselberry, Fl. 32718-1026