Friday, April 15, 2011

THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUNESS


Few days from now, Christians all over the world would be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is indeed the greatest experience in the universe as we see that in the resurrection God made the greatest display of His power. The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that man can now be a partaker of the divine nature. Man can now possess the zoe-life of God. Man can now stand perfect before God through Jesus Christ because he is now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The power of sin had been broken. Man can now live above the elements of this world. The dominion of man has been restored and man is free again! Glory to God!

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, everything was good, beautiful, sound and in perfect order until sin made it’s way into the world. Suddenly everything became hostile, wild and aggressive. The once friendly animals suddenly became harmful; the still waters suddenly began roaring with the tendency to drown. The firmament became tensed. Everything that once supported man began fighting him. Man had fallen and darkness is everywhere. Man had lost his dominion over the earth. He had become helpless and defenceless. He had broken the hedge and the serpent had beaten. He had navigated from possessing everything to possessing nothing. The laws of the universe is now working against him and had suddenly become unruly to him. He had begun inhaling and exhaling evil and his heart had taken a dimension of progressive wickedness. Man had lost control over everything and even himself. What a blow sin had dealt to man. Now a cruel ruler has taken over man’s place of dominion. Satan had now become the god of this world – a place originally made for man. The same thing happens when sin steps into any man’s life. It’s always the same story. This is not a set up to magnify sin or its ability. It is just to let you know how the world became the mess it is today.

The effects of sin was everywhere. No wonder the first thing that was said about Jesus’ function on earth is “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV). Thank God for Jesus Christ! The Bible also tells us in 1John 3:8 “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (NKJV). Thank God Jesus came to deal with the sin problem and to restore man to his original position. When Jesus stepped in, light stepped into the world again. When Jesus stepped in, darkness disappeared – it couldn’t stand the dazzling light of the Light of the world. When Jesus stepped in, a world of darkness and confusion was suddenly illumined with the inextinguishable light (John 1:4,5). God’s remedy for the sin problem was Jesus. Jesus paid the price. He did it through the cross. He did it by shedding His precious, sinless Blood. He did it by becoming man’s perfect substitute, thereby, taking man’s place – suffering and dying on his behalf. Now 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us something amazing, it says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (NKJV). O what a sacrifice. What a treasure we’ve got in Christ Jesus. Now everyone who is born again have become new creatures possessing and becoming the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Now I want you to know that the effect of righteousness is more powerful than the effect of sin. Sin can’t stand righteousness just as darkness can never stand the light! Rom. 5:17 says “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NKJV). Glory to God! This is staggering!

The devil fears the believer who understands righteousness! Righteousness through Christ is the greatest force in the universe. The devil will do anything to keep the believer ignorant of it and filled with dead works. The man who understands righteousness in Christ will live the zoe-life of God naturally. He becomes a threat to the kingdom of darkness. O what a day it was when Christ became the Righteousness of the Believer. A perfect righteousness gift was imparted to the believer at the new birth – not a progressive one but a perfect one – perfected by the Son of God Himself. Friend, The effect of righteousness is equally seen in Isaiah 32:17 “The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (NKJV). This season let’s celebrate and enjoy the effects of righteousness and let the world know about the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ alone. Happy Resurrection!

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