Righteousness.

It appears to me that Satan has fought the issue of righteousness more than any other part of God's program.

Paul's writing sometimes is difficult to understand. Some of his writing in the Book of Romans can be interpreted to mean the only righteousness available to Christians is that which is ascribed to us on the basis of our receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior.

The truth is, the purpose of ascribed righteousness is to make it possible for us to move on to actual righteousness of behavior. I think anyone can see the logic of this. A kingdom comprising people who are actually sinful but to whom God attributes righteousness would be worse than Hell itself. At least in Hell we understand God is not pleased with us.

If all we had to look forward to is a new world of imputed righteousness where the people are filled with malice and wickedness, as is true of the Christian churches of our day, we would be in despair. There would be no hope. God has married Satan. All is lost for those who love righteousness.

The emphasis on ascribed righteousness is the mammoth error of our times. The result of such preaching is believers who are shallow, sinful, giddy, foolish, self-seeking. There are notable exceptions. But such is too often the case.

Unless I am quite mistaken, the Holy Spirit is ready today to assist anyone who wishes to be delivered from the compulsions of sin. We already have been delivered from the guilt of our sins. Now we need to be delivered from the urge we have to sin, that is, from our sinful nature.

Is such deliverance possible through Jesus Christ? Of course it is. If all Jesus could do was forgive our sins, and had no authority or power to deliver us from the chains of sin, He is not really our Redeemer. A redeemer is one who rescues us from bondage. To forgive us and then not redeem us from the hand of Satan is an ineffectual salvation to say the least.

We need to be delivered from our sins! We need to be released from the compulsions of our sinful nature! We need to do God's will in the earth as it is in Heaven!

Who can deliver us? The Lion of Judah can break every chain. He can and shall destroy the works of the devil in every believer who comes to Him in faith.

Jesus Christ is not powerless? He is stronger than the devil. He can and shall destroy those bondages from us if we will look to Him.

There is no sinful chain in our life which Jesus Christ cannot break. No chain whatever, whether it be lust, or hatred, or unforgiveness, or a critical spirit, or jealousy, or envy, or pride, or selfish ambition, or cruelty, or drugs, or alcohol, or pornography, or bitterness, or any other work of darkness. All these abound in the Christian churches, including the molesting of children. The Lord Jesus Christ has the authority and the power to destroy these urges, removing them totally from our personality.

You have only to ask Him to see if I am speaking the truth.

In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. (Isaiah 54:14)

So when the unchanging Word of God states we shall be established, it means in actual righteousness of personality and behavior.

When we are serving God in righteousness, tyranny and terror are removed far away from us. Dread will not come near us. We have nothing to fear.

Who is he who will harm us if we are a follower of that which is good?

The next time dread or fear or terror enter your mind or your home, recognize that this is not God. Call the darkness by name and command it to leave in Jesus' name.

The gloom will leave! God has promised you peace and safety. Keep on asking. God will keep on answering. This is His promise to you.

To be continued.