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The Daily Word of Righteousness
An Examination of Current Teaching, #50
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (Romans 3:27,28)
We who are Jews by birth and not "Gentile sinners" know a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15,16)
And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:9)
Can you see from the above three passages that Paul was not contrasting faith in Christ with righteous behavior but with the Law of Moses?
The central purpose of the new covenant is to produce new creations of righteous behavior, not a forgiven old creation of sinful behavior. The Kingdom of God consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Not ascribed righteousness but actual righteousness.
Not ascribed peace but actual peace.
Not ascribed joy but actual joy.
The Kingdom of God is not in word. It is not a legally supported, schizophrenic state, a withdrawal from reality in which God sees us as something other than what we are. The Kingdom of God is the actual doing of God's will in the earth. It is a real kingdom made up of people who have been transformed through interaction with the Person of the living Lord Jesus Christ.
As the Apostle John would say, "This is the true God and eternal life."
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, (Romans 3:20-22)
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. (Romans 3:27)
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (Romans 4:13)
If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. (Galatians 2:17,18)
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know he appeared so he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (I John 3:4-6)
To be continued.