November 8, 2012

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A Desire To Be Holy and Righteous Romans 3:21-26 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, How many of us have a deep desire to be righteous and a yearning to be holy? In other words how many of us want to do the right thing and never have to struggle with sinful thoughts and/or behaviors? When I asked God to forgive me of the sins I can honestly admit that I committed before Him and then offered my life to live for God, I experienced two things that I had never experienced before up to that point in my life. In fact these two things actually never even crossed my mind before I came to Jesus. They were holiness and righteousness. That day that I entered into the kingdom of Jesus were marked by two things that I never had known in my life apart from God. Now with a new covenant relationship with God, and a new life in His presence I was introduced to Holiness and Righteousness. It is a mystery when we try to think about the how it happens but it is a reality when we talk about the what has happened. Let me explain. When I surrendered my life to Christ Jesus His presence was welcomed into my soul, some use the term heart. Jesus is the righteousness and holiness of God and when you invite Jesus in to you soul His righteousness and holiness comes flooding in. That is the first thing I remember so distinctly was being in the overwhelming presence of holiness and righteousness. The like I have never experienced in this world or in any person I have ever met. The glory of it all is that for the first time in my life I was experiencing righteousness and holiness flood my soul. Both righteousness and holiness are a tangible and physical essences flowing out from God. The best way to explain it is like a river flowing our from God. It is not a mystically experience of personal internal euphoria. God's essence flows out from Him. Love, joy, holiness, righteousness. You see I am I not righteous or holy nor is the essence of these two things found in me. Instead, Jesus offered His rigthteousness and holiness to me. He was imparting His to me. A free gift of God from God through Jesus! PRAISE GOD! God explains this to us very clearly. This is a gift, it is His power, and it is the love of God that offers us the opportunity to receive and become righteous and holy in His Son Jesus. Apart from Jesus we will never attain it ourselves. It must come from God. However, the reality is clear. While we are still living in this carnal body we will continue to be pulled, swayed, and even deceived by our carnal nature to draw away from God and into lustful desires. So God has give us the down payment, and allows us to receive His righteousness and holiness through His Son Jesus by faith. Nothing more nothing less. It is not by our good deeds or being a good person that God bestows His righteousness or holiness. Instead it is by faith! Now I leave you with this thought. There will be a day when we, all who have placed their faith in Jesus, will no longer rest upon Jesus righteousness and holiness. Instead we will become righteous and holy ourselves. For the first time in our existence we will be transformed into the true likeness and image of Christ. How do I know this? The Holy Spirit gives us this beautiful revelation through the apostle Paul when he penned.... 2 Timothy 4:8 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
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The Power of God's Promise I was thinking about Jesus and the two thieves/murders who are crucified beside Jesus. What stood out to me was this. One of them taunted Jesus and said "if you are the Son of God then why don't you take yourself off the cross and us with you?" The other convict rebuked the other and said "we deserve our punishment for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong and he is suffering a fate that He does not deserve." then he turned to Jesus and said "Will you remember me when you come into your kingdom?" Jesus replied " Assuredly I tell you. today you will be with me in paradise." What is remarkable is that this man accepted his actions and admitted his sin deserved the punishment and it was just for what he willfully done. Then he turned to Jesus and said in a way "Master/Lord remember me....because I want to follow and serve you wherever you are going. " in other words. "I want to serve this one who has never down anything wrong nor ever will, but is willing to take my place, suffer a just punishment for what I have done, only because He loves me so much!" Here is the catch. Jesus did not stop this mans pain or suffering. He only gave him a promise. Jesus did not supernaturally perform a miracle so that this man would no longer have to suffer through the agony of the cross. In fact in just a few hours the Roman soldiers would be command edto break their legs. Even more pain awaited this man even after turning to Jesus. Sometimes we seek the power of the supernatural miracles of God instead of recieving the power in His promise to us. Even though it is yet unfulfilled and we may experience suffering, remember this...all God's promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ.

James Thomas

Jesus Christ is making me into a Faithful Minister, a Committed Husband, a Loving Father, and a Compassionate Friend.

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