Put On The Righteousness Of Christ
What's it going to take for Christians to understand that Christ commands them to obey his word, and love his words of righteousness? That he expects them bear fruit with his gospel. That he looks for repentance. And that he rewards obedience to his teachings. Does he need to come to earth, walk, talk, and teach among them, and take it so far that he dies on a cross for them so that they'll grasp the WHOLE GOSPEL truth?
Hebrews 2:3
"So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?"
A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. People who have witnessed the Messiah, and who are obeying his commands, aren't seeking the praise of the church, or the churchy people, they're seeking to please God. Because the Lord expects disciples, not fans. He's looking for worship in Spirit and Truth. And it's the "and Truth" part that I'm writing about today.
Why does the Bible tell us that the Messiah will return and bring a reward for those who obey his word and according to their works if it's not a thing?
Jesus said:
"For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds." Matthew 16:27
The Apostle Paul said:
"He will judge everyone according to what they have done." Romans 2:6
Again Jesus said:
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds." Revelation 22:12
Again Paul says:
"Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor." 1 Corinthians 3:8
Even in the OT
Proverbs 11:18
"The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward."
The fact of the matter is, there is meant to be a refining. Sanctification is real. The Lord is molding his people, conforming them. Their minds aren't supposed to remain in Egypt, they're supposed to escape into the wilderness and be transformed into His image. And the result of removing the dross of the former natural man is a reward that is faith which is alive and active.
"If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward." 1 Corinthians 3:14
But Mike,
Its salvation by faith alone!
I agree.
Jesus said it:
"He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward."
The Christian receives a righteous man's reward because they received the Righteous Man (Jesus).
They received.
They received.
They received.
Food for thought:
Jesus said when he returns it will be like the days of Noah. Every persons thoughts will be evil all the time. Total depravity. Tainted with the sickness of sin with vile imaginations.
Today the majority of online porn users are under the age of 12.
Did you hear that? How did this happen?
This generation is greatly taken in by wickedness . And the church has been right there with them, preaching and teaching easy believeism. Cavalier Christian people affirming every sort of sin and wickedness in the sanctuaries. And all the while building their spiritual lives on foundations of sand, the ground of easy believeism and cheap grace.
The Bible tells us you'll know them by their fruit. What fruit are we seeing today? Revival? Hell no!
But Mike,
Salvation by Faith alone.
Yes, I agree. And so show the faith by the fruit is bears. Show the world your faith is alive by active participation in Christ's commands.
Jesus asked, (Luke 18:8)
"when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Who have faith.
Who have faith.
Who have faith.
Do you have it? Does it have you? Is it bearing fruit in you? Is the gospel being spoken because of it? Are people's lives being transformed?
You gotta "have" it. It has to "have" you. You've got to be in Christ to have faith in Him.
To be in Christ is to put on his righteousness, that's the work of receiving his righteousness that we talked about earlier. It's sometimes referred to as being "baptized into Christ". Baptised for forgiveness of sin, turning from their old sinful lives, fully embracing the new life in Christ. Jesus takes our place on the cross and we're hidden in him. To be "in Christ" means we have accepted His sacrifice as payment for our own sins. We are always in danger of trivializing what it means to be converted, or to be a follower of Jesus. To be “in Christ” is to be radically transformed, to the roots of our very being. As Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
The world says, “Sex is for fun, enjoyment without commitment.” But Jesus says, “Sex is for love, enjoyment within commitment.”
How many of the easy believeism folks are living their best Christian life now while in fornication? Shacking up, and praying in the sanctuary. Baptising your out of wedlock children in the church? Asking the pastor of some random church, of which you'll never raise your family up in, to bless your marriage after years of living together unmarried and raising a family.
The world’s philosophy is, “Give as good as you get. Love those who love you and repay evil for evil.” People who worship every Sunday. Faithful believers, holding grudges, and harboring anger in their hearts against people who aren't the right kind of people, or maybe they've committed some kind of crime against them or society. But Jesus still says, “Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, do good to those who hate you, overcome evil with good.”
What's the point Mike?
The point is the church is filled with people saying they are people of faith. And still Jesus wonders if he'll find any. We have no liberty to dismiss the teachings of Jesus as unpractical and unrealistic. We are not free from responsibility in our Christian liberty. We are in fact responsible for how we keep the gospel. Before Jesus ascended into heaven he told us what it means to be in faith, to be "in Christ". And he told us what it looks like to not be in Him.
Read the parables:
The parable of the talents.
(Matthew 25:14-30)
The parable of the ten virgins.
(Matthew 25:1-13)
And there's a reward for both.
Trust me...you want to be the one alive in faith that is alive in Him. You want to be a faithful one that Jesus finds when he returns.
John 14:15-16, 21, 24
If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever...Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me...Whoever does not love me does not keep my words..."