The Righteousness of Christ

Go To Meeting

Albert Jones—July 22, 2022

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Truly, I think we all know that Christ is righteous; He was God in the flesh. God is righteous! But I want to focus on His righteousness from a little bit different perspective. I want us to think deeply on what that righteousness does for us, and how it was made possible. I want to focus on three major things:

• the fact that Christ is made justification possible by His righteousness

It's His righteousness that makes it possible the entire experience that we are experiencing spiritually is made possible by His righteousness and what He did. Hopefully we will bring out some things that will help us to appreciate it even more.

• our righteousness is not sufficient; not enough

Though we strive as God's Spirit moves us with all our mind, soul and being, we fall short of what is necessary to be justified by God the Father.

• because of Christ, what we have as the people of God is a promise, an assurance and assured hope

That, of course, includes God's love!

We will talk about those three things a little as I go through the Scriptures. I want to start in Isa. 64 and let's establish a very clear place where we began without Christ. So, here the earth needs God today as it has never needed Him before. The closer we get to the return of Christ we're going to see more and more of that need. It will be more and more clear to us as members of God's Family, and maybe to those who are in darkness. Let's see what Isaiah expressed:

Isaiah 64:1: "Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down, that mountains might quake at Your presence."

They will when He does return as it describes in Revelation and other places.

Verse 2: "As when the melting fire burns, the fire causes water to boil, to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things which we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence. And from ancient times men have not heard, nor did they perceive, neither has the eye seen, a God besides you Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him" (vs 2-4).

This is comforting to us, brethren, to know that God acts for us, because we put our hope, confidence and trust in Him.

Verse 5: "You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remembered You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, for we sinned…."

There is sin in this world, yes! And we in the flesh, even members of God's Church recognize that the law of sin and death is still with us. But we hang on and keep moving forward toward Christ.

"…We have continued in our sins a long time. How can we be saved?" (v 5).

Many of us ask that question sometimes in some of our lower parts of our conditions at times. But once again, there is hope in Christ, because of His righteousness.

Verse 6: "But we are all as the unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. And we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is no one who calls upon Your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of You, for You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us away because of our iniquities" (vs 6-7). Brethren, we pray to God that:

• His will is done on the earth
• His Kingdom is established on the earth
• His Kingdom comes

because of these conditions that we are describing here!

Verse 8: "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and we all are the work of Your hand."

That work that God is able to do in us is made possible by all the things that His righteousness brings to the table.

Verse 9: "Do not be grievously angry, O LORD, nor remember iniquity forever. Behold! Look, we beseech you, all of us are Your people. Your Holy cities are a wilderness; Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem is a desolation. The house of our Holiness and our beauty, where our fathers praised You, is burned up with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste" (vs 9-12).

As was lamented as they saw the temple destroyed, witnessed it's destruction!

Verse 12: "Will You restrain Yourself over these things, O LORD? Will You be silent and sorely afflict us?"

We can reach points of difficulty in life as God's people, as has been demonstrated within the history preserved for us as a record of the people of Israel and God's Family under the Old Covenant. But today under the New Covenant, God still looks to those whom He has put His name and presence in. He's looking to His Church, where His true Temple is today.

As we introduce the need for God's righteousness in the society that we live in, and we see the difficulties all around us, but we still have hope in God! As we look at the world around us and as they struggle in the darkness, groping around for hope, and holding onto things that can't save, that can't help,

Romans 10:3: "3: For they, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of works of law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses wrote concerning the righteousness that comes through the Law, 'The man who has practiced those things shall live by them'" (vs 3-5).

Living by God is always a good thing. To practice it is good, righteous and true.

Verse 6: "But the righteousness that comes through faith speaks after this manner: 'Do not say in your heart, "Who shall ascend up to heaven?"' (that is, to bring Christ down) 'Or, "Who shall descend into the abyss?"'(that is to bring Christ up from among the dead.) But what does it say?…." (vs 6-8).

In this New Covenant relationship we have with God: "…'The Word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart.' This is the Word of faith that we are proclaiming that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…" (vs 8-10).

Who is that righteousness depended upon? It's not ours! But we believe that He [Christ] was righteous enough to do great things. So great a thing that we have hope in Him and His righteousness that He will allow us to be with Him in the Kingdom. He will secure a place for us if we have hope and trust in Him all the way through to the return of Christ at the end.

"…and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation, because the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him shall not be ashamed'" (vs 10-11).

But belief brings action! It's not just a dry belief, it isn't a dry notion of just saying 'I take it all' but give nothing back. It's a belief that motivates and moves us to do something, and to live according to His righteousness and moves us to yearn and thirst after righteousness.

Let's expand a little bit more on this concept, this is Paul speaking:

Philippians 3:6: "With respect to zeal…"

Paul was expressing His commitment prior to His calling in terms of being committed to the law and Judaism and that way he was a part of.

"…persecuting the Church…" (v 6).

That's very committed and zealous in terms of what one believes, that he would take the life of his people because of what they believe.

"…with respect to righteousness that is in law… [there is a righteousness of the Law] …blameless. Yet, the things that were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (vs 6-7).

He brings out very importantly that that is the most important thing: that is to have Christ because Paul says:

Verse 8: "But then truly, I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as dung; that I may gain Christ."

Everything is worth relinquishing for a relationship with Christ and God the Father! Everything it worth throwing away as dung because of the Truth and hope that is in Christ, and what He has done for us, so that we might have access to Him and the Father.

Just comparing our efforts against what Christ has done for us, our efforts are just not sufficient:

Romans 3:20: "Therefore, by works of law there shall no flesh be justified before Him; for through the Law is the knowledge of sin."

That's all it does, it defines what sin is so we can avoid it. It gives us instructions to avoid all those pitfalls, al those things that brings nothing but misery and death. That is the function of law.

Verse 21: "But now the righteousness of God that is… [apart from or]: …separate from works of law…"

It is a separate operation that is at work in our lives, that law has nothing to do with. It is a separate operation!

"…works of law has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets" (v 21). Let's read that again:

Verse 21: "But now the righteousness of God that is separate from works of law has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. even the righteousness of God that is through the faith of Jesus Christ, toward all and upon all those who believe; for there is no difference" (vs 21-22).

Verse 28: "Consequently, we reckon that a man is justified by faith, separate from works of law"—apart from or a separate operation from works of law!

• What made that possible for us?
• What made that state of no condemnation possible for us?

I have a tendency to pick up clarity as I go back to the Old Testament to look into some of these things. But before we go back there, let's go to:

John 5:36—Christ speaking: "But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works that the Father gave Me to complete, the very works that I am doing, themselves bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me."

This is telling in itself that this incredible thing that is happening in our lives has been designed by both the Father and the Son.

Verse 37: "And the Father Himself, Who sent Me, has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice nor seen His form at any time. And you do not have His Word dwelling in you, for you do not believe Him Whom He has sent. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think that you have eternal life; and they are theones that testify of Me" (vs 37-39).

We're talking about the Law, the Prophets and Writings. They testify of Christ and His righteousness.

Verse 40: "But you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I have known you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; but if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How are you able to believe, you who receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, in whom you have hope" (vs 40-45).

God's Word is telling! God's Word cuts through like a hot knife through butter! It's revealing and it lays bare!

Verse 46: "But if you believed Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote about Me. And if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words?" (vs 46-47).

All of this is just letting us know that this message regarding Christ began even in Genesis, in the Law and the Prophets. He is proclaimed there! So, Moses prophesied of Christ and His righteousness!

Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." This is prophetic of Christ!

Gen. 12 is a conversation with Abraham and prophesying of that Seed.

Genesis 12:1: "And the LORD said to Abram, 'Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house into a land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great. And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed" (vs 1-3). This is also true!

Verse 4: "Then Abram departed, even as the LORD had spoken to him. And Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran."

Genesis 18:18—Christ is speaking: "Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Genesis 22:14: "And Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide; so that it is said until this day, 'In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.' And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, 'By Myself have I sworn,' says the LORD…" (vs 14-16).

This is one of the most powerful Scriptures in the Word of God. That God has sworn to do something for someone. And that promise that He swore also impacts our very own lives.

"…'because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son; that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand, which is upon the seashore. And your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice'" (vs 16-18).

This is a hallmark Scripture that is critical for our faith and what we believe, because we see that that has been held to in terms of God's work with Abraham and his descendants. We see that that is realized in the very life of Christ Himself. So, we have truly something to hold on to.

We're talking about faith and a righteousness that is greater than ours. We're talking about a Righteousness that has the power to save a righteousness, that has the power to put us in right standing and in a state of justification before God, an acceptable standing that God will:

• receive us
• hear us
• be attuned
• to our needs
• to our prayers
• to our petitions before His Throne

This is an incredible thing for a human being, who is flesh and subject to the law of sin and death, as we walk across life in life's journey to the Kingdom of God.

• all the different things that come at us
• all the different discoveries about our weaknesses in the flesh
• that we need God so desperately
• that we need access to God so desperately

Deuteronomy 18:15: "The LORD your God will raise up unto you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brethren, One like me…. [Moses speaking to the children of Israel] …To Him you shall hearken, according to all that you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, so that I do not die.' And the LORD said to me, 'They have spoken well what they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, One like you, and will put My words in His mouth…. [Our Lord and Savior was awakened morning by morning to receive that teaching from God] …And He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him'" (vs 15-18).

These are the promises is setting up the place where we are right now.

Matthew 3:1: "Now, in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths"'" (vs 1-3).

Verse 4: "Now, John himself wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him those from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country around the Jordan, and were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins" (vs 4-6).

Verse 7: "But after seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, produce fruits worthy of repentance; and do not think to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father"; for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. But already the axe is striking at the roots of the trees; therefore, every tree that is not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire'" (vs 7-10).

So, when we have this relationship by which we need to be producing the fruits that God has called us to produce. Christ gives us the power to have this accomplished in our life.

Isaiah 11:1: "And there shall come forth a shoot out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (vs 1-2).

These are all made possible by the indwelling of God's Spirit within us. A spiritual power that was not possible with the spirit in man alone. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit, this Spirit is from God the Father! The presence of that Spirit within us was made possible by Christ's righteousness!

We couldn't even to stand to ask for; we couldn't bow our heads in prayer and ask God's forgiveness to receive it, because we stand in the righteousness of Christ when we do! So, His righteousness is a powerful thing and makes possible all the things that we can do in prayer and receiving God's presence in our life.

Verse 3: "And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. And He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes, nor after the hearing of His ears. But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins" (vs 3-5).

This is where we have our hope, as well! We're standing in:

• that trust
• that belief
• that hope
• that promise

Let's explore just a little bit further as we start to look now to where we are and what we need to do with this. Once again, our righteousness is unacceptable, but there is the righteousness of the Law, as I described before.

Our walk, belief in what we do and our desire to please God, to do that what was pleasing in His sight, to live according to His way. That change of thinking, believing, hoping and doing is made possible by the very presence of God within us; the power of God's Holy Spirit within us.

Psalm 2:6: "Yea, I have set My King upon Zion, My Holy mountain. I will declare the decree of the LORD. He has said to Me, 'You are My Son; this day I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I shall give the nations for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession'" (vs 6-8).

I'm talking about our spiritual inheritance here with Christ. These things are part of what it is that we're looking forward to.

Verse 9: "You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

Verse 10: "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be admonished O judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for His wrath can flame up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him" (vs 10-12).

So, God being Who He is, yes, warrants fear, awe and honor! But He is God, and He is truly love! Through all of that respect and honor, we know that He love us and sends forth what we need to be a part of His Family.

Isa. 49—God is admonishing us through His prophets:

Isaiah 49:1: "Listen, O isles, to Me; and hearken, you people from afar; the LORD has called Me from the womb; He has made mention of My name from My mother's belly. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft. He has hidden Me in His quiver, and said to Me, 'You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.' Then I said, 'I have labored in vain; I have spent My strength for nothing, and in vain; yet, surely justice is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God'" (vs 1-4).

Verse 5: "And now, says the LORD—Who formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, (though Israel is not gathered, yet, I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be My strength)—He said, 'It is but a little thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring back the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth'" (vs 5-6).

Verse 7: "Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation hates, the Servant of rulers, 'Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship because of the LORD Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, and He shall choose You'"

Verse 11: "And I will make all My mountains into roads, and My highways shall be exalted. Behold, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.' Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break out into singing, O mountains; for the LORD has comforted His people, and will have compassion upon His afflicted. But Zion said, 'The LORD has forsaken me, and my LORD has forgotten me'" (vs 11-14).

Verse 15—God expresses His love: "Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet, I will not forget you. Behold, I have carved you upon the palms of My hands; your walls are forever before Me" (vs 15-16). God means that!

Verse 22: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I will lift up My hand to the Gentiles, and have set up My banner to the people; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They shall bow to you, with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD; for they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me'" (vs 22-23).

Verse 24: "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? But thus says the LORD, 'Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the fierce ones shall be rescued, for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. And I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob'" (vs 24-26).

God is a powerful God, and this is the same God Who came down to be that perfect righteous character for us!

What is it that we have in this relationship? Only we and God knows what really goes on in our lives; what we need and where we are! It isn't something that we share across some social media platform. It is a personal, intimate relationship that each and every one of us have with Jesus Christ and God the Father in terms of where we are and how we access that righteousness and faith that is in Him.

As we struggle through life and as we strive to do what is good in God's eyes, we know that we stumble and fall from time-to-time, but we don't lose hope or face. Some find themselves in tremendous trials, and difficulty at times, being tested beyond measure to the point that they say:

• What is wrong with me?
• Why is it so difficult in my life?

Well, count it all joy when you go through various trials and temptations, because we know that God is perfecting Himself within us. He will get the job done.

Prov. 24 is a very good message for every one of us to take to heart. We need to just hang on! We need to keep striving in faith, believing in hope, and trusting God!

Proverbs: 24:10: "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

So, we have to go back to the Source of strength, which is God the Father. We do that through Christ. His righteousness makes that possible.

Verse 11: "Rescue those being drawn to death, and hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know it,' does not He who searches the heart consider it? And the Keeper of your soul, does He not know? And does He not repay to every man according to his works? My son, eat honey because it is good; and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your hope shall not be cut off" (vs 11-14).

God makes that very clear as a part of His Word so that we can read it and comprehend it. But here's the opposite to those who turn from God, who will not seek after God:

Verse 15: "O wicked man, do not lie in ambush against the dwelling of the righteous; do not spoil his resting place; for a righteous one falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked shall fall into evil. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see, and it displease Him, and He turns away His wrath from him" (vs 15-18).

We have this relationship made possible through what Christ has done and where He is right now, and made available to us. In this relationship that we right now with God, in this place of faith, trust and belief in His promise to us, and the mind of the One Who is at His right hand. We have an understanding that we have a responsibility, too, in this relationship. We don't just take advantage of the grace, or take advantage of the love of God as He has poured it out upon us.

But we respond in kind with a commitment and our desire to come to Him. We are seeking Him always. Not just because His found us now and given us His Spirit; we're still seeking Him daily! We seek Him differently now with God's Spirit dwelling in us. We go to His Word and are moved and tried by it.

Philippians 2:1: "Now then, if there be any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit…" That's what we all have:

• we have encouragement in Christ
• we have comfort of the love of God
• we have fellowship of the Spirit

because we all have the one Spirit

"…if any deep inner affections and compassions" (v 1)—which we are instructed to have for one another!

It has been expressed in God's Church. We see it within God's Family here and it's quite evident. Paul says:

Verse 2: "Fulfill my joy that you be of the same mind, having the same love, being joined together in soul, minding the one thing. Let nothing be done through contention or vainglory, but in humility, each esteeming the others above himself. Let each one look not only after his own things, but let each one also consider the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (vs 2-5).

It's getting heavy, brethren. Let's see what Christ expects. If we have the mind of Christ, and our commitment to one another is strong, our commitment to God is strong.

Verse 5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself…" (vs 5-7).

This is interesting. Christ Who is perfect righteous character emptied Himself of that perfect righteous character to become human so He would qualify to be perfect righteous character again. That is a commitment to each and every one of us!

Verse 7: "But emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness of men, and took the form of a servant; and being found in the manner of man… [it was possible that He could lose it all if He would have sinned; He did what we should do]: …He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (vs 7-8).

Who knows what we will be confronted with in our lifetime in terms of choices that we will have to make.

Verse 9: "Therefore, God has also highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him a name, which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus… [everyone] …every knee should bow… [He's the only One Who can save] …took the form of a servant, of beings in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (vs 9-11).

Verse 12: "So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed…"

As I was saying earlier, we desire to commit ourselves to the obedience to God. With God's Holy Spirit, it can be done! Not just with the Spirit, but access to the Father in prayer; not just access to the Father, but standing before the Father with the perfect righteous character of Christ, humbly petitioning Him. Paul says that we should always obey!

"…not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (v 12).

Not that we can bring ourselves to eternal life, but understanding with wisdom, that we are able to exercise Godly wisdom with this understanding and choices that we make, and with the knowledge about Christ.

Verse 13: "For it is God Who works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure."

So there is no more enmity between us and God. We are at peace! Truly at peace! The standing that we have and what we do now, God doesn't want us to have fear or doubt whether or not it is complete love that He has for us.

God wants us to know that it is a fully committed love that He has for those who seek after Him! Especially if you have His Spirit, and have become a son or daughter of His. He loves all of His creation, but He is working in us today. That work He's doing in us was only made possible because of what Christ did and Who He is at the Father's right hand.

This is what God sees for our future: Isaiah 59:8: "They… [the world that we live in] …have not known the way of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made crooked paths for themselves; whoever goes therein shall not know peace. Therefore, justice is far from us; nor does righteousness overtake us. We wait for light, but behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. We grope along the wall like the blind…" (vs 8-10).

This is the status of the world at large without God's hand or Spirit guiding them. This is us prior to God's calling, and not having a true bearing in terms of who we are and why we were born. What is the purpose of life? This is a sad state!

Verse 15: "Yea, truth fails; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. And the LORD saw, and it was evil in His eyes that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor. Therefore, His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness sustained Him, for He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon His head. And He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was covered with zeal like a cloak" (vs 15-17).

Verse 18: "According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay; fury to His foes, deed for deed to His enemies. He will repay their deeds to the isles. So, they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall make him flee" (vs 18-19).

Verse 20: "'The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,' says the LORD. 'As for Me, this is My covenant with them,' says the LORD, 'My spirit that is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed's seed,' says the LORD, 'from now on and forever'" (vs 20-21).

You're contrasting Jesus' words of encouragement, warning, admonition, so let's see this full commitment and the prayer He prayed to the Father on the night that He was to give us His life at the Passover.

John 17:1: Jesus spoke these words…"—in prayer to the Father! Let's see what His emphasis was, His desire was.

"…and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify Your own Son, so that Your Son may also glorify You; since You have given Him authority over all flesh, in order that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. For this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You did send. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work that You gave Me to do" (vs 1-4).

Verse 5: "And now, Father, glorify Me with Your own self, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now, they have known that all things that You have given Me are from You. For I have given them the words that You gave to Me; and they have received them and truly have known that I came from You; and they have believed that You did send Me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and all Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them'" (vs 5-10).

So, He told the Father that He was coming to Him!

Verse 16: "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your Truth; Your Word is the Truth. Even as You did send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (vs 16-18).

So, here we are in God's Church today in this world:

• waiting for Christ's return
• doing His will, doing His work
• trusting in Him
• to work these great miracles in our lives
• to see His work through to the very end

Verse 19: And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in Your Truth. I do not pray for these only, but also for those who shall believe in Me through their word" (vs 19-20).

That is us, brethren, reading these words right now. Those in the Law and the Prophets; we read them and believe them and act on them.

• we hope in God in every way
• we trust in God for everything
• we act and do and put forth effort to the maximum

because we know that is pleasing to God! It produces life. It is from the righteousness of the Law, yes; because to live in those Laws brings peace and blessings! To live apart from those Laws in darkness brings misery and death. But our salvation is a whole other matter!

Philippians 3:1: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Indeed, for me to write the same things to you is not troublesome, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, who serve God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in the flesh; though I might also have reason to trust in the flesh. If any other thinks he has cause to trust in the flesh, I have much more" (vs 1-4).

Paul goes on to explain all of that!

Verse 8: "But then truly, I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as dung; that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is derived from law, but that righteousness, which is by the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God that is based on faith; that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (vs 8-10).

Verse 11: "If by any means I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead; not as though I have already received, or have already been perfected; but I am striving… [we all are] …so that I may also lay hold on that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (vs 11-12). So, it originated from the Father and Christ:

• we are the objects of it
• we are the receivers of it
• we are the purpose of it

Christ decided to empty Himself to become a perfect Savior for us so that we might have hope of eternal life in Him.

Yes, brethren, He will be glorified when it's all said and done. Continue to focus on Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, in ways that are true according to His Word so that we recognize from where our salvation comes!

Scriptural References:

• Isaiah 64:1-12
• Romans 12:3-11
• Philippians 3:6-8
• Romans 3:20-22, 28
• John 5:36-47
• Genesis 3:15
• Genesis 12:1-4
• Genesis 18:18
• Genesis 22:14-18
• Deuteronomy 18:15-18
• Matthew 3:1-10
• Isaiah 11:1-5
• Psalm 2:6-12
• Isaiah 49:1-7, 11-16, 22-26
• Proverbs 24:10-18
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Isaiah 59:8-10, 17-21
• John 17:1-10, 12-20
• Philippians 3:1-4, 8-12

AJ:bo
Transcribed: 1/16/23

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