Seeking Jesus First - Feb. 2, 2023

There is something that many either take for granted or dismiss depending on their understanding of God’s grace. There is only one thing that we can do to receive the salvation provided from God - Believe in The LORD Jesus Christ who became the fulfilling sacrifice for bot the old covenant and the new covenant. But…

But The Bible still teaches us how to live godly lives and to walk out the gift of righteousness. Godliness and righteousness is in our new DNA and kingdom culture. We are still being trained in righteousness by God appointed church leaders - the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - the Word of God and the fellowship of The Spirit.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV)

The Holy Spirit breathed word of God is profitable to each of us for

• Doctrine - A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief.
• Reproof - Rebuke.
• Correction - The process of bringing something into alignment.
• Instruction in righteousness - Teaching people about their new righteous identity. We are not teaching believers how to become righteous. We are teaching them that they are righteous. We are teaching them about righteousness, where it comes from, what it does, how to walk it out, the benefits of living in it, etc.

Godliness is the outward expression of inward righteousness.

We have received the gift of righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus. As with any gift, the less it is used, the more useless it becomes. If we never draw from this inward gift of righteousness, we will continue in the things that used to enslave us. While being free from them, we will act as though we are still bound.

Can you imagine a death row inmate living in a a tiny prison cell getting exonerated and set free? Only to go and build a tiny prison cell in his apartment at home and never leave it? Of course not. But that is what many Christians do by not drawing from the gift of righteousness that is in them.

Here is some instruction in righteousness from Hebrews 13. “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:1–6, NKJV)

It starts with the ever present reminder of our new covenant command given to us from Christ Jesus. “Love one another.”

Next, Holy Spirit tells us to be hospitable to strangers because they might be angels coming to minister to you or on your behalf.

Then He tells us to remember those who are imprisoned and persecuted for their faith in Christ Jesus.

He even takes time to warn us against fornication and adultery reminding how honorable it is to be and remain faithfully married to one person.

And finally, He tells us that The LORD Jesus is always with us and His Spirit is always helping us to overcome every adverse circumstance with faith, love and self encouraging words.

We are taught by The Word and The Spirit how to live godly by drawing from our new nature of righteousness by faith. We now live from our new position of victory and from our new righteous identity.

The learning process is the same for any child of privilege. We are privileged to be taught the culture of the kingdom of heaven from the standpoint of being a child of the king. He gives us family - The Father and The Son - as well as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. He gives us tutors - His word and His Spirit - as well as the five-fold ministry in the body of Christ. He gives us access to resources and all the help we need. God does all of this because He wants us to succeed in our instruction so that we can fulfill our kingdom purpose in the earth.

“Our Father, we humbly submit to Your word and Your Spirit and to those You have sent to help in our training in righteousness. We repent for all hard-heartedness and gratefully accept Your authority and Your words over us. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for accretion us and for adopting us as sons and daughters.”