SN 3 July 2022
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Abel & Cain… The basic lessons from last week was that…
- We need to be operating under the law of the spirit of life
- … and be true worshipers, who worship the Father in spirit and truth
Our sacrifices should be offered in righteousness
- Holy, pleasing and acceptable to God
- Both ourselves as living sacrifices and our offering are both considered
- And requires our belief in God and doing what is acceptable to Him (Pleasing Faith)
- … for anything contrary is considered sin, which we are called to master before it overcomes us.
Abel gave us the example of how our sacrifices witness for us before God
- … Especially when offered in pleasing faith,
- … as a form of worship in spirit and truth
- … it is considered righteous and (when?) God shows His approval
- Therefore our sacrifices ( both ourselves & our offering)
- … continuously( ??) speaks (witnesses) for us before God
Through the example of Cain
- We saw how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
- Obedience is better than sacrifice, submission is better than offering
- whereas fools despise wisdom, instruction and self discipline
Therefore we should not be ignorant of Gods righteousness
- or seek to establish our own righteousness
- … but we are to submit to God’s righteousness
- … so that we do not perish for lack of knowledge
- … or go into captivity for lack of understanding
We were therefore urged in Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
- … to walk prudently when we go into the house of the Lord
- … rather than to give the sacrifice of fools
- … we should draw near to God to hear and not be rash with our mouth
Indeed we are urged to love God & get to know Him more
- … such as by persevering in doing what is good and acceptable to Him
- … as doing His will (obedience & submission) now supersedes burnt offerings and sacrifices …Hebrews 10:8-9
- … all so that we may receive the crown of life that He promised to those who love Him
After all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter ….
… God has shown us what is required of us
- – to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God
… with the whole duty of man being
- – to fear God
- – and keep His commandments
This week we explore the issue of righteousness by faith…… within the context of the past studies… where we looked at Esther, Abraham, Jacob vs Esau, Able vs Cain and so on.
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Where we see a common thread that runs through, such as…
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1 John 2:15-17
- – Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
- – For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
- – The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
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1 Peter 2:5
- – Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
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Welcome all and be blessed with today’s Manna for Thought… as we continue to pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God.
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JP
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>>Righteousness by Faith
>> God’s righteousness is based on faith
… received by grace through faith and as a gift… indeed all dependent on God’s amazing love, amazing mercy and amazing grace…
… with any attempt at our own righteousness considered as filthy rags before the Lord…Isaiah 64:6
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>> Indeed a major issue when we fall out (or are ignorant ) of relationship and are into religion!!
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Luke 13:23-24 (NKJV)
- – Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,
- – “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
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Matthew 7:14 (NKJV)
– Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
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Luke 18:26-27 (NKJV)
- – And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
- – But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
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Romans 9:15-16 (BSB)
- – For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
- – So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
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The DANGER of RELIGION!
… trying to be justified by the law or by works… rather than developing and relying on a gracious faithful relationship with the Lord
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Romans 10:2-4 (AMP)
- … For I testify about them that they have a certain enthusiasm for God, but not in accordance with [correct and vital] knowledge [about Him and His purposes].
- … For not knowing about God’s righteousness[which is based on faith], and seeking to establish their own [righteousness based on works], they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
- … For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior].
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— With pleasing faith being…
Hebrews 11:1, 6 (AMP)
- – 1. Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
- – 6. But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
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— E.g. Salvation
Ephesians 2:8(AMP)
- – For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;
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Galatians 3:9-14 (BSB)
- So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
- All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
- The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
- Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
- He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
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Galatians 5:4(BSB)
- You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
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Hebrews 11:4
- By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks… NKJV
- It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith… NLT
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— For example
2 Corinthians 5:21
- For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him….NKJV
- He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious loving kindness]….AMP
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Hebrews 9:22 (AMP)
- In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].
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Romans 8:1-4 (AMP)
- Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].
- For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
- For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son],
- so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power].
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Romans 1:16-17 (BSB)
- I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
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Habakkuk 2:4(AMP)
- “Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God].
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Romans 3 (NLT)
- 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
- 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
- 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
- 24 Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
- 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,
- 26 for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.
- 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. (justified by faith and not works of the law)
- 30 There is only one God, and He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
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Romans 5:1-2 (BSB)
- Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
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Romans 9:30 (AMP)
- What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith;
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Romans 5:19 (AMP)
- For just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.
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Hebrews 10:38-39 (BSB)
- But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
- But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
— falling from grace!?
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Power of Faith
- Gives access into God’s grace
- The only way we are made right with God
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The righteousness of God in our lives is sustained by (His) grace
… & (His) grace is also sustained through a life lived in righteousness
… grace enables righteous living & continuous righteous living maintains (or attracts more) grace??
- Everyone who has will be given more…Luke 19:26
- The faithful in little will be given much… Luke 16:10
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Romans 5:21
- so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord….BSB
- So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord… NLT
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Ezekiel 33:11-12, 14-16 (NLT)
- As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
- “Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.
- 14 And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right.
- 15 For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.
- 16 None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.
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Ezekiel 18:21-22, 24, 31 (BSB)
- But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
- None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
- But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
- Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
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Conclusion
1 John 1:9 (AMP)
- If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].
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Matthew 3:8(AMP)
- So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin];
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Galatians 3
- – 3 Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
- – 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
- – 5 Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
- – 17 What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.
- – 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
- – 21 Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
- – 22 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
- – 23 Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
- – 24 So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- – 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
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Romans 4:16 (BSB)
- – Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
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PRAYER
Our Father and our God,
… we pray Psalm 51 over our lives & families…
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As well we ask according to Exodus 33:19
That You may…
… cause all Your goodness to pass before us,
… and proclaim Your name—the LORD—in our presence.
…. have mercy on us Oh Lord
… have compassion on us dear Father
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And according to Exodus 34:5 –
– Come down Lord and stand with us
… call out Your own Name Yahweh
… as Your Name is a strong tower, where we run to as the righteousness of God, and are held in safety.
– Pass in front of us LORD
… calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD!
.. The God of compassion and mercy!
… slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
… lavishing unfailing love to a thousand of our generations
… forgiving our iniquity, rebellion, and sin
… and breaking, for ourselves and our generations, the curses and redeeming us from the consequences of our sin, transgression and iniquity
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Indeed we thank You our dearly heavenly Father…
… for Your Amazing Love,
… Your Amazing Mercy and
… Your Amazing Grace!
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For…
2 Corinthians 5:21 (BSB)
– God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Hence…
Galatians 3:13-14(BSB)
– Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
– He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
May the Lord give us the grace to submit to His righteousness
A righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.
AMEN!!
THE LIVING WORD 4 LIFE 