ICS Daily Devotions
The Gift of Righteousness
John3:16-18 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God doesn’t just show us the problem but He gave us the solution too. He’s not here to condemn us or observe when we are going to make a mistake. He gave us a very clear indication of the way back to Him!
Therefore, if the whole nation of Israel continued to be stubborn in their ways, the consequence would be a nation of people separated from God for eternity. Many of the Israelites and the people in the world do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Therefore, they stand condemned because they have rejected the only way that God has ordained for us to come to Him. The way, the truth and the life is found in Jesus Christ. It is the blood of Jesus and not the blood of lambs that will bring them to God. If they reject Jesus then they stand condemned before God because there is no other way for them to be saved except through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Many people are attempting to get their lives right with God or to plan for their eternity but nothing seems to help them to be fully convinced that they are accepted. They are lost in their sin and self- righteousness through their own works which are not able to help them stand righteous before God.
We need to take the gospel of Jesus Christ and the righteousness that is found in Christ to them.
Romans 5:17 (NKJV) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
What is Righteousness and why is it so important?
Righteousness is the ability to stand in the presence of God without the sense of sin, guilt or inferiority.
Righteousness is a free gift given to us by the Grace of God! He loves us unconditionally and desires to restore that relationship with us.
When we have been subject to always performing to receive acceptance from parents, friends, peers, employers, society or even gods, we find it difficult to accept something that is free. It seems too good to be true. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. He gives it freely to us although we do not deserve it. All we need to do is to receive Jesus’ completed work and we are made righteous.
Sermon Series: Lengthen the Cords – Our Nation