The Way to be Right With God

Scriptural text:

The Way to be Right With God

Self-righteousness is like a bottomless cup: though you pour and pour, you will never be able to fill it. Why? Because pouring yourself into yourself adds nothing to you. Nothing plus nothing always equals nothing.

Instead, accept God’s righteousness rather than trying to accumulate your own. You will find that the righteousness he offers is real. And that is what fills the cup of sanctification.

 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 327.

Introduction

tells us that the world needs to get right with God. And that men without the law, the heathen, are taught by nature and conscience(message: The Self-Evidence of Truth). However, they have sinned by falling short of the standard of righteousness given to them ():

This includes the “moralist”, a person who lives a moral and clean life, but he judges others because they do not live as he thinks they should. He is moral, upright, just, good, decent, and honorable.The "religionist(Jews)” professes religion. He accepts the name of his religion whatever it may be, whether Jew, Moslem, or Buddhist; and he shows enough interest in his religion to give him security. Their problem is they don’t live or obey the Word of God.

Therefore, all have sin and fallen short of God’s standard! With this understanding we need to know “The Way to be Right With God.”

Righteousness is “The Way to be Right With God”

Used 3 ways in Scripture

Righteousness refers to God’s character It means the righteousness, justice, and perfection which God Himself possesses and shows.

It means the righteousness, justice, and perfection which God Himself possesses and shows.

Righteousness reveals man’s lack of godly character It means the sinful, depraved, unrighteous, unjust, and imperfect nature and behavior of man

It means the sinful, depraved, unrighteous, unjust, and imperfect nature and behavior of man

Righteousness means the perfection which God provides for man in Christ Jesus When a man allows the Lord Jesus Christ to take his sins, he is given the righteousness of God. Christ robes the man in the righteousness of God Himself by faith (; Ph.3:9)

When a man allows the Lord Jesus Christ to take his sins, he is given the righteousness of God. Christ robes the man in the righteousness of God Himself by faith (; Ph.3:9)

(1) Righteousness  is now revealed (v.21-22)

God’s righteousness of man is “without law.” because the law had fail

The law does not allow disobedience; it requires obedience. Anyone who disobeys the law becomes a lawbreaker, a transgressor. He is guilty and to condemned

Law does not have the power to make a person obedient.

It does not have the power to prevent a person from disobeying

God’s righteousness  for man was foretold by the Old Testament (prophets and law)God’s righteousness is revealed in Jesus Christ (; ; Ph.3.9)

God’s righteousness  for man was foretold by the Old Testament (prophets and law)

God’s righteousness is revealed in Jesus Christ (; ; Ph.3:9)

(2) Righteousness is for everyone(v.22-23)

All who believe

All who need: There is no difference

e is no difference All have sinnedAll come short of God’s glory

All have sinned

All come short of God’s glory

(3) Righteousness is only possible through justification(v.24)

it is free—by grace it is through redemption

(4) Righteousness is by an act of God: By propitiation(v.25)

Propitiation means to be a sacrifice, covering, a satisfaction, a payment, an appeasement for sin.

God sent His only SonIt is Jesus blood—His sacrifice, His death, His suffering, His cross

, ;

(5) Righteousness has one great purpose: To proclaim God’s personal righteousness( v.25-26)

That He forgives sin (; Her 9:22,28)

That He is forbearing (; )

That He is just (; ; )

That He is the justifier of believers (; ; ; ; )