Right Believing About Righteousness 2

Romans 4:1 NKJV

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?

Just as the gospel is the message of God’s grace, the law has a message as well:

Romans 4:13–14 NKJV

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

shut up - you’re guilty

Think about it: if our right standing before God is a reward for good behavior, then we’d get credit for earning it. However, we would have to concede that the flip-side is also true: we’d lose our right standing before God by bad behavior. If righteousness is truly a gift by the grace of God, then Jesus, who actually purchased it for us with His own blood, would get the credit, and we can’t lose it even when we fail.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Galatians 5:4 KJV 1900

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

niv

addicted, sick, depressed, overcome with rejection, burned out, struggling to make ends meet, tossing and turning every sleepless night, estranged from your children, betrayed by your spouse - you need Jesus to be of effect.

kjv

addicted, sick, depressed, overcome with rejection, burned out, struggling to make ends meet, tossing and turning every sleepless night, estranged from your children, betrayed by your spouse - you need Jesus to be of effect.

You can’t do it on your own!

Playing the right mental movies

Mark 3:1–5 NKJV

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Jesus saw that there was more than enough grace for that hand to be made completely whole.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In your area of lack, struggle, or challenge, see His superabounding grace all around your current situation

2 Kings 6:15–16 NKJV

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

The more you learn and believe right about His love and what His Word says about your situation, the more your thoughts will line up with His thoughts about you.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God's Love

Romans 5:8–10 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.