Attaining to Righteousness, EVEN the Righteousness of Faith

‘What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith: but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." '(Romans 9:30-33)

Is a person righteous because they have been born of the stock of Israel? What about those who are sympathetic to the ideal of the God of Israel? Is one righteous because they have received God's mercy and have been born again: washed by the blood of the Lamb of God?

What about those who have received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, so that they may become witnesses to Him? The steps discussed certainly lend a form of righteousness; but unless we recognize the hope of His calling, counting it all joy when we fall into various trials, letting patience have its perfect work, so that we might perfect and complete, lacking nothing; which is our reasonable service, we won't have 'attained to the righteousness of faith'. Faith is the testimony the Lord, Jesus Christ left for us. It is what He did!

Strength to Become Weak

‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.' 

(Acts 1:8)

'For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? ---unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.'

(2 Corinthians 13:4-9)

'And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." '

(2 Corinthians 2:7-9)

We will need to receive the power that the Holy Spirit brings upon: for in order to be witnesses to Him, we need the strength to resist the temptation to rejoice only in His mercy and forgiveness, but ultimately His grace, His testimony. We need strength to become weak in Him, to persevere, for 'His strength is made perfect' there.

Every Man According to His Works

‘From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not happen unto thee." But he turned, and said unto Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS." '

(Matthew 16:21-27)

Which works? We must recognize when the Father reveals Christ Jesus to us; employ the keys of the kingdom of heaven, binding and loosing here on earth that which has been so in heaven. As the Holy Spirit reveals the testimony of Jesus, repent when correction comes, understanding how to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. The design of your salvation is in His hands, which we are required to WORK out with fear and trembling.

Being Predestined according to His Purpose

‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, BEING PREDESTINED according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ SHOULD BE to the praise of His glory.' (Ephesians 1:7-12)

As Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, prophesies in proportion to his faith; we must understand that 'no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation'. Therefore we are all predestined, and should understand and persevere to the praise of His glory. Each one's inheritance is obtained as we are being the predestined of God in Christ Jesus.

Let each Esteem other Better (Philippians 2:1-11)

‘If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.'

'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.'

'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'

Are you willing to esteem Paul's testimony as better, relative to your current beliefs? Paul esteemed the lordship of Jesus Christ better; as Jesus Christ esteemed the calling and glory of God the Father. Let us esteem other better when it becomes obvious to us that it is better!

Recognize when Your Work is being burned. Paul did!

‘Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and ASKED letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." '(Acts 9:1-6)

'So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

 (1 Corinthians 3:7-15)

We see that Saul's works were burned on that Day on the road to Damascus. He asked the Lord: "What do You want me to do?" From that point on, his works were rewarded by God, through the fire.

Be Wise and Keep Asking!

‘And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.' 

(Matthew 25:8-10)

'So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.' 

(Luke 11:9-13)

No matter how dark or bright 'the understanding' (1 John 5:20) is to you, if you ask the heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit, of the Holy Spirit you shall receive; leading you and guiding you into all truth. At some time you will recognize that you need it! Better to act right now than in distress at midnight.