1 John 2:29: If You Know That He Is Righteous (Part 2)

1 John 2:29
[29] If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. (ESV)

Yesterday we looked at the first part of this verse. We concentrated on the concept that many people do NOT know that God is righteous. They view themselves as being righteous. People will refer to their own sense of goodness. Yet, the reality is, when we gaze correctly at God we find our nature exposed as completely vile and corrupt. God's righteousness is perfect and holy. Ours is not.

For those who are aware of God's perfect righteousness there is now an ability to practice righteousness. This idea of practicing righteousness speaks of a new habit of godly living. It is not an occasional thing. It is not something that we just do on Sundays. Rather, practicing righteousness means that the way we conduct ourselves in our workplace, our schools, our family times, and any other occasion will glorify God and not ourselves.

How is this possible? Can we just wake up one morning and decide that we are going to practice righteousness? Not at all. Notice that the Apostle John tells us in the end of the verse that those who are practicing God's righteousness are giving evidence that they have been born of God. If you are not born of God, do not bother attempting any practice of God's righteousness. It will be completely futile.

The good news is that Jesus died to set us free from sin, and to give us his righteousness. By receiving his free gift of salvation we are adopted as God's child. And unlike earthly family adoptions, we are even given family traits like our newly adoptive Father. We begin to exhibit his traits of righteousness. It becomes a new habit for us.

Do you know that God is righteous? Have you received his righteousness? Are you practicing that righteousness? If not, this is a perfect moment to ask him to forgive you, save you, adopt you, and give you his righteousness!

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog