Christ Is Our Righteousness

As I was jogging yesterday, this amazing truth hit me, and I felt joy stir within me: I am completely clean; fully forgiven; counted righteous; declared holy by God - the only declaration that matters, for He has the last word. None of my past sins have any place in my life; they do not define who I am or where I am headed.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"It is because of [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord' " (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

Christ is my righteousness, holiness and redemption. O how great my savior Jesus Christ! Praise His Name! See what He has done for all who believe in His Name, who believe in Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is great! Sin no longer defines me. The fight is hard but worth it to see that our true identity is in Jesus. Rejoice with me saints, for what is true of "me" is true of you also!

In one of the books I have recently read, When the Darkness Will Not Lift, John Piper quotes the words of John Bunyan on a defining moment when he was set free from the bondage and torment of sin. I believe that it will encourage you greatly as it has me.

"One day I was passing into the field...this sentence fell upon my soul. Thy righteousness is in heaven. And...I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus Christ at God's right hand; there, I say, was my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, he [lacks] my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse, for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, ' The same yesterday, today, and forever ' (Heb. 13:8). Now did my chains fall of my legs indeed. I was loosed from my afflictions and irons; my temptations also fled away; so that from that time those dreadful scriptures of God [about the unforgivable sin] left off to trouble me; now went I also home rejoicing for the grace and love of God" (p. 20-21).

Works cited:

1. Piper, John. When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God-and Joy. Crossway Books. United States of America: 2006.

The God of Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.     - Romans 15:13

I have recently returned from a summer job where I spent almost all of my time ministering to, spending time with, and loving on campers.  It was exhausting, yet amazingly rewarding when God would allow me to catch a glimpse of what He was doing in the campers' lives, especially when I saw it in one of my guys.  Since my return, I have struggled with major discouragement, melancholy, and sadness.    

One of my biggest struggles this past week has been the fact that I am jobless.  My faith has been tested because I do not even know where to begin looking.  What I have done is to present my anxiety and requests to the Lord.  The tough part about that is that right when I did so, I did not open my eyes to a job offer.  I continue not knowing where to go or even what step to take.  Then I came across this verse in Romans, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Let's break it down:

1.  the God of hope

2.  fill you with all joy and peace

3.  as you trust in him

4.  that you may overflow with hope

5.  by the power of the Holy Spirit

I have prayed this verse over myself, hoping that its truth will make its way into my heart.  As I wait and trust the Lord to guide me where He wants me, He is able to fill me with all joy and peace.  I can overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is real!  So, brothers and sisters, I do not know what you are going through right now, but I know that you are going through or will soon go through something; whether it is a hard decision, circumstance, spiritual attack, or daily life.  There is hope, joy, and peace available to all who trust in Jesus!  Pray this verse with me.