Enemies of the Cross - Righteous Men
"The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...For it is by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God..." (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8)
Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus, the Son of God, became a mortal man to SAVE the world. So Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to immortal life. This salvation from death was a "gift from God" his Father, God's righteous reward for one sinless life sacrificed to save "all" sinners, not just a few.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24)
The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and literally means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous (pronounced not guilty) by God as a result of "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
The salvation from death because of our justification, granted freely to all sinners, is also a "gift", but "not of yourselves". It is only by the "GRACE" of God and "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". We deserve to stay dead but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to teach and place our "FAITH".
"Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep...For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all be made alive...so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
We should believe what God says. The cross of Christ was sufficient. Those requiring sinners to become righteous men in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".
"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weaping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on early things." (Philippians 3:18-19)
Those "enemies" think the cross was insufficient, teaching that sinners must DO something righteous, by their own free will, and should join in the activities of the local congregation of righteous people. They should beware that their genuflection does not identify them as an enemy of that cross...
The righteousness of men is not a bad thing. We need good people doing unselfish things, both inside and outside of church. But the praise of men for such righteousness will be "their reward in full".
Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus, the Son of God, became a mortal man to SAVE the world. So Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to immortal life. This salvation from death was a "gift from God" his Father, God's righteous reward for one sinless life sacrificed to save "all" sinners, not just a few.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24)
The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and literally means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous (pronounced not guilty) by God as a result of "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
The salvation from death because of our justification, granted freely to all sinners, is also a "gift", but "not of yourselves". It is only by the "GRACE" of God and "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". We deserve to stay dead but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to teach and place our "FAITH".
"Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep...For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all be made alive...so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
We should believe what God says. The cross of Christ was sufficient. Those requiring sinners to become righteous men in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".
"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weaping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on early things." (Philippians 3:18-19)
Those "enemies" think the cross was insufficient, teaching that sinners must DO something righteous, by their own free will, and should join in the activities of the local congregation of righteous people. They should beware that their genuflection does not identify them as an enemy of that cross...
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven...Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." (Matthew 6:1-5)
The righteousness of men is not a bad thing. We need good people doing unselfish things, both inside and outside of church. But the praise of men for such righteousness will be "their reward in full".
In seeking God with all our heart we find "the righteousness of God" only in what the sinless Jesus has done, not in our own righteous acts.
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them...He made him who know no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Believers in this age are "justified freely" in His righteousness, not in what they do, and...
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them...He made him who know no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Believers in this age are "justified freely" in His righteousness, not in what they do, and...
"...He is a rewarder of those who seek HIM..." (Hebrews 11:6)
God has a plan for sinful mankind, all of us. Our only "hope" is in His plan, rather than any of the noble plans conceived by political or religious men...
"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Few seek him in this present evil age, but after the resurrection, all mankind will seek and find God, and when found they will glorify Him as they realize they are saved and reconciled to God, not by any righteous decision or acts that they have done, but by God's unmerited favor - "GRACE" - and they will joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give the glory to God our Father.
"...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
Trust God and "beware" of Righteous Men.
God has a plan for sinful mankind, all of us. Our only "hope" is in His plan, rather than any of the noble plans conceived by political or religious men...
"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Few seek him in this present evil age, but after the resurrection, all mankind will seek and find God, and when found they will glorify Him as they realize they are saved and reconciled to God, not by any righteous decision or acts that they have done, but by God's unmerited favor - "GRACE" - and they will joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give the glory to God our Father.
"...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
Trust God and "beware" of Righteous Men.