ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

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“In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.”

Isaiah 54:14 (NKJV)

E.W. Kenyon, a prominent voice in the early American church, gives this definition of righteousness: “the ability to stand in the presence of the Father God without the sense of guilt or inferiority.”

Condemnation is a trap. Satan uses our mistakes and shortcomings as opportunities to bring condemnation—a sense of guilt and disapproval. Condemnation compels people to run from God, from church, from life group because we think our weaknesses are unique. So, we might isolate ourselves and perhaps try to avoid God and any consequences that may accompany His intervention. However, the trap is a farce.

Our right standing with God cannot be overturned. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is our Lawyer (1John 2:1). The devil is called the accuser of the brethren, and he tries to sway Christians to believe his accusations. He accuses us with thoughts of guilt, condemnation, and shame over past failures. The devil’s accusations are lies.

Jesus made provision for our shortcomings. There is no need to hide from anyone, especially not God. When Jesus died on the cross, a great exchange took place. He became sin with our sin, and we became righteous with His righteousness. The truth is, despite any of our shortcomings, Jesus has given us perfect standing with God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Let’s meditate on truths that Paul wrote for the church:

“And this free-flowing gift imparts to us much more than what was given to us through the one who sinned. For because of one transgression, we are all facing a death sentence with a verdict of ‘Guilty!’ But this gracious gift leaves us free from our many failures and brings us into the perfect righteousness of God—acquitted with the words ‘Not guilty!’” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭TPT‬‬) (Jonathan Vasquez)

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and I am far from oppression, guilt, and condemnation.”

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 12-14; Psalms 129
    • New Testament: Luke 8:26-39; Colossians 3:1-14

ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS