The root cause of humanity`s problem
So
I beg to ask the question who are we in the true sense of the word? In the true
sense of the word, we are slaves to obedience to righteousness. Before the
advent of Jesus Christ, sin was the principal factor for our dilemma, but since
the advent of Jesus Christ sin is no longer the principal factor for our
dilemma.
For
we have been admonished saying, “For when we were still without strength, in
due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one
die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were
reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also
rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5: 6-11).
The
scriptures further state that, “For if by the one man's offense death reigned
through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore,
as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in
condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all
men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many
were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered
that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much
more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ” (Romans
5: 17-21).
The
crux of the matter is stated thus “Do you not know that to whom you present
yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of
sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be
thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that
form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from
sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the
weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of
uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present
your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans
6: 16-19).
Sin
therefore, is of the past, righteousness is of the present, “For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For
what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by
sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He
condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit” (Romans
8:2-4)..
Therefore,
the root cause of humanity`s problems and to a greater extent believers, it is
our failure to acknowledge our enslavement to obedience to righteousness. But
before proceeding any further it is imperative that we have a comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of righteousness.
So
I beg to ask the question, how do we define righteousness? Is it something that
is left for everyone to decide for themselves, or is it something that is
stipulated by definite laws and guidelines! True righteousness is not something
that is left for individuals, groups or religions to decide for themselves
because, what constitutes righteousness has been clearly defined by the Psalmist
David who wrote; “My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments
are righteousness” (Psalms 119:172).
Righteousness
in relation to our current disposition is multifaceted: First and foremost one
has to take into consideration the fact that as a new creation we were, “created
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” And according to the
apostle Paul; “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which is from God by faith.” This is termed, “Imputed righteousness”. (Ephesians
4; 24: Philippians 3:9).
There
is also legal righteousness which is according to the law which the apostle
Paul lamented the plight of Israel by saying: “For I bear them witness that
they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is
the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans
10:2-4).
There
is also self- righteousness which according to the prophet Isaiah; “But we are
all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; We
all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah
64:6).
And
last but not the least, there is the real practical righteousness which
children of God are required to practice as we have been instructed by the
apostle John saying; “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He
appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If
you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices
righteousness is born of Him.”
He
went on further to warn us by saying; “Little children, let no one deceive you.
He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” And, “In
this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever
does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his
brother” (1 John
2:28-28; 3:7, 10).
What
is of great significance therefore is, what is this act of righteousness which
when practice demonstrates that we are born of Him and makes us righteous even
as He is righteousness! The answer to this question is clearly defined by the apostle
John who wrote:
“This
is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is
light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with
Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk
in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and
His word is not in us” (1 John 1:5-10).
Our
responsibility therefore, is to walk in the light/truth, which is the word /law
of God and since no one can say I have no sin, or have not sinned, if we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness: And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Therefore,
it is by living in obedience to the laws of God, confessing our sins, and
partaking of His flesh and blood represented by the bread and wine at the
appointed times, will the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin
and makes us righteous even as Christ Himself is righteous.
These
times of ignorance God has overlooked: but now commands all men everywhere to
repent.
With
brotherly love
Lucius
Joseph
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