30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 14-17 The cross and the kingdom of God 05 God’s righteousness at the cross
📖 Luke 16:14-17
08Apr2020 - *God’s righteousness at the cross* - _Luke 16:14-17_ - Bible reading: _II Corinthians 5:21_
_Luke 16:15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God._
The Pharisees heard and understood that the message of Jesus was to deal with the issues of the heart and there to be surrendered to God. This message was foolish to them. They mocked Him, even at the cross but at the same time, the sword of His words was piercing their heart.
The message of the cross is about the matters of the heart. Yes, God does see our outward behaviour and our actions but God is concerned about the heart. _Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?_ The faithful man is the man, whose heart is right before God.
Sin is in the flesh and by the deeds of the law, we cannot be made righteous before God. _Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin._
Whereas, the Pharisees were seeking to impress people by their outward show of good deeds. _Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments._ Details of their hypocritical religion can be understood from _Matthew 6:2, 5, 16_
The Lord was angry with the Pharisees and He longed that they would surrender to Him and be corrected in their ways. But they would not. They were showing a wrong path to the people by the life they lived and by the message they taught. _Matthew 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence._ He longed for them to understand that righteousness before God is the righteousness of the heart.
How can we have the righteousness of the heart? It is at the cross that the miracle of appropriating God’s righteousness takes place, which we receive by faith in Him. _II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him._
Jesus hung on the cross as a representative of our sin. We deserved to be punished. The wrath of God should have fallen on us, for all of us have sinned against God. We have rebelled and gone our own way. God laid our sin on Jesus, who had no sin _(I John 3:5)_. It is at the cross that the miracle of God’s righteousness comes on us, which we receive by simple faith that we place on Jesus.
How does this miracle happen? It happens, when we confess our sin and rebellion, seek God’s forgiveness and we then give ourselves completely to Him in total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. God forgives us and transfers the righteousness of Jesus to us. We are now righteous before God because we have received by faith, what Jesus did for us on the cross.
It is the righteousness of Jesus, which we have received and continue to receive by faith that makes us to be part of God’s kingdom. _Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER; A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM._
The righteousness of Jesus in us is lived out by His Holy Spirit. _Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit._
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you experiencing the righteousness of God in you?```