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THE MARK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (I)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
1 John 3:4-6
Philippians 3:6-11
 
“… but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith.”
 
THE MARK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (I)
 
Sin is incompatible with God’s Law; it is transgression of God’s moral standards. Jesus Christ in His earthly pilgrimage suffered and died, He was offered for sin. The lowest part of His sufferings was crucifixion and death. He had not committed any sin, but He took the place of the sinner. He shed His blood to take away our sins.
 
The practice of righteousness is conformity with Christ. Anyone who abides in Him does not sin. On the contrary anyone who lives in sin has not seen Christ or known Him. In the temptations that the devil brought against Jesus, the Lord showed that He had answers for every one of the devil’s tricks. And the devil left Him. One who is born of God does not live a life of sin. This is because the seed of God remains in him. God has given him a means of overcoming sin. This comes from knowing Christ as Lord and Saviour. One can have confidence in trusting Christ who gives victory over sin.
 
There is a contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil. The practice of righteousness is a mark of fellowship with God. The heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 are said to have subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness and obtained the promises among other achievements. Righteousness is central to their conduct. One of the first exhibits of the children of the devil is the failure to love. John repeated that this is the message that has been heard from the beginning. The command to love one’s neighbour is a command of general knowledge and leads in the path of righteousness. He sums up the mark of righteousness thus: “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:6).
 
THOUGHT: All our righteousness is by the blood of Christ.
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to go in Thy path of righteousness.

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