Righteousness - More Rights For The Believer

Have you begun to see the amazing gift that God gave us when He made us righteous?
This righteousness is literally the gift that keeps on giving! Everything we are, every promise that God gave us, and everything we're called to do....righteousness by faith is the key to it all!

Let's quickly go over a few more of these rights that we have because of our right-standing in Jesus Christ.

The Right to Joy

"Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy all you upright in heart!" - Psalm 32:11

"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful." - Psalm 33:1

"But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly." - Psalm 68:3

The righteousness of faith is the key difference between biblical joy and what we commonly refer to as happiness. When you understand your permanent position of righteousness, it'll produce joy no matter what circumstance you're facing. But when you doubt your right-standing with God, you leave yourself at the mercy of your fickle emotions.

If you want to be permanently glad in your spirit - you must believe that God has made you permanently righteous in Jesus Christ!

The Right to Be Stable

How many believers do you know that are unstable? One day they're on top of the world, and the next they're barely able to keep their head above ground. We all know someone like this...chances are, we've all been this person. 

If there's one promise that every Christian needs to grab onto by faith, it's this: We have been given the right to a stable life!

"The righteous will never be removed...." - Proverbs 10:30

"...the righteous has an everlasting foundation." - Proverbs 10:25

Sometimes we are fooled into believing that our Christian walk is supposed to have "ups and downs" 

"Some days are good, some are bad."

"Some days are bright, others are dark."

But this is NOT what the Bible teaches. According to Scripture, we are called to a life that is constantly moving upward. This is true stability.

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the full light of day." - Proverbs 4:18

You have the right to a brighter life today than yesterday....and a brighter life tomorrow than today!

The Right to Guidance

Speaking of the path of the righteous: Did you know that you have the right to know which paths to take? No believer should ever be confused about the way...or doubt that they've taken the right steps!

"Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face." - Psalm 5:8

"He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." - Psalm 23:3

Righteousness gives you the right to guidance in every choice you make.

When you understand this, you can take courage as you walk through life. You can put your faith in this promise: As you walk through your life, God Himself directs every step you take.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delights in his way." - Psalm 37:23

There are times in my life where God clearly told me the choice I had to make.

Other times, He told me to take a step of faith, believing that He would direct it.

In both cases, I can look back and declare - God had guided me through my entire life!

The Right to Enter God's Presence

Do you remember what Adam did when he fell into sin? Do you remember how he hid from God, out of fear and shame?

If we're honest, we've all been there along with him. We've all experienced the distance from God that comes because of our sin. How many times have you been in a church service where the power and presence of God are everywhere - only to think to yourself "I don't belong here"?

My brother, My sister - You have the right to be in God's presence! He has removed every trace of that sin. He has completely washed you clean. He has dressed you in a robe of His own righteousness. Now you are free to enter His presence completely unashamed!

When you are settled in your right-standing with Him, this is one of the first results you'll notice! You'll find yourself boldly and confidently coming before His throne. Sin no longer has the power to keep you away!

The Right to Exercise God's Authority

God reigns because He is righteous.

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom." - Psalm 45:6

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne..." - Psalm 89:14

Mankind was created in the image of God, and was put in a place of authority over all creation - including the natural and the spiritual world. All of creation had to submit to these creatures that God placed just below Himself in rank. And as long as Adam was submitted to God, that authority could flow to and through him.

But as soon as Adam and Eve separated themselves from righteousness, they cut off the source of their authority. Now, instead of reigning over the world; they were subjected to the world's reign over them. The pinnacle of God's creation had now been subjected to that creation - which turned out to be a harsh and cruel master.

But any time one of Adam's descendants walked in the righteousness of faith - they were lifted back up to their rightful position, as the rulers of God's world. 

"All the horns [authority] of the wicked I will also cut off, but the horns [authority] of the righteous shall be exalted." - Psalm 75:10

After Jesus' sacrifice for us, we have been given the permanent gift of righteousness by faith. Look at one of the results of this righteous condition:

"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." - Romans 5:17

Because of the gift of His righteousness, we've been placed back in the position of authority over creation - both natural and spiritual. This time - unlike Adam - our righteousness isn't fragile. As long as our faith is in Jesus' death, resurrection, and forgiveness of our sin; we are permanently righteous!

Comparing your life to all of these biblical rights we have in Christ - how do you measure up?

If you're like me, you fall short of the full life that God has promised to us in Jesus. Let's not give up - let's keep our faith reached out toward these promises!

We don't have to live below our rights any longer - WE ARE THE RIGHTEOUS!