BUT NOW! RIGHTEOUSNESS
Food for Thought
An all-creatures.org Guide to Kingdom Living

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:19-24

But now! These two words, used together, always indicate a contrast between past and present. Something in the past has either been changed, or, put away forever. In Romans 3:21-22 we read, "But now a righteousness of God without (apart from ) the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even a righteousness which is by (through) faith of Jesus Christ unto (toward) all, and upon all that believe."

That God is righteous was no secret. The Old Testament declares this. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Psalms 145:17). But that this very righteousness of God would, at some time be made available to men, was not known. "But now" this righteousness is revealed (unveiled) in the gospel (Paul's gospel) and nowhere else (Romans 1:17).

We seem sometimes so satisfied -- almost smug -- in our attitude, since God has imputed righteousness to us, that we forget that He has done for us vastly more than that.

If someone were to put a lot of money in a bank in my name, and refuse to let me have a check book, the money would be mine but what good would it do me? So in order that His righteous-ness may be manifested (put on display) in our lives, God has enabled us to appropriate it (Romans 5:1). Also, He has imparted His righteousness to us (Romans 5:17). And now, that righteousness must "reign" (be in control of our lives) (Romans 5:17; 6:18). All this is apart from law. The law never helped in our salvation. It cannot enable us to live godly lives.

~Vicki~ 

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The purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do otherwise is not Christian.