The doctrine of righteousness by faith is specifically pertinent to the Laodicean church in our day, for it’s the reason why Christ describes self-righteousness as one of the main problems we harbor, preventing us from understanding our destitute condition, and consequently, our need of His own righteousness, given as a free gift to all who believe. God did not send Jesus into this world to condemn anyone, but rather to save everyone who is willing, but in order for that to take place, it is first necessary for us to understand our dire need of The Savior.
Persons who aren’t aware that they are sick will not go visit the doctor, for doctors are primarily needed where there is sickness present. Thus, in our study of righteousness by faith, it would be necessary for us do some preliminary work, in observing why we are in such great need. In the book of Revelation, Christ outlines the main issues we need to address, so that His righteousness can be imputed, and also imparted on a continuing, daily basis, so that we may be brought to perfection in Him. Let’s read:
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
To be lukewarm means to be straddling both sides of the fence, with one foot in the church, and the other in the world. There must be some underlying cause for this grave condition, for it’s the very same predicament the rich young ruler found himself in. When probed by Christ he had stated unequivocally that he had kept all the commandments from his youth, but yet, some unknown, unexplainable void still existed deep within his heart. Then, as it is now, Christ seeks to provide both the correct diagnosis, and the remedy, so that we may avoid the same casualty. Let’s read:
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Therefore, with these strong words of counsel, and encouragement, we owe it to ourselves to find out why Jesus speaks to us in the way He did, and what must be done to begin to address the situation. In His recommendations to Laodicea, Jesus mentions “Eye-salve”, implying that we need to take a good look at our true condition, before we are ready to understand the importance of His righteousness. The following therefore, are a few important points we must address:
[1] Sin, as far as God is concerned, is not so much a matter of one’s actions, as it is a state into which we are born. In other words, a person does not have to do anything wrong, in order to be declared a sinner. All one needs is to be born.
This point lays the foundation for understanding the extent of the sin problem in all persons, and should prepare the way for us to receive of God’s grace. A person is not morally neutral at birth, for the image of God was seriously defaced in Adam, and because of this, all of his posterity are born with the bias to sin. Fallen human nature, with all of its liabilities such as hunger, thirst, and weariness, does not constitute sin in God’s sight; it is the inherently, inevitable, predisposition to sin that makes all of us naturally opposed to God, and His law. Let’s read:
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
[Selected messages 1, pp 321] The human family have all transgressed the law of God, and as transgressors of the law, man is hopelessly ruined; for he is the enemy of God, without strength to do any good thing. “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).
[2] The implication of the doctrine of neutral morality at birth, is that the command of God to king Saul, to slay the Amalekites, including infants, would have been something wrong, by slaying the innocent. It is of critical importance for us to get this, for there are many Christians who may secretly accuse The God of the old testament as being cruel and unjust. This mode of thought was reflected during Abraham’s conversation with Christ, as the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was being discussed. Let’s read:
Genesis 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
1st Samuel 15:2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
[3] Guilt is not a feeling, it is a state, regardless of a person being aware of wrong, or right. We should not wait to “Feel” guilty, before we accept the word of God, as it pertains to our natural state.
Leviticus 5:17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
These passages are not being presented to make anyone feel bad, they are being presented to show the matchless grace and righteousness of Christ, in giving us His own righteousness as a free gift, for if we are not guilty, we would not need a Savior, and if we do not need the Savior, then we do not stand a chance. There is a disturbing phrase often posted on billboards across the land, which reads: “Good without God”. The previous passages will serve the purpose of correcting that slogan to read “Good, God”.
[4] The righteousness of Christ is not so much about right actions, as it is a state of being. In other words, when we understand that Christ’s righteousness is a free gift, that fact will eclipse our own efforts to try to save ourselves by good works. Instead, the good works will be the natural outflowing of the internal work being done by The Holy Spirit, in sync with our freedom to choose.
In consequence, our confidence and assurance of eternal salvation will be placed in Christ alone, and His perfect righteousness, and sacrifice, instead of our own performance, which is often riddled with shortcomings, and flaws. There are many Christians who carry a heavy burden unnecessarily, because this sacred, and important truth may not have been fully understood, so let’s say it loud, and let’s say it clear: Christ’s righteousness is a free gift given to every believer, distinctly separated from our own efforts in that direction, yet, enabling us to live and do according to His good pleasure. Let’s read:
Romans 3: 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Now, let’s go into the main crux of our study for this afternoon. There are three main problems we may encounter in our souls when pondering the decision to accept Christ’s righteousness by faith: [1] The Simplicity. [2] The glory. [3] The freeness. The simplicity, because it requires something as abstract as believing, the glory, because we cannot take the credit for any righteousness, and the freeness, for the gift of Christ’s righteousness cannot be paid for, or earned.
These three issues surfaced in the experience of Naaman, who like the rest of us, was afflicted by the leprosy of sin. He hears the good news of the potential deliverance in Israel, and in faith, he now begins his journey to the promised land. But when he arrives at the house of the prophet, there are several issues pertaining to simplicity, which cause him to become offended.
Elijah is not impressed with his motorcade of black Cadillacs, and does not even come out to formerly greet him as a renowned general, with glowing mention of the long list of his accomplishments, as is often the case when certain renowned speakers are being introduced from the pulpit.
In addition, Naaman would have preferred if Elijah came out speaking in tongues, jumping, prancing, and rolling on the ground, then, lifting his hands towards heaven, he would touch his forehead, and he, Naaman, would then fall to the ground frothing at the mouth, only to be caught and revived by the elders, waiting in the wings. Or maybe he would have preferred to do some great thing, like 1,000 push-ups, or climb Mt Everest three times. It’s all too simple for Naaman. Let’s read:
2nd Kings 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
This leads us to the third issue which is so often a stumbling block to acceptance of God’s free gift of Christ’s righteousness, the “Freeness”, for we may attempt to pay for our salvation with contributions or good works, very much the same like Naaman. In the case of the prodigal son, he offered to work as a form of payment for His father’s gift of kindness. In some instances, very much church activity may be done as a sort of credit towards our salvation, and the great numbers baptized, or the very many food baskets given out, might be viewed by some of us as warranting a return as earned credits. Let’s read:
2nd Kings 5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
16 But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
The simplicity of God’s remedy, the free gift of His righteousness, and the glory that goes to God alone, is often an offense to proud human nature and thus becomes a stumbling block in the hearts and minds of many. Just like Naaman, we may prefer to do some great thing, so that we can take credit for what is accomplished, or we may think that the process of just looking unto Jesus is way too simple.
When the Hebrews were instructed to look upon the brazen serpent, so that the venomous stings they had incurred would be neutralized, many of them were not convinced by that simple process, and as a result many died whilst redemption was only one look away, as the song says, “Just one look, that’s all it took”, yet some would not believe. Like Naaman they would have preferred to do some great thing, so that the credit for what would be accomplished would go to the human agent. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 430] Moses was divinely commanded to make a serpent of brass resembling the living ones, and to elevate it among the people. To this, all who had been bitten were to look, and they would find relief. He did so, and the joyful news was sounded throughout the encampment that all who had been bitten might look upon the brazen serpent and live. Many had already died, and when Moses raised the serpent upon the pole, some would not believe that merely gazing upon that metallic image would heal them; these perished in their unbelief.
Yet there were many who had faith in the provision which God had made. Fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters were anxiously engaged in helping their suffering, dying friends to fix their languid eyes upon the serpent. If these, though faint and dying, could only once look, they were perfectly restored.
Whatever our understanding of the plan of salvation may be, let it never be said that the glory, the simplicity, and the freeness caused us to stumble, while eternal life was all the while, well within our reach. This exhortation leads us to our final passage of meditation for today:
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection….
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.
God bless!