How Are We Righteous?

Want to know how to be righteous? Believe God. Period.

James 2:23 NKJV

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Genesis 15:6 NKJV

And he believed in the Lord , and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3 NKJV

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Galatians 3:5-7 NKJV

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does  He  do  it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only  those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Homosexualality and AIDS

Rick Warren is the "pastor" of Saddleback Church, one of the largest churches in the U.S. He said that he would work with practicing homosexuals, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BELIEFS, to help find a cure for AIDS.

That may not seem bad on the surface, but it is an absolutely erroneous stance for someone who claims to be a man of God. A man of God should know the Word, and believe it.

The Bible says that homosexualality is God’s judgment being poured out on those who hate Him in their heart, and that AIDS is the just reward for their rebellion against God. That being said, it is absolute foolishness to say that it is even possible to help them "regardless of their beliefs" since their beliefs is the root of the problem.

Romans 1:18-27 NKJV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Missing Parts of the Gospel

There are two very important parts of the Gospel of the Kingdom preached by Jesus Christ that that are so often entirely neglected.

1. God's Wrath
- Very rarely talked about, but what does it look like?

Joel 2:1-11 KJV

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:  And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

2. Repentance
- Occasionally it is spoken of, but what does it look like?

Joel 2:12-14 KJV

Therefore also now, saith the Lord , turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

So Mad!

Last night on the way to play basketball Morgun told me that we are part monkey, and that is why we can climb trees. When I hear this kind of crap it makes me so mad! Our kids go to school and are fed lies, and they believe those who lie to them because these liars have a position of authority. Granted that the individual teacher may not be intentionally conjuring lies, but nonetheless they are perpetuating the lies.

I told Morgun that we are not evolved from monkeys, but that people have created all kinds of lies and stories so as to deny God. I told him that Jesus created us as humans, and that we were never anything different. From the BEGINNING He made them male and female, and that we did not exist until Jesus created us in the womb.

We went and played basketball, then at bedtime when I was praying with him I took the opportunity to further the conversation. Morgun asked me what things would be like if there was no God, and I told him that there would be nothing if there was no God. No people. No life. No air. No planets. No animals. Nothing.

He asked me if there were more than one God, and I told him that there has always been and will always be only one God. "God has always existed, and will always exist. He will always be the only God ever."

Then Morgun asked me what things were like before God was born. To verify what he was asking I asked him if he was talking about when Jesus was born, and he said "Yes".

I made three circle with my hands, and told him that the circles represent the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. I then made like I was holding an imaginary ball in the air and explained that these three persons have always existed alone from all of eternity as God. Just these three, and they were perfectly content and at peace.

"Then the time came when they said 'Let's create something', so they did. Jesus created everything, and then when the time came Jesus came into the world as an infant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn't begin then, but rather God became a man so that He may die. He never quit being God, but for the first time He became a man. He left His glorious place of glory with the Father and became a human. After He was resurrected from the dead he once again ascended into Heaven and returned to His previous place of glory and honor with the Father from which He came. Jesus was NEVER created. He was always God, even when He was a man He was still God, and He will always continue to be God."

I asked Morgun if he understood, and he said "Yes". I again reiterated that people make up lies so that they can deny their Maker, and deny His right to judge His creation. I told him not to let people lie to him, but to boldly speak up.

"Do not be afraid to tell people 'That is not true' when they try to tell you that we came from monkeys Morgun. There is NOT one single piece of evidence in all of the world to support their claim. If you ask them to prove it, they cannot. I will happily support you for telling your teacher that you do not believe the crap they try to feed you."

Priesthood

The royal priesthood isn't misunderstood to those who understand the Kingdom. It goes like this...

John the Baptist was the greatest prophet ever born of a woman, but the Law and the prophets ended with him. From that time on Jesus brought the Kingdom of God with Him. Jesus says "the least" in the Kingdom is greater the the greatest prophet.

Matthew 11:11 NKJV

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Luke 16:16 NKJV

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."

This is because when God fills a person with the Holy Spirit, they become one with God. Every single believer is an ambassador of Christ, a royal priest, and a son of the living God.

1 Peter 2:9 KJV

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 NKJV

"And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NKJV

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Should We Worship Jesus?

Let's look at something...

What happens if we worship ANYONE other than God? That is called idolatry. Listen to what the angel says when John begins to worship him.

Revelation 19:10 NKJV

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that  you  do not do  that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 22:8-9 NKJV

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that  you  do not do  that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Deuteronomy 5:7-10 NKJV

‘You shall have no other gods before Me. ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of  anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.'

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NKJV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord  is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.'

Guess who accepts worship though? Unless an angel is more faithful to the Father than Jesus, He would have responded the same as the angel did to John in Revelation if the worship was inappropriate. He didn't though. He accepts it.

Matthew 28:9 NKJV

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Revelation 5:8-14 NKJV

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Luke 19:35-40 NKJV

Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord !’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Teaching Moment

Becca and I took Hayden to Bodies in Motion for his birthday, and we did a cosmic rope course together. The first thing they do is put on a harness that has two "lobster claw" hooks securely attached to catch you if you fall.

Once we got to the top and secured our "lobster claws" to the cables above the rope course we started out on the first obstacle, and Hayden was freaking out. He asked us if we were scared, because he was.

Becca showed him how the cable and "lobster claws" were 100% dependable as she hung in the air with no hands as the harness, "lobster claws", and cable easily supported her full weight.

We went on from the demonstration by explaining to Hayden that it was a great illustration of faith. We KNOW that the "lobster claws" will hold us, and so it is with genuine faith. With that same confidence we KNOW that we are 100% secure in Jesus.

Do you have your "lobster claws" in? Are you secure enough to let go?