AI
Sunday, September 13, 2020 8:45:51 AM
The Righteousness of Believers
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made a statement His listeners probably found shocking — He said they wouldn’t enter the kingdom of heaven unless their righteousness “surpassed that of the scribes and Pharisees” (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees were considered the definition of righteous: They were the religious elite, who often elevated their own self-worth and standing in the community. Frankly, the righteousness they projected would have seemed tough to surpass.
Thankfully, Jesus wasn’t saying to beat them at their own game; He was pointing to a different standard altogether. Godliness isn’t attained by pursuing perfection, dressing a certain way, or by holding positions of influence in society. Rather, we become righteous by making oneness with God the focus and substance of our daily life, and boasting only in Him.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31...
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts."
"Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength."
Boasting Only in the Lord:
"Brethren, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord."
Think about it:
• As we pursue godliness, people may respond to us with persecution and hate, or, interest and conversion. How can you prepare to respond in either situation?
• Jesus challenged the Pharisees because their motives were wrong. What motivates you to be righteous?
________________________
https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/the-righteousness-of-believers
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made a statement His listeners probably found shocking — He said they wouldn’t enter the kingdom of heaven unless their righteousness “surpassed that of the scribes and Pharisees” (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees were considered the definition of righteous: They were the religious elite, who often elevated their own self-worth and standing in the community. Frankly, the righteousness they projected would have seemed tough to surpass.
Thankfully, Jesus wasn’t saying to beat them at their own game; He was pointing to a different standard altogether. Godliness isn’t attained by pursuing perfection, dressing a certain way, or by holding positions of influence in society. Rather, we become righteous by making oneness with God the focus and substance of our daily life, and boasting only in Him.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31...
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts."
"Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength."
Boasting Only in the Lord:
"Brethren, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord."
Think about it:
• As we pursue godliness, people may respond to us with persecution and hate, or, interest and conversion. How can you prepare to respond in either situation?
• Jesus challenged the Pharisees because their motives were wrong. What motivates you to be righteous?
________________________
https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/the-righteousness-of-believers
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