Righteousness of God

In this lesson, we are going to see how the Church was birthed through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 53:6-11

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The scripture above gives great detail of the death Jesus suffered, however consider verse 8. Who shall declare his generation, seeing that he is cut off from the land of the living. Consider Isaiah’s experience here. He was receiving in part, the mystery of salvation. He saw the death of the Jewish Messiah. One would think that the Prophet would have been very curious as to why God would send His Son to die if there was to be no continuation of His lineage, or His estate! Therefore, who inherits the bloodline of Christ? Who shall declare His generation? However, as we continue in the vision given to Isaiah we see a swift transition within verse 10. When thou shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed. Christ will see His own seed, after his death, burial and resurrection. Suddenly, there are others in the mix. This seed of Christ is the New Testament Church that would not be able to inherit the Spirit (life) of Christ, until Jesus, the Testator died. It is apparent here that Isaiah could not see how the Church would come to be after the death of Jesus. He saw His death and He saw that after death there would be offspring. But what he did not see was how this would be accomplished. The wisdom of God is past finding out! The mystery of Christ, is the consistent truth of scripture, declared from the very beginning. John spoke saying,

1 John 3:1-2

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Right now, we are Children of God and if children, then members of the bloodline of Christ. But how did we get there? We were not always the children of God. We remember a time when our mere existence was sinful and for sin. We could not help ourselves, we were born unto evil lusts and desires of the flesh. How are we now the Sons of God? This is the same question Isaiah had when He asked, who shall declare His generation? He died for the sins of the world. There were none righteous but Him. Who is worthy enough to continue the ministry of Christ? In answering this question, I want us to consider the scripture below:

Hebrews 9:15-18

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. We do not hear many sermons on the will/testament of Christ. From the foundation of the world, God had already drafted the first, last and only will and testament of Jesus Christ.

This will is quickly summarized in the verse below:

John 17:22

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Jesus’ testament or will was that the Church receive the glory He had while He was yet on the earth. However, a will is only in force when the testator has died.

above confirms this by allowing us to know that unless Jesus died we would have never received the inheritance of the testator. What then is the inheritance? In John 17, Jesus spoke of it as the glory which He already had, while Hebrews 9 refers to it as the promise.

Hebrews 9:19-28

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the TRUE; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Herein is the inheritance revealed. Through Christ’s death He has received the glory He had with God before the world was. Having paid for the sins of the world and having been loosed from His earthen body, He was therefore made free to appear in the presence of God. He is seated in a heavenly place. However, the scripture declares that He is seated there for us, that we may receive the inheritance which is explained in

Hebrews 9:28

… So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Our inheritance is the second coming of Christ that results in salvation. Many have taught the above scripture as the return of Christ at the Rapture. However, when kept within its context we see its true meaning. Jesus has appeared a second time in the flesh of the sons of God. He is our inheritance. Consider the following:

1 John 5:7

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one...

1 John 5:11

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

The word ‘record’ here refers to testimony or testament. This was the will written from the beginning, that when Christ died, we who believe will receive eternal life. The inheritance of the saints is the life of Jesus Christ, or simply put, the Holy Spirit. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD As we continue to consider the inheritance of the saints, we find the great grace of God provided us with the one thing that manifests our relationship with God, righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Most would see this righteousness strictly as the ability to live free from sin. But I want you to think about this for a moment. We are the only creatures on the planet who are endowed with the love of God. This simply means we can love with the same capacity as God. We can love our enemies and those who despitefully use us. The truth is we can willingly die for those who hate us. This is the love of God personified. It is also the common inheritance of the saints. This should not be a wonder for the Church. It ought to be as automatic as breathing. We are the offspring of God; and He is love. We, too, have inherited that love through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the spiritual blessings passed on to us through the indwelling Christ. Let us look more on this inheritance.

Ephesians 1:11

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

The scripture above speaks in past tense; implying that we have already obtained this inheritance. It was already predetermined that we have obtained it. That inheritance is a part of the workmanship of God; (who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will).

Ephesians 1:12

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

That by our submission to God and His Christ, we should bring Him glory. Or by simply living out the workmanship that we are, we might eventually be enjoined in the praise that He receives. We will be glorified in the end.

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

I was amazed to discover that the word ‘earnest’ used here is of Hebrew origin; and means basically the same as it does in our English culture. Arrabon [ (`arabown)]; a pledge, i.e. part of the purchase- money or property given in advance as security for the rest :- earnest Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. In our American culture, regarding the purchase of property, the buyer is sometimes required to put up earnest money. This assures the seller that the buyer is serious about purchasing, as well as capable of paying the remaining balance. The word Paul uses here has the same meaning. Only it refers to the Holy Spirit being part of the purchase or pledge. It is given in advance as security for the new body and eternal life that is to come. Here again is the promise. The Holy Spirit is our inheritance; but it is also God’s earnest deposit that guarantees we have a new body not made with hands, awaiting us in the heavens. Our inheritance has made us members of the Royal Family; it has caused us to become citizens of heavenly Jerusalem. We are no longer of this world; but have become heavenly beings, seated in a heavenly place with our Lord. Jesus died for the whole world, therefore this inheritance is available to any who would choose Him. It is by faith that we receive Christ.

Romans 3:21-22

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:

We have inherited the righteousness of God. The scripture above is very powerful because it expresses the heart and mind of God concerning salvation. Through the lives of born again Gentiles, His righteousness is being witnessed by both the law and the prophets. Consider this, the Gentiles were not exposed to the law of God. However,

Romans 2:14 says, For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: It seems therefore that these Gentiles inherited the righteousness of God, so much so that their very nature was changed. I phrased the above to speak to a mindset, and that mindset is this. Often when we consider the righteousness of God we look at it as opposed to unrighteousness. Meaning, we often compare righteousness to unrighteousness and vice versa, while seeing a list of do’s and don’ts that one must submit to if one should be considered righteous. However, righteousness is much deeper than that. The righteousness of God, speaks to a state of being. It is not something achieved. It is something we inherited from the Father.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The above scripture teaches that Jesus was made sin. This simply refers to the fact that He took on the sins of the world. However, the death He faced was for a purpose; which was that we would be made the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God therefore is not a list of do’s and don’ts, but speaks to a physical and spiritual transformation. The soul has been both physically and spiritually transformed, thus creating a new creature.

1 Corinthians 6:17

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

This new creature is something that never existed before. Even His earthen body has been made new, by the presence of Christ within it. If we are indeed joined to the Lord the scripture declares us as spiritual beings who are now one with God. I have listened to God repeatedly say that He is One. The Lord is One declared the prophets of old. Of course, He tells us that He is the only true and living God; and I guess that makes Him one. But again, I hear something more. He is one in that there are no variations of Him. That which is not as He is, is not of Him. Therefore, when Jesus says, “My Father and I are one, He is really saying, I am the same as my Father. I think like Him; His desires are my desires. I only do as He has instructed me. I have no agenda of my own. Once again, I would remind you that we, too, have inherited that oneness. We are created the righteousness of God, which is the embodiment of all who God is. By one sacrifice, we have been perfected forever. The word one means only, same, or single; therefore, as He is, so are we. Consider the greatness of this inheritance. By our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been transformed into new creatures and have inherited the righteousness of God. There is no other creature in the entire universe with that testimony. To be righteous is more than saying I do not sin, it is saying, I am one with God.

Romans 8:15-17

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

By the presence of the Spirit of God in us, we are the children of God, but if we are children, we are already heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. We have been made as God is! We are His righteousness! Therefore, He can command us to be holy and perfect as He is holy and perfect. There is no other being in the universe, truly capable of loving an enemy, even to the point of dying for them. We have been given that same heart in Christ. We have inherited God. Righteousness is the presence of God, the personage of God, the nature of God. Righteousness is everything that God is. Through salvation we were immediately made with the same character of God. Therefore, we can be as He is, because we are of His nature though we are on the earth, This is the great wisdom of God that He has exposed to principalities and powers. He wants to prove to them by the church His manifold wisdom. He allows them to try and tempt His righteous creation. However, he that is born of God cannot sin! This is our salvation. If we walk in the Spirit, we cannot sin either. To walk in the Spirit is to walk in the righteousness of God. It is to walk in divine nature. It is to be as God is now. If we fall away from this, there is no renewal. If we deny God Himself there is nothing else for Him to give us. It is meet for us to submit to the righteousness that we are. Walk in the liberty of our inheritance. It is our submission that brings God great glory.

We love you, Mary Banks & Kareem Flowers, Apostles of Jesus Christ and Jesse McCree, His Prophet.