You Are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus

Kingdom Righteousness

[Lk 12:31-32; Col 1:12-14; Gal 1:3-5; Mt 5:6]

It is God’s will for us to possess the kingdom. Jesus said, “Seek the kingdom, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” There is so much to be said about the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that it’s difficult to keep the study brief.

Lk 12:31-32 (NKJV) – [31] “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. [32] “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Seek: zetéo; [G2212] to seek after, look for, strive to find. (Like looking for something you’ve misplaced, until you find it.) As in Mt 7:7,8, “seek, and ye shall find.” To seek God means to turn to Him, to strive humbly and sincerely to follow and obey Him (Acts 17:27; Rom 10:20 [cf. Isa 65:1]; Septuagint: Ex 33:7; Ps 24:6). The opposite is to neglect.

Kingdom: bas-il-i’-ah [G932] from basileus [G935] king. Royal dominion, kingdom (Mt 4:8). “The kingdom of heaven,” a phrase in particular to Matthew. The other gospel writers used, “the kingdom of God.” The two terms mean the same, and are interchangeable (Mt 19:23, 24). Spiritually, the kingdom of God is within the human heart (Lk 17:21).

Col 1:12-14 (NASB) – [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. [13] For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Qualified: hikanóo [G2427], from hikanós [G2425], able, sufficient. To make sufficient, render competent or worthy (2Cor 3:6; Col 1:12).

God has qualified (or, NLV “enabled”) us to share the inheritance of the saints. This is talking about the kingdom treasure that belongs to believers, the riches of His grace (which he lavished upon us. Eph 1:8 RSV). We are unqualified in ourselves, but God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people (His saints). Redeemed through His blood we have been liberated, set free from the slavery of sin.

Paul tells us that Christ gave Himself for our sins. His death satisfied God’s righteous demands against sinners, reconciled people to God, and provided for our redemption. One purpose of Christ’s death is to rescue us “from the domain of darkness.” The exousia (power, or authority) of darkness.

Believers are delivered from the present evil age just as sure as we are saved from Hell! Believe and receive NOW! You don’t have to wait till you die and go to heaven! Ages and time-frames overlap. God’s gifts and authority is for now – when you need it.

Gal 1:3-5 – Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [5] to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Spiritual darkness is ignorance and error (Jn 3:19; Rom 2:19); eternal misery and damnation (Mt 8:12; 2Pet 2:17; Jude 1:13); sin and misery (Mt 4:16; Lk 1:79; Acts 26:18; 1Thes 5:4; 1Pet 2:9). The works of darkness are usually practiced secretly by men in darkness (Rom 13:12; Eph 5:11 [cf. 1Cor 4:5; 1Jn 1:6]).

We should be continuously seeking our right-standing in the kingdom.

Mt 5:6 (ESV) –“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“hunger and thirst” This verb describes the continuous spiritual needs of man. This is apparently what Jesus shared with the Samaritan woman at the well (see, Jn 4:10-15). This metaphor reflects a kingdom person’s ongoing attitude toward God (cf. Ps 42:2; 63:1-5; Isa 55:1; Amos 8:11-12). This is a sign that the image of God, lost in the fall, has been restored through Jesus Christ.

“satisfied” chortáso, [G5526] literally “gorged,” to be fed, satisfied, or filled. This term was used of fattening cattle for market. The opposite of lack or need.

Prayer:

Father, I receive your gift of righteousness by faith in what Jesus did for me (see, Rom 5:17; Rom 3:21-22).

Lord, I seek your righteousness and your kingdom knowing that it will produce all these things for me (see, Mt 6:31-34) – what I shall eat, what I shall drink, and what I shall wear. My right-standing with you provides protection and security from the evils of tomorrow.

Declaration:

If you can believe to be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, you can believe that you are the righteousness of God, by faith in the blood of Jesus (see, Rom 3:25).

Righteousness.pdf

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond