FTTA Term 3 Update - Weeks 12-13
"We do not know what to do; but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chronicles 20:12)
Hi dear ones,
We’re just about 2/3 done with the term AHH! We just came back from our cluster trip at Oak Glen - it was so marvelous being able to spend less than 24 hours with some dear trainees and trainers. My soul and body these last few weeks have been quite drained - my well is dry, which is a great indication that I haven’t been drinking the Lord enough. Please pray that the Lord would restore my tripartite being, and that I would enjoy Christ as the Word and the Spirit through more prayer, particularly that the truths we’re receiving and reading would be translated into reality instead of remaining as doctrine or theology. Having the Lord’s smile would mean everything to me, even if the things around me are in chaos.
The past New Jerusalem class uplifted my awe and appreciation of God’s righteousness. I never quite comprehended the weight and gravity of God’s righteousness until now. I cannot help but marvel at God’s procedure, way, and method. I am bombarding you with a lot of verse references…please don’t be overwhelmed :)
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” - Psalm 89:14
The foundation of God's throne is God's righteousness. Among all of God's divine attributes, His righteousness is the most important and main attribute because it is what makes our salvation, which is our entrance into the New Jerusalem, altogether legal, lawful, and justified, because Christ by His death and resurrection completely fulfilled the requirements of the law. The Israelites in the Old Testament tried their best to establish their own righteousness in order to be justified by God. However, Romans 9:31 and 10:3 show us that the righteousness we try to establish will never measure up to God's standard of righteousness.
Let’s now take a look at some verses concerning God’s salvation.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life.”
God's love is the source and motive of His salvation.
Eph. 2:5 Even when we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
Being saved by grace is the means for God’s salvation.
Rom. 1:17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it out of faith to faith, as it is written, "But the righteous shall have life and live by faith."
Rom. 5:10 For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled,
Rom. 8:10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The “righteousness of God” is solid and steadfast, which is the foundation of His throne and the base on which His kingdom is built (Rom 14:17). Furthermore, Romans 5:10 says that we are saved in His life (through righteousness) and in Romans 8:10 our spirit is life because of righteousness. Both love and grace can fluctuate, but God’s righteousness cannot. If we're saved only according to God's love or grace, our salvation is not legally justified.
In eternity past, God predestined us to be His sons (Ephesians 1:4-5). However, man fell and involved himself with sin, sins, Satan, the flesh, and the world. Had we not fallen, there would have been no need for God’s righteousness. But because we are fallen, and because God wants to forgive us, He must save us legally, meaning that He cannot act contrary to His nature and simply write off our sins so that we can get off free. Rather, in Romans 8:3, God sent “His own Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin.” I was so struck to see that the Lord became identified with sinners in the flesh for the sake of God’s righteousness by being put to death on the cross. On the cross He was made sin for us and condemned sin in the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:3). Through His death, the Lord not only accomplished redemption but also fulfilled all of God’s righteous requirements. God can now forgive us not just because He loves us, but because He is bound by His righteousness. When God’s righteous requirements were fulfilled, this is what allowed the Lord in John 19:30 to declare “It is finished!”
Our God is a righteous God. Whenever we claim the blood of Jesus and appeal to God's righteousness, He has no choice but to forgive us (1 John 1:9) because He is bound by His righteousness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9
“Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city.” - Revelation 22:14
We can stand upon God's righteousness, the foundation of His throne. His righteousness cannot be shaken! Because God is bound by His righteousness and His Word, once we claim the blood by washing our robes, we can then demand from Him, “Lord, I now have the right to eat You! I have the right to partake of You as the tree of life!”
You can also refer to the Isaiah Life Study message 47!
Pictures! Food album here.
That’s it for now!
Angela
“Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” - John 12:24