To be in Christ now and to inherit heaven - we must be righteous

by David Leach
(Temecula, Ca)

Righteousness is the absence of sin. God’s kingdom of Heaven is righteous - without sin: Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is…righteousness....

Luke 10:18 (Jesus) I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (why was he ejected)

Ezek 28:15 You were perfect...until iniquity (sin) was found in you. (because of sin)

Due to our sin the whole human race is unrighteous and cannot enter God’s kingdom: Rom 3:9-10 …They are all under sin…There is none righteous, no, not one; 1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom…

All our attempts to make ourselves righteous, by trying to keep the law, won’t get us in: Isa 64:6 We are all infected...with sin and all our righteousness is as filthy rags Phil 3:9 …Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law…

Even if we kept the law the righteousness we need for heaven is far greater than that: Matt 5:20 (Jesus) …Unless your righteousness exceeds (that) of the scribes and Pharisees (who keep the law), you will by no means enter the kingdom…

Our situation is hopeless - unless Christ removes our sin and gives us His righteousness: 2 Cor 5:21 For He (God) has made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (in Christ). KJV

How do we receive Christ’s righteousness? By believing His word and obeying His Spirit:
Isa 45:19…I, the LORD, speak righteousness…(His word cleanses us from sin)
John 15:3 You are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (How?)
Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes (God’s words) unto righteousness…
Rom 14:17 The kingdom of God is…righteousness…(as we live) in the Holy Spirit.

I can’t stay clean from sin unless I believe I’ve died, in Christ, to my sin nature - my flesh:
1 Pe 2:24 (Christ) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (cross), that we being dead to sins (in our flesh) should live unto righteousness:
Rom 6:18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness
Ps 24:3-4 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD, Or...stand in His holy place? (in His presence) He who has clean hands and a pure heart...(dead to sin)

God gives me His righteousness, when His word is in me, I’m in His Spirit and dead to sin
Jer 33:16…The LORD is our righteousness (no other righteousness is acceptable)

God only reigns in His kingdom – so His promises are to those living in it - the righteous:
Deliverance Ps 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers from all trouble them out of all their troubles (because they currently belong to Him).
Blessed with favor Ps 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor...
It is well with them Isa 3:10 Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them…
Live in God’s presence Ps 140:13 ...The righteous shall live in Your presence. TEV
Their prayers work Jam 5:16 ...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
They bear fruit Prov 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many…(with God’s words)
Salvation is theirs Ps 118:15 The voice of...salvation Is in the tents of the righteous...
See why Satan opposes our being righteous? Any opposing thought we have is likely from?

Our words have no authority to command Angels or rebuke devils unless we’re righteous:
Heb 1:8 A scepter of righteousness is the scepter (symbol of authority) of Your kingdom. (and Angels and devils know if we have this righteous authority)
Rom 5:17...Those who receive abundance of grace (God’s words) and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life (over spirits) through the One Jesus Christ.

Jesus is coming back for His righteous bride – I must have on His robe of righteousness:
Phil 3:9-11 And be found in Him...having…the righteousness which is from God by faith; that…I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD…He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…(the garment necessary to be Christ’s bride)
Matt 22:11-13 When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment (righteousness)…then the king said…bind him hand and foot…and cast him into outer darkness; The righteous live by faith, their will is yielded to Christ living in their heart, they obey Him:
Heb 10:38 Now the righteous shall live by faith...(trust in God always obeys Him)
Eph 4:24 That you put on the new man (by yielding your will to your spirit) which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Rom 6:16...Sin results in death, obedience (to God) results in righteousness.

We must not be “conscious of sin” but “conscious of God and that we are righteous in Him” Have we forgotten that we were cleansed from our old sins (2 pet 1:9) and re-cleansed?
Heb 10:2 …Because that the worshippers once cleansed should have had no more consciousness of sins. (we don’t think of past sins knowing we’ve died to sin)

1 Jo 3:6 Whoever abides in Him (Christ) does not sin… – Instead we now think of ourselves as having been made the righteousness of God in Christ. Will you and I receive Christ’s gift of a robe of righteousness, a robe of sin-freed ness, which union with Him now and union with Him in heaven hereafter, require? We must choose during this life.

2 Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (for all who are there are righteous)