DIG for Friday the 7th of August…..it is important what we put our focus on…..Romans 3 v 23

When I was born again I went to a very traditional, and now I see, very legalistic church.

We were taught from the bible but with a certain slant and bias.

The Bible I use now was bought for me back then, and it still has the shading and underlining that I did then, and it really shows how my doctrine has changed over the years.

For example, Romans 3 v 23 is shaded in, while Romans 3 v 22 and 24 are not; if I were to start with a new Bible I would now be highlighting verse 22 and 24 instead.

You see, I used to think that I had to find the sin in my life, confess it and repent of it, and then God would let me have relationship with Him and bless me.

This is what religion and legalism tries to tell us, and I “gave up” on church for a long time because of this.

I now know that this is not true; I am blessed and in relationship with God because of my faith in Jesus and His finished work and nothing else.

This is known as grace and living under the new covenant.

Yes, I was sinner (before I was saved) and sinned (before and after I was saved), and did come short of the glory of God.

But, as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus I was freely justified and made righteous.

I now focus on my righteousness and that I have been justified instead of my sins.

I now focus on Jesus instead of myself.

This is the way to freedom in life, away from the bondage of religion and legalism (Galatians 5 v 1).

I would recommend that you give it a try of you are not already doing so!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that as a gift of grace through faith I have already been justified and already made righteous”.

Romans 3 v 23…..For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

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DIG for Thursday the 6th of August…..His righteousness; you’ve got to be kidding…..2 Corinthians 5 v 21

There are some verses in the Bible that appear too good to be true, and 2 Corinthians 5 v 21 seems to be one of them.

Far too many believers do not grasp the importance or significance of this verse and are trying to make themselves righteous (or more righteous) through their good deeds and religious performance.

This is not required.

The Word is quite clear that as a man we are either righteous or not righteous.

There is no process to go through to make yourself more righteous, there is not a scale or level of righteousness.

You are either righteous or you are not; and if you are righteous you were made righteous.

This is what 2 Corinthians 5 v 21 is saying if you read it carefully.

It is saying that “we might be made righteous”, not that “we might go through a self induced process to move towards righteousness”.

All men have the opportunity to be made righteous because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, because Jesus, who knew no sin, was made sin for us.

If we believe in that truth then the second we believe we are made righteous.

If any be in Christ (if he is born again) he is a new creature, and part of this newness is being made righteous.

But it gets even better, as when we are made righteous we are made as righteous as God.

Go on, read 2 Corinthians 5 v 21 again if you do not believe me; do you see it?

God, through Jesus has dealt with our sin, so as a gift of grace through faith, we receive His righteousness; what a deal that is!

That really is almost too good to be true news, but it is true.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus I am as righteous as you in your eyes”.

2 Corinthians 5 v 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