Rhapsody Of Realities 15 March 2024 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Christ Embassy) – Righteousness: A Gift To The Ungodly
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TOPIC: Joyful Every Day (Rhapsody of Realities 15 March 2024)
For if by one man’s offense, death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Rhapsody Of Realities For Today’s MESSAGE:
Righteousness is one of the cardinal gifts of God, but did you know that it was a gift to the world and not to Christians? It’s a gift to the ungodly. The Bible refers to God in Romans 4:5 as One who justifies the ungodly: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Notice it didn’t say He justifies the Christians. The Christian didn’t “receive” the gift of righteousness; the Christian was born righteous. You were born as the righteousness of God when you were born again.
Also Read: Open Heaven 15 March 2024 – The More The Merrier
Paul’s submission about righteousness in the Book of Romans, mainly as you’d find in chapter 5, verse 17, is a generic argument on the legality of righteousness as it was accounted to Abraham and, therefore, to all who believe in Jesus Christ. We may think it’s given to “us” as a gift, but that’s not all that God gave us as a gift.
For instance, Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Eternal life is given to sinners, not Christians; that’s what a sinner receives to become a Christian. A Christian has everlasting life, not one who’s “receiving” the gift of eternal life.
The Bible says anyone who believes has eternal life. Once a man feels right away, eternal life starts in his spirit immediately. So, eternal life is no longer being “gifted” to him; he was born with it and into it. He came alive with it when he received Christ. It’s the same with righteousness.
It’s like when you were born of your mother; you didn’t have to receive the gift of life to become human; you came into existence with life—human life! Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been said to be alive.
So, legally, the whole world has been given the gift of righteousness; this gift enables one to stand in the presence of God without guilt, fear, inferiority, or condemnation. Anyone who receives this gift is saved. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the life of glory and dominion I have in Christ and for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in me. I can think right, do right, and produce fruits and works of righteousness, and I reign in life through Christ daily. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:12-19: Wherefore, as by one person sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who was the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offense, so also [is] the gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the gift [is] of many offenses unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offense of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Romans 5:6 AMPC – While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time, Christ died for (on behalf of) the ungodly.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Luke 1:1-25 & Deuteronomy 3-4
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 27:32-44 & Psalm 78
Remember to share with all your friends and loved ones today. Thank you, and God bless you richly.
Rhapsody of Realities 2024 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.)—President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
