The Daily Word of Righteousness

Four Aspects of Righteousness, #3

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (I Peter 2:12—NIV)

There is much evangelism, but then the work of God is ruined because the Christians are not living righteously.

There not only is the destruction of the witness today, we have to consider also the return of the Lord with His saints to establish justice on the earth. It is not possible for there to be one unrighteous member of the Body of Christ in that hour. If there were, the installing of the Kingdom would come to a halt. God will not work where there is unrighteousness.

Each member of the Body of Christ has been called in righteousness.

Think for a moment.

Truthfulness is one aspect of righteous behavior. How do people of the world react when they discover a Christian is a liar? Do they have any confidence in his God? Since the Christian is the witness of God, is he saying God is a liar? The unsaved know better than this!

This is why the Americans are turning to the Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim religions. They are disgusted with the behavior of the Christians and their churches.

The Muslims regard Americans and their Christian religion as the work of Satan. This is the result of the overemphasis on grace and imputed righteousness.

The stress on imputed righteousness to the exclusion of actual righteousness must change or our nation will be destroyed and another nation that will observe the laws of righteousness will take its place of leadership and power.

If you are a liar you are bearing a false witness of God. The people of the nations understand that someone who claims to belong to God is not going to lie. Yet lying is common among Christians.

What would you think of someone who claimed to be an evangelist who turned out to be a liar? Would you trust him or her? Would you trust the Apostle Paul if he were a proven liar? Would you believe Jesus came from God if He were a known liar? Would you?

Will people believe your "witness for Christ" if they know you are a liar?

"Oh, but I will tell them that I am not worthy but Christ is worthy."

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. You can't tell people to do as you say but not as you do. They won't follow you and they won't follow Christ.

The world cares nothing for our imputed righteousness. They are waiting to see the light of good works and they are not seeing it in the Christians of America.

Then we think about the coming of the Lord. Picture Jesus coming on His white war stallion followed by the saints in white linen. Do you know what that white linen is? According to Revelation the white linen of those who follow Jesus in the Day of the Lord is "the righteous deeds of the saints."

Suppose one of those riders has a spotted robe. Do you think he will be permitted to ride with the army?

Do you truly believe Christ will bring liars with Him to set up the Kingdom of God on the earth?

To be continued.