The Daily Word of Righteousness

Judgment and Rewards, #31

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Romans 6:12)

Is there any greater error in Christianity than the teaching that as long as we live on the earth we must continue to sin?

Christ always walks in white—in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to the Father. Are we worthy to walk in white with Him (Revelation 3:4)? Are we conquering the world, Satan, and our lusts and self-will?

Christ is our elder Brother. He has the wisdom, the power, and the virtue to enable us to overcome the filth of the world. If we will ask Him, He will guide us into righteous behavior. If we would have fellowship with the God of Heaven we must walk in the light of His will.

Walking virtuously in the world is extraordinarily difficult at times. Apart from Christ, walking virtuously is not only difficult, it is impossible.

But the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is dwelling in the believer. There is enough power in the Spirit of God to enable us to conquer the world, Satan, and our flesh.

We can overcome. We can walk in white with Christ. Through Him it is possible.

Through the grace of Christ we can act, speak, and think in a righteous manner, even though we are dragging around our physical body that is dead in sin. The reward of our diligent efforts is the impartation of the Life that is in Christ. We receive that incorruptible Life now—in the world. When the Lord comes we will receive the gift of a Life-filled body that itself is righteous in nature. Then this present struggle will have been concluded.

To be clothed in white raiment (3:5).

The saint will be clothed in the Day of Christ by that which he has practiced in this life. Here is the perfect justice of God.

In the world, a hideous, self-centered, filthy personality can be concealed in a charming male or female body.

But at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what we have become during our days on the earth will be revealed completely. Nothing will remain hidden. The righteous will be seen to be righteous. The wicked will be seen to be wicked. The lukewarm will be seen to be lukewarm. The hypocrites will be seen to be hypocrites. It is the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

As our body is offered to God in the service of Christ it is brought down each day to the death of the cross. But the Life of Jesus lifts us up and flows out to God's elect. We are dying, but behold!—we are living in Christ.

The act of dying in Christ and being raised in Christ creates a counterpart before the Throne of God in Heaven. That which is sown in earth is raised in Heaven. That which is being raised is a house, a garment, an eternal weight of glory. It is our house in Heaven.

In the Day of Christ, our house will descend from Heaven and clothe our flesh-and-bone body that has been raised from the dead (II Corinthians 4:7-5:10).

To be continued.