Faith & Righteousness- Part 3
For condemnation to work against us, we must fail to forgive ourselves and lack faith in God’s forgiveness, as stated in 1 John 1:9. Mark 11:25 instructs us: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any...,” because unforgiveness will keep your faith from working (vs. 23 & 24). Condemnation comes from not forgiving yourself or forgetting that you were forgiven when you confessed your sin.
Romans 5:17 (AMPC) reads: “For if because of one man’s (Adam’s) trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God’s) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (putting them into right standing with Himself) REIGN AS KINGS IN LIFE through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the anointed One).” No wonder the devil attacks our righteousness through condemnation—for walking in our righteousness is how we REIGN IN LIFE over him and over all opposing circumstances.
Isaiah 54:13-15 reads, “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shalt not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake” (because you are righteous and you forbid it).
We are to be established in righteousness. That means we are to build in our spirits and into our thought lives that we are righteous. We are to reject and cast down accusing thoughts, believing that the Blood has cleansed us from ALL unrighteousness when we confessed it. When we are established in our righteousness, peace and joy will be our flow because being righteousness-minded closes the door to fear.
Our greatest defense against the enemy is a renewed mind, including renewing our mind that we are righteous. Righteousness, peace and joy is the flow of God’s kingdom (Romans 14:17). That’s the flow that belongs to us, even while we are on this earth.
