RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. Righteousness-the greatest blessing of the New Creation.

A. Righteousness-the key word in Paul's epistles.

B. Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

C. 2nd Corinthians 5:21 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.

D. Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

E. 1st Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2. Righteousness is a gift (Romans 5:17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

A. We were made righteous when we were born-again.

B. Every child of God has the same standing with the Father.

3. Develope a righteous consciousness.

A. Righteousness is the ability to stand in the prescence of the Father without the
sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority (as though sin had never existed).

B. We have had a sin consciousness.

C. Awake to righteousness. 1st Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.

D. A righteousness consciousness is a victory consciousness in Christ.

4. Righteousness is the object of redemption.

A. Sonship would be worthless without righteousness; we would be cowards
instead of sons.

B. Praying begins to work (1st Peter 3:12) For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.
(James 5:16) Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

C. John 17:23 becomes a heartfelt reality: My Father loves me as much as He
did Jesus. "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

D. We are not honoring our place as sons if we do not take our place in
righteousness.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME...