But Now the Righteousness Of God Without the Law Is Manifested - Part 1525

"Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. To God only wise, glory [be] through Jesus Christ forever." (Romans 16:25-27)

In the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22)

But now, in this current dispensation of grace, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.

And as a consequence of God's kindness and love -- in that He Himself would become our Saviour, we who believe can be " justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say] at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, AND the Justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:24-26; Romans 9:30; Hebrews 9:12-15; Ephesians 2:8; Colossians 1:20; Acts 14:16; Acts 17:30)

Our salvation comes from our Lord God because He showed us mercy. (Romans 9:16) Not because of our good works, but because we responded to His invitation to follow Him.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, "Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:9-11)

"For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

And thus, if our salvation is by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise, grace is no more grace. But as Peter (standing with the eleven) proclaimed on the day of Pentecost, we need to repent, and be water baptized [buried] in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and we shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47; I Peter 3:21-22)

We need to be clothed in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus. We need to put on His garment. Just like the Israelites put the blood on the doorposts, and then passed through the Red Sea, following that spiritual Rock that was Christ, we need to have the blood of Jesus applied to our hearts, and in water baptism take on His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)

We also need to get under the cloud and pass through the sea. Why? Because as Peter also declared, "This same Jesus whom ye have crucified is BOTH Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) He is the Lord of glory, the great I AM, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. The Lord Himself coming forth as a mighty man. He prepared for Himself a body.

And like the many parables Jesus told (so that we would understand who He is) God came from that faraway place known as heaven to bring you and I into His fold. He is the Good Shepherd who left the 99 so that you -- the last one could be saved. After His kindness and love, God Himself became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)

He paid the price on the cross once and for all so that we might be have abundant life in Him.

Yes, Jesus is the greatest love story ever told -- "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us form this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." (Galatians 1:4)

Stand in the offering plate.