Page 46 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

RIGHTEOUSNESS Even the Old Testament bears RIGHTEOUSNESS
AS A GIFT… witness to this stark comparison AS A FRUIT…
of righteousness in two different

manifestations:

I have heard endless

misapplication of the isolation of

“I WILL Isaiah 64:6 as a ” “THE LORD
GREATLY
REJOICE IN THE LORD, proof text” that REWARDED ME
MY SOUL SHALL BE ACCORDING TO
JOYFUL IN MY GOD; “All our righteousness are like MY RIGHTEOUSNESS;
FOR HE HAS
CLOTHED ME filthy rags.” However, you only ACCORDING TO
THE CLEANNESS OF MY HANDS
WITH need to add the verse above this
HE HAS RECOMPENSED ME.
THE GARMENTS famous quote to identify to whom FOR I HAVE KEPT THE WAYS OF
OF SALVATION,
it is to be applied: THE LORD, AND HAVE NOT
HE HAS COVERED ME WITH WICKEDLY DEPARTED FROM MY
“WE NEED TO BE SAVED.” GOD. FOR ALL HIS JUDGMENTS
THE ROBE
OF It is true that we cannot be saved WERE BEFORE ME,
by our own righteousness, but it AND I DID NOT PUT AWAY HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS..”
Isa. 61:10 is also true that we are saved STATUTES FROM ME.
unto a life of righteousness! I WAS ALSO BLAMELESS
“…AND Paul taught the same balanced BEFORE HIM, AND I KEPT
truth in the New Testament::
WE NEED TO BE SAVED. MYSELF FROM
“FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE MY INIQUITY.
BUT WE ARE ALL BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH,
LIKE AN UNCLEAN THING, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; THEREFORE

AND IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, THE LORD HAS
RECOMPENSED ME
ALL NOT OF WORKS
OUR ACCORDING TO
RIGHTEOUSNESS LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST. MY
ARE LIKE FOR WE ARE HIS
FILTHY RAGS…” RIGHTEOUSNESS,
WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN
Isa. 64:5-6 CHRIST JESUS, ACCORDING TO THE CLEANNESS
OF MY HANDS IN HIS SIGHT.”
FOR GOOD WORKS,
Ps 18:20-24
WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND
THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.”
Eph. 2:8-9

However,Paul’s verse in Ephesians 2 emphasizing “NOT OF WORKS” is also frequently isolated from

the rest of the truth conveyed in the very next verse that God’s people were created “FOR GOOD

WORKS”. Actually, it is impossible to read God’s

“…ADORN THE DOCTRINE Word and not see that the Scriptures TEACHING US THAT
OF OUR GOD AND SAVIOR carefully present BOTH halves of the DENYING UNGODLINESS

IN ALL THINGS. truth. For example, take this one, AND WORLDLY LUSTS,
FOR flowing, continuous sentence from the WE SHOULD
apostle Paul (Titus 2:11-14). Can this
THE GRACE OF GOD sentence be read in context and not be LIVE SOBERLY,
THAT BRINGS SALVATION confronted with a fuller revelation of RIGHTEOUSLY,

HAS APPEARED truth than what is presently being AND GODLY
TO ALL MEN,
IN THIS PRESENT AGE…”

taught as the contents of “the grace of

…WHO GAVE HIMSELF God.”? Paul states specifically what AND
FOR US, “the Grace of God that brought PURIFY FOR HIMSELF
salvation” (Jesus) came to teach.
THAT HE MIGHT He taught the need for God’s HIS OWN
redeemed people under grace to SPECIAL PEOPLE,
REDEEM US LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY and to be
ZEALOUS FOR
FROM EVERY ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.
LAWLESS DEED, GOOD WORKS.”