DRAWING NEAR
September 15
Developing Practical Righteousness
"Stand firm therefore . . . having put on the breastplate of
righteousness" (Eph. 6:14).
Practical righteousness is moment-by-moment obedience to God.
We've seen the importance of putting on the breastplate of
righteousness as protection against Satan's attempts to pervert your
thinking and emotions. But Scripture speaks of three kinds of
righteousness: self-righteousness, imputed righteousness, and
practical righteousness. Which did Paul have in mind in Ephesians
6:14?
Paul wasn't speaking of self-righteousness because that is what the
breastplate of righteousness is designed to protect you from. Self
-righteousness deceives a person into thinking, I can please God and
reach heaven on my own merit. But Isaiah said, "All our righteous
deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isa. 6:6). Far from getting you to
heaven, self-righteousness will condemn you to eternal hell because
it rejects the merits of Christ's atonement.
Similarly, Paul wasn't speaking of imputed righteousness--the
righteousness of Christ granted to every believer at the moment of
salvation. It's also called "positional righteousness" because it
results from your position or standing in Christ. Second Corinthians
5:21 says that God made Christ, "who knew no sin to be sin on our
behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Every
believer is clothed in the garment of Christ's righteousness. You
don't put that on. It's already yours in Christ.
Only practical righteousness remains--that which flows from obedience
to God's Word. Although in God's eyes you are righteous in Christ,
you must also pursue righteous behavior. In other words, your
practice should match your position. That's what Paul meant when he
said, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:13).
John added that "the one who says he abides in [Christ] ought himself
to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6).
As you learn to live in obedience to God's Word, you'll be protected
by the breastplate of righteousness.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask the Spirit to help you search your heart and reveal any self
-righteous attitudes that might be making you vulnerable to Satan's
attacks. Confess them, then praise Christ for the true righteousness
that is yours in Him.
For Further Study:
Read Romans 3:10-23. What kind of righteousness did Paul pursue?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Romans 3:10-23
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside; They have together become
unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have
practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are
under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in
His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to
all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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