Kingdom of Christ - Joyful Zion

• Kingdom of God is JOY - God chose His people that He might indwell them throughout eternity in His Kingdom. While the Unsaved find joy in the pleasures and riches of this world, a believer in Christ's Kingdom finds Joy in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost as Rom 14 points out. Also a believer finds Joy in the Word of God as Jer 15 points out. Those who have been born from above will experience the ultimate pleasure – knowing God Himself. Neh 8 declares, “... for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Rom 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat [food] and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Psa 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psa 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

Jer 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Psa 132:13-18 “For the LORD hath chosen Zion [Zion and New Jerusalem both mean basically the same thing, they represent the City of God ]; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 15I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17There will I make the horn of David [Lord Jesus Christ] to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 18His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.”

• For the Joy that was set before him Endured the Cross - Christ sacrificed Himself upon the “altar of God” with exceeding joy for each child of God, as seen in Psalm 16 and Hebrews 12. The good tidings that the “angel”, or messenger, announced in Luke 2 is referring to the the Gospel of salvation that God joyfully performed. God goes to great lengths to emphasize the “joy” that He would ultimately experience in Lord Jesus after enduring the wrath of God. Once again we need to be reminded that this was Jesus’ mission, as He Himself declared in Luke 4.

Luke.2:10-11 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 4:18-19,21 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me [Lord Jesus Christ] to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord… And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Heb 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Psa 16:9-11 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10For thou [God the Father] wilt not leave my [Lord Jesus] soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Jude 1:24-25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

• "Joy" of God over Saving a Sinner - God and the heavenly host rejoice over a sinner that repents. We even read about God Himself singing with joy over His body of believers in Zep 3. True believers are governed by the “fruit” (or product) of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives. Each believer has been given “joy” as a fruit of the Spirit, which is a direct result of the incomprehensible salvation that God has granted.

Zep 3:17 “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

Luke 15:7,10 “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance… Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Rom 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

1 Pet 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us [made us born again] again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

• "Joy" of the believer in receiving Salvation - This same joy God posses towards his children would also be the precious possession of every child of God.  Only God Can Satisfy Our True Need, Salvation. Our real need is for the salvation of our dead souls as we are bound for an inescapable confrontation with God the Judge, and certain punishment in Hell. Our only hope lies in the work of the Lord Jesus to pay for our sins in Hell, and bestow His righteousness, or goodness, upon us. This clearly underscores the necessity of Jesus’ first coming to pay for the sins of His people, to clothe them with His righteousness, and to qualify them to enter heaven. Isa 61 beautifully describes this gift which God graciously bestows upon His elect. Mary's prayer in Luke 1 epitomizes the joy and gratitude that each child of God possesses. The Joy of Salvation is also seen in Hannah’s prayer, the joy that all believers must express to their Heavenly Father for His incomprehensible kindness and grace on their behalf. Isa 25 manifests God’s miraculous salvation.

Isa 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Psa 132:9 “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.”

Isa 25:9 “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Luke 1:46-47 “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

1 Sam 2:1 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

Psa 95:1 “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock [Christ] of our salvation.”

• "Joy" of the believer in Adversity - It seems that in our day one hears little about the trials and persecutions that believers have historically faced. Rather many are touting the harmful idea that the Bible promises physical well-being, financial prosperity, and political freedom as the unquestioned rights of each Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth! Indeed, Christians are called upon to suffer for righteousness’ sake, and never for evil-doing. After all, we are to pattern our lives after the Master whom we follow. God uses trials and temptations in the lives of His children to test and strengthen their Faith. Jam 1 affirms that Christians can indeed rejoice in the midst of suffering.

Mat 5:11-12 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

1 Pet 4:12-16 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy . If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

1 Pet 1:6-8 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”

Jam 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

• "Joy" of the believer in Serving - For those who have become saved through the power of the True Gospel, there is much joy in their lives as they serve their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Php 2:17-18 “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.”

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

• Everlasting "Joy" of the believer- The true child of God can look forward with joy to spending eternity with His Lord and Master in the highest possible bliss. 1 Pet 1 underscores the reason for true, spiritual everlasting joy. May our prayer be that of Psa 42 as we find our joy and delight only in God alone.

Isa 35:10 “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

1 Pet 1:8 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory…”

Psa 42:1-2 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

Psa 100:1-5 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

1 Cor 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Kingdom of Christ - Peaceable Habitation

• Spiritual war between God and rebellious mankind  - The war between God and man started in the Garden of Eden as a result of Adam’s sin; and because man is at war with His Maker, he is also at war with other men. Our sinful Adamic nature, with which every human being is born, is described in James 4. We fail to consider the futility of our efforts to get right with God, the magnitude of our sin, and the eternal, infinite, holy God with whom we have to deal face to face one day. God both hates and will judge sin and sinner alike. Yet, in the midst of judgment there is a ray of hope, a glimmer of mercy for His people.

Jam 4:2 “ [in Adamic nature] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

Rom 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

Rom 3:10, 17-18 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Isa 64:6-7 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”

Tit 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”

• The "Prince of Peace" and His Kingdom of Peace - As “the Prince of Peace” many people think that Jesus came to bring some kind of political or secular peace among nations or groups of people. However, wars are the result of man’s sinful nature and will never be abolished on this sin-cursed earth. Jesus dispelled all doubts about His purpose for coming to this earth in Matthew 10. God in the flesh, Christ came to bring division and strife – even within families, the closest-knit social units in this world. The reason Christ is named the “Prince of Peace” is because He came to bring eternal peace to fallen man, who by nature is dead in trespasses and sins, by ending the state of perpetual warfare that exists between God and all who are unsaved. Only God Can End this Warfare. The word for “habitation” describes the place where believers dwell and is also rendered, as a “sheepcote”, or “fold”, where sheep are protected. 

Rom 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat [food] and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Gen 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee [or Satan] and the woman [the elect], and between thy [or Satan’s] seed and her seed; it [referring to Christ] shall bruise thy [Satan’s] head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise his [Christ’s] heel.”

Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Matt 10:34-36 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”

Isa 40:2 “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem [typifying the elect], and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned…”

Isa 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Isa 32:17-18 “And the work of righteousness [salvation] shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold [peaceable habitation], and one shepherd.”

Isa 9:7 “Of the increase of his [Lord Jesus Christ] government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

•  The Chastisement of Our Peace was Upon Him - As we have seen above in Isaiah 9, this peace can  only be provided by the Savior . Isaiah 53 reveals the great sufferings of Hell which Christ endured, the atoning work of the Lord for each of His elect, that has “reconciled” them to God giving "peace with God".  Peace is the Work of Righteousness. One might ask, “What exactly is the ‘work of righteousness’?” Any time we see the word “work” in the Bible with regard to salvation, we can know that it has to allude to something that God does. Any work of ours can never be righteous in God’s eyes. The “works of righteousness” were accomplished by God as we learn from Isaiah 61.

Isa 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Psa 38:3 “There is no soundness in my [Messianic Psalm] flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest [peace] in my bones because of my [Not his own sin but laid with our sins] sin.”

2 Cor 5:21 "For he [God] hath made him [Lord Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Isa 32:17-18 “And the work of righteousness [salvation] shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

Eph 2:13-17 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

• The Peace which Christ Bestows on His Elect is Salvation - Isaiah 40 beautifully describes the salvation that God accomplishes when He brings to an end to the warfare that previously existed between man and God. We learnes from Ephesians 2 that this is the work of the Lord Jesus. The Gospel of the Bible brings these “glad tidings”.  In other words, if we have truly become saved, we are no longer God’s “enemies”, and our war with God has ended. Romans 5 concludes that one is saved or justified by the faith of Christ, which produces “peace with God” , the peace that results from salvation. Christ has brought us Peace from the Guilt of Sin, Peace from Spiritual Death, Peace from Hell. All who are unsaved, with out "the Prince of Peace" will be damned eternally on the last day. When we have become reconciled to God by salvation ("peace with God"), God also gives us the “peace of God”. When we have the “peace of God which passeth all understanding”, our souls can Rest quietly with God as we trust completely in Him with every aspect of our lives.   

Isa 40:2 “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem [typifying the elect], and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned…”

Rom 5:9-10 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Rom 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Php 4:6-7 “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isa 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

• Preach the Gospel of Peace and Live Peaceably with All Men - Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace has reconciled us to God and set us apart to be His ambassadors. We proclaim this Gospel of Grace so that our neighbor might be reconciled to God too. This is how we love our neighbor as ourselves. May God give us renewed zeal to be about His business. Blessed are the peacemakers and beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. After God saves a believer, Peace begins to manifest itself in the life of this individual who truly has become a “new creature” (or creation) in Christ.

Rom 5:9-10 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Col 1:20 "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

2 Cor 5:18-20 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

Rom 10:15 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Matt 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Rom 12:17-21 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Kingdom of Christ - Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter

• Thy King cometh unto thee, Meek -  In Matthew 11 we find a two-fold description of the Savior: “… meek and lowly in heart…”.  The two donkeys pictured here represent the true believers who have been made “meek” or “saved” by their King. He sits upon them as He rides triumphantly into Jerusalem, typifying the "new Jerusalem from heaven". To “sit” is figuratively associated with “ruling”, or “reigning”, as Christ most certainly does over His eternal church. We must bear in mind that when the Lord speaks of Himself as “meek” and “lowly”, we are talking about eternal God the Creator, His Eternal Majesty, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords! Here we see to what extent Christ had to empty Himself of His divine glory as He humbled Himself by taking on a human nature and their sin and shame on the Cross. 

Heb 1:8-10 “But unto the Son he [God the Father] saith, Thy throne, O God [the Son], is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee [Christ] with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord [Christ], in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.”

Rev 19:16 "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Rev 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

Isa 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One [Jehovah God] that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

Psa 113:6  “Who [Jehovah God] humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”

Mat 21:5  “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

Matt 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

Psa 138:6 “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”

• In His [Christ's] Humiliation His Judgment was Taken Away -  The mission of the Lord Jesus is crystallized in Matthew 1. As we have just considered, in order to be the only Savior for sinners the Lord Jesus had to first take on a human nature. Secondly, he had to became sin, as 2 Corinthians 5 so emphatically announces, Thirdly, He had to suffer the equivalent of spending eternity in Hell for every single child of God. In Acts 8 we are faced with the account of the Ethiopian eunuch who asks Phillip to explain a passage in Isaiah 53. These passages substantiate the infinite degradation that the Lord Jesus subjected Himself to in experiencing the “lowest Hell”. With these verses in mind, may God give us an even greater appreciation for the thrust of Christ's Humility.

Mat 1:21-23 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

2 Cor 5:21 “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us [the elect], who [that is Christ] knew no sin; that we [the elect] might be made the righteousness of God in him [or in Christ].”

Acts 8:30-35 “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Isa 53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”

Isa 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Isa 53:10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

Php 2:5-10 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

• God "revives" “… the spirit of the humble, and… the heart of the contrite ones” - Lord Jesus indeed manifested a “…contrite and humble spirit…” In turn, those whom God has elected to salvation will be “humbled” and will be “made contrite” as God gives them a new resurrected soul and saves them by His grace and for His glory. Before salvation God has to “break us down” spiritually, and humble us because by nature we are so proud and arrogant as we disdain God and His Word, the Bible. Isa 55:1-4, which is a beautiful declaration of the Gospel: This passage explains how God “revives”, or “makes alive”, “… the spirit of the humble, and… the heart of the contrite ones”: 1. God has to “incline” our ears, or give us spiritual understanding, in order for us to “hear” the Gospel. 2. He will give the true Christian the “sure” (or faithful) mercies of King David, who typifies the Lord Jesus. 3. Those whom God has elected to salvation will “come to Him”. Thus, the “humble” are God’s elect. The meek are those who have been “made beautiful” (or clothed) with salvation. We will be greatly aided in this study by keeping in mind this definition of the “meek”. Additionally, 1 Pet 5 speaks of each Christian as being “clothed with humility”. Notice how God associates “humility” with the “fear of the LORD” in this passage that details the wonderful blessings of the kingdom of God: “… riches, honour, and life…”

Isa 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Psa 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Isa 55:1-4 “Ho, every one that thirsteth [after God's Righteousness], come ye to the waters [Gospel of Christ], and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good [Word of God/Gospel of Christ] , and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant [or Gospel] with you, even the sure [or faithful] mercies of David [David typifying Lord Jesus]. 4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.”

Jam 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Psa 149:4 “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.”

Psa 132:16 “I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”

Pro 15:33 “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”

Pro 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”

• Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven -  One of the main themes in the Bible is the pride of Satan and man, which underlies all sin. Moreover, 1 John 3:4 maintains that sin is “…the transgression of the law…”, and the “Law” that is being disobeyed is God’s Word, the Bible. On the other hand, the trait of humility, which the Savior so perfectly demonstrated, is also found among His people as they reflect His character of being “…meek and lowly in heart…” The contrast between pride and humility is found throughout the pages of Scripture; and one such example is the historical parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, or tax-collector, found in Luke 18. Notice in verse 16 that the Lord pinpoints “little children”, who in their naiveté represent those who have become “children of God”. We see the same “little children” in Matthew 18. The context of this chapter will help us to discover who those “little ones” are. Thus we see that the term “little ones” refers to God’s elect children whom He saves from eternal damnation.

Luke 18:9-16 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified[or saved] rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer [Allow] little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Mat 18:3 “And [Jesus] said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Mat 18:4-6,10-14 “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea… 10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

• Humble Yourselves under the Mighty Hand of God -  After God saves a believer, humility begins to manifest itself in the life of this individual who truly has become a “new creature” (or creation) in Christ. While unsaved man is after "... the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life", for the believer in Jesus Christ, God establishes a new set of directives that are exactly opposite of those found in the world, out of which the Christian has been redeemed, contentment, obedience and humility. Pride also prevents many from coming to the Truth of the Word of God. For each child of God, humility is not an option but a way of life.

1 John 2:16-17 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

1 Pet 5:5-7 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

2 Chr 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Num 12:3 “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”

Rom 12:16 "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits."

Phil 2:3-5 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

Kingdom of Christ - Except your Righteousness shall exceed...

• Man Thinks He Can Attain Righteousness on His Own - Rom 10 pinpoints man’s most basic problem - By birth and nature mankind is in defiance to God and His Word, the Bible. Men abhor God’s authority and rulership and do not want to serve Him. Luke 19 highlights the pride of man’s sin-sick heart: Man wickedly and foolishly thinks he can somehow work for his salvation. His arrogance, however, will be sharply arrested by God’s infallible and Holy Law – the Bible – which exposes man’s guilt and degradation, and rewards him with divine retribution. In fact, God is under divine obligation to punish all sin by consigning all who do not have a Savior to eternal damnation in Hell. Nobody Can Keep the Law of God (the Bible) Perfectly. The Bible, as the “two-edged sword” spoken about in Heb 4, can either inflict damnation (by the Law of God) or salvation (by the Grace of God) upon an individual’s soul at God’s discretion. If a person is not being drawn to salvation, he is accountable to the entire Law of God---the Bible and will be found guilty of transgressing it. This is evident by Rom 3:20. Even if someone was guilty of breaking just one of God’s holy commands, he will still be subject to judgment, as Jam 2 highlights. The Bible as the Law of God was never intended to give life – but rather to expose our need for a Savior. Jesus Christ is the only One who could indeed keep the Law of God (the Bible) on our behalf.

Rom 10:3 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Luke 19:14 “But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us.”

Rom 3:19 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Rom 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Jam 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Gal 3:21b-25 “… for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

• As the Righteous One, Christ Obeyed the Bible Perfectly - The Lord Jesus Christ’s zeal was to love God – as a man – with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength – which means to obey His commandments perfectly. He embodied the admonition in Ecc 12:13, From the moment of His divine conception by the Holy Spirit until He voluntarily gave up the Spirit, every thought, every word, every action that Jesus ever committed was done to the absolute glory and praise of God, His Heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus Christ not only obeyed every “jot and tittle” in the Scriptures, but He came to fulfill them, as Mat 5 indicates.

Ecc 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

John 8:29 “… for I [Lord Jesus Christ] do always those things that please him [God the Father].”

Heb 10:7 “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

Mat 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

•  God Only Accepts the Righteousness of Christ – Man’s Self and False “Righteousness” Will Be Condemned - As we have just concluded, the only righteousness that can save one from sin, spiritual death, and Hell, is the gift of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. This gift each Christian receives is only by the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. The magnificent work of salvation that the Lord Jesus accomplished is so unique, so unparalleled, so surpassing that mere human words cannot be found to describe it – we can only turn to the words of the Bible and look in wonder and stare at Him, Who is portrayed in Isa 53. Isa 59 describes the only hope that mankind has. All who do not possess the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior will hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Judge in Mat 7 echoing eternally.

Dan 9:18 “O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.”

Isa 53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Isa 59:16-17 “And he [God and Lord Jesus Christ] saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.”

Mat 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

• The ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS Needed to Enter Heaven - In Mat 22 we read about the parable of the man who did not have on a wedding garment. This parable is not simply referring to a point of etiquette but is underscoring what is required to gain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Isa 61 helps us to see this truth with even greater clarity: Notice how God emphasizes the fact that He bestows the “robe of righteousness”, or salvation, upon the unworthy recipients of such grace. Why are we unworthy, you ask? We are unworthy because by nature and birth we are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, and because we think that we are good enough to merit God’s acceptance. How fatally flawed this thinking is! The Lord Jesus declared in Mat 5. What kind of “righteousness” did the religious leaders of Jesus’ day possess? It was a man-made, false righteousness, which only leads to Hell. We need the robe of Christ’s righteousness, spoken about in Rev 19. The individual believers who make up the Body, or Bride, of Christ have been clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness – -hence they are saved.

Mat 22:11-14 “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Isa 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Mat 5:20 “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Rev 19:8 “And to her [the Bride of Christ] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

• The ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS is Needed to Escape Hell - The robe of Christ’s righteousness is absolutely needed in order for one to escape from the inevitable broad road that leads to Hell. The reason one is on that road is explained in Isa 64. The expression “filthy rags” and “uncleaness” is a fitting description of man’s total depravity and spiritual bankruptcy and his self-righteosuness. God is accurately substantiating how filthy, how polluted, and how foul our sin is in God’s eyes. No wonder God affirms in Rom 3 that we all are sinners. The only person who has actually suffered the rigors of Hell is the Lord Jesus. The phrase “heart of the earth” is a reference to eternal Hell. By “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” as 1 Cor 2:13 instructs, we run across this powerful statement in Jonah 2, which helps us to see, in a small way, the extent of the punishment Christ was bearing in the “belly of Hell”, or “the deep”, for His people. Those whose sins are not payed for and who is not covered with Robe of Christ's Righteousness will be cast into Hell as Mat 22 affirms.

Isa 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…”

2 Cor 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.”

Mat 12:40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Jon 2:1-4a “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight…”

Mat 22:11-14 “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

• God’s People are Called to Live Righteous Lives - After someone has become saved, God’s command to “follow after righteousness” found in 1 Tim 6 begins to manifest itself in the life of one who truly has become a “new creature” (or creation) in Christ. This happens because in his new soul – where salvation has occurred – he lives Righteously. 1 John 2 explains that whosover ,  "...doeth righteousness is born of him". The spiritual fruit that results from salvation and from God’s working in the Christian’s life is expressed in Rom 6. May God cause us to hunger and thirst for Him and for His Righteousness.

1 Pet 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

2 Cor 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

1 John 3:10 "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

1 John 2:29 "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him."

1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Eph 5:9 "(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)"

Rom 6:13 "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."

Rom 6:18-19 "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."

1 Tim 6:11-12 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

Kingdom of Christ - Righteousness "of" Christ by Faith "of" Christ

• Righteousness is One of God’s Names and Attributes - When the Bible speaks about God’s righteousness, it is never in vague or abstract terms. Instead, it is really referring to one of God’s names in addition to one of His infinite, perfect characteristics. We also read in 1 John 2:1 that the Lord Jesus Christ, our “advocate with the Father”, is called “Jesus Christ the Righteous”. Heb 1 demonstrates how God the Father has magnified God the Son (and this applies to all members of the Trinity) and acknowledges His righteous rule over the Kingdom of God. Here we also see a fundamental trait of the Godhead – to love righteousness and to hate iniquity. Isa 45 informs us that righteousness is indeed the work of God – in fact, He has created it. Job 29 further explains figuratively how the Lord Jesus is so closely identified with righteousness. Just as God is the very embodiment of righteousness, His blessed Word – the Bible – is likewise intimately associated with His holy righteousness, as Psa 119 teaches.

Jer 23:6 “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel [Judah and Israel typify Elect of God] shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Heb 1:8-9 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Isa 45:8 “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.”

Job 29:14 “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.”

Psa 119:172 “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.”

• The Bible Instructs Us Concerning Righteousness - One of the greatest declarations regarding the purpose and scope of the Bible is found in 2 Tim 3. The Greek word for “instruction” in this phrase gives the connotation of nurturing, or teaching, or correcting on the subject of righteousness. So, who are the “meek”? They are God’s redeemed children. All who have become saved will be “hid” from the Lord’s anger on Judgment Day. Mat 5 describes these individuals as, "Blessed". We must always bear in mind that no man seeks after God, as we read in Rom 3. We know that the Lord Jesus “came to seek and to save that which was lost”.  The same idea is lovingly expressed in the words of Jer 31. And where has God “made known His salvation” or “His righteousness”? Only in the Bible, God’s Holy Word.

2 Tim 3:16  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Zep 2:3 “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

Mat 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Mat 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Rom 3:11 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jer 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Psa 98:2 “The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.”

• God’s Righteousness is Everlasting - As God Himself is everlasting, so is His righteousness, or salvation, as we read in Isa 51. God’s righteousness has everything to do with His salvation program pertaining to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, as Dan 9 so forcefully explains. God’s righteousness is always related to eternal life, as we see from Psa 12. Isa 51 announces this wonderful promise. Have you been clothed with the everlasting righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ – the only Savior for sinners?

Isa 51:5 “My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.”

Dan 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”

Psa 12:28 “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.”

Isa 51:6 “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.”

• Righteousness was accomplished by Christ Alone by becoming a Man - One of the greatest truths in the Bible is the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ – the astounding fact that God took on a human nature – like one of us. How can we even begin to understand this concept of eternal God becoming man? If the nations of this world are a drop of water, how big does that make you and me? Isa 40 gives us some indication of how infinitely great God is, and how infinitesimally microscopic we are, in comparison.

Php 2:6-8 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Isa 40:15; 17-18 “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing… All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.”

• Christ Alone Knew no Sin but became Sin to make us Righteous - Even beyond the incarnation of the Lord Jesus is the incomprehensible fact that the Lord Jesus allowed Himself to become sin in order to atone for the sins of His people. In 2 Cor 5 we find these incredible words. It staggers our puny imaginations when we evaluate this statement in light of the biblical principle in Acts 20. John 10 further illustrates the fact that Christ laid down His life voluntarily.

2 Cor 5:21 “for he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive…”

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Rom 5:6-8 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

John 10:18  “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

• Christ Alone Suffered the Equivalent of Eternal Hell for us - We have seen thus far how Christ became a man, became sin on behalf of each child of God, and now we want to examine the greatest test He still had to face – enduring the equivalent of eternity in Hell. Luke 22 serves to highlight the unspeakable agony that Christ had to undergo in order to accomplish the salvation of His people (the Elect). Psa 75 reveals what that “cup” contained and what was transpiring spiritually. This refers to the “cup” of the eternal wrath of God. Christ’s sufferings commenced in the Garden of Gethsemane, which means “winepress”, where he drank that cup for each Christian (born-again). Isa 63 helps us to gain a deeper appreciation of what this means: I want to leave you with this final thought today: Because God Almighty poured out His eternal vengeance on His own dear Son, whom He loves with an everlasting love, we can know with absolute assurance that each unsaved human being on Judgment Day shall "drink of the wine of the wrath of God" as Rev 14 teaches.

Luke 22:44 “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Mat 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Psa 75:8 “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.”

Isa 63:1-5 “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.”

Rev 14:10 “… shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb”

Kingdom of Christ - Kingdom of God is Righteousness and NOT of this World

• God and His Kingdom are Righteous and Not of This World -  Righteousness is a magnificent attribute of God. It is an aspect of His basic nature, the very character of God and encompasses everything He says and does.. The Bible is replete with references to God’s Righteousness. In fact, the Bible indicates that one of His names is Righteous, or Righteousness, as we find mentioned in the New Testament in1 John 2. The Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and His everlasting Covenant of providing His Salvation is announced in Isa 61. God the Father continues to highlight the work of God the Son even further in Heb 1.

Psa 11:7 “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”

Psa 145:17 “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”

Psa 119:144 “The righteousness of thy testimonies [God’s Word – the Bible] is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.”

1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Isa 32:17-18 “And the work of righteousness [salvation] shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation [Christ's Kingdom], and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

Psa 119:142 “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”

Jer 23:5-6 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Jer 9:24 “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

2 Pet 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Heb 1:8-10 “But unto the Son he [God the Father] saith, Thy throne, O God [the Son], is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee [Christ] with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord [Christ], in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.”

Isa 45:18-23 “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just [Righteous] God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

Php 2:6-11 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

• Righteousness of the World - Is the World Righteous? - The answer is a resounding, NO! Why is this? Once mankind fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, the whole human race became infected with sin. Man's heart is desperately wicked and deceitful. Isa 1:3 paints a despicable, but very accurate, portrayal of the "inner picture" of those who were "identified outwardly" as the people of God. The big problem that man faces in his inability to see his own sinfulness. He is blinded to it. In fact, he actually thinks he is “righteous”, or “good”. Worst of all man perceives that God is well-pleased with him. How utterly foolish man is! One common aspect of all the pagan religions and false gospels of the world is the notion that man must do something to gain favor with whomever or whatever they worship. However, the Bible says clearly and repeatedly that there is nothing we can do to get ourselves Right with God. God describes the spiritual covering of unbelievers as “unclean” and man’s attempts at being “righteous” are like “filthy rags” in His sight. The fact remains that man cannot be righteous by anything he does on his own. By God’s standard of righteousness even the most moral person is looked upon by God as desperate sinner on his way to Hell. The Bible teaches that no one is good enough in himself to go to Heaven. On the contrary, we are all sinners, and we are all guilty before God.

Rom 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Rom 3:10-11 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth , there is none that seeketh after God."

Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Isa 1:3-6 “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

Job 15:14 “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight? How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?”

Rom 1:28-31 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.”

Isa 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Rom 1:17-18 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

• Can Men be “Made” Righteous? If so, How? - God Makes His People Righteous by becoming sin for them - Man is in desperate need of a righteousness which can qualify him for Heaven. Only the righteousness that God gives as a gift can accomplish that. Those who are “righteous”, or good, are not that way because they have done something. They have been made righteous by God Himself. This righteousness has been given to them when they were given eternal life, and eternal life is likewise a gift from God. In Rev 19  the righteousness that is being mentioned is speaking about salvation, and it is compared to clean, white linen – a symbol of purity – a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 1 Pet 3 serves to identify Christ’s redemption for His people, who are referred to as the “unjust”, from sin, spiritual death, and Hell. Here we see the greatest exchange that has ever taken place in this universe. Here we see Righteous God, Who is holy, pure, and sinless become unholy, impure, and sinful. Simultaneously, we see unrighteous unsaved man, who by nature is unholy, impure, and sinful become holy, pure, and sinless by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that is given, or imputed, to him. One day God will destroy this present universe by fire and create New Heavens and a New Earth where only God and His people will live forever in righteousness. Isaiah 54 has much to say about the eternal church, and sums up that fact in verse 17.

Tit 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

Rev 19:8 “And to her [the Bride of Christ] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

1 Pet 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit”

2 Cor 5:21 "For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Isa 54 -17 “This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

Isa 61:8-11 “For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of [Christ's] righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

Php 3:8-9 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 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…”

Rom 1:17-18 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

Isa 46:13 “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel [Elect of God] my glory.”

Kingdom of Christ - O worship the LORD in the "Beauty of Holiness"

• Holy is His "Name" - God is absolutely and indescribably unique. As the verse in Exo 15  implies, there is only One True and Living God among the pantheon of lesser “gods” that have been invented by the minds of men. And this One True and Living God is Holy. Rev 4 paints a very dramatic picture of Triune God’s eternal holiness. Mark 1 records that even an “unclean spirit”, a demon, in a man that is acknowledging not only the divine Holiness of God the Son, but also his awareness that Jesus will one day appear as the Judge of the universe to consign all demons  and all the unsaved to Hell.

Exo 15:11 “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Luke 1:49 “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”

Rev 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Mark 1:23-24 “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art  the Holy One of God.”

• The "Beauty of Holiness" - The phrase “beauty of holiness” is used four times in the Bible, and all of these occur in the Old Testament in the context of worshipping God. In our world beauty and holiness are rarely (if ever) associated with each other. This is because the world is altogether absorbed and infatuated with “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…”. Only the Bible associates beauty with holiness, and associates both with eternal God. From the Bible we learn the real significance of beauty and holiness from God’s perspective and God is to be praised “for His mercy, which endureth forever.”

2 Chr 20:21 “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Exo 15:11 “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Psa 96:6 “Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”

• God Gives the "Beauty of Holiness" to His Children- As noted above, God is the very embodiment of the “beauty of holiness”, and yet He does not keep that solely within the Triune Godhead. He shares the “beauty of holiness” as he grants salvation to those that He planned to redeem. Keep in mind that Isa 61:3 is set in a context that explains in figurative language the purpose for which God the Son came to this earth to be the Savior of His people. Let’s look at the two preceding verses in this very important passage because they so clearly identify those who will have God’s unmerited holiness given to them.

Eph. 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Isa 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me [Lord Jesus Christ]; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn 3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

• God’s Gospel, Provides "Beauty of Holiness" in Salvation - We read about the “Holy Covenant” in Luke 1. What is God’s covenant? Rom 11 gives us the definition.  The Greek word for “covenant” is really speaking about the Gospel and is also translated in English as “testament” in a number of places, including in 2 Cor 3. The reason it is “holy” is because it is God’s covenant, or testament, which is applied to the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit. God is emphasizing the fact that this Gospel did not originate with man – it was not conceived in the mind of man. According to Gal 1, the origin of the Gospel can only be traced to God. Could it be that each us might gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the holiness of God, to the end that we might be holy, as God is Holy  (1 Pet 1:16)? We can only have God’s holiness if He chooses to give it to us by saving us and giving us new birth from above.

Luke 1:72 “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.”

Rom 11:27 “For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

Eph 2:12 “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

2 Cor 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter [Law] killeth, but the spirit [Holy Spirit] giveth life.”

Rom 15:29 “And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.”

Gal 1:12-13 “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

• God’s People Desire the "Beauty of Holiness"- Not only does God grant the “beauty of holiness” to His people in salvation, but His children, in turn, desire the “beauty of holiness”. This is demonstrated by their willingness to glorify God in their lives by obeying the Bible; and this takes place as a result of salvation. Thus, believers can identify with the same genuine longing that is expressed in Luke 1. The believer desires God for all that He is and all that He has done and continues to do for them. Christians also crave that the Lord might use them as His ambassadors to proclaim His Word.

Luke 1:74-75  “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”

Psa 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

Psa 90:17 “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”

• God’s People are to Worship Him in the "Beauty of Holiness" - As we have seen God considers holiness as “beauty”. This world has its own standards for beauty, but those qualifications for beauty do not include holiness, or moral perfection. Only God Himself has this quality, and only God can give it to His people. We just saw a glimpse of God’s holiness when we saw the extent to which He is worshipped in Heaven; and thus, how careful we must be to worship Him on earth as He demands. So, how do we do that? We see from this verse and many other passages that as God seeks and saves His people from eternal damnation, He also qualifies them to worship Him for His Holiness “in spirit and in truth” – that is, in obedience to the Bible. In the book of Psalms we find a vast treasury of verses that relate to the worship of this Holy, Majestic, and Merciful Triune God. Psa 30 emphasizes the attitude of great joy and eternal appreciation that flows from the souls o the redeeemed and is expressed in singing. Their need to manifest their “joy unspeakable” practically shouts out.  I pray that you, too, might be one of the “righteous” who is clothed with the holiness of God – a gift none of us deserves and one we can never lose.

1 Chr 16:29 “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

Heb 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Psa 96:9 “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”

Psa 30:4 “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Psa 97:2 “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Kingdom of Christ - Kingdom of God is Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

• What is Holiness? - The Greek word for “holiness” is found ten times in the New Testament – five times as “holiness” and five times as “sanctification”. What exactly is holiness? Well, this verse is indicating that without it “no man shall see the Lord”. So, holiness is associated with the very character or nature of God Himself. In fact, God is the embodiment of Holiness because He is Holy. Let’s take a closer look at this key verse Heb 7:26. What does it mean for Christ to be “harmless”? That word conveys the idea of the absence of wickedness or evil. How is He “undefiled”? It means to be unsullied or unstained by sin. That word, for example, describes both the Author of salvation (Jesus Christ) as well as salvation itself in 1 Pet 1, which God has so lovingly given to His people. What about the phrase, “separate from sinners”? God is Holy, and by virtue of His righteous nature He cannot in any way be associated at all with sin. That is why all sin, by definition, must be punished. Next, we come to the fifth description of the Lord Jesus in Heb 7:26 as the Christian’s High Priest, who is “made higher than the heavens” portraying the majestic holiness of God the Son.

Heb 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord…”

Heb 7:26 “For such an high priest [Lord Jesus Christ] became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens…”

1 Pet 1:4 “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”

Heb 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

• God is Holy - As we begin to talk about the holiness of God we quickly see that this is not some type of intellectual exercise or pursuit. Who are we to even discuss God? He is the grandest, most majestic, holiest Being we will ever face; and make no mistake about it, every human who has ever lived will face the One, True, Living God of the Bible. The big question for each of us to ask ourselves is this, “Will He be my Savior or my Judge"? Those are the only two possibilities that exist. However, we must speak about God, because the Bible speaks about Him. Rev 4 declares His infinite Triune character. Indeed, everything about God is holy. His Name is Holy as Psa 99 states. His Word, the Bible is holy, according to Jer 23. His Habitation is also Holy, as Jer 25 affirms.
  

Rev 15:4 “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

Rev 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Psa 99:3 “Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.”

Jer 23:9 “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.”

Jer 25:30 “Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.”




 

• By Nature, Mankind Has No Holiness - We have just considered some of the attributes of God’s holiness. Man, on the other hand by contrast, is unholy – the very opposite of God. Man’s heart is wicked. Man’s mind is reprobate. Everything about unsaved man is unholy. and thus he is denied access into holy Kingdom of Christ. How is man unholy you ask? If we look at the opposite attributes of Heb 7:6 we get a very clear picture of man’s sinful nature. From 2 Tim 3 we get an accurate picture of man’s utter lack of holiness. Man is also harmful – both to himself as well as to others. Gen 6 teaches that man is corrupt, and Psa 58 announces our true nature – man is wicked from the womb. Unsaved man is also abominable and filthy, as he is portrayed in Job 15. Man’s greatest problems stem from his own heart that is defiled by sin. Man’s sinfulness is referred to in Mark 8 as the “generation of evil”, which is the generation of sinful man that spans all of human history from after the Fall in the Garden of Eden to Judgment Day. People who are trusting in their own works are “pure in their own eyes”, but are “filthy” in God’s eyes. Lastly, we understand that man, as a result of his sinfulness, deserves eternal damnation under the wrath of God.
  

2 Tim 3:2-4 "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…"

Job 15:16 “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"

Gen 6:12 "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth."

Psa 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

Pro 15:26 “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.”

Pro 30:12 “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”

Mat 12:34-35 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

Jer 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Rom 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient...”

Mark 8:38 “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Psa 88:6 “Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.”

• The Command "Be ye holy; for I am holy" - Holiness is required to enter into Kingdom of Christ. God gives many commands to men in the Bible that they should do – like believe, repent, be perfect, and confess. Another is "be holy". This is true both in the Old and New Testaments. God had especially chosen the nation of Israel to be His representative people on earth, starting with the conversion of Abraham. We must understand, however, that man is utterly incapable of obeying any such commands perfectly because he is spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins”, as we see from Eph 2. And yet God still holds man accountable to this command to “be holy”, as well as to every other command in the entire Bible.
  

Lev 20:7 “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.”

Lev 20:26 “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

1 Pet 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Heb 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord…”

Eph 2:1-3 “And you hath he quickened [made alive] who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation [lifestyle] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

• How Does One Obtain Holiness? - How Can Unholy Man Be Made Holy? Since holiness is required to gain entrance to Kingdom of Christ, and man is unholy by birth and nature – how does one obtain holiness? Holiness is an aspect of salvation, which is entirely a gift of God. In other words, the only way for man to be “clean” in God’s eyes is by salvation. God must wash away our sins to make us truly “pure", or “holy”, through His Word. In order to enter into Kingdom of Christ, our sins have to be paid for, making us sinless and holy in the eyes God, even as God asserts in 1 Pet 1. Notice that those who are “unbelieving” are “defiled” both in “mind” and “conscience” as seen in Tit 1. Psa 106 explains that our so-called “good works” serve to defile us unless they come from those who have been made holy, or sinless, by God alone. Actually, the blessing that one receives is salvation itself – that is, when God makes every Christian righteous, or holy, in His sight. Psa 110 pictures God’s salvation upon the unworthy recipients who have been made holy by His grace. Has God done a work of grace to cleanse your heart and make you holy, so that you might be included in that company mentioned in Rev 19:8 who are “... arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints”?

1 Pet 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Job 15:14 “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?”


Psa 24:3-5 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Psa 110:3 “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”

John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

Tit 1:15 “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

2 Tim 3:8 “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these [unsaved men] also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

Psa 106:39 “Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.”

Heb 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot [sin] to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Tit 3:5-7 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

• Those Whom God Has Chosen to be Holy - Eph 1 describes those individuals whom God has chosen to be holy. Because man is spiritually dead, God must both initiate and execute the salvation of all those He came to redeem from their sin and Hell. This took place, in principle, from before the foundation of the world and, experientially, at some point in each believer’s life. Salvation is Holiness from God. 1 Pet 2 speaks so eloquently of this holy salvation, which is so grandiose, so magnificent that no other words – except God’s words in the Bible – can adequately express such divine richness and grace. God likens the salvation of His children to marriage in Eph 5. The word “church” here refers to the eternal body of true believers. Psa 65 is another beautiful illustration of God’s mercy in making His people as holy as Himself.

Eph 1:4-6 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

2 The 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”

John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

1 Pet 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [purchased] people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

Eph 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Psa 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”

Col 1:21-22 “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight...”

Luke 1:74-75 "That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”

Psa 97:2 “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”
 

• God’s People are Called to Live Holy Lives - After someone has become saved, God’s command to “be ye holy, as I am holy” found in 1 Pet 2:16 begins to manifest itself in the life of one who truly has become a “new creature” (or creation) in Christ as 2 Cor 5:17 points out. This happens because in his new soul – where salvation has occurred – he never sins again, as 1 John 3 explains. The reality of Php 2:13 also takes effect. These Scriptures are underscoring a vital element of this new life of holiness, which is love for God and others and is expressed by a growing supernatural motivation to be obedient to the Bible in thought, word, and deed. May God cause us to hunger and thirst for Him and for His holiness.

Eph. 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Gal 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Mark 9:43-48 “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Php 2:13 “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Rom 6:19 “… for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

Col 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"


Gal 5:22-25 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." 

Rom 8:12-14 "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."