The righteousness of Jesus Christ is not something we earn through our own efforts or adherence to the law, but rather it is imputed to us through faith. This divine righteousness is a gift from God, underscoring His profound love and mercy. It surpasses the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, who were known for their strict adherence to the law. By faith in Christ, we are deemed righteous, guaranteeing our entrance into the kingdom of God. This imputed righteousness is a testament to God's grace, a reminder that our relationship with Him is not based on our works but on His love for us. [32:35]
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it." (Romans 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own efforts to earn God's favor, and how can you shift your focus to embracing the gift of righteousness through faith in Christ today?
Day 2: The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Victory
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our understanding and experience of righteousness. He convicts us of judgment, highlighting the victory over Satan achieved through Jesus' death on the cross. This victory signifies the breaking of Satan's power over us, empowering us to live in the light and freedom of Christ. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, revealing the mysteries of God that were once hidden. Through Jesus, we are no longer under the dominion of darkness but are empowered to live in the light. [37:23]
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:8-11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you into deeper understanding and experience of the victory you have in Christ over darkness today?
Day 3: Joy Rooted in Resurrection
Jesus' resurrection transforms sorrow into joy, offering us a promise of new life and eternal joy that is independent of our circumstances. This joy is rooted in our relationship with the Lord, which remains constant despite life's changes. Jesus spoke of a time when His followers would not see Him, followed by a time when they would see Him again, referring to His death and resurrection. This event is the cornerstone of our faith, a source of sorrow turned into joy, and a promise of eternal life that no one can take away. [48:39]
"So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." (John 16:22, ESV)
Reflection: What circumstances in your life are currently causing you sorrow, and how can you find joy in the promise of Jesus' resurrection today?
Day 4: Direct Access to the Father
Prayer is our direct line to God, made possible through Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to ask the Father in Jesus' name, assured of His love and willingness to grant our requests. This access to God is a privilege, a testament to His desire for a personal relationship with us. We do not need intermediaries because the Father Himself loves us and desires to hear from us directly. This relationship is a reflection of His love and grace towards us. [50:11]
"In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." (John 16:23, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific request you can bring to the Father today, trusting in His love and willingness to hear and answer you?
Day 5: Authority Over Darkness
As children of God, we have authority over Satan through Jesus' name. Satan's power is usurped, and we are called to stand firm in our victory, recognizing our place in the kingdom of God. Our victory is assured through Christ, and we are empowered to resist the devil. This authority is a testament to the power of Jesus' name and the victory He has won for us. We are called to live in this truth, standing firm against the forces of darkness. [01:03:07]
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to exercise the authority you have in Jesus' name to resist the devil today?
Sermon Summary
In our journey of faith, we often grapple with the concept of righteousness and how it relates to our relationship with God. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to us through faith, a profound truth that guarantees our entrance into the kingdom of God. This righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, who were known for their strict adherence to the law. Yet, it is not by our works but by faith in Christ that we are deemed righteous. This imputed righteousness is a gift from God, a testament to His grace and love for us.
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our understanding and experience of this righteousness. He convicts us of judgment, not just the judgment to come, but the judgment that was rendered upon Satan through the death of Jesus on the cross. This victory over Satan signifies that his power over us is broken. Through Jesus, we are no longer under the dominion of darkness but are empowered to live in the light. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, revealing the mysteries of God that were once hidden.
Jesus spoke of a time when His followers would not see Him, followed by a time when they would see Him again. This was a reference to His death and resurrection, a source of sorrow turned into joy. The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, a promise of new life and eternal joy that no one can take away. Our joy is rooted in our relationship with the Lord, not in our circumstances, which are ever-changing.
Prayer is our direct line to God, made possible through Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to ask the Father in Jesus' name, assured that our requests will be granted. This access to God is a privilege, a testament to His love for us. We do not need intermediaries because the Father Himself loves us and desires a personal relationship with each of us.
Finally, we are reminded of the authority we have in Jesus' name. Satan's power is usurped, and as children of God, we have the authority to resist him. Our victory is assured through Christ, and we are called to stand firm in this truth, recognizing our place in the kingdom of God.
Key Takeaways
1. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us through faith, not by our works. This divine righteousness guarantees our entrance into the kingdom of God, surpassing the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. It is a gift of grace, underscoring the profound love and mercy of God. [32:35]
2. The Holy Spirit convicts us of judgment, highlighting the victory over Satan achieved through Jesus' death on the cross. This victory signifies the breaking of Satan's power over us, empowering us to live in the light and freedom of Christ. [37:23]
3. Jesus' resurrection transforms sorrow into joy, offering us a promise of new life and eternal joy that is independent of our circumstances. Our joy is rooted in our relationship with the Lord, which remains constant despite life's changes. [48:39]
4. Prayer is a direct line to God, facilitated by Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to ask the Father in Jesus' name, assured of His love and willingness to grant our requests. This access to God is a testament to His desire for a personal relationship with us. [50:11]
5. As children of God, we have authority over Satan through Jesus' name. Satan's power is usurped, and we are called to stand firm in our victory, recognizing our place in the kingdom of God. Our victory is assured through Christ, and we are empowered to resist the devil. [01:03:07] ** [63:07]
Romans 4:3 - "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.'"
John 16:13-14 - "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
John 16:22-24 - "So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you."
Observation Questions:
How does the sermon describe the way righteousness is imputed to believers? ([32:35])
What role does the Holy Spirit play in our understanding of righteousness and judgment according to the sermon? ([37:23])
How does Jesus' resurrection transform sorrow into joy, as mentioned in the sermon? ([48:39])
What assurance do we have when we pray in Jesus' name, based on the sermon? ([50:11])
Interpretation Questions:
What does it mean for the righteousness of Christ to be imputed to us, and how does this affect our relationship with God? ([32:35])
How does the sermon explain the significance of the Holy Spirit's role in revealing truth and empowering believers? ([38:21])
In what ways does the resurrection of Jesus provide a foundation for eternal joy, as discussed in the sermon? ([48:39])
How does the sermon illustrate the authority believers have over Satan through Jesus' name? ([01:03:07])
Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you relied on your own works rather than faith in Christ for righteousness. How can you shift your focus to trust in the imputed righteousness of Christ? ([32:35])
How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life, especially in understanding God's truth? ([38:21])
Think of a situation where your circumstances have affected your joy. How can you root your joy more deeply in your relationship with the Lord? ([48:39])
What specific prayers have you been hesitant to bring to God? How can you approach Him with confidence, knowing you have direct access through Jesus? ([50:11])
Identify an area in your life where you feel under spiritual attack. How can you exercise your authority in Jesus' name to resist Satan's influence? ([01:03:07])
Consider a recent challenge or sorrow you faced. How did your faith in the resurrection of Jesus help you find joy in that situation? ([48:39])
How can you cultivate a more personal and direct relationship with God, recognizing His love for you without needing intermediaries? ([54:10])
Sermon Clips
"it's impossible for me to be as righteous as Jesus Christ and thus God has made the provision that he will account me righteous by my faith in Jesus Christ so that the righteousness of Christ is now accounted to me or imputed to me and God imputes righteousness to those who believe." [00:32:19]
"the righteousness of Christ through faith which God imputes to me guarantees me entrance in to the kingdom of God, but anything less, even the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees won't get you in, accept your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you'll never enter the kingdom of heaven." [00:33:09]
"the holy spirit will testify or convict of judgment now not the judgment to come, we do know that there is a day of judgment coming it is appointed unto man wants to die and after that the Judgment that judgment seat of God is mentioned by John in the Book of Revelation." [00:33:51]
"through Jesus Christ the power that Satan once had over me is broken, the power that Satan has held over you was broken through Jesus Christ through his death upon the cross so that Satan can no longer Reign or rule over you, his power is broken." [00:37:10]
"we are empowered by him and the darkness no longer holds sway over us, it is the expelling power of the stronger Force, the darkness has been expelled by the Light, and if you have Jesus Christ dwelling in you greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." [00:37:46]
"Jesus said I have yet many things to say unto you, but you can't bear them now, I wonder what those things were, Paul the Apostle writing to the Corinthians said that he wanted to give them meat but they still had need of milk." [00:38:39]
"how be it when he the spirit of Truth has come he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will show you the things to come actually uh The Book of Revelation." [00:40:18]
"Jesus said I have many things to say to you you can't bear them now but when the spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth and and so after his Ascension the Holy Spirit came to guide them into all truth and to show them things to come." [00:42:02]
"verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you now he's talking about this relationship that he is bringing to us with the father, whatsoever we ask the father in his name he will give it to us." [00:50:02]
"Paul tells us there is one God and one mediator between God and man and that's the man Christ Jesus, even the Jews knew how unapproachable God was, they were reminded of it every time on Yom Kippur when the priests would go into the holy of holies." [00:51:07]
"so that the weakest child of God through Jesus Christ has Authority and power over Satan and over the forces of Darkness, as Martin Luther wrote The Prince of Darkness Grim we tremble not at him one little word will fell him and that is the name of Jesus." [01:03:36]
"yours is the victory, all you have to do is come against Satan's powers in the name of Jesus and they must flee resist the devil the scriptures said and he will flee from you, he has to, that's one of your rights as a child of God." [01:04:57]