Topic: YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A GIFT  – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 5 March 2020 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]

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“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”Romans 10:4 KJV.
A major obstacle of the Jews in the days of Apostle Paul was their ignorance of God’s righteousness. Consequently, they refused to give themselves unto the righteousness of God and went about to establish their own righteousness. Just like some people today, they believe righteousness is obeying rules like; don’t wear short dresses, don’t put on wigs, don’t use make-up and don’t wear rings and chains. As far as they are concerned, all those things will take you to hell. That is a lie from the pit of hell.

Beloved, righteousness cannot be legislated. Righteousness is a gift. It was given to you the day you were born again. So, it is the right of the believer. Every person who has received Jesus as his Lord and Saviour has been made righteous. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. All you need to do is to believe. In the old covenant, it was all about what you could do; but in the new covenant, all we do is to believe. You don’t do anything. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10 KJV)
Your righteous identity needs to be built into your system because you really cannot rule over the circumstances of life until you know you are righteous. You must understand that you are righteous even when you are angry with your brother. The fact that you are upset with your brother doesn’t change your being. It doesn’t change your father’s name. Your name is still your name. You are still a member of the family. However, when you yield to the Spirit of Grace, He melts the anger and you walk in forgiveness.
What God did in Christ is much more than what the devil did in Adam. “… much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17 KJV). Those who receive the gift of righteousness reign. They reign over the circumstances of their lives. They don’t tolerate anything the devil throws at them because they know who they are.
Further Reading: John 1:12, Romans 5:12-21Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Numbers 32-34; Evening- Mark 9:30-50