Part 3 - The Fall and the Restoration
Loving God With All One's Strength
"Thus says the LORD: '. . . Let not the mighty man glory in his might, . . .
But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising . . . righteousness in the earth' " (Jer.
9:23-24).
A third exercise of God to glory in is His righteousness. Righteousness is
primarily right actions one has toward others in relationships whereas
godliness primarily refers to a person's character. God's actions toward
others in relationships are perfect, just, and faithful to His covenants.
God keeps His promises and does not fail. His omnipotence allows
Him to exercise righteousness perfectly. Mankind is to glory in God's
righteousness and His strength to perform it rather than in man's own
strength and ability to do righteously in relationships.
On man's part, righteousness is both a right relationship with God and a
right relationship with fellow mankind. In the Fall a right relationship
with God was broken. The result is unrighteousness in mankind's dealings
amongst himself. A right relationship between mankind begins with a right
relationship to God.
Righteousness through faith
Romans 3:21-23 states, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law
is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the
righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who
believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God." Beginning with the fall of Adam and Eve, mankind has
fallen short of the glory of God in exercising righteousness. A separation
from God removed mankind from abiding in God's strength which produced
failure in relationships. The righteousness of God that is revealed is one
that comes upon the one who puts faith in Jesus Christ.
The righteousness that is of the law is one that requires the keeping of the
whole law. A failure in keeping any one point of the law results in one
being considered to have fallen short and to be in the category of sinner.
"For there is no difference; for all have sinned." Once a person is in the
category of sinner, God accounts no difference between sinners. All have
fallen short and are not righteous. Because the righteousness that God
accepts is one of perfection, once a person has fallen short he will never
be able to claim righteousness on the basis of his own doings.
Righteousness through Christ
Yahweh says, "But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and
knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising . . . righteousness in the earth."
God's design for the place of mankind is one where all glorying is in God.
The sinfulness of man once and for all takes away any glory in
self-righteousness. God's place for mankind to dwell in is His mercy and
grace. In this context God is willing to forgive sin and bestow upon the
believer His grace. Under grace, God wishes to manifest His righteousness in
and through the believer.
Jesus gives rest to the believer because He has perfectly fulfilled the
righteousness of the law and has been accepted by the Father into heaven and
is now seated on the Father's right hand. Those in Christ are considered to
be seated with Christ. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to those who
are in Christ by faith. There is no more struggle to attain to an acceptance
by God. The acceptance of Jesus by the Father is the acceptance of the
believer who is in Christ. This is a place of grace. This place is a gift
from God to those who reject self-righteousness and accept His righteousness
by faith.
Giving way to God's strength
Because self-righteousness stands in the way of receiving the righteousness
of Christ, Jesus gave the meaning of the Fourth Commandment with the words,
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your strength." This is a love
that gives way to God. It is a love whereby the believer gives place to
God's strength rather than one's own strength. The believer loves God with
all his strength by laying down that strength at the cross and then glorying
in God's strength. This is the removing of oneself from the self-exaltation
of the fall of mankind and once again exalting God.
Part of the finished and sanctifying work of Christ is the consecration of
the believer to the righteousness of right relationships with the lost, with
God, with fellow believers, and with the Redeemer. The believer is called to
righteousness despite his inability to perform it. Under grace the
righteousness of Christ that is imputed to the believer is also worked out
through the believer. The provision for this is God Himself, the Holy
Spirit. The work of the Spirit is hindered by the exercise of
self-righteousness. When one rests fully in Christ for his standing before
God, God by grace can then exercise righteousness through the believer. The
believer can then glory in God.
Glory in God's strength and righteousness
The fallen and rebellious nature of man causes him to desire the glory of
being righteous by his own doing. But God designed mankind to cleave to Him
and find all strength in Him. Apart from cleaving to God, man will fail in
having a right relationship to both God and fellow man. The place of
restoration through Christ is a place of rejecting self-glory and to glory
in God's strength which brings righteousness in the earth.
Loving God and fellow man is the summary of the law. Loving God above all
else is the first commandment and is the place of restoration through Jesus
Christ. God is all in all in one's heart when one gives way to God in the
areas of the soul, mind, and strength. Jesus delivers one from a focus on
self to a focus on God. Love, peace, and joy result from adhering to God's
call: " 'But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and
knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and
righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,' says the LORD" (Jer.
9:24).
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