Ephesians 4:24 (NKJV) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Righteousness does not mean being perfect because righteousness is a positional truth about how God sees us in Christ, despite our imperfections. Perfection will only be achieved when we reach heaven. This verse shows us that our new creation in the spirit man is made in righteousness and holiness. Therefore, we can act righteously and behave with holiness in our actions when we understand who we are and what we are capable of through this new creation. In the past, we tried to use the law to perfect ourselves, but we failed miserably trying to live from the outside in. The external law cannot fix the issue of the sin nature in our hearts, but believers have a new heart through the born-again experience, enabling us to begin a new life by living from the inside out.
We can start living in holiness and practising righteousness in our daily lives. We have the choice to either yield to the Spirit or the flesh. It will free us from oppression and fear.
Isaiah 54:14 (NKJV) In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
When we are firmly established in righteousness, we are secure, steady, and fearless. We boast about what the Lord has done. Perfect love casts out all fear because fear creates torment. When we understand how God has granted us the positional truth of being considered righteous and has established peace with God for us, we are freed from oppression and fear, because if God has justified us, nobody is against us since God is for us.
Romans 8:31-35 (NKJV) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
If we think that God is the cause of our problems or that He is against us, we can be filled with doubt and unbelief. Therefore, we have to deal with our misconceptions about God’s truth. When we are firmly established in God’s righteousness, it will give us freedom and boldness to enter God’s presence, revolutionising our prayer life and empowering us to do great exploits for God.
Sermon Series: Righteousness: Religion or Reality
坚定地建立在义中
以弗所书 4:24 并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形象造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。
“义”并不是指完美，因为义是一种“地位上的真理”，是神在基督里看我们为义的事实，即使我们仍有不完美之处。真正的完美只有在我们进入天国时才能实现。这节经文告诉我们，我们里面重生的“新人”是在义和圣洁中被造的。因此，当我们明白自己是谁，并且明白这新生命使我们能够做什么时，我们就能在日常生活中行出公义，活出圣洁。过去，我们常尝试用律法来使自己完全，但却屡屡失败，因为那是试图从外到内地改变。外在的律法无法修复内心罪性的根源，但重生的信徒已得着一颗新心，使我们能够开始一种从内到外的新生命。
我们可以在生活中开始活出圣洁，实践公义。我们可以选择顺服圣灵或顺从肉体，而当我们顺服圣灵，就会从压制和恐惧中得释放。
以赛亚书 54:14 你必因公义得坚立；必远离欺压，不至害怕；你必远离惊吓，惊吓必不临近你。
当我们坚定地建立在义中，我们就会稳固、安然、无惧。我们因主所成就的一切而夸口。完全的爱可以除去一切惧怕，因为惧怕使人受刑。当我们真正明白神已将“义”的地位赐给我们，使我们与祂和好，我们就能脱离压制与恐惧，因为若神称我们为义，就没有人能抵挡我们。神若帮助我们，谁能敌挡我们呢？
罗马书 8:31-35 这样，我们对这些事还要说什么呢？神若帮助我们，谁能敌挡我们呢？神既不爱惜自己的儿子，为我们众人舍了，岂不也把万物和祂一同白白地赐给我们吗？谁能控告神所拣选的人呢？有神称他们为义了。谁能定他们的罪呢？有基督耶稣已经死了，而且从死里复活，如今在神的右边，也替我们祈求。谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢？难道是患难吗？是困苦吗？是逼迫吗？是饥饿吗？是赤身露体吗？是危险吗？是刀剑吗？
如果我们认为神是我们问题的根源，或者以为祂与我们为敌，我们就会陷入怀疑与不信之中。因此，我们必须除去对神真理的误解。当我们坚定地建立在神的义中，这将带给我们在神面前的自由与信心，彻底改变我们的祷告生活，并使我们有能力为神成就大事。
讲章系列：公义：宗教要求，还是救恩的确据？