Seek HIS Righteousness by David J. Stewart

From http://jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/his_righteousness.htm

Seek HIS Righteousness
by David J. Stewart

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

Please notice carefully that Matthew 6:33 does NOT say, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and OUR righteousness..." Rather, the Bible says ... seek HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. We are to seek Jesus' righteousness. 2nd Corinthians 5:21 states, "For he (God the Father) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." This speaks of Christ's imputed righteousness (i.e., our sins are placed upon Christ's record, and His righteousness is placed upon our record). We are JUSTIFIED in the eyes of God, just-if-I'd never sinned. The blood of Jesus takes our sins away forever (1st Peter 1:18,19). This is true righteousness, and it is found ONLY in Christ Jesus. We are commanded to seek HIS righteousness if we want to obtain the Kingdom of God. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1st Corinthians 1:30).

Lordship Salvation

So many people today are seeking their OWN righteousness. These are the Lordship Salvationists who require people to forsake their sins to be saved. Jesus never asked us to give up anything to be saved--He simply told us to believe. Jesus proclaimed in John 11:25 ... "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Salvation is a FREE GIFT as Romans 5:15 states, paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. "Repentance" in the Bible simply means "a change of mind." The changed life comes later, as we grow in the Lord (1st Peter 2:2).

Pentecostal / Charismatics

Those in the Pentecostal Charismatic Movement are seeking their own righteousness. They require people to maintain salvation through their OWN righteousness, or risk losing salvation. In sharp contrast, the Word of God declares that we can KNOW for certain that we are saved in 1st John 5:13. If my salvation depends upon my holy living and continuing in the faith, then I can NEVER rest assure that I am saved certain and cannot "know" that I'm saved. Deuteronomy 33:27 reads, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms..." The spiritual birth (i.e., being born again) is as irreversible as the physical birth. Salvation is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23). Only a self-righteous heretic would dare say that God's salvation depends upon our own self-righteousness. Any person who claims to have been a Christian at one time; but no longer, is a LIAR. If you're not saved now, you never were!

Catholics

We read in Romans 10:3,4 ... "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. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." What a powerful passage of Scripture! This precisely describes the Catholic religion. Catholics openly admit that many of their doctrines aren't even found in the Bible, such as the "Assumption of Mary" (i.e., her bodily ascension into Heaven). Another such false doctrine is the Perpetual Virginity of Mary. How ridiculous! We read in Luke 2:42,43 that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Jerusalem when He was 12 years old. Do you mean to tell me that Joseph and Mary were still living together 12 YEARS AFTER JESUS' BIRTH, but had never been intimate as husband and wife? If you believe that, you're messed up. There's not one Scripture even in the Catholic Bible that teaches the "Immaculate Conception" of Mary (i.e., that she was born without a sinful nature, and was immediately saved at birth). Romans 3:23 is very clear ... "For ALL have sinned..." The only Person who never sinned was Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). Here's a list of Catholicism's MANMADE doctrines over the centuries. Instead of seeking HIS righteousness, Roman and Orthodox Catholics have sought their OWN righteousness, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness..." (Romans 10:3).

Seventh Day Adventists

Seventh-Day Adventists are extremely deceitful, and are a false religion. They have not sought HIS righteousness. SDAs believe they CANNOT be saved by faith in Christ alone. Instead, SDAs teach that Jesus, through a process they term "investigative Judgment" decides who is "worthy" or not to enter into Heaven. The Bible already answers that question in Revelation 5:4, "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book..." NO ONE is worthy, except Jesus (Revelation 5:9). We are all worthy of death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, SDAs are trusting in their own self-righteous efforts to maintain their salvation--hoping to merit salvation in the end. Don't be deceived by this cunning pack of wolves, they are infested with many Hidden Heresies.

Other False Religions

There are literally hundreds-of-thousands of false religions in this world. I was recently reading something about Japan, which said that there are an estimated 173,000 cults in Japan alone. False religion is everywhere, and to no surprise, for Satan is the god of this sinful fallen world (2nd Corinthians 4:4). Lutheranism seeks their OWN righteousness in Baptismal Regeneration. Martin Luther openly taught damnable heresies. No "Lutheran" can deny the teachings of Martin Luther while they associate themselves with his foul name. The Jehovah's Witnesses are of the Devil, seeking their OWN righteousness. JWs foolishly teach that Jesus was only Michael the archangel incarnate. The Mormons are of the Devil, seeking their OWN righteousness, teaching that Jesus is not God. The United Church of Christ is straight from Hell, with their homosexual priests, pro-abortion marches, and their homogenized God. You can basically believe whatever you want in their religion. Thus, the UCOC attracts hordes of unsaved people who are just looking for a social club to hang out. They're about as "Christian" as the secular YMCA. 95% of everything that's labeled as "Christian" today is as heathen as can be. If you want to find a good church, look for an Independent Baptist Church, or an Independent Bible Church. Even some of those have a lot to be desired of them, but that's where I'd search. Baptists are NOT Protestants, and come closest to upholding the truth of God's Word and Christian living. I'd avoid ALL televangelists.

The Good Person

There are many people in this world who consider themselves "good" people; but they are not religious. They never go to church; but they do believe in a Supreme God. They have the attitude that if they do their best in this life that only an unfair God would punish them in Hell. They are dead wrong! Jesus boldly stated in John 3:3, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." We also read the frightening words of 2nd Thessalonians 1:8 ... "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." Oh listen friend, you had better believe upon Jesus as your only Savior, because you are a sinner deserving of Hell. It's Jesus who has the nail-scared hands and feet. All of your goodness and human effort won't help you one tiny bit when you stand before the Judgment Seat of God. Your only hope is the blood of Jesus Christ which takes away our sins ... "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ..." (1st Peter 1:18,19). John 1:29 reads, "...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Oh listen friend, seek HIS (Jesus') righteousness, not your own. I think Romans 4:5 states it best ... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!

"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." -Matthew 5:20
Ye Must Be Born Again!