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Living a Righteous Life
When we seek to live a righteous life, we have to look at the example of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who came and taught us that we should live
righteously in this present world. Many people believe that they can only live a
righteous life when they get to heaven; however this is contrary to what the
bible says.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world;
The heavenly
father created mankind in his own image; which is holy and righteous and
intended for us to be the same way. However, Adam sinned, now we all have to
fight a battle involving applying the word of the lord (which is the spirit) to
overcome our carnal desires or lusts.
Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only
have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many
inventions.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life.
1Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children,
not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is
holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Matt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect
The
Process of Reforming Our Lives
To reform our
lives, we must first understand what sin is, which the bible defines as follows:
1 John
3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law.
1 Sam 15:24
And Saul said
unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD,
and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
One of the
first things we should do in order to live a righteous life is to be humble
enough to accept that God’s word is right. Then, confess and forsake our sins by
repenting, and do the commandments of God through the examples of Jesus Christ,
to renew our minds.
Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is
right; and all his works are done in truth.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God;
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his
sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have
mercy.
Ephesians 4:22-25 That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts;23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye
put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus
began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Where do we get the Instructions
from?
The
instructions we follow come from the bible (the word of God), as taught to us by
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matt 17:5 While he yet spake,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud,
which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth,
and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein: for the time is at hand.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
We must apply
the things that we read in the bible (instructions from God) to our everyday
lives. For example, if you are someone that steals, to repent in the name of
Christ you should be mindful of the word of God.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole
steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which
is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Or you might
be someone that is committing adultery/fornication if that is the case you have
to be mindful of the word of God to reconcile yourself to him.
Matthew 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it
was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto
you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart.
Psalm 1:1-2 1Blessed is the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.2But his delight is in the law of the
LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
How does
the Change Come About?
Change does
not happen overnight it’s a process; however, the change comes by repenting in
the name of Christ, also by applying the understanding of repentance to our
daily lives should cause growth in righteousness day by day.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we
faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day
by day.
By us
constantly fighting off our evil thoughts and drawing nearer to God, he will in
turn help us along the way.
Rom 8:6-7 For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law
of God, neither indeed can be.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he
will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded.
In
conclusion, we should live a righteous life because it is our duty, and gives us
the opportunity to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear
the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for
this is the whole duty of man.
Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are they
that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.15For without are dogs, and sorcerers,
and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh
a lie.
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