7. Fake righteousness
Righteousness is the currency in which God deals and all believers trade in this currency and no other. That the believer is made righteous in God through Jesus Christ is attested to by many scriptures, and Paul says this, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Philippians 3:9) This is true righteousness, which is both the character of God’ sinless perfection as well as the derivative of God’s provision through Christ. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the redemption of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:24-25) This is the righteousness the believers seek in their pursuit of the things of God as they elevate their gaze from the earthly to the heavenly, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) This then is true righteousness which is not of
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It is therefore holy and is sometimes called Holy Communion but like most rituals and sacraments it can be rendered meaningless and futile if the prerequisites are not met. Some in the early church abused the Lord’s Table by their excesses and showmanship and were not worthy of participation and Paul pointed this out to them. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians