By Grace Through Faith

How many of you are righteous?

When we repent and God forgives us, God imputes His righteousness to us.

KJV Romans 4:3-8
3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Grace keeps us in a continual state of righteousness by faith.
KJV Romans 5:20
20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Our spiritual condition is maintained by a constant cleansing of our sins.
KJV 1 John 1:9
9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This keeps the spots, blemishes and wrinkles out of our garments.
KJV Ephesians 5:26-27
26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
We need to be further clothed with the white robe of righteousness that we receive when we enter the kingdom. This will be our own righteousness and not imputed by God. This is the change.
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:1-4
1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Now, because of our faith, God calls us righteous, it is the righteousness of God by faith. At present the righteousness in us is not ours, it is Gods imputed to us.
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:21
21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
It is as if we wear baby clothes now but formal attire when in the kingdom.
KJV Matthew 22:11-14
11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14. For many are called, but few are chosen.
We maintain the baby clothes with the gospel message; if we dirty ourselves God will change our diaper.
KJV 1 John 2:1-2
1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
In the kingdom, God will have full grown sons and daughters that cannot dirty themselves anymore. When we are baptized into Jesus, this is our first new diaper, our first cleansing of all past sins but we continue to dirty ourselves to the end of this life; however the frequency of those times we need changed should decrease as we grow talents. This is bearing fruit to God, growing in His spirit. This is how we, the saints, are the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ.
For a broken spirit is to God a sacrifice and a broken contrite heart God will not despise.
KJV Psalms 51:17
17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
God knows our heart and that our sins break it as we feel sorrow and disgust over it, we repent, ask forgiveness and God forgives.
KJV 1 John 3:19-21
19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
All of this is Gods doing, it is His will. Our broken human spirit because of our sins is a living sacrifice to God who knows we have a contrite heart. Contrite means grief and sorrow over doing wrong, Godly sorrow, that leads us to repent. King David committed adultery and murder; Psalm 51 was written to express David’s extreme sorrow over these sins, he repented deeply and we know God forgave him. God will forgive us too.

This is the gospel, this is Gods will. Our part in this is to believe and through our lives of experiencing this love and mercy be made stronger spiritually.
KJV Romans 5:1-2
1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This grace is always present for us and we should boldly go to God to obtain mercy and forgiveness at any time.
KJV Hebrews 4:16
16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.