Saints and Righteousness are what I have been looking into and will continue to with the Beneficent Influence of the Righteous, the seed of Righteousness is another phrase for it. What is the new thing belonging to a New Creation, who is in Christ? But first what does Pastor Hoekstra have to share on Grace? And then my targeted subject using the ESV translation. And as is my habit if the LORD gives insight into something I will edit what every area I am in at that moment.
"New Creatures in Christ"
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2Corinthians 5:17)
"Everyone who is "in Christ," through faith in His name, is a "New Creation." We are new people. We are no longer who we were before we put our trust in the Lord Jesus. We are not the old person reformed or improved; we are a "New Creation." Yes, we have the same body, but that is a mere tent (a temporary housing made of the elements of the earth upon which we live and) in which we dwell. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2Corinthians 5:1). Some day in glory, we will trade this temporal, earthly tent for an eternal heavenly one. Meanwhile, though we live in the same old tent we had in Adam, we are new tenants, a "New Creation." We may have the same old physical brain, but we are learning to think an entirely new way. Our western things processes are being reprogrammed daily to give us clear perception of spiritual things, as we learn Christ in GOD and GOD in Christ in us. "We have the mind of Christ... be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2 and 1Corinthians 2:16). Christ lives in us, and His Spirit also dwells in us. His Spirit takes the word of GOD and unfolds the thinking of our LORD for us. As we embrace GOD's way of thinking more and more, we are transformed to walk in the newness that is ours in "in Christ."
In all the ways that matter before GOD, "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become New." The old guilt is replaced by new forgiveness and Righteousness leading to Holiness and true Godliness. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus... in whom we have... the forgiveness of sins" (Romans 8:1 and Colossians 1:14).
The old foolishness is replaced by Wisdom. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God... But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us Wisdom from God" (1Corinthians 3:19, 1:30). The old unrighteousness is replaced with His Righteousness. "All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags... For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the Righteousness of GOD in Him" (Isaiah 64:6 and 2Corinthians 5:21). The old hope of changing (self-help) is replaced by new hope of changing (sanctification, GOD changing us). "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength... You are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us... sanctification" (Jeremiah 17:5 and 1Corinthians 1:30). This is Grace upon grace."
Seed of Righteousness, Beneficent Influence of the Righteous:
Psalm 25:12-15 "Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will HE instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear (reverence and revere) Him, and HE makes known to them His Covenant. My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for HE will pluck my feet out of the net."
Psalm 37:23-26 "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when HE delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing."
Psalm 69:34-36 "Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For GOD Will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it."
Psalm 102:23-28 "He has broken my strength in mid-course; He has shortened my days. "O my GOD," I say, "take me not away in the midst of my days— You whose years endure throughout all generations!" Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but You are the same, and Your years have no end. The children of Your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before You."
Psalm 112:1-6 "Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever."
Proverbs 11:20-25 "Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are His delight. Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Proverbs 14:23-35 "In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him. The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully."
Proverbs 20:1-9 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"? "
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