TRUE FREEDOM
Until a man knows that he is righteous in Christ and walks with that consciousness, Satan will still rule over him. Having the proper knowledge of righteousness gives us perfect fellowship with the Father. The greatest enemy of believers is sin consciousness. One can not involve in sin without being preconscious of sin itself.
Righteousness is the victory over sin and its consequences. One is not free until he accepts the give of righteousness and walks in that consciousness. One can not walk away from sin and its consequences without the revelation of righteousness. You can’t get rid of sin by focusing on sin. You become what you focus on.
Righteousness is what qualifies us to receive from the Lord. It is what gives us an edge over the unbeliever. Until a man knows that he is righteous, Satan will still reign over him, which is what is happening in the body of Christ. Lack of understanding of the true meaning of the gift of righteousness has kept many bound in the performance and good works mentality. Also known as performance reward bases Christianity.
The moment you know what it means to be righteous in Christ, Satan is defeated, and you no longer pray at midnight because of fear but become the master of enemy forces. But, unfortunately, the case is the reverse. Sin consciousness has destroyed us. Sin consciousness is the reason for every spiritual failure in believers’ lives today.
When you are so conscious of sin, you become its victim. You can’t get rid of sin by focusing on sin. You become what you focus on. The greatest freedom is not political freedom and not even freedom from financial worry or physical discomfort. The greatest freedom is freedom from sin consciousness.
We have freedom in Christ Jesus, freedom from the fear of Satan. Your understanding of righteousness will eliminate the fear of anything for life.
THE DECEPTION OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14.
One of the biggest deceptions in the world, especially in the Church, is that of performance, religion, and self-righteousness. So there’s a significant emphasis on maintaining the moral standards of the so-called “Judeo-Christian-value system.”
We hear: “I’m a good Christian.” “I belong to a church.” “I go to a small group meeting.” “I read my Bible.” “I pray every day.” “I give my tithes.” “I try to live a good life and do my moral best.” “I don’t need to be set free because I’m already free.” Yet, in reality, these are the people who need freedom the most.
“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. Luke 18:21.
I haven’t struggled with knowing right or wrong and good or evil. For me, it was discerning between a life of self-righteousness and righteousness by faith. There are two sides to self-righteousness, both equally deceptive in keeping people bound.
The first area of bondage that self-righteousness produces is what Jesus called “making the word of God of no effect.” It’s the belief that I have it all together and I’ve done my part or “better than most.”
Some people believe they have it all together and are fulfilling their side of a bargain with God. Jesus said to the Jews who thought they had it all together:
… “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. … Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition ….” Mark 7:9 to 13.
The Jews taught there was a way to be righteous by keeping the Law, even if it meant they had to bend it. But Paul said, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” Romans. 3:20.
The Law was designed to draw man’s attention to his sin! So Jesus was saying to the Jews that by bending the Law to make it workable, they made the Law or Word of God of no effect!
Simultaneously, there’s another side to this truth. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD! Legalism and self-righteousness make JESUS and His work on the cross of no effect on our lives. If we could keep the Law by our efforts, then we’d have no need for Jesus!
The Evil We Do To Ourselves
Legalism and self-righteousness create guilt, condemnation, and obligation. One of the purposes of the Law was to make people see and understand that no one can be righteous by keeping the Law. The Jews were serving God, governed by rules, regulations, and performance, which could never make them righteous before God. They needed to be set free, and so did many people today.
We can never experience freedom if we are not freed from the deception of performance religion, legalism, and self-righteousness. So when Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32, He was saying: you will know “The Truth” (Jesus) and what He came to do. And Jesus will set you free from legalism, self-righteousness, and the condemnation and guilt of the Law!
When we know “The Truth” about God’s love, we are free from seeing an angry God who needs to be appeased and demands performance and sacrifice!
In Romans 3:21 to 25, Paul said: “But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested … by the faith of Jesus Christ … upon all them that believe… Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth … To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which in Jesus.” believeth in Jesus.
This is the freedom Jesus gave us. We are to celebrate and grasp a hold of this freedom daily!
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28. The Message Bible.
