Twin Peaks

September 2

Happy Sunday Everyone,

The scripture for today is Galatians 5:5

Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Through the Holy Spirit we have a blessed hope of the righteousness that we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. That hope will be finally realized when the plan of salvation is completed as Christ returns from His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. All who have received Him, not by the works of the law, but by faith in His work of redemption, look forward to that blessed day. Those who sleep in their graves will arise to see the coming of the Lord in great power and glory. Their season of rest will seem like but a moment as the shackles of death are broken and they rise to receive the Lord who comes for them. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18  

The righteous dead will rise first, and the righteous living will be caught up with them in the air. The righteous are those who have realized that their best efforts at producing righteousness are useless but, through the surrender of their hearts to Christ, have received the blood of Jesus as the cleansing agent for all of their sins. And being so cleansed, they have "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 13:14 and received His righteousness as their own. They no longer look to themselves as the producers of righteousness, but to Christ Jesus as the imparter of righteousness. God has reconciled us to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19) and being reconciled we are made righteous in Him. "For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 The wonderful love and mercy of God was expressed on the cross as Jesus hung there in our place, dying the death that we deserved so that we might have the life that He deserves. He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. We can receive it by faith in that great sacrifice. That faith is made visible to those around us as we follow in His steps and live the life of Christ daily.

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim