Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The believer must differentiate between positional and experiential sanctification.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Positional +R is received at salvation resulting in positional sanctification. Experiential +R results from the believer living under the +R received resulting in experiential sanctification.
The cross, which is death resulting in new life, before the crown, which is the blessings of Royalty.
“righteousness” - dikaiosune is “the character or quality of being right or just as God is in character;”
We are not given our own righteousness we are imputed with God’s +R. We are not the light, we walk in the light, 1Jn 1:7.
This righteousness is one of relationship. God has shared His righteousness with us. We reflect it back to Him as well as to our fellow believers and mankind.
Righteousness, as a gift from God, is what allows us to be what we should be in relationship to our Father and mankind.
Righteousness is the sum total of the requirements of God, Matt. 6:33.
Matt 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
The word of God is righteous and declares the righteousness of God in all its aspects, HEB 5:13, For everyone who partakes only of milk [gospel only] is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
The word of God is the key to achieving experiential righteousness in time, 2TI 3:16.
2 Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
dikaiosune is right action, which is a right thing done in a right way according to God’s definition of right, EPH 6:14 etc.
EPH 6:14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
The breastplate represents the imputed righteousness of God now in application of protecting your soul from the fiery missiles of the KOD.
ROM 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Abraham’s righteousness in GEN 15:6 was in position only, but with it Abraham was 100% righteous. In Gen 22 Abraham’s righteousness is experiential.
GEN 22:10-12 And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." And he said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
Experiential righteousness is not his own righteousness or some addition to God’s +R, rather it is a genuine respect for the righteousness that he already possesses.
ROM 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,
“justified” - present passive indicative of dikaioo = to keep on being vindicated. Abraham’s imputed righteousness was vindicated by his works.
“faith alone” - faith without an object. Abraham believed God and it resulted in works because the object of his faith was God.