When my oldest son was in the 10th grade, concern arose
because it seemed as though his growth was stunted. He was the smallest guy in his class of a
couple hundred. There is nothing wrong
with being short if God has made you that way for His glory. Yet, my wife's brothers are all as tall as I
am. So we were scratching our heads
wondering if there might be something wrong.
I took him to see a Doctor of Naturopathy. After our consultation, the next week he
prescribed two supplements for him to take that Spring. The results?
When school started the next fall, he was one of the tallest guys in his
class! Apparently his body was missing some
vital ingredients to cause it to grow as God had designed.
In the same way,
many Christians today are stunted in their spiritual growth. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 5 verse 13
informs us of the reason for this. It
says, "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted
with the teaching about righteousness." It seems clear that the missing
ingredient is the lack of the Biblical teaching that God has made you as
righteous as Jesus Christ.
This is apparently
no small issue as the Holy Spirit, writing through Paul, spends all of Romans 4
and 5 making it clear that God has turned every sinner into a righteous person
through faith in Christ. This is a
"super food" ingredient for our spiritual growth! Have you been taught that you are righteous
through faith in Christ?
Yet, even if you believe that you are righteous in Christ,
you may still need to overcome some common deceptions. Taken from our Grace Life Conference, here
are some ways people may be deceived.
1. God's righteousness is a robe covering
me. God has covered me with a robe of
righteousness implying He can't look at me as a sinner. Answer - It is true God has given me a robe
of righteousness but under that robe is a righteous new creation.
2. The blood of Christ covers me. Underneath His blood there is still something
wrong with me. Answer - I thank God for
the blood of Christ because it has so washed me that I have been regenerated
according to Titus 3:5.
3. God only sees
Christ in me. This implies that God
cannot look directly at me because I am a sinner. Answer -
God certainly sees Christ in me but He also sees me because I am a new
creation. Also, Jesus is not me and I am
not Jesus but we are united with each other.
4. Christ is My Filter. God hides me behind Christ so He doesn't see
me because I am a sinner. Answer - The
finished work of Christ has resurrected me as a new creation whom God can look
directly at.
5. I have Positional Righteousness. God sees me as if I'm righteous, but I won't
really be righteous until I get to heaven.
Answer - While we are certainly positioned in Christ, this deception
communicates that God is faking Himself out . The new birth is very real. It is not an illusion.
6. Forgiveness equals
righteousness. God's forgiveness makes
me righteous. Answer - Forgiveness only
removes my unrighteous acts. Yet,
forgiveness does not make me righteous.
Several years ago,
after hearing these deceptions, a pastor who was at one of our Grace Life
Conferences exclaimed, "I knew I was saved but I didn't know I was that
saved!" How about you? Have you believed any of these deceptions
which are stunting your growth? If so,
are you willing to go to God now and tell Him you agree with Him that you are
righteous whether you feel it or not?
Suggested Prayer: Father, I agree with Your Word, that Your Righteousness has now become my Righteousness. I choose to believe this regardless of what satan, the world, my feelings, my performance or others say. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Live Free In Christ, Mark Maulding, President and Founder www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
