… so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness …
Today’s passage speaks to a theme that has been on my heart quite strongly for the past year or so. What does it mean to “die to sins and live for righteousness?” If we want to follow Peter’s guidance, what do we do? Moreover, if we want our church body to follow Peter’s teaching here, what do we do?
If we are to die to our sin, we have to be aware that we are sinning. If we are to live for righteousness, we need to have some concept of what that means. Is it possible for us to do either without being in God’s Word every day?
How many people are there who say that they are Christian but do not read the Bible? I used to be one. The church I attended read a tiny bit from the Word once a week. Then the sermon would be about sports or the Sunday funnies or something similar. Not a lot of spiritual meat there.
Since starting to read the Bible, I have begun to understand so much more about God’s perspective. What if I had never read it for myself?
I will tell you one thing that results from not reading it yourself. You end up basing what you know on what others tell you about the Bible. That might be okay and it might not. There is this thing called “interpretation” where people filter someone’s words through their own experiences. What comes out the other end is sometimes what the author intended and sometimes it is not even close.
The Holy Spirit teaches us about God’s Word. We learn more if we are actually looking at God’s Word. If it has been filtered through somebody else’s brain, getting to understand it the way God intended may be a much longer road.
Each of us is at a different place on life’s journey. No two people stand at the same point for very long. That is why we are not to judge people’s fitness for heaven. That is God’s job and he is eminently qualified to judge. He knows every thought, every action, and every emotion that a person has ever had or experienced.
Pastor Rich tells a story about a man who became a Christian and had been living a very carnal life. The man was a professional athlete and was physically HUGE. Nobody wanted to tell him what he was doing wrong in his life. Instead, they studied the Bible with him, and over time he discovered what he needed to change. Of course, his Bible study friends were right there to cheer him on.
But isn’t that a perfect description of Christian life and fellowship? We die to sin and live for righteousness. It is not where we are on that journey that matters as much as which direction we are going. If people are resisting the Word of God, turning their back on the Spirit’s guidance, and indulging in selfish pursuits, one has to wonder if they are headed in the right direction. Sometimes it is blatantly obvious that they are not.
Tending God’s flock is a hard job. There is plenty of work for all of us to take a hand in. One of the hardest things is keeping an eye out for the person going the wrong direction. If we indulge in our sins and live in our own righteousness, we become like the rotten apple in the apple barrel. Other apples start to spoil, too.
Application: Think of today’s passage as a signpost pointing the way.
Food for Thought: What does it mean to ‘’live for righteousness?”
Very interesting devotion today brother. Very insightful.
What does it mean to live for righteousness? Big subject. It is interesting that Peter also covered this. Paul spent a lot of time on this subject in the book of Romans. James spent a lot of time talking about what this looks like without calling it such. Jesus did as well, especially in the sermon on the mount. Admittedly over simplifying the subject, I think it means to embrace Christ’s righteousness on our behalf by submitting to His word and walking in the Spirit. This, according to Peter in our context, is one reason why Jesus bore our sin and died on our behalf – so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness – a right relationship with God. We ultimately do that through God’s power and what He provides. His word and His Spirit.
Rich
Thank you for your comment this morning. I always appreciate your thoughts and your devotion to our Lord’s work. As I was reading your words I was reminded of Peter’s (and others) emphasis on submission. Perhaps submission to Christ and to his Word and Sprit are the keystone to righteous living. Going the opposite direction is what we call rebellion. The danger of submissiveness is when the rebellious demand that others submit to their ‘interpretation’ of God’s Word. This is where I see confusion and danger for the fellowship.
What does it mean to ‘’live for righteousness?”
We are by nature opposed to Gods righteousness, fully committed to living as acceptable members of this world we have been born into. We might be nice, if it fits within our agenda, but never righteous. Conforming to this world is a lifelong burden of slavery, chained to the standards set by men, which leads to eternal separation from God. Just as Jesus gave His life for the sins of the WORLD, the Holy Spirit has been sent to convict the WORLD of sin, righteousness and judgement. When we accept Christ, this world and its ways has no power over us, when we live in the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit gives eternal freedom in the presence of God beginning now.
Jesus tells us,” Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
How can we live in Christ, keep His word if we do not know who He is, what He teaches?
There is only one way and the choice is ours. We must immerse ourselves in Gods word with the same or greater level of commitment we had as people of this world. DAILY bible study, time with God, learning, applying His truths is at first hard. However it is the only way we are going to grow in knowledge and deeds. Living in the righteousness of God will become our pleasure, our refuge in this temporary dwelling place and our witness to the world around us that God is real.
John 16:8, Galatians 5:16-18, John 14:23
Ron,
Thank you for your thoughts on righteousness today. I really appreciate the contrast you have drawn between living for the world and living for God. I especially appreciate the John 14: 23 verse about keeping God’s word. I agree, being in the word every day is extremely important.
I just want to clarify one thing for people who might be wondering if we are talking about something we need to do to be saved. The answer is, salvation is up to Jesus. We don’t make that decision and we don’t earn it by being righteous or doing certain things. We “live for righteousness” as Peter says, because that is how God wants us to live.
Living for righteousness to me would mean doing my best to things right,.going the right way in this life,.doing right things for others as they would do right things unto me,..but as we all know,..know one can be righteous without Jesus,..He is the One and only person Who has made things right for all of us,..some people don’t see it like that,..but that’s what He has done
By reading the Bible has helped me understand what it means to be righteous and how it all came about,..it has also showed me that I am worthless without Christ,..it is He who calls us worthy,..just as you mentioned Jeff,..
I am certainly glad Jesus has a righteous kind of patience with me,..
John,
I’m glad Jesus has a righteous kind of patience with me, too!!
Thank you!
Good responses.
I guess I might add that God has a purpose and plan for us and that living for righteousness is the way we can activate His power in our lives.
Rob,
That is a great way to put it. His righteousness does activate His power in our lives. It is the way we align ourselves with Him. Like a canoe in the river, instead of fighting the current we align ourselves with it.
👍🏻