Things Worth Pursuing

The Greek word dioko has a meaning you might miss when reading the New Testament in English. It is mostly translated as persecute but sometimes it’s translated as practice, pursue or press on. This makes me think of a law enforcer who doggedly pursues a fugitive until he lays hold of him and delivers him to the prosecutor.

Here are some verses that use dioko in these less common ways:

• Romans 12:13 (NASB95) contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
• Romans 14:19 (NASB95) So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
• 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB95) Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
• Philippians 3:12 (NASB95) Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
• Philippians 3:14 (NASB95) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
• 1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB95) But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
• Hebrews 12:14 (NASB95) Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
• 1 Peter 3:11 (NASB95) “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

The verse that hits me in the heart today is Philippians 3:12. That verse is talking about the continual vigorous pursuit to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection…”

That verse uses another Greek word that completes the inspiration for me - katalambano (lay hold of). When my pursuit of knowing Christ is complete, I will lay hold of the power of the resurrection, just as Christ Jesus laid hold of me! Wow!

My Savior pursued me vigorously, captured me and bound me to Himself - to deliver me, not to judgment, but from judgment to eternal life full of joy and peace!

That my friend is a goal worth pursuing.

Demonstration of Righteousness

At a recent Tuesday night Bible study, some men were wondering if a solar eclipse was the cause of the sun being darkened during the crucifixion of Christ. I doubt that, since solar eclipses don't last for three hours under natural circumstances. I had a thought that maybe it was the great cloud of heavenly witnesses that blocked the sunlight that day, gathered to see this demonstration of God's righteousness.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬-26 ‭NIV‬‬

This phrase “demonstrate His righteousness” cannot be overstated. The cross was like a billboard that advertised the power of Rome to all who would rebel. But this cross of Christ advertises God’s ultimate act of righteousness, crossed by the ultimate unrighteous act of mankind.

Because God alone is righteous and the death of His only son completely unjust, all our sins are counted as against Him. David wrote Psalm 51 in repentance for his sin with Bathsheba against her husband Uriah, but he confesses that this sin was against God alone...

”Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The guilt and penalty for all sin ever committed has been stored up and laid upon Christ. As a result, all our sin-debt has been transferred to His account and He alone - who was raised to the right hand of God - has the power to forgive. This is the concept of redemption, in which our debt to the just law of God was paid by the blood of the spotless lamb of God.

But the righteousness of God does not end at the cross. If that were the case, God would have been justified to bring an end to mankind at that very moment. God’s righteousness is much more than judgment and vengeance. The resurrection and enthronement of Christ demonstrates the other aspect of God’s righteousness, His sacrificial mercy and love.

”But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But there is one more thing to say about this phrase “demonstrate His righteousness”. The cross of Christ stood one day in history, but the demonstration of God’s righteousness goes on through the life of Christ in every believer. It is up to us as the body of Christ, and individually as His disciples, to demonstrate His righteousness by our testimony. It is the cross of Christ that brought us into the presence of God, and the intercession of our resurrected Lord that gives us life and hope for eternity.

”And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Heavenly Father, let our lives testify of your righteousness, your love and mercy. Let the message of the cross and the empty tomb go forth today and every day in my life I pray, in the name of Jesus my Savior. Amen!

The Foundation of God's Throne

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

Psalms 89:14

There is a chapter in the New Testament that completely changed my understanding of the Bible. I first encountered these verses as I was memorizing Romans in my first year of college.

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?

Romans 3:5-6

The third chapter of Romans presents God's perfect righteousness in human terms as a prerequisite for Him to execute judgment. Without God's righteous judgment all creation would be lost to the domain of darkness.

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

Romans 3:21-26

The backdrop of the gospel is that God is righteous, and His righteousness requires judgment and condemnation of evil. This righteousness in God's terms is much more than judgment and condemnation. The perfect righteousness of God is His self-sacrificing unconditional love, which extends mercy and forgiveness in response to an unjust and ungrateful world.

Jesus said that God's Law is based on two commandments, both involving sacrificial love.

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” 

Matthew 22:37-40

God's righteousness means that He is always faithful and true; His faithfulness is the expression of His perfect love and mercy.

The Bible records promises that God made to great men of faith like Noah, Abraham and David. The promise to Abraham shows how people can become part of his family, not by flesh (birthright) or by keeping the Law of Moses, but by faith in God. This promise remains certain today for all who believe and confess their faith, because God is faithful. The Law of Moses did not nullify this promise (Romans 4:13-15), nor does Faith nullify God's Law (Romans 3:31), nor does Faith nullify the requirement for perfect righteousness to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Psalm  24:3-4).

The apostle Paul spends several chapters explaining this apparent conflict of Law and Faith in his epistle to the Romans. The conflict is resolved by a promise that took precedence over the Law of Moses and the nation of Israel. This promise was given to David when he was king, in which God promised to establish his Son as the ruler of an eternal kingdom that would be for all people of all nations, who are born not of flesh but of spirit, because of His own blood that is poured out on the altar of God to atone for all sin of all time.

If you are following this (and this may be hard to really grasp at first), you will begin to understand how fundamentally important it is for the Body of Christ to proclaim and demonstrate God's righteousness. This is why Paul said in his epistle to the Corinthians "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." This is why Paul said to the Galatians "may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." We remind ourselves and the world that God so loved us that He sacrificed His Son for us, so that our sins could be forgiven and washed away. 

This is the righteous, faithful, merciful and self-sacrificial God of the Bible, the one true God that we serve by receiving the Spirit of His Son into our heart. Because Jesus our Messiah is seated at the right hand of God we are empowered to put on His robe of righteousness and enter boldly into the throne room of God.

Understanding the foundational nature of God's righteousness has helped me understand many truths of the Bible, such as the meaning and purpose of creation, the nature of spiritual warfare, the foundation of a righteous government, and many questions non-believers pose in rejecting the Bible. I hope to share these truths in related posts, so if you're interested please subscribe to my blog or bookmark this page. Many blessings to you!